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Thanksgiving

Our hearts are grateful to Almighty God for seeing us through to our second year in the ministry of our church. Berith was formally registered with the Registrar of Societies on 12th May 2007. Just last month, on 16th April, our charitable status was approved. The delay was due probably to irregularities in the management of certain charitable organisations which the Commissioner of Charities had to look into. Thank God for enabling us to fulfil all righteousness and to obtain the necessary legal requirements so that we can carry on the work of the ministry unhindered. Truly, it is of the Lord’s mercies that we have been so blessed.

  As we remember God’s goodness, let us not forget our roots (Isa. 51: 1-2). Still fresh in our memory is the passing away of our founding father, Rev (Dr) Timothy Tow, on 20th April 2009. We will not be where we are today but for his zeal, and encouragement to “go and do the work of the Lord.” Not once but twice God’s faithful servant spoke those same words to me each time I consulted with him to start a fresh ministry. Few can ever match Rev. Tow’s burning fervour in the Lord’s work. He is our example in faithfulness and courage to defend the faith that was once for all delivered unto the saints (Jude 3). “The world leaves behind its legacy of stones and monuments. But Rev Tow has left behind a legacy of spiritual blessings, least of which was a life of exemplary conduct rarely seen today” – Rev Quek Suan Yew. Now the torch is passed on to us to extend the Gospel outreach to “the ends of the earth” in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. May we, like our founding father, stand fast on the inerrant, infallible, preserved Word of God and be true to our calling to serve the Lord.

Watch Unto Prayer
To encourage us in the work of the ministry, let us consider the words of the Apostle Peter :

But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. (I Pet. 4: 7-8).

The call to be sober or right minded is coupled with the summon to watch unto prayer. It is not only a sober or right-minded disposition which will keep us on the right track in the ministry but also a spirit of constant dependence upon the Lord. Often we are tested and tried beyond ourselves; our hearts grow weary, our minds are “caught up” with earthly concerns and we forget the Lord and His special calling unto us. That is why Peter exhorts us to watch unto prayer. Prayer keeps us in touch with God. Prayer is a means of grace. Prayer endues us with divine help. God hears and helps us as we petition Him to work out the “rough edges” in our ministry. When we pray, we cultivate a consciousness of the Lord’s presence and are reminded that we are not struggling alone. The Lord in turn uplifts our spirits and revives us through very specific answers to our prayers. Remember, it is the Lord’s work and He will see us through our difficulties. There is no greater encouragement than to see the fruits that the Lord brings forth despite our feeble efforts on His behalf. Let us therefore be sober and watch unto prayer.

Exercise Fervent Charity
Above all things, we are also exhorted to cultivate a spirit of “fervent charity.” The Lord Jesus Christ laid down this foundational principle for His disciples : “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another” (Jn. 13: 34-35). Christians ought to love one another which implies an affection to their persons, a desire for their well-being, and a hearty endeavour to promote it. Let this mutual affection be fervent, that is, earnest, sincere and lasting. This kind of fervent love has the excellent effect of covering a “multitude of sins.” Love in our hearts makes us kind to the faults and failings of others. “Love to another shall so cover or hide a great many imperfections in him, that you will not notice them” – Albert Barnes.

The exercise of fervent love in the Body of Christ will result in oneness of mind and heart to do the work of the ministry. There will be mutual condescension and a spirit of humility to esteem others better than ourselves (Philp. 2: 1-4). Let us put on fervent charity; let us love the Lord and members of His body.

 "..the end of all things is at hand."
Peter also reminds his readers that “the end of all things is at hand.” Yes, the Lord’s coming is very near. Our present day happenings all point to Christ’s soon return - earthquakes, wars, rumours of wars, cyclones, famines, floods, pestilences (SARS, bird flu, H1N1). Besides all these, sin abounds and the love of many wax cold (Matt. 24: 12). All the more, we must work the works of God lest we are found wanting in the last day. Let us be sober; let us watch unto prayer; let us cultivate a spirit of fervent charity. May the Lord find us faithful as we labour on till He returns for us. Amen.