Weekly Sermon

(adapted)
Dear Prayer Partners,
“With all prayer and supplications praying in all seasons in the Spirit, and watching there unto in all perseverance and supplication” (Ephesians 6:18)
“Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: For this, moreover, will I be inquired of by the house of Israel, to do it for them: I will increase them with men like a flock” (Ezekiel 36:37)
In Ephesians, Paul reminds believers to pray in all situations, watching and waiting upon God, and seeing what God is doing. We are to pray even when we do not feel like it, or when we are busy with other issues. Our lives are to be prayer-filled and prayer-motivated. We need to wait on God, find out His will and agree to do it. God has His will to bring many to salvation in Him, many to be adopted into His family, and many to be a part of His radiant Bride for the marriage supper of the Lamb.
From Ezekiel, we learn that God has a purpose for Israel – to increase her population. What He ordains He will perform. Nevertheless, He will wait, until the children of Israel inquire of Him about the matter. Likewise for believers today, God will wait until we inquire of Him and align our wills to His, and then He will work. He will wait, if necessary, for His people to express their agreement in prayer before He acts.
May we watch and pray for God’s will to be done.
For October 2015, let us remember the following matters for prayer:

  1. WORSHIP
    May our lives be cleansed for a deeper work of God and for Him to touch us in the days ahead, to be His aroma and letter of the good news to others. He is delighted when we are passionate worshippers, and He is seeking for more to worship Him.
  2. MINISTRY
    2.1 Ministry of the WOrd
    Pray for the speakers for October 2015 as they depend on the Holy Spirit to prepare and speak the truth in love and grace. May God’s word quicken the hearers to respond in faith and obedience to Him.
    4 October – Advisory Elder Francis Maniam (Be watchful and sober)
    11 October – Elder Choo Chin Teck (Prepared and persevering before Christ’s return)
    18 October – Elder Paul Chan (Judgment of believers)
    25 October – Dr Quake Tiang Chye (Rapture of the church)2.2 Church Members
    (a) Pray for our church members who are undergoing physical and emotional stresses and pain. May they continue to live faithfully, and testify of God’s work in their lives, ever dependent on His grace and mercies.
    (b) “The Church NEEDS YOU”
    This initiative will publicise the needs that various ministries have. Pray for interested and willing church members to step forward to assist in their respective capacities in these ministries. We need you.2.3 Council Retreat
    Pray for council members as they meet on 9 to 10 November 2015 for the council retreat. Pray for God’s leading and wisdom as they pray, review and plan strategies and structures to grow our church. Pray for good preparation to share frankly and develop deeper appreciation of each other.
  3. OUTREACH
    3.1 Bethesda Tuition Ministry (BTM)
    (a) The teachers and students in BTM meet this month to prepare for year-end examinations. Pray for the students to grow in understanding of the subjects, and be able to handle the questions. Pray that they will also appreciate and be attracted to Christian principles being taught and demonstrated by the teachers.
    (b) Thank God for the children who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour. Pray for their nurture in the Christian faith, and their regular participation in Sunday school and Bethesda Youth (BY) programmes.
    (c) Pray for their plans to engage the students in leisure activities after the examinations.
    (d) Pray for the BY committee as they pray and plan for the coming year, and seek God’s grace and wisdom to grow the ministry.3.2 Evangelism and Follow-up (E&F)
    (a) Praise and thank God for the three guests who came for the baptism service on 27 September 2015 and who accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Pray for the needed nurture, and follow-up to take place.
    (b) Pray for the E&F committee for God’s guidance and boldness in the planning for the next Gospel Meeting on 22 November 2015. Lam Ching Yet (serving in Cru Singapore adult outreach) will be the speaker, and Jonathan Choo will chair the service. Pray for the people involved in the planning, to have a clear focus and theme for the meeting. Pray for church members to play their part to invite their pre-believing relatives and friends to the meeting.3.3 Young Adults Group (YAG)
    (a) About 10 guests come regularly to YAG to participate in Christianity Explored, a study of Mark’s gospel. Pray that God will help them understand the claims of the gospel, and place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Pray for good nurture processes, that the young believers can be nurtured to grow strong in their faith and be Christ’s disciples.
    (b) Ask God to prepare the YAG members, as they grow in commitment to be the next generation of servant-leaders in the church.3.4 Missions
    (a) Pray for God’s leading and protection of Jim and Selene, Chew, Rosalind Lee and Ms Yong, for strength and health to faithfully serve in their ministries and amongst the people they are in contact with. May they discern God’s will to extend His kingdom.
    (b) Pray for plans to visit Philippines (Kalmin) and India (Siliguri) in December 2015. Pray for the people who have committed to participate, for good preparation and co-operation amongst team members.
  4. SUPPORT
    4.1 Bethesda Book Centre at Marine Parade (BBC)
    (a) Pray for Sebastian Chan to have wisdom as he goes out to meet existing BBC customers and secure new ones.
    (b) Pray also for God’s wisdom for council members to deploy the additional funds from the sale of the Toa Payoh shophouse in ways that will extend His kingdom.
    4.2 Church Office Workers and Pastoral Structure
    Pray that God will bring the right candidates to work in the church office and others to be part of the pastoral staff.
    4.3 Church Re-development
    (a) Pray for God to guide the consultants in their submission for church re-development to obtain authorities’ approvals and for favour from the authorities to approve the submissions. Presently, the plans need to seek approvals from NEA and LTA.
    (b) Pray for God to guide the consultants to prepare tender documents and evaluate the tenders.
    (c) Pray for the various sub-committees to prepare their respective work and inform church members on adjustments to be made before and during the re-development period.
  5. FELLOWSHIP
    Pray for the plans for Fellowship Sunday on 18 October 2015. Thank God for this opportunity to meet together and remember God’s promises and goodness to our Church over the years. May church members be encouraged to build deeper bonds to love God and serve people.
  6. SINGAPORE AND THE REGION
    6.1 Singapore
    (a) A new cabinet has been formed to take Singapore to greater levels of nationhood. Pray for the leaders and peoples to be God-fearing and to continue to work together and help one another to establish strong family and community bonds, in a multi-racial society.
    (b) Pray that each cabinet minister and Member of Parliament will do his or her part to represent the people, to discuss, and deliberate policies adn implement plans effectively, for the good of all sectors of society.
    6.2 Other Parts of the World
    (a) Pray for Indonesia as it does its best to reduce the forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan, and for the haze from the forest fires to be reduced.
    (b) Continue to pray for God’s power and help for the many persecuted believers and people in the world. Pray for the Spirit’s power to help the believers to persevere in spite of much troubles and disasters.
    (c) Pray for righteous and fair government for our neighbours in ASEAN.
    (d) Pray also for stability in the midst of financial and economic uncertainities in many parts of the world e.g. Europe, China, Latin America and US.

 
Richard Tio
Prayer Co-ordinator