Scripture Memory: Attitude for Prayer.
VERSE : 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

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O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

1 April 2007
8.00 am Worship Service:
Eld Chin Hoong Chor (Prayer For Revival)
10.45 am Worship Service:
Rev Colin Wong (Prayer For Revival), Lord's Supper
6:00 pm Rehoboth Evening Service:
Rev Eric Kwan (Will Your Worship Worship Your Will?)

6 April 2007
8.00 pm Combined Good Friday Service:
Rev Charles Seet (The Death Of Christ)

8 April 2007
7.00 am Combined Easter Sunrise Service:
Rev Colin Wong (Is The Resurrection of Jesus A Hoax?)
6:00 pm Rehoboth Evening Service:
Dr Paul Choo (Cultivating True Affections For Christ)

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Is infidelity killing your marriage? Is your relationship going nowhere? Are you tired of all the lies, excuses and cheating said and done by your spouse? A sister discovered her husband having an affair with another woman. She pleaded, begged, threatened, tried to be reasonable, cried, screamed and tried anything else she could think of, but it continues. What else can she do? Keep quiet about it and suffer silently? Share it with her close friends? Or seek counsel from her pastor?

I came across some recent statistics that show that 40% of women (and that number is increasing) and 60% of men at one point indulge in extramarital affairs. Put those numbers together and it is estimated that 80% of the marriages will have one spouse at one point or another involved in marital infidelity.

What does the finding tell us? It tells us that the possibility that someone close to you is or soon will be involved in an extramarital affair is extremely high. Maybe you will know it. You will see telltale signs. You will notice changes in his/her habits and behavioral patterns as well as a detachment, lack of focus and reduced productivity. Maybe you will sense something "out of character" but are unable to pinpoint what it is.

One of my observations in counseling couples with marital problems is that a spouse sometimes walks out because of problems that have accumulated over a period of time. While it is true that in any marital problem, both may share the blame, but all too often one partner is not willing to keep the wedding vows, maintain the marriage or get help to heal a broken, hurting relationship. Pride and stubbornness become the cause of the breakdown.

Take John and Jenny as an example. John and Jenny had been married for three years. John was a model husband. He was also a good Christian. Jenny was his ideal wife. She was also very active teaching in the Sunday school. Their courtship and marriage were the stuff dreams are made of. They lived in a beautiful condominium. Every item of furniture they bought together had a history of searching and bargaining, repainting and being proudly put into place. Their children were lovely, cute and adorable. Life settled into a comfortable routine.

John did not plan to meet Jasmine. She joined his company as an IT programmer. He could not understand his attraction to her. Confusion, shyness and guilt gradually gave way to friendliness. He began to feel comfortable with her. He grew increasingly aware of her attractiveness.

Initially, he denied that anything was happening. But slowly his habits began to change. He became terribly self-conscious in her presence. He tried to impress her. He became withdrawn and irritable at home. This led to arguments and tension he and Jenny had never known before. Jenny was no longer attractive to him. Their sex life dwindled. She became a nuisance, as did the children who were once so lovely, cute and adorable to him. John was filled with confusion as his feelings vacillated between guilt and remorse, anger and frustration.

Finally, the affair with Jasmine began. Both tried to rationalize their behaviour by "being honest" as so many adulterers and adulteresses do. The inevitable divorce with Jenny followed. John moved in to stay with Jasmine in a small flat while they made plans to marry.

A year later, John’s emotional fire began to die down. Jasmine was no longer as attractive to him as before. He began to insult and abuse her. She fought back. This happened for some weeks. One day, she could not take it anymore. She left him without saying a word.

John was alone. From a well-kept, homely condominium with a warm, responsive wife by his side at night, lovely, cute, adorable children and the smell of home-cooking, he was left with a sparsely furnished flat, a broken romance, a depleted bank account and impaired performance at work. He was filled with guilt, remorse, regret and contempt for himself.

John was a good and knowledgeable Christian. Why would he ignore the ancient wisdom of Proverbs? "Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent…. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away" (Proverbs 6:27-29, 32, 33).

Extramarital affairs can have a disastrous effect on your self-esteem, trust and marriage. There is no way an adulterer or an adulteress can run away from his or her marital infidelity. The consequences of marital unfaithfulness in the Bible are crystal clear. Consider the following verses:

"He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind" (Proverbs 11:29).

"The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways" (Proverbs 14:14).

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting" (Galatians 6:7, 8).

Both King Solomon and Paul teach the same truth. You harvest what you plant, whether good or bad. That is the Law of nature. Therefore, whosoever commits adultery with a woman has no sense or understanding. He is a real fool. What he gets in return in the long run is not pleasure forever more, but a deadly sexual disease. He will lie groaning on his deathbed, his flesh and muscles being eaten away. Then he will say, "Why would I never learn? Why would I never let my Christian brethren correct me? Why wouldn’t I listen to the teaching of the Bible? Now I have not only brought destruction upon myself, but I have also become a disgrace to my loved ones and friends. Worst of all, the good Name of Jesus and His Church have been tarnished by my foolish, sinful adulterous relationship" (Proverbs 5:11-13).

My dear Lifer, is there any "John" or "Jasmine" in our midst? What you are indulging now illicitly is not pleasing to the most holy God. Let me warn you that God will not let adulterers and adulteresses go unpunished. Do not deceive yourselves. No one makes a fool of God. You will reap exactly what you sow. God’s Word says, "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23).

Therefore, I plead with you in the Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to forsake your illicit and sinful relationship and be faithful to your own spouse and give your love to him/her alone. Be happy and satisfied with your spouse and find your joy with the partner you married long ago. Let your spouse surround you with his/her love. Why should you give your love to another? Why should you prefer the charms of another?

Do you need pastoral help? May God give you courage to seek counsel and prayer. Be delivered from this adulterous affair! Amen.

— CW

Lord, be in this marriage

In a special way,

May we feel Your presence

Each and every day.

1) Scripture Memory Review No. 1: A written review exercise of the verses is being given out today. Please submit by 15 Apr.

2) There will be no prayer meeting on Tuesday. Instead there will be a Prayer Fellowship on Maundy Thursday at 7.30 pm. Eld Sherman Ong will be speaking on Continue in Prayer.

3) Biblical Counseling: The course by Mark Chen will commence this Wed, 4 Apr 07 from 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm. Venue: Chinese Service Hall. Registration forms are available at the reception counter.

4) All catechumens and parents of infants are reminded to be in Church at 6.30 am for the Easter Sunrise Service and are cordially invited to the Breakfast Fellowship.

5) Sunday Lunch Fellowship: Lunch Coupons for the Sunday Lunch on 15 Apr 07 will be on sale today at $2.50 a packet (Laksa, Chicken kuay teow with gravy, vegetable rice)

6) Gospel Sunday: Invite your friends and loved ones to the Gospel Sunday on 22 Apr 07 (10:45 am). Please pray for Rev Frank Low (English) and Rev Kew See Seong (Mandarin) who will speak on the topic, "Lost & Found."

7) Youth Retreat 2007, 11-12 May (Fri-Sat) at New Life B-P Church.Theme: Bow The Knee. Speaker Rev Jack Sin. registration starts today and end 29 Apr. Contact lifeyf@gmail.com.

8) Son-shine In My Soul! Vacation Bible School is here again for kids in K1-P3. Date: 30 May-1 Jun ’07. Sign up your child or bring a friend. Teachers and helpers needed. Register at front entrance or online: www.lifebpc.com/vbs. Closing date 6 May 2007.

9) Life BPC Bible Camp 2007: 11-14 June 07 at Harris Resort, Batam. Registration for the camp has closed. Please check the camp notice board for 3 alternatives.

Preaching appointments: Rev Seet in Batam. Rev Wong in Cambodia, 2-7 Apr.