Scripture Memory: Love not the World.
VERSE : 1 John 2:15-16 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

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O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

12 August 2007
8.00 am Worship Service:
Rev Charles Seet (That Which Is Against Nature), Lord's Supper
10.45 am Worship Service:
Quek Keng Khwang (Have You Fallen In Love With The World?)
6:00 pm Rehoboth Evening Service:
Mark Chen (Believers Can Have Warped Perspectives Too)

19 August 2007
8.00 am Worship Service:
Rev Colin Wong (Mystery of All Mysteries)
10.45 am Worship Service:
Rev Charles Seet (That Which Is Against Nature)
6:00 pm Rehoboth Evening Service:
Pr Ho Chee Lai  (Nothing Is By Accident)

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Some months ago, a concerned member sent me a text message saying that she is very concerned for the drop of attendance at the prayer meeting. Why is there a drop of attendance at the weekly prayer meeting? What is wrong with it? If there is something wrong with it, why aren’t members coming to pray for a spiritual revival? However, if there is nothing wrong with it, why aren’t members making any effort to come to labour in prayer for the church and her ministries? I find it hard to believe someone telling me how he delights in spending much time with God and yet he has never once stepped into the power house of God. It’s so paradoxical! Isn’t it?

Charles Spurgeon, in his article, "Only A Prayer Meeting" wrote, "We shall never see much change for the better in our churches in general until the prayer meeting occupies a higher place in the esteem of Christians." Nowadays, weekly prayer meeting is becoming rare in many a church. Many churches no longer schedule it and in those churches that still do, typically less than 10% of the members would make an effort to attend. Incidentally, this is happening to Life Church. Why? The reason is that in too many of these churches, prayer meetings have become dull, cold, mechanical, powerless, spiritless and lifeless.

I am sure many of us have heard this saying, "Personal prayer is the barometer of our spiritual life." In other words, the fate of our spirituality depends on our personal prayer life. If we have a poor prayer life then we have a low spirituality. If our spiritual fervor is melancholic, then the spirit of the prayer meeting will be greatly affected.

Erroll Hulse, in his book "The Vital Place of the Prayer Meeting" wrote, "You can tell with a fair degree of accuracy what the church is like by the demeanor or substance of the weekly prayer meeting. Is there genuine evangelistic concern? If so, it will be expressed in the prayers. Is there a heartfelt longing for the conversion of unconverted family members? If so, that is sure to surface. Is there a world vision and a fervent desire for Revival and the Glory of our Redeemer among the nations of the world? Such a burden cannot be suppressed… Intercession in the prayer meeting will soon reveal a loving church that cares for those who are oppressed and weighed down with trials and burdens. Those bearing trials too painful or personal to be described in public will nevertheless find comfort in the prayer meeting, for there the Holy Spirit is especially at work."

My dear brethren, our spirituality plays a vital part in the prayer meeting. We cannot come to the prayer meeting with carnal and unprepared hearts. Carnality kills the spirit of the prayer meeting. That is why spiritual preparation is absolutely necessary before we come to the house of prayer.

Peter Masters in "The Power of the Prayer Meeting" wrote, "In the prayer gathering preoccupation with ourselves as individual believers slips away, and we become a group of people longing for the blessing of others, and for the prospering of the cause. In the prayer gathering we are refined and honed… It cements unions and promotes respect… the church that prays together, stays together."

Prayer unifies God’s people. This kind of spiritual fervor that unites God’s people was seen in the early church. Before the Day of Pentecost, the disciples "all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication…" (Acts 1:14). After Pentecost, the disciples continued steadfastly "in the Apostle’s Doctrine and fellowship and in breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42). When the church was afflicted by fierce persecution, "they raised their voice to God with one accord…" (Acts 4:24). When Peter was arrested and put into jail for preaching the Gospel, the church prayed for him fervently (Acts 12:5, 12). When Paul and Silas were arrested and incarcerated for the same cause, they held a midnight prayer meeting in the prison cell (Acts 16:22-26).

During the time of the Reformation, churches often held daily services for preaching and prayer, every morning and every evening. During the severe persecution in Sudan, many churches held daily prayer meetings each morning and evening. Some of the fastest church growth in recent years has taken place in South Korea and China where most church members consistently and faithfully participate in their church’s early morning prayer meetings.

Jonathan Edwards in "A Call to United, Extraordinary Prayer" wrote, "Prayerfulness is the natural response of a heart that is fully caught up in all Christ is to us and for us, over us and within us, through us and before us and upon us. Christ defines our agenda in prayer. Christ opens up the door to Heaven to present our prayers… Christ is the ultimate answer to all our prayers." May God be pleased to grant Life Church such fervent, earnest, sincere spirit at the Tuesday night prayer meeting!

Church history tells us that revivals begin in prayer meetings. I believe it with all my heart. I hope you believe it too! Those who conscientiously and habitually participate in prayer meetings "experience more sweet and pure delight in the very exercise…grow more rapidly and steadily in grace…become the most devotional, active and useful Christians… and become the life and soul, as it were, of the church" (Edwin Hatfield on "The Social Prayer Meeting," 1844).

The words of Dr. Joel Beeke in "Attending Prayer Meetings" greatly challenge us. He said, "If every God fearing family, in every God honouring church around the world took the congregational prayer meeting seriously, what impact would that have around the globe? I believe that Scripture and Church history teaches us that the future of our children, our family, our church, and our nations depends on God’s people storming the mercy seat together. Prayer is the normal means that God uses to shower His Heavenly blessings upon the earth…. We customarily record our appointments on our calendar. Will you not mark your church prayer meetings on your calendar as engagements of the highest priority for your entire family? Will you not prepare for them and try to bring a friend or two with you? Let us treasure prayer meetings. Let us engage in it with all our heart, remembering that Revivals usually begin with prayer meetings."

My dear Lifer, what is the need of the hour? The need of the hour is for faithful intercessors in vital union with their ascended Lord, to agonize inside the veil for deliverance of the church from its spiritual slump. If hundreds of Lifers would simultaneously turn to God on the Tuesday night prayer meeting in utter self-humbling, in intercession, in seeking the face of God and in repentance (because of our prayerlessness), such an upheaval of holy prayer will shake the church and bring a mighty spiritual awakening in the church.

Let us long for the days of old. As George Bowen said, "The day of Pentecost was a pattern day; all the days of this dispensation should have been like it, or should have exceeded it. But alas, the church has fallen down to the state in which it was before this blessing was bestowed, and it is necessary for us to ask Christ to begin over again."

I am appealing to you this Lord’s Day. Will you come to join the other Lifers to pray fervently to God to deliver us from this subnormal existence and renew and refresh us spiritually so that Life Church can be a channel of blessing to the regions beyond?

"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen" (Ephesians 3:14-21). —CW

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Date: 30 Sep 07

Time: 10.45 am

Topic: The Magnestism of the Cross

Rev Ong Hock Khee (English Service)

Bro Hendro (Mandarin Service)

We praise and thank the Lord for good response from main contractors in bidding for the Beulah House Project on 2nd August 2007. Please continue to uphold the Beulah Project Consulting Team and Beulah Project Committee in prayers as they deliberate over the details of each bid submission before deciding on the contractor of choice to carry out the building project.

~ Elder Sherman Ong, Chairman, Beulah Project Committee ~

1) Infant Baptism on Anniversary Sunday, 21 Oct 07. Parents who intend to have their infants baptised must register by 2 Sep 07. Please call the Church office (6254-5433) or email Yin Chan giving child’s name, date of birth and parents’ names.

2) Sunday Lunch Fellowship: Lunch Coupons for the Sunday Lunch on 19 Aug will be on sale today (vegetable rice, laksa and lor mee).

3) Catechism Class for Anniversary Baptism at 9.30 am at Chinese Service Hall. Those seeking baptism, reaffirmation of faith and transfer of membership must attend the Catechism Class.

4) P1 Readiness Talk organised by FEK. Sat, 25 Aug 07. 10am to 11.30am. Speakers: Mrs. Janis Kok, VP of Fengshan Pri Sch, Ex V-P of CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ Sch; and Miss Oh See Moey Principal of Yumin Pri Sch, Ex V-P of Maris Stella Pri Sch. Cost: $5 per adult. Registration forms are available at the reception counter. Closing date: 17 Aug.

5) The Library: Lifers are encouraged to visit the Library which is open every Sunday, 12:15 - 12:45 pm. There are about 3,000 Christian books for all ages!

6) Chwee Eng and family thank all who came to comfort them during the recent homegoing of her sister.

Preaching appointments: Rev Wong at Evangel BPC.