DECEMBER 25, 2017 – NOTE FROM THE PASTOR

Dear Brethren,

As we come together for the worship services even in this Thanksgiving Sunday, in the midst of the Christmas season, may we truly be aware of the “greatest gift of all” we received from God our Heavenly Father, that is Jesus our Saviour, the Immanuel-God with us. This is indeed the real reason for the season, recognizing and responding to the Grace of God especially in Christmas and Thanksgiving Day. We ought to be thankful that because of, and through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, all other of God’s riches and choicest blessings come upon us. The Bible in Romans 8:32 clearly points out, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

The Psalmist in Psalm 116:12 aptly asks, “What shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward me?” This has been accordingly responded to in the following verses with verse 17, having such resolve, “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord.” While it is good to set a day in a year to come together and jointly express our sincere and deep gratitude to our Heavenly Father-our great Benefactor, we are to recognize that everyday should be Thanksgiving Day in the life of a mature believer. The word “continually” in Hebrews 13:15, among others, bears this out.

We celebrate anew even in this Christmas season the Ordinance of the Lord’s Supper along with our December 27, Wednesday Midweek service. The basic reason why Jesus, the Son of God, was born into this world, become human flesh is for Him to die on the Cross to be the propitiation for our sin. The Bible in Philippians 2:7-8 clearly records of Jesus, “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Indeed, Jesus Christ is the God-Man, both Deity and humanity all at the same time. Without his humanity, He could not have died for us, and without His Deity, He could not have saved us. Let us then prepare and get ready to partake as we commune as a Christ’s representative Body, and remember with thanksgiving the Lord Jesus, our Head.

We start praying and preparing for the upcoming celebration of our 64th Church anniversary (February 11) HIGHLIGHTED BY OUR 18th WORLD MISSIONS CONFERENCE (FEBRUARY 13-15) with the common prayed for theme, “CONTINUE”. We release next Sunday the list of our World Missions Conference-Task Force on Responsibilities (WMC-TFR).

My dear brethren, we heartily and humbly thank God for what He has done, and what He is doing, and what He will yet do, and are indeed assured of the best days ahead as we CONTINUE by faith in the grace of God.

All By God’s Grace and For God’s Glory!
Pastor Gerry Nable