Worship Guide – September 5, 2021

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ORDER OF WORSHIP

Call To Worship

Psalm 122 : 1

I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

詩篇上 122 : 1

人對我說「我們往耶和華的殿去」，我就歡喜。

Worship Through Songs

Good day dear Church—precious saints of the living God.

What hope does everlasting life hold for us?

It reminds us that this present fallen world is not all there is; soon we will live with and enjoy God forever in the new city, in the new heaven and the new earth, where we will be fully and forever freed from all sin and will inhabit renewed, resurrection bodies in a renewed, restored creation.

Revelation 21 reads … “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

J. C. Ryle once wrote… “Let us settle it then in our minds, for one thing, that the future happiness of those who are saved is eternal. However little we may understand it, it is something which will have no end: it will never cease, never grow old, never decay, never die. At God’s “right hand are pleasures for evermore” (Ps. 16: 11). Once landed in paradise, the saints of God shall go out no more. The inheritance is “incorruptible, undefiled, and fadeth not away.” They shall “receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away” (1 Pet. 1: 4; 5: 4). Their warfare is accomplished; their fight is over; their work is done. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more. They are travelling on towards an “eternal weight of glory,” towards a home which shall never be broken up, a meeting without a parting, a family gathering without a separation, a day without night. Faith shall be swallowed up in sight, and hope in certainty. They shall see as they have been seen, and know as they have been known, and “be for ever with the Lord.” I do not wonder that the apostle Paul adds, “Comfort one another with these words” (1 Thess. 4: 17– 18).”

Thus, amid all the tumult and uncertainty of the times, we can rest assured that for all who belong to Christ: to live is Christ and to die is gain. Why? Because when we depart from this life, we shall be with him forever! And while we are still here, He is with us always! Living or dying, we are never alone.  And we are never forsaken.  We are his forever because of the cross.

So we grieve and suffer not as one with no hope–but as a people longing for that glad reunion in the eternal presence of our blessed Lord and Saviour who loves us, and cares for us and weeps with us in our sorrows. Let us turn our eyes and set our hearts upon him this day.  For whatever this short and fleeting life may bring—joy or sorrow, comfort or pain—in Christ, it is truly and eternally well with our souls.

‘O Lord, when I consider how fragile and uncertain my world is, I realize that there is no real refuge but You. I make my plans, dream my dreams and hope for things whose outcome is uncertain. I cannot control this day or any other day. I am often frustrated by disappointments and setbacks and uncertainties. It is only when I turn back to You and release my fears and concerns to You that I will discover real peace. Therefore, I will be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving I will let my requests be made known to You. And I know that as I do this, Your peace will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. For You are my confidence and stronghold, and You never change. You always want what is best for me, and in spite of the difficulty of the journey, You will bring me safely home.’ *

For Christ’s sake and in his Name. Amen. * [Kenneth Boa]

Anthem

Blessed Assurance

Scripture Reading

James 1 : 1 – 12

¹ James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion:

Greetings.

² Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, ³ for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. ⁴ And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. ⁶ But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸ he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

⁹ Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

¹² Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

雅各書 1 : 1 – 12

¹ 作 神 和 主 耶 穌 基 督 僕 人 的 雅 各 請 散 住 十 二 個 支 派 之 人 的 安 。

² 我 的 弟 兄 們 ， 你 們 落 在 百 般 試 煉 中 ， 都 要 以 為 大 喜 樂 ；

³ 因 為 知 道 你 們 的 信 心 經 過 試 驗 ， 就 生 忍 耐 。

⁴ 但 忍 耐 也 當 成 功 ， 使 你 們 成 全 、 完 備 ， 毫 無 缺 欠 。

⁵ 你 們 中 間 若 有 缺 少 智 慧 的 ， 應 當 求 那 厚 賜 與 眾 人 、 也 不 斥 責 人 的 神 ， 主 就 必 賜 給 他 。

⁶ 只 要 憑 著 信 心 求 ， 一 點 不 疑 惑 ； 因 為 那 疑 惑 的 人 ， 就 像 海 中 的 波 浪 ， 被 風 吹 動 翻 騰 。

⁷ 這 樣 的 人 不 要 想 從 主 那 裡 得 甚 麼 。

⁸ 心 懷 二 意 的 人 ， 在 他 一 切 所 行 的 路 上 都 沒 有 定 見 。

⁹ 卑 微 的 弟 兄 升 高 ， 就 該 喜 樂 ；

¹⁰ 富 足 的 降 卑 ， 也 該 如 此 ； 因 為 他 必 要 過 去 ， 如 同 草 上 的 花 一 樣 。

¹¹ 太 陽 出 來 ， 熱 風 颳 起 ， 草 就 枯 乾 ， 花 也 凋 謝 ， 美 容 就 消 沒 了 ； 那 富 足 的 人 ， 在 他 所 行 的 事 上 也 要 這 樣 衰 殘 。

¹² 忍 受 試 探 的 人 是 有 福 的 ， 因 為 他 經 過 試 驗 以 後 ， 必 得 生 命 的 冠 冕 ； 這 是 主 應 許 給 那 些 愛 他 之 人 的 。

Sermon

Rev. Vicente Sia

謝國智牧師

Communion

Song of Reflection

English:

中文:

Tithes And Offering

If you are led by the Lord to give for the purpose He has placed in your heart as a way of sharing your blessings or giving thanks to the Lord,
Kindly click here for more information.

Benediction Song