KMC English, Orion Industrial Building #02-06, 160 Paya Lebar Road, Singapore (2026)

26/04/2020

Submission to the Governing Authoriry

Romans 13:1-7

13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honour.

Introduction

With the outbreak of Covid-19, countries around the world issue new rules and regulations. One of such new regulations that turned into law is the prohibition of meeting with people who are not from the same household (Singapore Law for the outbreak).

Consequently, church services have to be suspended. Anyone breaks this law will have to face the law and if found guilty, he will be punished.

A pastor in the US was arrested because he did not adhere to the new regulation of suspending his church service.
According to a report, this pastor later was infected by the virus and died.

The Bible clearly teaches us that we need to submit to the governing authority. Paul advised the Christians in Rome to subject themselves to the Roman government even though the Roman government was not in favor to Christianity at the time of Paul. In fact, under Cesar Nero, Christianity was persecuted. Yet, Paul gave instruction to his fellow believers to submit to the government who ruled over them.

Paul explained his argument why believers need to submit to the governing authority .

1. Government is established by God Himself (v.1)

I have shared in my devotion some time back that Jesus is the Decision Maker of what can happen in this World. In Matthew 28:18 Jesus said that all authority in heaven and earth have been given to Him.

Therefore, there is nothing that happen in this world without His knowledge and His consent. This applies to the establishment of a government. There is no government in this world exists without His permission.

We may think that certain government is very bad, undemocratic, evil and practice injustice and corruption. Imagine a country like North Korea where its officials practice injustice.

We may think a country like Indonesia which government acknowledges that all of its citizen has freedom to practice their faith. Yet, in reality there are injustice in many places in Indonesia where Christianity is treated unfairly.

In this situation we may asked how can God allows such government. Yet the Bible clearly says that no government was established without God’s permission. All government that exists today, in the past and in the future is established by God.

Therefore, we need to submit to the government. Rebellion against the authority is rebellion against God himself (v.2). If we are rebellious, for example we do not want to follow the new rules that the government imposes on wearing mask, if we are caught and have to pay $300, then it is too bad for us for we rebel against the authority.

If we suffer such suffering, we are not suffer for the righteousness but suffer due to our foolishness.

2. Government is God’s Servant for the good of the people (v.4)

Government is God’s tool for the good of the people including those who are in Christ. Imagine, if the government of Singapore did not take any action in the light of Covid-19 and we are allowed to continue doing our business as usual, on Sunday there will be service in every church. I think many of us may be already been infected, ill and even die.

Government is also there for the good of the people including God’s people not only in time of crisis. But also in time where there is no national crisis. When there is no national crisis, it does not mean there is no individual crisis. Some families may still have financial crisis even when the economy is booming.

I remember in 2006 when we just moved from Batam to Singapore. My wife and I did not have any job and had no income. For the first 3 months or more I think, we relied on the government financial support just for us to have food on the table.

I believe every government in any country right now are doing their best to help the people who are affected by the Covid-19. Some like Singapore, have to dig into the reserved money to help the people and companies so that the economy can keep going.

In view of this, as a good citizen and for the sake of God’s glory, we should subject to the government. When the government needs us to pay tax, we have to pay (v. 6). Even Jesus said that whatever belong to God must give to God, whatever belong to Caesar (government) must give to the Caesar (Matthew 22:21).

Then he (Jesus) said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

When we practice obedience to the government, it also brings glory to our God. Of course there might be government which is evil. For this we still have to subject because if the government is too evil, God can stop the existence of such government.

It is not our job to rebel and to overthrow such government. God can use anyone to overthrow the evil government.
In history there are many such examples where certain government/regime has to be overthrown either by its own people or by external forces. Germany under Hi**er is such example.

3. Government is the agent of God’s wrath and punishment of the wrong doer (v.4b)

Government is also God’s tool to deliver punishment for those who practice evil. The establishment of the institution like army, police force, etc are intended to keep a country in order.

Imagine if there is country without army or police force. There might be chaos every day. Imagine if someone openly steal your belonging and you do not have a venue to report and to ask help.

Government therefore exists so that those who do evil will get punished and hopefully repent. It is a kind of God’s warning to the evil doer. It is better to be punished by the government in this world for the evil we do rather than being punished by God in eternity.

It is heartening to know that many people who was initially bad and often broke the law and in out of jail became good.

I know many of such persons. One of them is the founder of The New Charis Mission, Pastor Don Wong. He was rebellious, drug offender and many times in and out of jail because of breaking the law of the government.

Yet through life in prison, he met Jesus, repented and now a pastor who brought many people to Christ. Imagine if the government closed its eyes to such person. He maybe continue doing evil and never repent and never believe in Jesus.

So, even though government punishes those who break the law and it seems to be bad for them, yet God can use it for good.

Conclusion

Let’s continue to adhere what government has instructed us in light of the outbreak. The reason is clear, no government is established without God’s permission, without the consent of Jesus, the King of kings.

God uses the government to bless us, to protect us from any kind of evil. Our duty is to obey what is required as good citizen.

19/04/2020

We Are More Than Conquerors (Romans 8:35-39)

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Introduction
In this time of crisis, we may receive messages from friends around the world that encourage us to stay strong and be positive. Some messages we receive may sound like this:

“Any kind of crisis can be good. It wakes you up." Ryan Reynolds

“There's always an opportunity with crisis…” Judy Smith

“There is a silver lining in every dark cloud” (anonymous)

“We can see there is a light at the end of the tunnel” (anonymous)

No matter how encouraging a word may be when we are in a crisis, there is no encouraging word that is comparable to the Word of God. I am referring to the words that Paul said in his letter to the Romans.

Paul said that despite of all the crisis that almost take his life, Paul dared to say that he and those who stand with him are more than conquerors. The fact that Paul used the first plural “we” in this verse, it shows that the experience he experienced was shared to all other believers as well. It means that all believers can experience to be more than conquerors.

I am interested with the word ‘more than’ in the ‘more than a conquerors.’ We are not just conquerors but more than that. What does it mean, why Paul said so and how it applies to us?

What does it mean when Paul said that we are more than conquerors? Is being just a conqueror isn’t enough.

What he was conquering that led him to say that he and those who stand with him were more than conquerors?

1. Paul Conquered his own flesh
Paul was in a situation where in every turn he made, he faced danger.

Wherever he went, there were people who tried to persecute him. He experienced suffering like no other in his ministry. In fact, suffering was the mark of his apostleship assigned by Jesus himself.

For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” (Acts 9:16).

His suffering is part and parcel of his ministry. We do not have to list his sufferings during his mission trip to preach the Gospel to both the Jews and the gentiles for they are many. But one of them that he himself mentioned is that he was striped five times for 39 stripes every time which accumulated to 195 stripes. (2 Cor. 11:24).

In such a situation, Paul was steadfast and faithful to his call for an exclusive ministry which only he himself was assigned to by Jesus.

Paul may not be part of the 12 disciples of Jesus, yet he was one of the greatest apostles. He was assigned specifically to preach the Gospel to the gentiles as well as to the children of Israel.

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. (Acts 9:15).

Paul would not be able to accomplish his mission if he was not able to conquered his own flesh. Being a former persecutor of Christian and an highly educated pharisee, his pride had been broken down when he met Jesus on the way to Damascus (Acts 9). Yet, as mere human, he could have used his chance to reject the assignment from Jesus. He could go back to his own life. Yet, he chose to obey Jesus’ call and became slave of the Gospel and slave to all.

1 Corinthians 9:19–23
For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. 20 And to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law, though not being myself under the Law, that I might win those who are under the Law; 21 to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, that I might win those who are without law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some. 23 And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

In other occasion Paul mentioned that he was able to be content in any situation whether in hunger or in full.

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all thingsI have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:12-13).

Conquering our flesh includes ability to have self-control which is part of the fruit of the spirit. The fact that self-control is part of the fruit of the spirit, those who have the holy spirit should be able to control himself too.

The Bible honours people who have self-control higher than he who can take a city but does not have self-control.

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city (Proverb 16:32)

A person who has conquered him/herself is a person with self-control. A person with self-control has the ability to control his own flesh desire, control and guard his mouth, ability to endure persecution for the sake of righteousness and for the sake of God, just like Paul.

Having self-control also includes ability to avoid having attitude of self-pity and always feel himself as a victim when things go wrong.

Without conquering the “self” first, we will not be able to conquer our enemies that can destroy the mission God has given to us. In fact, the biggest enemy some time is ourselves. Once we are able to conquer our self, we can conquer our external enemies.

2. Paul conquered his fear of the enemy of the Gospel

Paul’s enemy is the enemy of the Gospel and enemy of the Gospel is the enemy of Jesus and God Himself.

Enemy of the Gospel is a force that prevent the preaching of the Gospel. It can manifest in different forms such as persecution of those who preach the Gospel.

Paul listed things that can prevent him from preaching the Gospel, e.g., tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword.

None of those would prevent him from accomplishing his mission to reach out to both the gentiles and the Jews with the Gospel.

Paul also mentioned angels, principalities and power.

Paul had no fear on those things that can prevent him from the preaching the Gospel.

His love to the lost has conquered his fear. His love to those who will perish without Christ made himself slave for them for the sake of saving them through Jesus Christ.

Are we still fear in reaching out to our friends with the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Our fear in reaching out to friends with the Gospel can be in the form of:
• Rejection
• Persecution
• Failure of winning them
• Spiritual attack

If we love our friends and loved one who do not know Jesus and perish, we should conquer our fear in reaching out to them.

Perhaps this time is the best time to share Jesus to those do not know Him.

3. His secret of his victory is the love of God in Christ Jesus.

In difficult situation Paul declared that he was not being separated from the love of Christ (Romans 8:36).

Further he boldly said that he and those who stand with him are more than conquerors in facing those persecution because nothing can separate them and us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

There is no time for Paul to be self-pity. Instead of being self-pity on the situation he was facing every day, he declared boldly that he and those stand with him are more than conquerors.

The word ‘for’ in verse 38 indicates continuation or rather the cause of why Paul can declare that he and who suffer with him are more than conquerors in verse 37.

The words “more than conquerors” is a compound verb. It means the word ‘more than conquerors” is just one word in Greek. The usual meaning of the preposition in composition is “above all measure.’, hence was translated in English to “more than conqueror.”

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

So, my interpretation to these verses is that nothing can stop Paul from preaching the Gospel because there is nothing that can separate him from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

It does not matter if Paul has to die, it does not matter if Paul has to face angels, or principalities or power, or anything that may harm or get him killed. For God through Jesus Christ has defeated all those things.

The love of God in Christ Jesus is the main motivator that kept him going no matter what.

The love of Christ should be our motivator to continue to walk with Him, to follow Him and to do His works in this world. Those require our sacrifice. Those require us to conquer our self and conquer our fear.

In summary

We are more than conquerors because our victory does not depend on our own strength. The love of God that is demonstrated in sending His Son to die on the cross for us should be the drive of living a victorious life.

With that in mind and because we have the same Spirit, the Holy Spirit, we should be able to conquer our self-centredness and our fear.

So let us not be dishearthed with what is happening around us for whatever happen, we will not be separated from the love of God in Christ Jesus. In this case, we are more than conquerors.
God bless.

03/04/2020

Good evening every1, hope this message finds all of you well and safe. In line with recent development in Covid-19 outbreak and guideline from the government announced this afternoon, we will not be having service until further notice.
While we trust in God's protection upon us, act wisely and responsibly are also a must.

Please continue to pray for each other and trust the Lord that the crisis will be over sooner than later.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4:6 NKJV

07/03/2020

In view of Covid-19, there will be no service tomorrow, 9 Mar 2020. Members are advise to do their own prayers at home. Thank you.

31/01/2020

In time like this where the world seems to have trouble, it is good to dwell in the promise of our Lord Jesus Christ.

17/06/2019

Saturday to Sunday ministries, 15-16 Jun 19, from Saturday Sunday school, water baptism and preaching of the words in 2 congregations of the Church of God of Prophecy together with Ps Syukur Lase within Bintan insland. Tiring but fruitful and fullfiling...praise be to God. We should, borrowing from mother Theresa's words, "live simply so that others may simply live."
If you would like to financially support this ministry, due to no local church bank account at the moment, please send your donation to
Thomas Sungkowo Handoyo
Bank name: POSB
Acc. No.: 186-42578-2
SWIFT Code: DBSSSGSG

Or call +6596775427
Thank you for your generosity.

07/05/2019

Ps Syukur Lase is one of COGOP pastors serving in Bintan island of Indonesia. He has 37 families in his now 2 congregations in 2 different locations. He and his family of 2 children aged 7 and 12 serve in various ministries 4x a week. To reach the church, he and his family have to travel for 20 km with just 1 motorbike. Many times they have to travel at night through the jungle of palm oil plantation. As the children are growing up, it is becoming more difficult to travel with the family to serve his congregations with just one motorbike. To leave the children at home alone, it will compromise their safety. Please pray that God somehow will provide a better vehicle for him to be used for ministry.
We would like to raise fund of SGD10,000 for the purchase of a used van/car. Please contact us if you eould like to donate.
Thank you and God bless.

12/11/2018

Additional photos from KMC English 3rd Anniversary.

11/11/2018

We celebrated 3rd church anniversary today...it is still pretty young and have a long way to go. Thanks everyone for participating in this joyful occasion.

27/04/2018

Let us not be known among friends as the word of God

Godly Sincerity Concerning God's Word

"For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:17)"
2 Corinthians 2:17: For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

Godly sincerity concerning God's word is another characteristic with which the Lord desires to mark us by His grace. "For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity…we speak." The manner in which we relate to the word of God is a high priority to our Lord. In the early church, some were already relating wrongly to God's word: "peddling the word of God." They were using the Scriptures for self-gain.

The Bible warns us about the temptations people face concerning inappropriate uses of the word. "There are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain" (Titus 1:10-11).
Titus 1:10: For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision:
Titus 1:11: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.

Titus was warned of many in the church world who were rebelling against the message of God's word. They were into the meaningless chatter and religious deception that came from the legalists, who loved to coerce people by means of the law. It was necessary that these men be silenced with the truth, because they were undermining the spiritual well-being of entire families. They were teaching things that were biblically unacceptable. Their motivation was the financial advantage they could acquire by peddling deceptions. So many today are tempted to go after the material gain that can be obtained from those who will embrace religious schemes.

Paul also warned about others who would be motivated by the power and influence that a cleverly distorted message might produce. "For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves" (Acts 20:29-30). True disciples follow the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, a true disciple wants to assist others in their quest to follow Jesus. These deceivers wanted others to follow them. This threat would be two-fold. Ruthless unbelievers would "come in" from outside the church. Also, "from among yourselves," men with an adulterated message would arise inside the church.

Godly sincerity is to characterize our treatment of the Scriptures. We are to proclaim the truth. "But as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ." We are to proclaim the biblical message that is from God, and do it in genuineness, knowing our God is watching.

"Lord, I do not want to be careless in message or dishonest in motives concerning Your word. Mark me with godly sincerity regarding the Bible, in Jesus' name, Amen."

25/04/2018

A Fragrance of Christ to God

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge…For we are to God the fragrance of Christ. (2 Corinthians 2:14-15)"
In addition to the characteristic of triumphant living, God also wants to develop in our lives the fragrance of Christ. "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge."

Just as there are physical fragrances that can be noticed by our physical senses, there are also spiritual fragrances that can impact us spiritually. If a woman generously applies perfume to herself, others will certainly notice the fragrance of that perfume. If a person consistently presses on to know the Lord, others will definitely be impacted by the "fragrance of His knowledge." This is described as the "fragrance of Christ." This is that spiritual aroma that emanates from the lives of those who are getting to know the Lord. It is a validating reality that the Lord Jesus Christ is dwelling in their lives and is being evidenced through their lives.

As we are getting to know the Lord more and more, this spiritual aroma of Christ blesses even God Himself. "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ." Yes, God is the first one who savors this Christlike fragrance.

Our ministry and testimony is always primarily unto the Lord. We who believe in Jesus Christ are to be "finding out what is acceptable to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:10). We are not here on earth to please ourselves. "Do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a servant of Christ" (Galatians 1:10). We are here to please our God. "Brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God" (1 Thessalonians 4:1).

What ultimately pleases our heavenly Father is His beloved Son. When the Father looked down from heaven at the baptism of His Son, He exclaimed, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). When our Father looks down upon our lives today, He wants to enjoy the fragrance of His Son emanating forth from our lives. "For we are to God the fragrance of Christ."

"Heavenly Father, I long to bless You by the fragrance of Christ through my life. I am sorry that the stench of selfish flesh is what sometimes emanates from me. Lord, help me to get to know You more and more, so that the knowledge of You can produce the aroma of Christ in and through me, in Jesus' name, Amen."

22/04/2018

The blessings of Obed-Edom

How God blessed the house of Obed-Edom during the three months that the ark of the Lord was in his house. The scripture is not silent on the type of blessings that Obed-Edom experienced, but first a little bit more history.

When we first hear about Obed-Edom, he is living in a place called Kiron. By the time we read of him again, he is not only in Jerusalem but ministering before the Lord. He must have relocated his entire family to Jerusalem. When we understand the type of blessing he experienced, it is easy to understand why he would have made such a sacrifice.

In 2 Samuel 6:12, we read “Now it was told King David saying, the Lord has blessed Obed-Edom and all that he has because of the ark.”

The bible describes three types of blessings. The first blessing takes place when the ark was initially placed in his house and refers to material blessing, whilst the second and third blessings are recorded after his move to Jerusalem
Material blessing – 1 Chronicles 13:14.

The ark of God remained with the family of Obed-Edom in his house for three months, and the Lord blessed his household and everything he had.

The blessing would have included things like cattle and the produce of the land. God gave Obed-Edom the prosperity of the land and the fertility of the land. God still wants to bless us, throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that we will not have room enough for it. This is the word of God. God blesses your household and lets you prosper in all that you do.
Gatekeeper – activity in the things of God – 1 Chronicles 16:36-38

The second blessing is a blessing of ministry and the ability to have regular interaction with the house of God where the ark was kept. He is described as a musician, doorkeeper and gatekeeper in the house of God. He was privileged to be always near the ark. King David appointed Obed-Edom as a gatekeeper of the temple responsible for guarding the ark. Guarding the ark of the covenant and the temple was a very important and valued position at that time. Obed-Edom was in charge of the southern gate which was used only by kings. God allowed him a new position of keeping the ark and the temple. God gives honour to those who keep the ark and those who live in accordance with the ark.

Blessing of his offspring. 1 Chronicles 26:4-8

Obed-Edom’s son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders in their father’s family because they were very capable men. The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed and Elzabad; his relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also able men. All these were descendants of Obed-Edom; they and their sons and their relatives were capable men with the strength to do the work—descendants of Obed-Edom, 62 in all.

Finally, there was generational blessing. As Obed-Edom served God by looking after the ark of the covenant, he received generational blessing. He had eight sons and 62 descendants in all. The Scripture says all of them were able and successful. There were many people who were successful themselves, but whose children were not successful at all. God blessed those who worked around the ark by making their descendants prosperous and successful.

The Psalmist says in Ps 112:1-2, “Praise the Lord. Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in his commands. His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.”

If the ark is treated properly, it can be a source of blessing.

Here was a man who hungered intensely after the things of God. Having experienced the blessing of God in Kiron, I imagine it must have whet his appetite for the things of God and he was ready to do whatever it took to be in God’s presence, even if that meant relocating his family.

Do you, like me, desire these types of blessings for your family?

If so, stay and pursue the presence of God and you will be amazed at what God will do. For He love me and you and gave himself for you 🙂

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

KMC English

26/04/2020

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