PRAYING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS

From the Board of Elders

Dear Members in Christ,

Praying for the Next Generation of Leaders

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. ³ Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.” 2 Timothy 2:2-3.

“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; ⁴ And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. ⁵ But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:2-5.

In God’s wisdom, purpose and timing, Calvary Jaya BP Fellowship (CJBPF), a reformed fundamental Church was founded in Petaling Jaya in 1984. With gratitude and thanksgiving, we thank God that CJBPF remains faithful to His Word despite the many disruptions and attacks by the evil one over the years of her existence. We have seen, around us, even globally, many reformed fundamental churches had gone astray into apostasy.

CJBPF must always be watchful, sober and vigilant against the attacks of the evil one. Recent history has, and still is, teaching us that the main attack of Satan against fundamental Christianity today is in the interpretation of the Bible, made even easier, by the proliferation of many perverted Bible translations based on the corrupted text of Westcott and Hort. This result in false gospels, deceptive and distorted doctrines, and therefore false churches, Bible Institutions, teachers and pastors.

CJBPF holds fast to the King James Bible (KJB) as the basic text in the teaching of the Word of God. KJB is the most accurate and faithful translation from the original preserved text in the original languages.

We are now in the end time, and the evil one realises his time is limited, is now doubling, if not tripling or more his effort to turn churches away from the sound doctrine of the Lord. More and more churches are turning apostates. In recent years, this phenomena has accelerated. It is also public knowledge that protestant churches are moving back to Rome to form a One World Church Movement. Protestant churches had forgotten the history of the Reformation of 1517 when Martin Luther led true believers out from the grasp and bondage of the Roman Catholic Church.

The Bible warns us not to be unequally yoked with unbelieving churches (cf. 2 Corinthians 6:14). Unless the Lord returns, this ecumenical tide can never be stopped or end. Thus, no local church is guaranteed from falling by the way side. Every generation must fight their own battle to remain faithful to the Lord.

With history learnt, CJBPF must be alert and not to entertain and allow liberals and modernists into the Fellowship. It is pertinent that CJBPF must remain faithful and continue to hold forth the Word of God for generations to come - defending the good old Faith! The faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

The baton of the founding leadership in CJBPF is now in the hands of the present leadership, otherwise known as the second generation of leaders, which are the Elders (teaching and ruling Elders) and Deacons/Deaconess.

CJBPF Constitution:

Article 11, sub-article 11.2, states “The spiritual oversight of the Church in matters of doctrines, principle of government, church elections, admission and discipline of members and the administrative oversight of the Church shall be the specific responsibilities of the Board of Elders.”

Article 11, sub-article 11.3, states “The general spiritual and administrative oversight of the Church may be delegated by the Board of Elders to the Deacons and Deaconesses.”

The responsibility and burden of overseeing the faith and continuing the good work of the ministry which God commits to the hands of the leaders must continue uninhibited. The present leadership must prepare the next generation of leaders to continue the work of the Lord. We pray that each generation of leaders will continue to proclaim, defend, guard and evangelize the good old reformed fundamental faith. They must be convicted and committed to the Word and work of the Lord. At the end of each generation of leaders, they must be able to declare like the Apostle Paul “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:” 2 Timothy 4:7.

As leaders and congregation members of CJBPF, let us seek to call upon God daily to keep CJBPF faithful in standing firmly for the faith and to profess the Truth in order that God will be glorified and believers built up in the most holy faith and sinners saved until salvation. The pulpit must continue to proclaim, guard, defend the Word of God, and refute, rebuke false teachings and teachers. CJBPF’s Statement of Faith can be accessed from the Fellowship’s website.

CJBPF will be having an election to elect leaders to the Offices of Elder, Deacon/ Deaconess soon. The qualifications for the respective Offices of the Elders (1 Timothy 3: 2-7; Titus 1:6-9) and Deacons (1 Timothy 3: 8-13) are set forth in the Word of God. It is the godly duty of all members to elect members who are well rooted and grounded in the faith and doctrines into the leadership.

It is an honour and privilege to serve the one true and living God. God does not simply call anyone for He knows whom He calls. For whom He calls, He will also enable with the relevant capability and capacity. The question is whether you have faith in Him and NOT whether you have the ability and time to serve! Our Lord is faithful and like the Apostle Paul in his letter to young Timothy says ”… for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 2 Tim 1:12.

In the weekly prayer meeting, CJBPF has been praying for the next generation of God fearing leaders to be raised up to serve. Thus, when you are called to serve, please respond with “Here am I, send me” (cf Isaiah 6:8). May the Lord lay this burden on your heart to serve Him. If you do not, who will?

If you are the spouse, parents, members of the family or brethren to the one who is called, please pray and encourage him/her to serve. The joy of service to the Lord must be the joy of every true believers. God will provide abundantly. The Lord’s coming is soon. Serving the Lord cannot be delayed, compromised nor done slothfully nor unwillingly. We must all be up and about doing His work fervently and enthusiastically. Will you do your part for the Lord and His kingdom? The time is NOW!

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8.

In Christ, Eld. Choe Tong Seng