It is a privilege to share a celebration of a 90th birthday with a faithful saint of God. She is one person who, "Let not mercy and truth forsake her, but bound them about her neck. So sister Phillips wrote them upon the table of thine heart" (Proverbs 3:3). She has set an excellent example for her family and the saints of God. Therefore,  beloved brothers & sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Notice Jesus’ caution: "Take heed that no man deceives you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many." (Matthew 24:4-5). Let's clearly understand this statement. Jesus warned that many would come in his name preaching him as the Christ, yet they will deceive many! Religious deception is rampant. God is not the author of confusion! Brother Singh reminds us that God would not send five preachers into a community, to establish five different churches, each claiming their version of the truth. Yet there is one who benefits from chaos and deception. 

Has Gospel Assembly, as a fellowship, become a 21st Century Pharisee movement? The question is blunt, but Jesus asked a similar sobering question about his return: "When the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:8) Our Lord spoke a parable (of the poor women petitioning the judge) "unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." (v.9). We call ourselves the Body of Christ and take pride in our understanding of scripture. We believe that our doctrines are correct. Yet, there is a vast gulf between righteousness in God and self-righteousness.

A pastor's primary role is perfecting the saints: changing or converting our nature from carnality to spiritual. (Romans 8:7). It can be torturous labor, for we do not change easily! Yet if transformation were not possible, there would be no references in scripture to the term 'overcoming.' So, the God-called ministry leads us "who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life" (Romans 2:7). The necessity for "unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God" ought to be evident to every elect child of God. How can Christ's church call itself a body if we wrangle over an essential understanding of scripture and God's nature? 

Brother Sam watered the lesson entitled Ephesians 5. "be followers of God, as dear children; walking in love." Although the instruction appears to be straightforward, it is how we follow God that matters. "Following" is not a random commitment based on feelings but instead is an understanding and commitment to discipleship. It involves enlightenment, wherein God has opened our ears and ears to receive understanding. We follow a God-called ministry in Spirit and truth. Jesus builds his church, so the gates of hell do not prevail against it.

If the Apostle Paul were to write an epistle to the saints of Mississauga today, he would tell us we need salvation from the ungodly practices of the city. He would include sports, fashion, entertainment, and many other things God's people enjoy, including pagan festivities labeled as cultural events. Like the early Christians in Rome, pagan activities and traditions contaminate us. Yet, we may not even view some as evil! God desires to save us from such corrupting influences. 

We cannot presume that God is with us if we walk contrary to His lifestyle. Therefore, whenever the Israelites walked contrary to God, He sent a prophet to warn them of pending judgment. "Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomits out her inhabitants" (Leviticus 18:24-25)

We take many of God’s gifts—like cognitive ability—for granted until one day it is removed from us. Brother Vid shared his testimony after a personal challenge few of us will ever face. He speaks of faith, so absolute, that in his darkest days, despite the absence of abstract thinking, or complex problem-solving, he was able to trust God. God never errors in his judgment or timing. After a two-year absence, we welcome Brother Vid, one of our founding elders.

Humans lust for many things, from sex to power, from money to a religious fix. The Body of Christ mustn't assemble to fulfill a 'religious' lust! Remember that apostasy invaded the New Testament church while the apostles were still alive. If people would not endure instruction in righteousness back then, how much worse is today, 2000 years later? 21st Century life is ablaze with disparaging voices that seek to erase past cultural standards. A thin line separates the narrow way from the broad path: "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:14). Our heaven Father uses His called ministry to protect that thin of truth by preaching the unadulterated word of God.