REJOICING WITH OUR GDM BRETHREN (MATTHEW 13:16)

Dear Members in Christ,                                                                                                                   

Rejoicing with our GDM brethren (Matthew 13:16)

Today we remember the 15^th anniversary of the Grace Deaf Ministry (GDM). It is quite apt that we remember the words of our Lord Jesus who taught His disciples, 

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.” (Matthew 13:16)

The Grace Deaf Ministry has been with us for several years now. The formation of this ministry was quite certainly the providential work of God. By the gracious leading of God’s hand, they were brought into our midst. We thank God for their continuing perseverance in worship and fellowship to this day. 

In the above passage, the Lord Jesus was not speaking to the deaf, but to the hearing when He said, “blessed are … your ears, for they hear.” But in this passage, the Lord is referring to a different form of audio sense, that is, the hearing of spiritual things. Thank God for the believers in the Grace Deaf Ministry, these have heard the call to salvation, and they continue to gather for worship every Lord’s Day at Calvary Jaya.  As we remember this ministry, we also praise and thank God for the work of grace in the hearts of the people. That is the work of God’s grace for both the deaf congregants as well as the hearing who serve in this ministry. 

A. Spiritual work in the hearts of the believers

In the passage above, the Lord Jesus was speaking to the disciples about the reason for teaching them in parables. The Lord Jesus’ rebuke was for those whose hearts were hardened to the message of God’s word. He said, “Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.” Matthew 13:13.

This is a unique kind of blindness and deafness. It can strike those who have perfect vision and perfect hearing. This is the blindness and deafness to the message of repentance and salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. But for those whose eyes, ears and hearts are opened to the Gospel message, the Lord Jesus says, “blessed are … your ears, for they hear.”

Our brethren in the Grace Deaf Ministry have placed their trust in the Lord Jesus for salvation. Just as any one of us who has confessed our sins and professed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, these our deaf brethren know and understand the message of God’s grace in the atonement work of the Son of God on the cross of Calvary. This is a stirring that can only come about by the working of the Holy Spirit. Thank God for His work of grace amongst the deaf brethren.

B. Spiritual work requires the service of God’s people.

Some of you may wonder how is a worship service conducted for those in the GDM? Perhaps some may be wondering, how can the word of God be taught to the deaf? The truth is, it is a ministry that requires much work and patience. Those who serve in this ministry put in many hours constructing slide presentations, having them reviewed, and finally delivered as the weekly sermon message. There is also a need for another piece of work, an order of worship which has to be typed out and projected each week. Then there is a Bible study session, which again requires hours of preparation.

We thank God for those brothers and sisters who serve in this ministry. God has moved their hearts to continue to serve the deaf brethren in the GDM. We pray and hope that God will touch the heart of some who will want to serve in this ministry. Indeed, “the laborers are few.” We pray that God will send laborers to help this ministry. Service to God requires determination and effort. May God bless this ministry, and help it to grow according to His will and pleasure. May God be praised.

In His Service,
Rev. Lim Seh Beng, Pastor