New year Worship Service | 01 January 2025 | 12:00 PM
The New Year day dawned bright and clear, the palpable excitement and hope in the hearts of the congregants ensued in a joyous praise and worship session. Worship leader read out Psalm 100 and verses from Psalm 90 before committing the service to the Lord. It was with a thankful spirit and a grateful heart that the congregation sang songs of praise and dedicated themselves to the Almighty. The offerings was dedicated by Upa Tuanmuanthang.
TBUC Vice Chairman, Upa Thangkhosiam delivered the New Year greetings. Thereafter, Pastor Lamkhanthang took up the pastoral prayer for the congregation followed by a beautiful choir from the BYF.
Pastor Suankhanhau delivered a New Year Sermon on the EBC theme for the year - 'Search out and examine your ways', taken from the Book of Lamentations 3:40. Introducing the theme, he highlighted the relevance of examining our ways being the start of the New Year and the fact that it is the present need for our community- leaders as well as the people. Drawing parallel between the Jewish society at the time of prophet Jeremiah, the author of the Book of Lamentations and our present condition, he emphasized that the only way to receive healing is to examine our ways so that we will know where we have gone wrong and turn back to the LORD. He explained that 'ways' in the verse encompass our whole life-way of living and thought processes.
Delving into the reasons for examining our ways, Pastor said that the world is heading towards destruction rather than good times. We are living in the end times. As written in Matthews 24:3-8, the world is experiencing the signs of the end of the age. The ongoing trouble in Myanmar, Russia-Ukraine war, war in Gaza, ethnic conflict in Manipur, spurt in modern technological advancement (Daniel 12:4), connectivity through internet, social media (Rev 11:9-10), increase in global persecution of Christians (Matthew 24:9), falling away from the truth, preparedness of Israel in building the third temple, etc, are ample evidences that the end of the age is near.
Coming back to the need to examine our ways, Pastor posed the question on what is really important in life. He said that the things we value viz. job, wealth, property, fame, knowledge and learning are no doubt important but the most important thing is salvation, relationship with God and preparedness to face the rapture. If we were to die today, are we ready to face God? Do we have the conviction that we will be with God in Heaven? It is imperative to search out and examine our ways so that if it is not right, we can turn back and follow the right path. God is calling us to turn to Him. Those who realize their mistakes and turn back early are the blessed ones. We should avoid the stage in which we have gone too far to turn back. As a believer, it is also required to examine ourselves whether our ways are pleasing to God and live a life of holiness and fear of God. In conclusion, Pastor made an altar call for those who wanted to receive Jesus as their Savior and for those committed to turn back to Him and live a life of holiness by the will of God.
The Baptist Dorcas Committee presented a choir for the glory of God and the service concluded with thanksgiving prayer by Upa Sonzalian.
