Young Adults' Group

A Deeper Faith

by Pastor Mark
January 15, 2026

A challenging start to the year

It has not been an easy start to the year. As a church, we have already seen three deaths in the first full week of 2026. We may also be encountering our own difficult circumstances. In facing these troubles of life, our faith needs to come to the forefront. We ought to face these realities not with a shallow faith, but with a deeper and stronger one.

The Psalmist of Psalm 33 wrote about having a deeper faith in the sovereignty of God, “The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:10–11). These are God’s sovereign plans. They are higher and greater than the plans of man. Do we have the faith to understand and fulfil the higher plans of God? Over the years, we have come to appreciate the great plans of God as a church.

The cultivation of a deeper faith

1. Breaking barriers

1. The Psalmist thought of the plans of the nations that were against Israel
   • The nations had counsel to destroy Israel.
   • But the Psalmist had faith in God, who broke through those barriers.
   • He made their plans of no effect.
   • Their counsel came to nothing.
2. Breaking barriers as a church
   • Over the last 5 decades, we have seen Bethany break through many barriers.
   • I thank God for Bethany…for how we have grown from Bethany I to Bethany IV.
   • We have broken through social and financial barriers.
   • We have broken through physical barriers that limited our ministries.
   • Bethany have broken through racial and cultural barriers.
   • We have broken through religious and legalistic barriers.
3. It is with a deeper faith that we can break through more barriers going forward.

2. Beyond

1. The Psalmist had a deeper faith that went beyond
   • He had faith in God, who not only broke through barriers but who also went beyond.
   • God fulfilled His sovereign plans for Israel.
   • They became His chosen people…His inheritance.
   • God was watching with His eyes from His dwelling place (Psalm 33:13–14).
   • His work in their lives was fulfilled.
   • This is what our faith should be…to have a deeper faith in God and go beyond.
2. Going beyond
   • By having a deeper faith, Bethany has gone beyond with each year.
   • Our churches overseas have grown significantly in India, Myanmar, Perth and Kenya.
   • Now, we have senior pastors in place over in India and Myanmar.

The challenge to cultivate a deeper faith

As we face the barriers that affect our lives and ministries in 2026, let us cultivate a deeper faith that is able to break through barriers, such as our sins and the distractions of life. Let us seek to go beyond ourselves to reach greater heights in our lives and ministries for the Lord.

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