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Prayer - Monday
- Give thanks to God for salvation and the redemption that is found alone through Jesus Christ. - Give thanks to God for granting us particular skills and abilities that we might fulfil our vocations (jobs, studies, family responsibilities and time we spend alone). (Ecclesiastes 9.10, Ephesians 6.6) - Pray for the Lord's blessing on the working week for us and all in the congregation. - Pray the Lord would grant us grace to be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - The time when Zephaniah prophesied. God's severe judgment against Judah for various sins. Zephaniah 1 Preface - Jesus is accused before Pilate, who sendeth him to Herod. Herod disappointed in his expectations mocketh him, and sendeth him back. Pilate willing to release Jesus, is prevailed on by the clamours of the people to release Barabbas, and give Jesus to be crucified. Being led to the place of execution, Jesus biddeth the woman who lamented him to weep rather for themselves and their children: he is crucified between two malefactors: prayeth for his enemies; is scoffed at; reviled by one of the malefactors, but confessed by the other, to whom he promiseth a place in paradise. The unusual darkness, and rending of the veil of the temple: Christ crieth unto God, and expireth: the centurion's confession of him. Joseph of Arimathaea beggeth his body, and burieth it. The women prepare spices for the end of the sabbath. Luke 23 Daily Light - Morning To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? - Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. - To love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. Therefore turn thou to thy God: keep mercy and judgment, and wait on thy God continually. - Mary...sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word... One thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Pro. 21.3; Mi. 6.8; 1 Sa. 15.22; Mk. 12.33 Hos. 12.6; Lu. 10.39,42 Phil. 2.13 Daily Light - Evening The spirit shall return unto God who gave it. The LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. - There is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. - The first man Adam was made a living soul. - The spirit of man that goeth upward. Whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord... We are confident...and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. - With Christ; which is far better. - I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Ec. 12.7; Ge. 2.7; Job 32.8; 1 Co. 15.45; Ec. 3.21 2 Co. 5.6,8 Phil. 1.23; 1 Th. 4.13-14 Jn. 14.2-3 A Puritans Catechism Q 29 - How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? A - The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Good Works Chapter 16 PARAGRAPH 2 These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith;3 and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,4 strengthen their assurance,5 edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel,6 stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God,7 whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,8 that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.9 3 James 2:18,22 4 Ps. 116:12–13 5 1 John 2:3,5; 2 Pet. 1:5–11 6 Matt. 5:16 7 1 Tim. 6:1; 1 Pet. 2:15; Phil. 1:11 8 Eph. 2:10 9 Rom 6:22 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The idol God hates most Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? Hosea 14 v 8 Self-righteousness is the largest idol of the human heart - the idol which man loves most and God hates most. Dearly beloved, you will always be going back to this idol. You are always trying to do something in yourself, to gain God's favour by thinking little of your sin, or by looking to your repentance, tears, prayers; or by looking to your religious exercises, your frames, etc.; or by looking to your graces, the Spirit's work in your heart. Beware of false Christs. Study sanctification to the utmost, but make not a Christ of it. God hates this idol more than all others, because it comes in the place of Christ; it sits on Christ's throne. Just as the worship of the Virgin Mary is the worst of all kinds of idolatry, because it puts her in the place of Christ, so self-righteousness is the idol God hates most, for it sits on the throne of Christ. Dash it down, dear friends; let it never appear again. It is like Manasseh's carved image in the holiest of all. When Manasseh came home an altered man to Jerusalem, would not his first visit be to the holiest of all? With eager hand he would draw the veil aside; and when he found the carved image, he would dash it down from the throne of God. Go and do like wise. If you felt God's love freely by the righteousness without works, then why would you go back to this grim idol? What have I to do any more with idols?
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Dear Congregation,
I want to thank all of you who have prayed and supported the work of the Gospel through the church in 2023 and this first month of 2024. It is a great joy to minister at Westminster Baptist and I love the church here greatly. Through this past year, there have been heart-wrenching tragedies alongside blessings too. This is often the case in Christian life and yet we are called to keep trusting and believing. We often bear the battle scars of past experience and circumstance, as we live in this sinful world and anticipate heaven. We see Mordecai, mocked and scorned for years in Esther and on the brink of execution, yet he latterly knew blessing from God. The most important thing was he was faithful in serving the Lord. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful - 1 Corinthians 4.2. This verse especially applies to ministers, church workers, but to all Christians. We are stewards of the oracles of God and to us has the light of the gospel been revealed. We should therefore be striving to be faithful, not popular, faithful. May that be our aim by the grace of God. In the beginning month in recent years we have spent a week praying together on each day for certain things. As a reminder that with continuing faith that prayer is essential. Key to our hope and joy and endurance and love, and with new resolve to make time to pray regularly alone and with your family and with some group of fellow believers. Alongside reading the Scriptures these should be our daily routine. There are various encouragements in the Scriptures to pray: - Pray without ceasing (1 Th. 5:17). - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ep. 6:18). - Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Col. 4:2). These are a few verses of the many that encourage us to pray and undoubtedly set before us a biblical mandate that we should be concerned to pray. Maybe you have fallen out of the 'habit' or relegated prayer to a part time practice; or you only pray when trouble or danger comes. To that end I would ask the church to pray, if led, the suggested topics below so we might pray for the same things (roughly speaking) on the same day to encourage us. Let us be prayerful people and realise we too need prayer. To say we are praying for someone should be an expression of concern but an indication of our own action to bring the matter before God, before the throne of Grace through the believers mediator and High Priest. Jesus Christ, Paul even requests prayer for himself and those labouring for the Gospel with him twice in 1 and 2 Thessalonians saying 'brethren pray for us'. May we be a prayerful church and prayerful individuals, knowing that we have a prayer hearing and answering God. Pastor Jonathan Arnold Daily Prayer - Sunday - God thanks to God for His character, perfect, unchangeable, the same yesterday today and forever. - Give thanks to God that we can meet in the church and have fellowship with one another. - Pray the Lord would grant the preaching of his word power and clarity, and there are ready ears to hear and believe it. (2 Thes. 3.1.) - Pray we would be granted faithful ministry and good spiritual food from God's Word. (1 Peter 2.2.) Daily Reading Preface - Habakkuk's prayer: he describeth God's majesty, and wonders wrought in his people's behalf: he professeth his unshaken trust in God. Habakkuk 3 Preface - The chief priests and scribes conspire against Christ: Judas covenanteth to betray him. The apostles sent to prepare the passover: Christ eateth it with them; and instituteth his last supper: he covertly pointeth out the traitor: checketh the ambitious strife of his disciples, and promiseth them a share in his kingdom: he telleth Peter of Satan's desire to sift him; he adviseth his disciples to provide necessaries and a sword: his agony and prayer in the garden: he is betrayed; healeth a servant of the high priest, whose ear was cut off; is led to the high priest's house; Peter thrice denieth him. Christ is scornfully used; and brought before the council, where confessing himself to be the Son of God, he is pronounced guilty of blasphemy. Luke 22 Daily Light - Morning By love serve one another. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; let him know that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. - Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently. - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. - Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another. - Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. We...that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Ga. 5.13; Ga. 6.1-2 Jas. 5.19-20; 1 Pe. 1.22; Ro. 13.8; Ro. 12.10; 1 Pe. 5.5 Ro. 15.1 Daily Light - Evening Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was. It is sown in corruption...it is sown in dishonour...it is sown in weakness...it is sown a natural body. - The first man is of the earth, earthy. Dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. - One dieth in his full strength, being wholly at ease and quiet... And another dieth in the bitterness of his soul, and never eateth with pleasure. They shall lie down alike in the dust, and the worms shall cover them. My flesh...shall rest in hope. - Though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God, - The Lord Jesus Christ...shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I man know how frail I am. - So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Ec. 12.7; 1 Co. 15.42,43,44; 1 Co. 15.47 Ge. 3.19; Job 21.23,25-26 Ps. 16.9; Job 19.26; Phil. 3.20,21 Ps. 39.4; Ps. 90.12 A Puritans Catechism Q 28 - How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? A - Christ's exaltation consists in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Good Works Chapter 16 PARAGRAPH 1 Good works are only such as God has commanded in his Holy Word,1 and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intentions.2 1 Mic. 6:8; Heb. 13:21 2 Matt. 15:9; Isa. 29:13 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Not yet in heaven Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, It is good for us to be here: Matthew 17 v 4 My friend, you are no believer, if Jesus hath never manifested Himself to your soul in your secret devotions - in the house of prayer, or in the breaking of bread - in so sweet and overpowering a manner, that you have cried out, 'Lord it is good for me to be here!' Peter must come down again from the mount of glory, and fight the good fight of faith, amid the shame and contumely of a cold and scornful world. And so must every child of God. We are not yet in heaven, the place of open vision and unbroken enjoyment. This is earth, the place of faith, and patience, and heavenward-pointing hope. Daily Prayer - Saturday
- Give thanks to God that we have good news of salvation to tell that the repentant sinner might have everlasting life through Jesus Christ. (John 3.16.) - Pray the Lord would bless the Gospel outreach by the church in Westminster. Both on Saturday mornings and at services. - Pray the Lord would work in the contacts we have made both on Saturday mornings and at services; through personal conversations and online contacts. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - Unto Habakkuk, waiting for an answer, is showed that he must wait in faith. The judgment of the Chaldeans for insatiableness, ambition, cruelty, treacherous dealing and idolatry. Habakkuk 2 Preface - Christ valueth the poor widow's two mites above all the larger offerings of the rich: foretelleth the destruction of the temple; the signs and calamities that should precede and accompany it; and what should happen at the time of the Son of man's coming: he exhorteth to watchfulness and prayer. Luke 21 Daily Light - Morning He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. - Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. - As by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. - there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2 Co. 5.21; Isa. 53.6; 1 Pe. 2.24; Ro. 5.19 Titus 3.4-7; Ro. 8.1 Jer. 23.6 Daily Light - Evening I will be as the dew unto Israel. The meekness and gentleness of Christ. - His favour is as dew upon the grass. A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench. The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord... And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. He shall feed his flock like a shepherds: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. Hos. 14.5; 2 Co. 10.1; Pro. 19.12 Isa. 42.3 Lu. 4.18-19,21-22 Lu. 22.61-62 Isa. 40.11 A Puritans Catechism Q 27 - Wherein consists Christ's exaltation? A - Christ's exaltation consists in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation Chapter 15 PARAGRAPH 5 Such is the provision which God has made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation, that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation,8 yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation to them that repent,9 which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary. 8 Rom. 6:23 9 Isa. 1:16–18, 55:7 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Sowing and reaping Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11 v 1 So it is in giving liberally to the poor out of the love of Jesus. Yet fear not; you shall find a crop after many days. You say, 'If I were a rich Christian, how happy would I be to give!' Now, I just ask you to look at the man sowing seed. When he has but little, does he keep back from sowing that little? No; he sows the more anxiously the little he has. Do you the same. Daily Prayer - Friday
- Give thanks to God for many good things we enjoy and daily blessings. - Pray the Lord would supply the needs of those in the congregation at Westminster and guide us as we help those destitute and suffering. Especially those we have met in the pandemic. (Numbers 6.24-26.) - Pray for the ministry among the children and that they would know Christ from a young age. A rich blessing in this troubled world. - Pray for the evangelistic work, that people would know the greatest blessing of all salvation by the grace of God through Christ. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - Unto Habakkuk, complaining of the iniquity of the land, is showed the fearful vengeance by the Chaldeans: he complaineth that vengeance should be executed by them who are far worse. Habakkuk 1 Preface - Christ silenceth those who questioned his authority. The parable of the vineyard let out to wicked husbandmen. The chief priests and scribes seek matter against him: his reply to their insidious question concerning paying tribute to Caesar. He proveth the Sadducees completely wrong concerning the resurrection: he offereth an unanswerable proposition concerning a difficulty relating to the character of Christ: he warneth his disciples against the ambition and hypocrisy of the scribes. Luke 20 Daily Light - Morning It is God which worketh in you. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God. - A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. - No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. - And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us. Phil. 2.13; 2 Co. 3.5; Jn. 3.27; Jn. 6.44; Jer. 32.39 Jas. 1.16-18 Eph. 2.10 Isa. 26.12 Daily Light - Evening The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. In the way of thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for thee; the desire of our soul is to thy name, and to the remembrance of thee. With my soul have I desired thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early. I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not... For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. - The flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. - Our sufficiency is of God. - My grace is sufficient for thee. Mt. 26.41; Isa. 26.8-9 Ro. 7.18,22-23; Ga. 5.17 Phil. 4.13; 2 Co. 3.5; 2 Co. 12.9 A Puritans Catechism Q 26 - Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist? A - Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross, in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation Chapter 15 PARAGRAPH 4 As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man’s duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.7 7 Luke 19:8; 1 Tim. 1:13,15 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Listen! Jesus is praying Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. John 17 v 24 Father I will. This is the most wonderful prayer that ever rose from this earth to the throne of God, and this petition is the most wonderful in the prayer. No human lips ever prayed thus before - 'Father I will.' Abraham was the friend of God, and got very near to God in prayer, but he prayed as dust and ashes. 'I have taken upon me to speak unto God that am but dust and ashes.' Jacob had power with God, and prevailed, yet his boldest word was, 'I will not let thee go except thou bless me.' Daniel was a man greatly beloved, and got immediate answer to prayer, and yet he cried to God as a sinner 'O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hearken and do!' Paul was a man who got very near to God, and yet he says, 'I bow my knees to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.' But when Christ prayed, He cried, 'Father I will.' Why did He pray thus? He was God's fellow. 'Awake O sword against my shepherd, against the man that is my fellow.' He thought it no robbery to be equal with God. It was He that said, 'Let there be light, and there was light.' So now he says, 'Father I will.' He spoke as the intercessor with the Father. He felt as if His work were already done. 'I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.' He felt as if He had already suffered the cross, and now claims the crown. 'Father, I will.' This is the intercession now heard in heaven. He had one will with the Father. 'I and my Father are one.' One God - one in heart and will. True, He had a holy human soul, and, therefore, a human will; but His human will was one with His divine will. The human string in His heart was tuned to the same string with His divine will. Learn how surely this prayer will be answered, dear children of God. It is impossible this prayer should be unanswered. It is the will of the Father and of the Son. If Christ wills it, and if the Father wills it, you may be sure nothing can hinder it. If the sheep be in Christ's hand, and in the Father's hand, they shall never perish. Daily Prayer - Thursday
- Give thanks to God that we are part of a global church made up of true Christians across the world. - Give thanks to God for the freedoms we have to share the Gospel in England and pray that it may continue. - Pray for missionaries across the world who are seeking to preach the Gospel and establish a faithful church. - Pray for those in persecuted countries who have to meet in secret. Even those who are now in prison for their faith. Give thanks to God that we are part of a global church made up of true Christians across the world. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - The miserable ruin of Nineveh. Nahum 3 Preface - Christ visiteth Zacchareus the publican. The parable of a nobleman who left money with his servants to trade with in his absence. Christ rideth in triumph into Jerusalem: he weepeth over the city: driveth the buyers and sellers out of the temple: teacheth daily therein: the rulers seek to destroy him. Luke 19 Daily Light - Morning It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. - We suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Thou Shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no... Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. - For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth. Ps. 119.71; He. 5.8; Ro. 8.17-18 Job 23.10-11 Deu. 8.2,5-6; He. 12.6 Daily Light - Evening By strength shall no man prevail. Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied... And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it... So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone. There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength... Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy. - Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. I ...glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. - Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 1 Sa. 2.9; 1 Sa. 17.45,49,50 Ps. 33.16,18; 1 Chr. 29.12 2 Co. 12.9-10; Zech.4.6 A Puritans Catechism Q 25 - How does Christ execute the office of a king? A - Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation Chapter 15 PARAGRAPH 3 This saving repentance is an evangelical grace,4 whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, does, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self–abhorrancy,5 praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavor, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well–pleasing in all things.6 4 Zech. 12:10; Acts 11:18 5 Ezek. 36:31; 2 Cor. 7:11 6 Ps. 119:6,128 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The presence of Christ But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us. Luke 24 v 29 It is the presence of Christ with the soul that gives true peace and true holiness. It is not circumstances, nor ministers, nor place, nor time, but Jesus present. To sit under His shadow, gives great delight. To lean upon the Beloved alone supports his faltering steps. A true believer cannot be satisfied while Christ is away: 'Make haste, my Beloved.' One that is not a wife may be content with other lovers, but the faithful bride longs for the return of her Lord. The ordinances are all cold and barren till he treturn. Ministers speak, but not to the heart. The companions cannot give rest nor ease. Oh! brethren, do you know what it is to long for Himself - to cry, 'Make haste my beloved.'? Daily Prayer - Wednesday
- Give thank to God for the Bible its inspiration and preservation for us to read it today. (2 Timothy 3.16, Proverbs 30.5.) - Give thanks to God that we have easy access to the Scripture in English, in our mother tongue. - Pray the Lord would bless us as we study the Bible through the ministry this coming year. That as we work through a book of the Bible the Lord would continue to help us to grasp God's truth. - Pray for the Lunchtime outreach service and those who attend; pray that more from the offices nearby and Christians who commute are able to join us. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - The fearful and victorious armies of God against Nineveh. Nahum 2 Preface - The parable of the unjust judge and the importunate widow. The parable of the Pharisee and publican. Christ's tenderness to the little children that were brought unto him. He teacheth a ruler how to attain eternal life: he sheweth how hard it is for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God: Promiseth rewards to those who have foregone ought for the gospel's sake: foretelleth his own death and resurrection: and giveth sight to a blind man. Luke 18 Daily Light - Morning Where shall wisdom be found?... Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. - The only wise God. - Be not wise in thine own eyes. Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the Lord said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. - All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. - To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. Job 28.12,28; Jas. 1.5-6; Pro. 3.5-6; 1 Tim. 1.17; Pro. 3.7 Jer. 1.6-8 Jn. 16.23-24; Mt. 21.22; Isa. 8.20 Daily Light - Evening I would not live alway. And I said, O that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away, and be at rest... I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest. In this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven... For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. - Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Job 7.16; Ps. 55.6,8 2 Co. 5.2,4 Phil. 1.23 He. 12.1-3 Jn. 14.27 A Puritans Catechism Q 24 - How does Christ execute the office of a priest? A - Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation Chapter 15 PARAGRAPH 2 Whereas there is none that does good and does not sin,2 and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall in to great sins and provocations; God has, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.3 2 Eccles. 7:20 3 Luke 22:31–32 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The main-spring For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead. 2 Corinthians 5 v 15 That Christ's love to man is here intended, and not our love to the Saviour, is quite obvious, from the explanation which follows, where His dying for all is pointed to as the instance of His love. It was the view of that strange compassion of the Saviour, moving Him to die, for His enemies - to bear double for all our sins, to taste death for every man - it was this view which gave Paul the impulse in every labour - which made all suffering light to him, and every commandment not grievous. He 'ran with patience the race that was set before him.' Why? Because, 'looking unto Jesus'. he lived as a man 'crucified unto the world, and the world crucified unto him.' By what means? By looking to the cross of Christ. As the natural sun in the heavens exercises a mighty and unceasing attractive energy on the planets which circle round it, so did the Sun of Righteousness, which had indeed arisen on Paul with a brightness above that of noon-day, exercise on his mind a continual and an almighty energy, constraining him to live henceforth no more unto himself, but to Him that died for him and rose again. And observe, that it was not temporary, fitful energy, which it exerted over his heart and life, but an abiding and a continued attraction; for he does not say that the love of Christ did once constrain him; or that it shall yet constrain him; of that in times of excitement, in seasons of prayer, or peculiar devotion, the love of Christ was wont to constrain him; but he saith simply, that the love of Christ constraineth him. It is the ever present, ever abiding, ever moving power, which forms the main-spring of all his working; so that, take that away, and his energies are gone, and Paul is become weak as other men. Prayer - Tuesday
- Give thanks to God for those who have recently recovered from sickness. - Pray for those who are sick or receiving treatment in our congregation. - Pray that we each would walk close to God, putting off sins that easily beset us and that we would daily give thanks for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (1. John 1.3; Hebrews 12.1; 1 Thes. 5.16.) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - The majesty of God in goodness to his people, and severity against his enemies. Nahum 1 Preface - Christ teacheth to avoid giving occasions of offence: and to forgive one another. The power of faith, and defect of merit toward God in our best services. Christ healeth ten lepers: sheweth the spiritual nature of the kingdom of God; and instructeth his disciples concerning the coming of the Son of man. Luke 17 Daily Light - Morning I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause. Is any thing too hard for the LORD? - Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring if to pass, - Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Hezekiah received the letter from the hand of the messengers, and read it: and Hezekiah went up unto the house of the LORD, and spread it before the LORD, And Hezekiah prayed unto the LORD. It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear. - The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. Job 5.8; Ge. 18.14; Ps. 37.5; Phil. 4.6; 1 Pe. 5.7 Isa. 37.14-15 Isa. 65.24; Jas. 5.16 Ps. 116.1-2 Daily Light - Evening Our bodies washed with pure water. Thou shalt...make a laver of brass...and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat: when they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not...they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not. - Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you. - If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. In my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another. - There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth. - Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity. - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. He. 10.22; Ex. 30.18-20,21; 1 Co. 6.19; 1 Co. 3.17 Job 19.26-27; Rev. 21.27; Hab. 1.13; Ro. 12.1 A Puritans Catechism Q 23 - How does Christ execute the office of a prophet? A - Christ executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation Chapter 15 PARAGRAPH 1 Such of the elect that are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers pleasures, God in their effectual calling gives them repentance to life.1 1 Titus 3:2–5 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Joy in religion Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. Philippians 3 v 1 Some people are afraid of anything like joy in religion. They have none themselves, and they do not love to see it in others. Their religion is something like the stars, very high, and very clear, but very cold. When they see fears of anxiety, or tears of joy, they cry out, Enthusiasm, enthusiasm!' Well, then, to the law, and to the testimony: 'I sat down under His shadow with great delight.' Is this enthusiasm? O Lord, evermore give us this enthusiasm! May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing! If it be really in sitting under the shadow of Christ, let there be no bounds to your joy. Oh, if God would but open your eyes, and give you simple, childlike faith, to look to Jesus, to sit under His shadow, then would songs of joy rise from all our dwellings! Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice! Prayer - Monday
- Give thanks to God for salvation and the redemption that is found alone through Jesus Christ. - Give thanks to God for granting us particular skills and abilities that we might fulfil our vocations (jobs, studies, family responsibilities and time we spend alone). (Ecclesiastes 9.10, Ephesians 6.6) - Pray for the Lord's blessing on the working week for us and all in the congregation. - Pray the Lord would grant us grace to be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - The church complaining of the scarcity of good men, and the general corruption, putteth not confidence in man, but in God. She triumpheth in hopes of restoration after affliction. She prayeth to God: God answereth her with promises of confounding her enemies. God's mercies to his people. Micah 7 Preface - The parable of the unjust steward. Christ reproveth the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who were covetous, and derided him. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus the beggar. Luke 16 Daily Light - Morning Ye have an unction from the Holy One, And ye know all things. God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power. - It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell. - Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. Thou anointest my head with oil. - The anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 1 Jn. 2.20; Ac. 10.38; Col. 1.19; Jn. 1.16 Ps. 23.5; 1 Jn. 2.27 Jn. 14.26 Ro. 8.26 Daily Light - Evening Having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience. If the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? - The blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. We have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. When Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people... Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry. And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. He. 10.22; He. 9.13,14; He. 12.24 Eph. 1.7 He. 9.19,21-22 A Puritans Catechism Q 22 - What offices does Christ execute as our Redeemer? A - Christ, as our Redeemer, executes the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his state of humiliation and exaltation. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Saving Faith Chapter 14 PARAGRAPH 3 This faith, although it be in different stages, and may be weak or strong,11 yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers;12 and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory,13 growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ,14 who is both the author and finisher of our faith.15 11 Heb. 5:13–14; Matt. 6:30; Rom. 4:19–20 12 2 Pet. 1:1 13 Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4–5 14 Heb. 6:11–12; Col. 2:2 15 Heb. 12:2 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings A day of double blessing I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet. Revelation 1 v 10 When God instituted the Sabbath in paradise, it is said, 'God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it:' He not only set it apart as a sacred day, but made it a day of blessing. Again, when the Lord Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week before dawn, He revealed Himself the same day to two disciples going to Emmaus, and made their hearts burn within them (Luke 24 v 13). The same evening He came and stood in the midst of the disciples, and said, 'Peace be unto you,' and He breathed on them and said, 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost' (John 20 v 19) Again, after eight days, - that is, the next Lord's day, - Jesus came and stood in the midst, and revealed Himself with unspeakable grace to unbelieving Thomas (John 20 v 26). It was on the Lord's day also that the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost (Acts 2 v 1; compare Lev. 23 vs 15-16). That beginning of all spiritual blessings, that first revival of the Christian Church, was on the Lord's day. It was on the same day that the beloved John, an exile on the sea-girt isle of Patmos, far away from the assembly of the saints, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and received his heavenly revelation. So that in all ages, from the beginning of the world, and in every place where there is a believer, the Sabbath has been a day of double blessing. It is so still, and will be, though all God's enemies should gnash their teeth at it. True, God is a God of free grace, and confines His working to no time or place; but it is equally true, and all the scoffs of the infidel cannot alter it, that it pleases Him to bless His word most on the Lord's day. All God's faithful ministers in every land can bear witness that sinners are converted most frequently on the Lord's day - that Jesus comes in and shows Himself through the lattice of ordinances oftenest on His own day. Saints, like John, are filled with the Spirit on the Lord' day, and enjoy their calmest, deepest views into the eternal world. Dear Congregation,
I want to thank all of you who have prayed and supported the work of the Gospel through the church in 2023 and this first month of 2024. It is a great joy to minister at Westminster Baptist and I love the church here greatly. Through this past year, there have been heart-wrenching tragedies alongside blessings too. This is often the case in Christian life and yet we are called to keep trusting and believing. We often bear the battle scars of past experience and circumstance, as we live in this sinful world and anticipate heaven. We see Mordecai, mocked and scorned for years in Esther and on the brink of execution, yet he latterly knew blessing from God. The most important thing was he was faithful in serving the Lord. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful - 1 Corinthians 4.2. This verse especially applies to ministers, church workers, but to all Christians. We are stewards of the oracles of God and to us has the light of the gospel been revealed. We should therefore be striving to be faithful, not popular, faithful. May that be our aim by the grace of God. In the beginning month in recent years we have spent a week praying together on each day for certain things. As a reminder that with continuing faith that prayer is essential. Key to our hope and joy and endurance and love, and with new resolve to make time to pray regularly alone and with your family and with some group of fellow believers. Alongside reading the Scriptures these should be our daily routine. There are various encouragements in the Scriptures to pray: - Pray without ceasing (1 Th. 5:17). - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ep. 6:18). - Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Col. 4:2). These are a few verses of the many that encourage us to pray and undoubtedly set before us a biblical mandate that we should be concerned to pray. Maybe you have fallen out of the 'habit' or relegated prayer to a part time practice; or you only pray when trouble or danger comes. To that end I would ask the church to pray, if led, the suggested topics below so we might pray for the same things (roughly speaking) on the same day to encourage us. Let us be prayerful people and realise we too need prayer. To say we are praying for someone should be an expression of concern but an indication of our own action to bring the matter before God, before the throne of Grace through the believers mediator and High Priest. Jesus Christ, Paul even requests prayer for himself and those labouring for the Gospel with him twice in 1 and 2 Thessalonians saying 'brethren pray for us'. May we be a prayerful church and prayerful individuals, knowing that we have a prayer hearing and answering God. Pastor Jonathan Arnold Daily Prayer - Sunday - God thanks to God for His character, perfect, unchangeable, the same yesterday today and forever. - Give thanks to God that we can meet in the church and have fellowship with one another. - Pray the Lord would grant the preaching of his word power and clarity, and there are ready ears to hear and believe it. (2 Thes. 3.1.) - Pray we would be granted faithful ministry and good spiritual food from God's Word. (1 Peter 2.2.) Daily Reading Preface - God's controversy with his people for ingratitude. What service is acceptable to him. He reproveth them for their injustice, and idolatry. Micah 6 Preface - The Pharisees murmur at Christ for receiving sinners. The parable of the lost sheep, and piece of silver, and of the prodigal son. Luke 15 Daily Light - Morning A man shall be as an hiding place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest. Forasmuch...as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same. - The man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts. - I and my Father are one. He that dwelleth in the secret place is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. When my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. - Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble. - Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall. Isa. 23.2; He. 2.14; Zech. 13.7; Jn. 10.30 Ps. 91.1; Isa. 4.6; Ps. 121.5-6 Ps. 61.2; Ps. 32.7; Isa. 25.4 Daily Light - Evening Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth. The new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me...so shall your seed and your name remain. We, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I john saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. Isa. 65.17; Isa. 66.22 2 Pe. 3.13 Rev. 21.1-5 A Puritans Catechism Q 21 - How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? A - Christ, the Son of God, became man by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Saving Faith Chapter 14 PARAGRAPH 2 By this faith a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God himself,4 and also apprehends an excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world,5 as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth consequently believed;6 and also acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands,7 trembling at the threatenings,8 and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come;9 but the principle acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.10 4 Acts 24:14 5 Ps. 19:7-10, 69:72 6 2 Tim. 1:12 7 John 15:14 8 Isa. 116:2 9 Heb. 11:13 10 John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:20; Acts 15:11 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Christ manifested And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1 John 3 v 5 O beloved, if Jesus had not been manifested, you had never been saved. It would have been quite righteous in God to have kept His Son in His own bosom - to have kept that jewel in His own place upon the throne of heaven. God would have been the same lovely God; but we would have lain down in a burning hell. If that Eternal Life which was with the Father - if He had remained in His glory as the Living One - then you and I would have borne our own curse. But he was manifested. - 'God was manifest in the flesh - justified in the Spirit - seen of angels - believed on in the world - received up into glory.' John saw Him - he saw His lovely countenance, he beheld His glory, as the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. He saw that better Sun veiled with flesh that could not keep the beans of His Godhead from shining through. He saw Him on the Mount, when His face shone like the sun. He saw Him in the garden, when He lay upon the ground. He saw Him on the cross, when He hung between earth and heaven. He looked upon Him - many a time he looked upon His heavenly countenance - his eye met His eye. He heard Him - heard the voice that said, 'Let there be light!' He heard all His gracious words - His words, concerning God and the way of peace. He heard Him say to a sinner, 'Be of good cheer, thy sins are forgiven thee.' He handled Him - he put his hands in His hands, his arms around His arms, and his head upon His bosom. Perhaps he handled His body when it was taken from the cross - touched the cold clay of Immanuel. O beloved, it is a manifested Christ we declare unto you. It is not the Son in the bosom of the Father - that would never have saved you. It is Jesus manifested in flesh. The Son of God living and dying as man in the stead of sinners; Him we declare unto you. Daily Prayer - Saturday
- Give thanks to God that we have good news of salvation to tell that the repentant sinner might have everlasting life through Jesus Christ. (John 3.16.) - Pray the Lord would bless the Gospel outreach by the church in Westminster. Both on Saturday mornings and at services. - Pray the Lord would work in the contacts we have made both on Saturday mornings and at services; through personal conversations and online contacts. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - The establishment of Christ's kingdom; the peace of it. The restoration, and victory of the church. Micah 5 Preface - Christ healeth the dropsy on the sabbath, and justifieth his doing so: he recommendeth humility; and hospitality toward the poor. The parable of the marriage supper, and of the guests, who making excuses were excluded, and their rooms filled by others: he adviseth those who are willing to be his disciples to examine beforehand their resolution in case of persecutions. The unprofitableness of salt, when it hath lost its savour. Luke 14 Daily Light - Morning - misplaced book and will update soon Daily Light - Evening - misplaced book and will update soon A Puritans Catechism Q 20 - Who is the Redeemer of God's elect? A - The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God became man, and so was, and continues to be God and man, in two distinct natures and one person, forever. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Saving Faith Chapter 14 PARAGRAPH 1 The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,1 and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word;2 by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened.3 1 2 Cor. 4:13; Eph. 2:8 2 Rom. 10:14,17 3 Luke 17:5; 1 Pet. 2:2; Acts 20:32 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings A Whole Saviour And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5 v 23 Learn the certainty of sanctification. Rutherford said, 'Blessed be God, Christ is a whole Saviour - He not only justifies, but He sanctifies too.' Oh, no, He will not lose the end of which He died - to make you not of this world, while you are in the world. He came to this miserable world, and took stones to polish for His Father's palace. Do you ever think He will leave you unholy? This is the will of the Father, even your sanctification. Jesus died, and the Spirit is sent as the sanctifier. There is much sin between you and God - many temptations - yet you shall be made holy. |
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