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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 Plan - First Year Preface - God encourageth Abram, who complaineth for want of an heir; God promiseth him a son, and a numerous seed. He is justified by his faith. The promise of Canaan is renewed, and confirmed to him by a sign and a vision. Genesis 15 Preface - Herod's opinion of Christ. The cause and manner of John the Baptist's death. Jesus departeth into a desert place, and feedeth there five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes. He walketh on the sea to his disciples: and landing at Gennesaret healeth the sick who touched but the hem of his garment. Matthew 14 Daily Light - Morning My Father is greater than I. When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven. - I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. - As the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. - The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. - Thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us, Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? - I and my Father are one. - As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. Jn. 14.28; Lu. 11.2; Jn. 20.17; Jn. 14.31; Jn. 14.10 Jn. 3.35; Jn. 17.2 Jn. 14.8-10; Jn. 10.30; Jn. 15.9-10 Daily Light - Evening I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men. - He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. This is your hour, and the power of darkness. - Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. The Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. - He....cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. - In my name shall they cast out devils. The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. Ge. 3.15; Isa. 52.14; Isa. 53.5 Lu. 22.53; Jn. 19.11 1 Jn. 3.8; Mk. 1.34 Mt. 28.18; Mk. 16.17 Ro. 16.20 A Puritans Catechism Q 65 - Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? A - No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Lawful Oaths and Vows Chapter 23 PARAGRAPH 5 A vow, which is not to be made to any creature, but to God alone, is to be made and performed with all religious care and faithfulness; (8) but popish monastical vows of perpetual single life, (9) professed poverty, (10) poverty and regular obedience, are so far from being degrees of higher perfection, that they are superstitious and sinful snares, in which no Christian may entangle himself. (11) (8) Ps. 76.11, Gen. 28:20-22 (9) 1 Cor. 7:2.9 (10) Eph. 4:28 (11) Matt. 19:1 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Unchanging love ... having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. John 13 v 1 A mother's love is, of all creature-love, the most unchangeable. A boy leaves his parent's roof, he crosses a thousand seas, he labours beneath a foreign sky; he comes back, he finds his aged mother changed, her head is grey, her venerable brow is furrowed with age; still he feels while she clasps him to her bosom, that her heart is the same. But ah! far more unchanging is the love of God to Christ, and to a soul in Christ: 'I am the Lord; I change not.' The Father that loves has no variableness. Jesus, who is loved, is the same yesterday, today, and for ever: How can that love change? It flowed before the world was; it will flow when the world has passed away. If you are in Christ, that love shines on you: 'I have loved thee with an everlasting love.' 'I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, not things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
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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 Plan - First Year Preface - The battle of four kings against five. Lot is taken prisoner. Abram rescueth Lot, is met by the king of Sodom, and blessed by Melchizedek, to whom he giveth tithe. He restoreth the rest of the spoil to the king of Sodom, except the portion of his confederates. Genesis 14 Preface - The parable of the sower. Why Christ taught in parables. The exposition of the parable of the sower. The parable of the tares; of the grain of mustard seed; of the leaven. The parable of the tares expounded. The parable of the hidden treasure; of one pearl of great price; of a net cast into the sea. Christ's countrymen are offended in him. Matthew 13 Daily Light - Morning Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee. Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. - I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? - Be careful for nothing but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus - In quietness and in confidence shall be your strength. The work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect or righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. - Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. - Peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come. Isa. 26.3; Ps. 55.22; Isa. 12.2 Mt. 8.26; Phil. 4.6-7; Isa. 30.15 Isa. 32.17; Jn. 14.27; Rev. 1.4 Daily Light - Evening Let not the sun go down upon your wrath. If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother... Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. - When ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. - Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. The apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Eph. 4.26; Mt. 18.15,21-22; Mk. 11.25 Col. 3.12-13; Eph. 4.32 Lu. 17.5 A Puritans Catechism Q 64 - What is forbidden in the tenth commandment? A - The tenth commandment forbids all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Lawful Oaths and Vows Chapter 23 PARAGRAPH 4 An oath is to be taken in the plain and common sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation. (7) (7) Ps. 34.4 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Infinite love He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 John 4 v 8 A mother's love is the fullest love which we have on earth. She loves with all her heart. But there is no love more full than that of God toward his Son; God loves Jesus fully. The whole heart of the Father is, as it were, continually poured down in love upon the Lord Jesus. There is nothing in Christ that does not draw the infinite love of God. In Him God sees his own image perfectly, his own law acted out, his own will done. The Father loves the Son fully; but when a soul comes into Christ, the same love rests on that soul: 'That the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them'. (John 17 v 26). 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 Plan - First Year Preface - Abram and Lot return out of Egypt. On a strife between their servants they agree to part. Lot goeth to Sodom. God reneweth his promise to Abram. He removeth to Hebron, and there buildeth an altar. Genesis 13 Preface - Christ bringeth evidence of scripture in excuse of his disciples, whom the Pharisees charged with breaking the sabbath. He appealeth to reason, and healeth the withered hand on the sabbath day. The Pharisees seek to destroy him: a prophecy of Esaias fulfilled in him. He healeth one possessed of a dervil, who was blind and dumb; and showeth that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is as unpardonable sin, and that every idle word must be accounted for: he rebuketh those that sought of him a sign, and showeth whom he regardeth as his nearest relations. Matthew 12 Daily Reading - Morning The only wise God our Saviour. Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. - Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell, what canst thou know? We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. - The mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. 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. - The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. Jude 25; 1 Co. 1.30; Job 11.7-8 1 Co. 2.7; Eph. 3.9-10 Jas. 1.5; Jas. 3.17 Daily Reading - Evening When shall I arise, and the night be gone? Watchman, what of the night? The watchman said, the morning cometh. Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. - He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds. 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...Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. :et all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. - Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. There shall be no night there. Job 7.4; Isa. 21.11-12 He. 10.37; 2 Sa. 23.4 Jn. 14.2-3,27-28 Judg. 5.31; 1 Th. 5.5 Rev. 21.25 A Puritans Catechism Q 63 - Which is the tenth commandment? A - The tenth commandment is , Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Lawful Oaths and Vows Chapter 23 PARAGRAPH 3 Whosoever takes an oath warranted by the word of God, ought duly to consider the weightiness of so solemn an act, and therein to avouch nothing but what he knows to be truth; for that by rash, false, and vain oaths, the Lord is provoked, and for them this land mourns. (6) (3) Lev. 19:12; Jer. 23:10 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings When the soul faints And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. Hebrews 12 vs 5 & 6 Ah! it is a sad thing when the soul faints under the rebukes of God. They were intended to lead you deeper into Christ, into a fuller enjoyment of God. Faint not when thou art rebuked of Him. When a soul comes to Christ, he expects to be led to heaven in a green, soft pathway, without a thorn. On the contrary, he is led into darkness. Poverty stares him in the face, or bereavement writes him childless, or persecutions embitter his life; and now his soul remembers the wormwood and that gall. He forgets the love and wisdom that are dealing with him; he says: "I am the man that hath seen affliction. The Lord Hath forsaken me, and my God hath forgotten me." 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 Plan - First Year Preface - God calleth Abram, and blesseth him with a promise of Christ. He with Lot departeth from Haran. He journeyeth through Canaan, which is promised him in a vision. He is driven by a famine into Egypt, where fear maketh him feign his wife to be his sister. Pharaoh taketh her into his house, but by plagues is compelled to restore her; and sendeth Abram away. Genesis 12 Preface - Christ sendeth out his twelve apostles with power to do miracles. He instructeth them; and forewarning them of persecutions, suggesteth motives of comfort and constancy; he promiseth a blessing to those who should receive them. Matthew 10 Daily Light - Morning Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion. To us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. - All men should honour the Son, even as they honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. - Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God. I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb... Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. Daily Light - Evening Who redeemeth thy life from destruction. Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. - I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction. As the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. - When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. Ps. 103.4; Jer. 50.34; Hos. 13.14 He. 2.14-15 Jn. 3.36 Col. 3.3-4; 2 Th. 1.10 A Puritans Catechism Q 62 - What is required in the ninth commandment? A - The ninth commandment requires the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name, especially in witness-bearing. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Lawful Oaths and Vows Chapter 23 PARAGRAPH 2 The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred;(3) yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the word of God; (4) so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken (5) (3) Matt. 5:34,37, James 5:12 (4) Heb. 6:16; 2 Cor. 1.23 (5) Neh. 13:25 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The victory of the blood And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb... Revelation 12 v 11 We wrestle not with flesh and blood. An awakened soul often has an awful warfare with Satan. Satan fights against him in two ways: first, by stirring up his corruption's, and making his lusts to flame and burn within him in a fearful manner. Second, by accusing him. Satan is the accuser of the brethren. He accuses him in his conscience, in order to drive him away from Christ - to drive him to despair, and to give up all hope of salvation. He says to him: 'Thou art a vile wretch, not fit for a holy Saviour. See what raging lusts are in thy heart. Thou wilt never be saved.' Ah, when the poor sinner runs into Chirst, he finds rest there - his warfare is then accomplished. He sees all the accusations of Satan answered in the blood of the Lamb. 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 Plan - First Year Preface - One language in the world. The building of Babel interrupted by the confusion of tongues. The generations of Shem, and of Terah the father of Abram. Terah goeth from Ur to Haran, and dieth there. Genesis 11 Preface - Christ sendeth out his twelve apostles with power to do miracles. He instructeth them; and forewarning them of persecutions, suggesteth motives of comfort and constancy; he promiseth a blessing to those who should receive them. Matthew 10 Daily Light - Morning I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it....that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or nay such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. - Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. The peace of God which passeth all understanding. - Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body. Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. - Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Th. 5.23; Eph. 5.25,27; Col. 1.28 Phil. 4.7; Col. 3.15 2 Th. 2.16-17; 1 Co. 1.8 Daily Light - Evening Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth? Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. - I will meet with the children of Israel, and the tabernacle shall be sanctified by my glory. And I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will be their God. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. - Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you. - Ye....are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. The heathen shall know that I the LORD do sanctify Israel, when my sanctuary shall be in the midst of them for evermore. 2 Chr. 6.18; Ex. 25.8; Ex. 29.43,45 Ps. 68.18 2 Co. 6.16; 1 Co. 6.19; Eph. 2.22 Ezek. 37.28 A Puritans Catechism Q 61 - Which is the ninth commandment? A - The ninth commandment requires the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbour's good name, especially in witness-bearing. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Lawful Oaths and Vows Chapter 23 PARAGRAPH 1 A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgment, solemnly calls God to witness what he swears, (1) and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof. (2) (1) Exod. 20:7; Deut. 10:20; Jer. 4:2 (2) 2 Chron. 6:22-23 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The answer to your prayer But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 4 v 14 My dear friends, have you received the Holy Ghost, since you believed? It appears to me that few Christians realise this river flowing after them. Oh what inexpressible love and grace there is in this work of the SPirit. Is there any of you weak and faint, and ready to perish under a wicked heart, and raging lusts? Or, have you got a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet you, and you are driven to pray that it may be taken from you? See here the answer to your prayer. A river of living water flows from Christ. There is enough here for all your wants: 'My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 'Some of you are afraid of the future; you fear some approaching temptation, you fear some coming contest. See here the river flows after you - the Spirit will abide with you for ever. Oh what love is here. Notwithstanding all your sinfulness, weakness and unbelief, still he abides with you, and will for ever. He is 'a well of water springing up into everlasting life' (John 4 v 14). 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 Plan - First Year Genesis 9) Preface - God blesseth Noah, granting him animal food, but forbidding the eating of blood, and murder. God's covenant signified by the rainbow. The earth is repeopled from Noah. He planteth a vineyard, is drunken, and mocked by Canaan, whom he curseth, and blesseth his other sons. His age and death. Genesis 10) Preface - The generations of Noah. The sons of Japheth. The sons of Ham; Nimrod the first monarch; Canaan's descendants, and their settlement. The sons of Shem. Genesis 9-10 Preface - Christ cureth a man; calleth Matthew; justifieth himself for eating with publicans and sinners, and his disciples for not fasting; is entreated by a ruler to go and heal his daughter; healeth by the way a woman with an issue of blood; raiseth to life the ruler's daughter; giveth sight to two blind men; healeth a dumb man possessed of a devil; hath compassion on the multitudes, and teacheth his disciples to pray that God would send forth labourers into his vineyard. Matthew 9 Daily Light - Morning Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Jehovah-nissi [marg. The LORD is my banner]. - When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners. - The LORD hath brought forth our righteousness: come, and let us declare in Zion the work of the LORD our God. - We are more than conquerors through him that loved us. - Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. - The captain of their salvation. My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. - Valiant for the truth. - Fight the LORD's battles. - Be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work...fear ye not. - Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. - Yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Ps. 60.4; Ex. 17.15; Isa. 59.19 Ps. 20.5; Jer. 51.10; Ro. 8.37; 1 Co. 15.57; He. 2.10 Eph. 6.10; Jer. 9.3; 1 Sa. 18.17; Hag. 2.4,5; Jn. 4.35; He. 10.37 Daily Light - Evening One thing is needful. There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us. Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. - O GOD, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. - Lord, evermore give us this bread. - Mary....sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. - One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that i may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. Lu. 10.42; Ps. 4.6-7 Ps. 42.1-2; Ps. 63.1 Jn. 6.35; Jn. 6.34; Lu. 10.39; Ps. 27.4 A Puritans Catechism Q 60 - What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? A - The eighth commandment forbids whatever does, or may unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbour's wealth or outward estate. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day Chapter 22 PARAGRAPH 8 The sabbath is then kept holy unto the Lord, when men, after a due preparing of their hearts, and ordering their common affairs aforehand, do not only observe a holy rest all day, from their own works, words, and thoughts, about their worldly employment and recreations, (30) but are also taken up the whole time in the public and private exercises of his worship, and in the duties of necessity and mercy. (31) (30) Isa. 58:13; Neh. 13:15-22 (31) 1 Matt. 12:1-13 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The revealer of Christ He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. John 16 v 14 Dear friends, has the Spirit glorified Christ to you? He is still the great revealer of Christ. He shines into our heart, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ. Has he led you to the altar, to the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world? Has he clothed you in the high priest's garments? Has he brought you within the veil, to the mercy-seat? This is His delightful work. Oh! it is a sweet work to be in the minister on earth that leads souls to Christ - that points, like John, and says: 'Behold the Lamb of God!' But O how infinitely more loving is that Holy Spirit of God to lead a trembling soul to Jesus! Oh praise him that has done this for you. Oh love the Spirit of God. 'Thy Spirit is good: lead me to the land of uprightness.' 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 Plan - First Year Preface - The waters abate. The ark resteth on Ararat. Noah sendeth out a raven and a dove. The earth is dried. Noah, being commanded, goeth forth of the ark. He buildeth an altar, and offereth sacrifice which God accepteth, and promiseth to curse the earth no more. Genesis 8 Christ cleanseth the leper; healeth the centurion's servant, Peter's mother in law, and many other diseased; showeth how he is to be followed; stilleth the tempest on the sea; driveth the devils out of two men possessed, and suffereth them to go into the swine. Matthew 8 Daily Light - Morning They that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. - I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. - For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off. - The LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. - Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us. Be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Ps. 9.10; Pro. 18.10; Isa. 12.2 Ps. 37.25; Ps. 37.28; 1 Sa. 12.22; 2 Co. 1.10 He. 13.5-6 Daily Light - Evening They are without fault before the throne of God. The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve. - Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. He hath made us accepted in the beloved. - To present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Rev. 14.5; Jer. 50.20; Mi. 7.18-19 Eph. 1.6; Col. 1.22 Jude 24-25 A Puritans Catechism Q 59 - Which is the eighth commandment? A - The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day Chapter 22 PARAGRAPH 7 As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he has particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him. (28) which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's Day; (29) and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished. (28) Exod. 20:8 (29) 1 Cor. 16:1-2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Bread upon the waters Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. Ecclesiastes 11 v 1 The excellent John Flavel was minister of Dartmouth in England. One day he preached from these words: 'If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha.' The discourse was unusually solemn, particularly the explanation of the curse. At the conclusion, when Mr Flavel rose to pronounce the blessing, he paused, and said: 'How shall I bless this whole assembly, when every person in it who loves not the Lord Jesus is anathema maranatha?' The solemnity of this address deeply affected the audience. In the congregation was a lad named Luke Short, about fifteen years old, a native of Dartmouth. Shortly after, he went to sea, and sailed to America, where he passed the rest of his life. His life was lengthened far beyond the usual term. When a hundred years old, he was able to work on his farm, and his mind was not at all impaired. He had lived all this time in carelessness and sin; he was a sinner a hundred years old, and ready to die accursed. One day, as he sat in his field, he busied himself in reflecting on his past life. He thought of the days of his youth. His memory fixed on Mr. Flavel's sermon, a considerable part of which he remembered. The earnestness of the minister, the truths spoken, the effect on the people, all came fresh to his mind. He felt that he had not loved the Lord Jesus; he feared the dreadful anathema; he was deeply convinced of sin, was brought to the blood of sprinkling. He lived to his one hundred and sixteenth year, giving every evidence of being born again. Ah! how faithful God is to His Word. He did let none of His words fall to the ground. Be of good cheer, Christian mothers, who weep over your unawakened children. They may be going far from you, perhaps across the seas and a believing mother never prayed in vain. Be instant in prayer. God will not forget His Word. He will let none of His words fall to the ground. 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 Plan - First Year Preface - Noah receiveth command from God, and entereth into the ark with his family and the living creatures. The beginning of the flood as soon as they are entered. Its continual increase for forty days. All flesh is destroyed by it, its duration. Genesis 7 Preface - Christ proceedeth in his sermon to condemn rash judgment, forbiddeth the prostitution of holy things; recommendeth prayer; exhorteth to enter in at the strait gate; to beware of false prophets, who may be known by their fruits; and not to be his disciples in profession only, but in practice; he compareth doers of the word to houses built on a rock, those that are hearers only to houses built on the sand. Christ endeth his sermon: the people are astonished at his doctrine. Matthew 7 Daily Light - Morning Think upon me, my God, for good. Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness. - I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and i will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. - I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you. - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. - I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause: which doeth great things and unsearchable; marvellous things without number. - Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Ne. 5.19; Jer. 2.2; Ezek. 16.60; Jer. 29.10; Jer. 29.11 Isa. 55.9; Job 5.8-9; Ps. 40.5 Daily Light - Evening I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass. - God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? The LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him. - He will ever be mindful of his covenant. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Jos. 1.5; Jos. 21.45; Nu. 23.19 Deu. 7.9; Ps. 111.5 Isa. 49.15-16 Zeph. 3.17 A Puritans Catechism Q 58 - What is forbidden in the seventh commandment? A - The seventh commandment forbids all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day Chapter 22 PARAGRAPH 6 Neither prayer nor any other part of religious worship, is now under the gospel, tied unto, or made more acceptable by any place in which it is performed, or towards which it is directed; but God is to be worshiped everywhere in spirit and in truth; (23) as in private families. (27) daily; (25) and in secret each one by himself; (26) and so more solemnly in the public assemblies, which are not carelessly nor willfully to be neglected or forsaken, when God by his word or providence calls thereunto. (27) (23) John 4.21; Mat. 1:11; 1 Tim. 2:8 (24) Acts 10:2 (25) Matt. 6:11; Ps. 55:17 (26) Matt. 6:6 (27) Heb. 10:25; Act 2:42 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Christ, the key to the Scriptures And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24 v 27 When you are reading a book in a dark room and find it difficult, you take it to a window to get more light. So take your Bible to Christ. I thirst for the knowledge of the word, but most of all of Jesus Himself, the true Word. 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 Plan - First Year Preface - The wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath, can caused the flood. Noah findeth grace, being just and upright. The order, form, and end of the ark. Genesis 6 Preface - Christ continuing his sermon giveth directions about charitable giving, prayer, forgiving our brethren, fasting, laying up treasure in heaven, keeping a single eye: and exhorteth not to be anxious about worldly things, but principally to seek God's kingdom and righteousness. Matthew 6 Daily Light - Morning Let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands. Thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD. - We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. - The spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD: that walketh in his ways. For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee. - Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established. Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. - Our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work. Ps. 90.17; Ezek. 16.14; 2 Co. 3.18; 1 Pe. 4.14 Ps. 128.1-2; Pro. 16.3 Phil. 2.12-13; 2 Th. 2.16-17 Daily Light - Evening The apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things...they had done. There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. - The LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. - Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants. Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. In every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. - The prayer of the upright is his delight. Mk. 6.30; Pro. 18.24; Ex. 33.11; Jn. 15.14-15 Lu. 17.10 Ro. 8.15 Phil. 4.6; Pro. 15.8 A Puritans Catechism Q 57 - Which is the seventh commandment? A - The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day Chapter 22 PARAGRAPH 5 The reading of the Scriptures, (16) preaching, and hearing the Word of God, (17) teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord; (18) as also the administration of baptism, (19) and the Lord's supper, (20) are all parts of religious worship of God, to be performed in obedience to him, with understanding, faith, reverence, and godly fear, moreover, solemn humiliation, with fastings, (21) to and thanksgivings, upon special occasions, ought to be used in an holy and religious manner. (22) (16) 1 Tim. 4:13; (17) 2 Tim. 4.2; Luke 8:18 (18) Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19 (19) Matt. 28:19-20 (20) 1 Cor. 11:26 (21) Esther 4:16, Joel 2:12 (22) Exod. 15:1-19 (22) Exod. 15:1-19. Ps. 107 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Little fruit! Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Psalm 2 v 8 Two farmers possessed two fields that lay next to each other. The one had rich crops, the other very scanty ones. "How comes it," says the one to the other, "that your field bears so well, and mine so poorly, when my land is as good as yours?" "Why neighbour," said the other, "the reason is this - you only sow your field, but I both sow mine and harrow in the seed." Just, so my dear friends, there is little fruit among Christians, because there is little harrowing in by prayer. I think I could name many Christians among you who do not know one another, and never pray one with another. What wonder there is little fruit! 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 Plan - First Year Preface - The genealogy, age, and death of Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel,, Jared, Enoch, who is translated, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah, Genesis 5 Preface - Christ beginneth his sermon upon the mount, declaring who are blessed: he calleth his disciples the salt of the earth, the light of the world, and urgeth upon them the necessity of setting a good example. He came not to destroy, But to fulfil, the law: He extendeth the precepts against murder, adultery, and false swearing: exhorteth to suffer wrong patiently, to love our enemies, and to aim at perfection. Matthew 5 Daily Light - Morning We which have believed do enter into rest. They....weary themselves to commit iniquity. - 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, O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this dath? Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. - Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. He that is entered into his res, he also hath ceased from his own works. - Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. - This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing. He. 4.3; Jer. 9.5; Ro. 7.23-24 Mt. 11.28; Ro. 5.1-2 He. 4.10; Phil. 3.9; Isa. 28.12 Daily Light - Evening Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand? - They provoked his spirit, so that he spake unadvisedly with his lips. Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. A whisperer separateth chief friends. - There is that speaketh like the piercing of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. - The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison... Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Put off...anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds. - This is the will of God, even your sanctification. - In their mouth was found no guile. Ps. 141.3; Ps. 130.3; Ps. 106.33 Mt. 15.11 Pro. 16.28; Pro. 12.18-19; Jas. 3.8,10 Col. 3.8-9; 1 Th. 4.3; Rev. 14.5 A Puritans Catechism Q 56 - What is forbidden in the sixth commandment? A - The sixth commandment forbids the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatever tends to it. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day Chapter 22 PARAGRAPH 4 Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter; (13) but not fo rthe dead, (14) nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sun unto death. (15) (13) 1 Tim. 2:1-2; 2 Sam. 7.29 (14) 2 Sam. 12:21-23 (15) 1 John 5:16 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Believers shall grow like willows And they shall spring up as among the grass, as willows by the water courses. Isaiah 44 v 4 There is nothing more distressing in our day than the want of growth among the children of God. They do not seem to press forward, they do not seem to be running a race. When I compare this year with last year, alas! where is the difference? - the same weakness, the same coldness; nay, I fear, greater languor in divine things. How different when the Spirit is poured out! They shall be like willows. You have seen the willow, how it grows - ceases not day or night, ever growing, ever shooting out new branches. Cut it down - it springs again. Ah! so would you be dear Christians, if there were a flood-time of the Spirit, a day of Pentecost. |
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