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 - Jeremiah prophesieth judgment upon the evil pastors, and restoration of the scattered flock. Christ, the righteous Branch, is promised. God's fearful judgments against false prophets, and against those that mocked at the threatenings of the true ones. Jeremiah 23 Preface - The transfiguration of Christ: he instructeth his disciples concerning the coming of Elias: he casteth out a dumb and deaf spirit: he foretelleth his own death and resurrection: checketh the ambition of his disciples; bidding them to hinder no one from working miracles in his name, and warning them to avoid offences. Mark 9 Daily Light - Morning Christ, who is the image of God. The glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. - And the Word was made flesh shall see it together. - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth... No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. _ he that hath seen me hath seen the Father. - The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person. - God was manifest in the flesh. In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. - Whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. As we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 2 Co. 4.4; Isa. 40.5; Jn. 1.14,18; Jn. 14.9; He. 1.3; 1 Tim. 3.16 Col. 1.14-15; Ro. 8.29 1 Co. 15.49 Daily Light - Evening Thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle. When I am weak, then am I strong. Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. - Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes. - There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God. Ps. 18.39; 2 Co. 12.10 2 Chr. 14.11; 2 Chr. 18.31 Ps. 118.8-9; Ps. 33.16-17 Eph. 6.12-13 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 1 The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and does good to all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might.1 But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself,2 and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.3 1 Jer. 10:7; Mark 12:33 2 Deut. 12:32 3 Exod. 20:4–6 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Turn your eyes upon Jesus Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, desposing the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12 v 2 Keep looking then to Jesus dear soul, and you will have the peace that passeth all understanding. Whenever Satan accuses you, send him to the stripes of Jesus.
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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 - An exhortation to the king's house to execute justice without oppression, enforced with promises and threats. The judgment of Shallum, of Jehoiakin, and of Coniah. Jeremiah 22 Preface - Christ miraculously feedeth four thousand persons: he refuseth the Pharisees a sign: he warneth his disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod, and explaineth his meaning: he giveth a blind man sight. The people's opinions, and Peter's confession, of him: he foresheweth his own death, and rebuketh Peter for dissuading him from it: he sheweth his followers that they must deny themselves, and not be ashamed of him and his gospel. Mark 8 Daily Light - Morning By faith Abraham... called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed. He shall choose our inheritance for us. - He led him about, he instructed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye. As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: so the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. We walk by faith, not by sight. - Here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. - Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which was against the soul. - Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction. He. 11.8; Ps. 47.4; Deu. 32.10-12 Isa. 48.17; Job 36.22 2 Co. 5.7; He. 13.14; 1 Pe. 2.11; Mi. 2.10 Daily Light - Evening Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. The heavens are not clean in his sight. How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water? - Yea, the stars are not pure in his sight. How much less man, that is a worm. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness? - Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts. As he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. - Partakers of his holiness. The temple of God is holy, which temple ye ar. - What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness...without spot, and blameless? Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying... And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ps. 97.12; Job 15.15-16; Job 25.5-6 Ex. 15.11; Isa. 6.3 1 Pe. 1.15,16; He. 12.10 1 Co. 3.17; 2 Pe. 3.11,14 Eph. 4.29,30 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 the Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience Chapter 21 PARAGRAPH 3 They who upon pretence of Christian liberty do practice any sin, or cherish any sinful lust, as they do thereby pervert the main design of the grace of the gospel to their own destruction,16 so they wholly destroy the end of Christian liberty, which is, that being delivered out of the hands of all our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our lives.17 16 Rom. 6:1–2 17 Gal. 5:13; 2 Pet. 2:18,21 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Complete assurance Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. - Hebrews 3 v 1 Oh, brethren, could you and I pass this day though these heavens, and see what is now going on in the Sanctuary above, - could you see what the child of God now sees who died last night, - could you see the Lamb with the scars of His five deep wounds in the very midst of the throne, surrounded by all the odours, - could you see the many angels round about the throne, whose number is ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, all singing, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain,' - and were one of these angels to tell you, 'This is He that undertook the cause of lost sinners; He undertook to be the second Adam, - the man in their stead; and lo! there He is upon the throne of heaven; - consider Him, - look long and earnestly upon His wounds - upon His glory, - and tell me, do you think it would be safe to trust Him? Do you think His sufferings and obedience will have been enough? - Yes, yes, every soul exclaims, Lord, it is enough! Lord, stay thy hand! Show me no more, for I can bear no more. Oh, rather let me ever stand and gaze upon the almighty, all-worthy, all divine Saviour, till my soul drink in complete assurance that His work undertaken for sinners is a finished work! Yes, though the sins of all the world were on my one wicked head, still I could not doubt that His work is complete, and that I am quite safe when I believe in Him. 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 - Zedekiah sending to Jeremiah to enquire the event of Nebuchadrezzar's war against him, the prophet foretelleth a calamitous siege, and desolation in the end; he counselleth the people to fall to the Chaldeans: he exhorteth the king's house to execute right judgment, with threats against those that trusted in the strength of their situation. Jeremiah 21 Preface - The Pharisees finding fault with his disciples for eating with unwashed hands, Christ reproveth them of hypocrisy, and of making void the commandments of God by the traditions of men: he teacheth that a man is defiled, not by that which entereth in, but by that which cometh out of him: he healeth the daughter of a Syrophenician woman; and a man that was deaf and hat a speech impediment. Mark 7 Daily Light - Morning We know that we have passed from death unto life. He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. - He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. He which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. - Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. You hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins - Quickened...together with Christ. - Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom his dear Son. 1 Jn. 3.14; Jn. 5.24; 1 Jn. 5.12 2 Co. 1.21-22; 1 Jn. 3.19,21; 1 Jn. 5.19 Eph. 2.1; Eph. 2.5; Col. 1.13 Daily Light - Evening Thou wilt shew me the path of life. Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. - I will teach you the good and the right way. - I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. - Follow me. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. - Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. An highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. - Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. Ps. 16.11; Jer. 21.8; 1 Sa. 12.23; Jn. 14.6; Mt. 4.19 Pro. 14.12; Mt. 7.13-14 Isa. 35.8; Hos. 6.3 Jn. 14.2 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 the Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience Chapter 21 PARAGRAPH 2 God alone is Lord of the conscience,12 and has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in any thing contrary to his word, or not contained in it.13 So that to believe such doctrines, or obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience;14 and the requiring of an implicit faith, an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience and reason also.15 12 James 4:12; Rom. 14:4 13 Acts 4:19,29; 1 Cor. 7:23; Matt. 15:9 14 Col. 2:20,22–23 15 1 Cor. 3:5; 2 Cor. 1:24 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings 'Abba, Father' And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Galations 4 v 6 No natural man cries, 'Abba'. It is not the cry of nature. Children cry 'Father' to their earthly parents. It is one of the first things they learn. They do not thus call upon God; but when one comes to Christ, and feels the Father's smile, the Father's arms, the Father's love, he cries 'Abba'. Often it is little more than a cry. Many of God's children are not fluent in prayer. They have not many words. Often they can only look up, and cry, 'Father'. A soul in Christ can cry, 'Father!' This runs through all he says to God, 'Abba'. 'In the multitude of words there wanteth of sin,' but this one word is the believer's prayer, 'Abba'. 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 - Pashur smiting Jeremiah receiveth a new name and a fearful doom. Jeremiah complaineth of the persecutions he met with, and curseth the day of his birth. Jeremiah 20 Preface - I Christ is slighted by his own countrymen: he sendeth out the twelve with power over unclean spirits. The opinion of Herod and others concerning him. John the Baptist imprisoned and beheaded by Herod at the instigation of Herodias. The apostles return from their mission. The miracle for five thousand fed with five loaves and two fishes. Christ walketh on the sea to his disciples; he landeth at Gennesaret, and healeth the sick who touched only the hem of his garment. Mark 6 Daily Light - Morning Patient in tribulation. It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good. - Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge. - The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. - What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? Jesus wept. - A man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth... Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. - Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. - In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Ro. 12.12; 1 Sa. 3.18; Job 9.15; Job 1.21; Job 2.10 Jn. 11.35; Isa. 53.3,4 He. 12.6,11; Col. 1.11; Jn. 16.33 Daily Light - Evening He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief. Have faith in God...whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. - Without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. He that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead. - Being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. Is any thing too hard for the LORD? - With God all things are possible. - Lord, increase our faith. Ro. 4.20; Mk. 11.22,23-14; He. 11.6 He. 17-19; Ro. 4.21 Ge. 18.14; Mt. 19.26; Lu. 17.5 A Puritans Catechism Q 55 - Which is the sixth commandment? A - The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience Chapter 21 PARAGRAPH 1 The liberty which Christ has purchased for believers under the gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the severity and curse of the law,1 and in their being delivered from this present evil world,2 bondage to Satan,3 and dominion of sin,4 from the evil of afflictions,5 the fear and sting of death, the victory of the grave,6 and everlasting damnation:7 as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear,8 but a child-like love and willing mind.9 All which were common also to believers under the law for the substance of them;10 but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged, in their freedom from the yoke of a ceremonial law, to which the Jewish church was subjected, and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace, and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.11 1 Gal. 3:13 2 Gal. 1:4 3 Acts 26:18 4 Rom. 8:3 5 Rom. 8:28 6 1 Cor. 15:54–57 7 2 Thess. 1:10 8 Rom. 8:15 9 Luke 1:73–75; 1 John 4:18 10 Gal. 3;9,14 11 John 7:38–39; Heb. 10:19–21 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Heaven began on earth Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. - Revelation 1 vs 5-6 Some have thought this to be one of the songs of heaven. They have thought that, even before John's eye penetrated into the wonders of the upper world, its song of joy and ecstasy burst upon his ear - 'Unto Him that loved us.' This is evidently a mistake. It is the song of John - banished - poor - in trial and tribulation - an exiled man upon a lonely rock of the sea - a man who had his heaven begun on earth: 'Unto Him that loved us.' It has got the fragrance and melody of heaven about it. Believers, do not fear a suffering lot. Do not fear though you be taken to a lone sick-bed, or a lone rock dashed by the eternal waves of ocean. If you really know Jesus, and have tasted and seen the grace that is in Christ, you may begin the song now, 'Unto Him that loved us.' Daily Prayer - Tuesday
- 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 - Under the type of breaking a potter's vessel is foreshewed the desolation of the Jews for their sins. Jeremiah 19 Preface - Christ casteth out the legion of devils, and suffereth them to enter into the herd of swine: he is entreated by Jairus to go and heal his daughter: by the way he healeth a woman of an inveterate issue of blood: he raiseth Jairus' daughter to life. Mark 5 Daily Light - Morning Then cometh the end. Of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is... And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. - The coming of the Lord draweth nigh... The judge standeth before the door. - Surely I come quickly. Seeing...that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness? The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. - Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 1 Co. 15.24; Mk. 13.32-33,37; 2 Pe. 3.9; Jas. 5.8,9; Rev. 22.20 2 Pe. 3.11 1 Pe. 4.7; Lu. 12.35-36 Daily Light - Evening Breathren pray for us. Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him... And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up... Pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers. - Always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 1 Th. 5.25; Jas. 5.14,15,16-18 Eph. 6.18 Ro. 1.9; Col. 4.12 A Puritans Catechism Q 54 - What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment? A - The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is, a promise of long life and prosperity - as for as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good - to all such as keep this commandment. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Gospel and the Extent of the Grace Thereof Chapter 20 PARAGRAPH 4 Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life;8 without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.9 8 Ps. 110:3; 1 Cor. 2:14; Eph. 1:19–20 9 John 6:44; 2 Cor. 4:4,6 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Good news For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. - 2 Corinthians 8 v 9 Corinth was one of the most wicked cities that ever was on the face of the world. It lay between two seas; so that luxury came flowing in from the east and from the west. These Corinthians had been saved from the deepest abominations, as you learn from 1 Corinthians 6 v 11: 'Such were some of you'; and yet it was for the sake of such that the Lord of glory became poor - 'For your sakes'. In like manner, Paul writing to the Romans, says: 'When we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly' (5:6). Ah! see what names are here given to those for whom Christ died: without strength - unable to believe, or to think a right thought; ungodly - living as if there were no God; sinners - breaking God's holy law; enemies - hating and opposing a holy God of love. Oh, brethren! this is good news for the most wicked of men. Are there some of you who feel that you are like a beast before God, or all over sin, like a devil? Some of you have lived in the abominations of Corinth. Some of you are like the Romans - without strength, ungodly, sinners, enemies; yet for your sakes Christ became poor. He left glory for souls as vile as you. He left the songs of angels, the love of his Father, and the glories of heaven for just such wretches as you and me. He died for the ungodly. So not be afraid, sinners, to lay hold upon him. It was for your sakes he came. He will not, he cannot cast you out. 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 - Under the type of a potter is shewed God's absolute power in disposing of nations. Judah is threatened with judgments for her unexampled revolt. Jeremiah prayeth against them that devised his death. Jeremiah 18 Preface - The parable of the sower. Why Christ taught in parables. The exposition of the parable. The light of knowledge is given to be communicated to others. The kingdom of God likened to the seed which groweth imperceptibly: and to a grain of mustard seed. Christ stilleth a tempest by his word. Mark 4 Daily Light - Morning In the he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. He was numbered with the transgressors. - Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many. - 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. - By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. This man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthool. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. - While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Forasmuch...as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: :for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. Ro. 6.10; Isa. 53.12; He. 9.28; 1 Pe. 2.24; He. 10.14 He. 7.24-25; Ro. 5.8-9 1 Pe. 4.1-2 Daily Light - Evening Keep yourselves in the love of God. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. The fruit of the Spirit is love. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 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. - Whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. - God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Jude 21; Jn. 15.4-5 Ga. 5.22 Jn. 15.8-10; 1 Jn. 2.5 Jn. 15.12; Ro. 5.8; 1 Jn. 4.16 A Puritans Catechism Q 53 - What is required in the fifth commandment? A - The fifth commandment requires the preserving the honour, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Gospel and the Extent of the Grace Thereof Chapter 20 PARAGRAPH 3 The revelation of the gospel to sinners, made in divers times and by sundry parts, with the addition of promises and precepts for the obedience required therein, as to the nations and persons to whom it is granted, is merely of the sovereign will and good pleasure of God;6 not being annexed by virtue of any promise to the due improvement of men's natural abilities, by virtue of common light received without it, which none ever made, or can do so;7 and therefore in all ages, the preaching of the gospel has been granted unto persons and nations, as to the extent or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the counsel of the will of God. 6 Ps. 147:20; Acts 16:7 7 Rom. 1:18–32 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Saints known I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. - John 10 vs 14-15 The Father knew the Son from all eternity: 'Then I was by him as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him' (Proverbs 8 v 30). He was in the bosom of the Father. So did this good shepherd know his sheep from all eternity: 'Chosen before the foundation of the world.' The Father knew the Son with a knowledge of most perfect delight and love: 'I was daily his delight.' At his baptism, a voice from heaven was heard saying: 'This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased' (Matthew 3 v 17). So does Christ know his sheep: 'Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee;' 'The King is held in the galleries;' 'How fair and how pleasant art thou, O love, for delights!' 'Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me.' The father knew the Son through all his sufferings. So Christ knows his sheep: 'I know their sorrows;' 'In all their afflictions, he was afflicted.' He knows their decays: 'I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot.' The Father will know the Son to all eternity; and so the Son will know his sheep for ever and ever. They shall soon 'hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat' (Revelation 7 v 16). 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.) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) (Sunday morning) Scripture reading - Psalm 92; Matthew 10 v 16-42 - Sermon by Jonathan Arnold Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) (Doctrine Class - Scripture reading - Matthew 22 v 29 - [Title: The Doctrine of God] Class - by Jonathan Arnold Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) (Sunday evening) Scripture reading - Song of Solomon 1 v 1-17; 1 Corinthians 13 v 1-13 - [Title - Love the more excellent way] Sermon by Neil McGovern 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 captivity of Judah for her sin. Trust in man is cursed, in God is blessed. The heart, though deceitful, cannot impose upon God. In God alone is sure salvation. The prophet complaining of scoffers, prayeth God to support him: he is sent to exhort to a due observation of the sabbath. Jeremiah 17 Preface - Christ appealing to reason healeth the withered hand on the sabbath day. The Pharisees conspire his death: he retireth to the sea side, and healeth many: he chooseth his twelve apostles: his friends look upon him as beside himself: he refuteth conclusively the blasphemous absurdity of the Pharisees in ascriibng his casting out of devils to the power of Beelzebub. Those who do the will of God he regardeth as his nearest relations. Mark 3 Daily Light - Morning What profit is there of circumcision? Much every way. - Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart. - If...their uncircumcised hearts be humbled, and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity: then will I remember my covenant with Jacob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember. Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers. - In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. - You, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him,, having forgiven you all trespasses. Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and...put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness. Ro. 3.1; Ro. 3.2; Jer. 4.4; Lev. 26.41-42 Ro. 15.8; Col. 2.11; Col. 2.13 Eph. 4.22-23,24 Daily Light - Evening The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. - The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life... He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me... Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing. A new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh...let us draw near. Mt. 27.51; 1 Co. 11.23-24; Jn. 6.51 Jn. 6.53-54,56-57,61-63 He. 10.20,22 A Puritans Catechism Q 52 - Which is the fifth commandment? A - The fifth commandment is, Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Gospel and the Extent of the Grace Thereof Chapter 20 PARAGRAPH 2 This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God;3 neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way;4 much less that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.5 3 Rom. 1;17 4 Rom. 10:14–15,17 5 Prov. 29:18; Isa. 25:7; 60:2–3 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings In time of death The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 1 Corinthians 15 v 26 Few ever think of dying till dying comes. The last enemy that shall be overcome is Death; and an awful enemy he is. We go alone. No earthly friend goes with us. We never went the way before. It is all strange and new. The results are eternal. If we have not rightly believed, it is too late to mend. These are some of the solemn thoughts that overshadow the soul. What can give peace? None but Jesus; the sight of Jesus as a Redeemer, the same yesterday, today, and forever, the same sight we got when first we knew the Lord, when first He chose us and we chose Him, when first He said, 'Seek ye my face,' and we said to Him, 'Thy face, Lord, shall we seek.' To see Him as a God of truth, the Lord that changes not, the unchanging One, the same Jesus; thus to see Him and to cry, 'Into thy hands I commit my spirit' - this is peace. 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 - Under the types of the prophet's abstaining from marriage, and from the houses of feasting and mourning, the utter ruin of the Jews is foreshewed; and that because they were even worse than their fathers. Their return from captivity shall be more memorable than their deliverance out of Egypt. God will recompense their idolatry double, and the Gentiles shall turn to God. Jeremiah 16 Preface - Christ, followed by multitudes, healeth one sick of the palsy: calleth Matthew from the receipt of custom: justifieth himself for eating with publicans and sinners: excuseth his disciples for not fasting: and vindicateth them for plucking the ears of corn on the sabbath day. Mark 2 Daily Light - Morning They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. - In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. - That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation. Jesus of Nazareth...went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. - As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. - Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Jn. 17.16; Isa. 53.3; Jn. 16.33 He. 7.26; Phil. 2.15 Ac. 10.38; Ga. 6.10 Jn. 1.9; Mt. 5.14,16 Daily Light - Evening He that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast. The joy of the LORD is your strength. - The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. - Be filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. By him...let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls; yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. - Sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing. - We glory in tribulations also. Pro. 15.15; Ne. 8.10; Ro. 14.17; Eph. 5.18-20 He. 13.15 Hab. 3.17-18; 2 Co. 6.10; Ro. 5.3 A Puritans Catechism Q 51 - How is the sabbath to be sanctified? A - The sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Gospel and the Extent of the Grace Thereof Chapter 20 PARAGRAPH 1 The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance; in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and [is] therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners. Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Christ's garden My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather lilies. Song of Solomon 6 v 2 When God made man at the first, He planted a garden east ward in Eden; and out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food - the tree of life also, in the midst of the garden. And the Lord God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden, to dress and to keep it. That garden was a sweet type of the delight of Adam's soul; and there, day by day, he heard the voice of God talking in the garden, in the cool of the day. When Adam fell, God drove him out of the garden into this bleak world, covered with thorns and thistles, to earn his bread by the sweat of his brow. Man no more walked with God in a garden of delights. But when a sinner is brought to Christ, he is brought into Christ's garden: 'We who believe, do enter into rest.' He says: ''I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.' He becomes one that dwells in the gardens. True, he is one coming up from the wilderness. This world is a wilderness to the believer - full of pain, sickness, sighing, death - a world that crucified his Lord, and persecutes him - a cold, unbelieving, ungodly world. Still the soul dwells in the gardens; 'His soul shall dwell at ease.' True, a believer has his times of desertion, and clouds, and doubts, and deep waters. At such times, his cry is: 'O wretched man!' Still when his eye rests on Jesus, his soul dwells in a garden of delights. 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 - The determined rejection and manifold judgments of the Jews. Jeremiah complaining that he is the object of universal hatred, God promiseth of the evils he underwent for God's sake. God promiseth to support and favour him in the due discharge of his office. Jeremiah 15 Preface - The gospel beginneth with the preaching of John the Baptist. Jesus is baptized, witnessed to from heaven; and tempted of the devil: preacheth in Galilee; calleth Peter, Andrew, James, and John: healeth one possessed of an unclean spirit, Simon's mother in law; and various other diseased persons: prayeth alone, and goeth on to preach: cleanseth a leper. Mark 1 Daily Light - Morning He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? - Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. - Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy. - Hallowed be thy name. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people. Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyred garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. - I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us...be glory. Lu. 1.49; Ex. 15.11; Ps. 86.8; Rev. 15.4; Mt. 6.9 Lu. 1.68 Isa. 63.1; Ps. 89.19 Eph. 3.20-21 Daily Light - Evening The dew of Hermon. Mount Sion, which is Hermon. - There the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass. - As the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. - And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. - It is like the precious ointment upon the head...even Aaron's...that went down to the skirts of his garments. Ps. 133.3; Deu. 4.48; Hos. 14.5; Deu. 32.2; Isa. 55.10-11 Jn. 3.34; Jn. 1.16; Ps.133.2 A Puritans Catechism Q 50 - What is required in the fourth commandment? A - The fourth commandment requires to keeping holy to God such set times as he has appointed in his Word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy sabbath to himself. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Law of God Chapter 19 PARAGRAPH 7 Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done. Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Lost opportunity And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it into one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25 v 40 Many Christians are content to be Christians for themselves - to hug the gospel to themselves, to sit in their own room, and feast upon it alone. This did not Christ. It is true He loved much to be alone. He once said to His disciples: 'Come into a desert place, and rest a while.' He often spent the whole night in prayer on the lone mountain-side; but it is as true that He went about continually. He went and saw, and then He had compassion. He did not hide Himself from His own flesh. You should be Christ-like. Your word should be: 'Go and see.' You should go and see the poor; and then you will feel for them. Remember what Jesus said to all His people: 'I was sick, and in prison, and you visited me.' Be not deceived, my dear friends; it is easy to give a cold pittance of charity at the church door, and to think that that is the religion of Jesus. But, 'Pure religion and undefiled, before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep yourself unspotted from the world.' 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 - A grievous dearth. The prophet's prayer. God will not be entreated for the people. Both the lying prophets, and the people who believe them, shall perish. Jeremiah is commanded to bewail their calamities. Jeremiah 14 Preface - Christ's resurrection is declared by an angel to the women. Christ himself appeareth to them. The chief priests bribe the soldiers to report that he was stolen by the disciples. Christ appeareth to the eleven in Galilee; and sendeth them to teach and baptize all nations. Matthew 28 Daily Light - Morning He calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. - Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. - The LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me. - Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm. - The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in 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. Jn. 10.3; 2 Tim. 2.19; Mt. 7.22-23; Ps. 1.6 Isa. 49.16; Song 8.6; Na. 1.7 Jn. 14.2-3 Daily Light - Evening She hath done what she could. This poor widow hath cast in more than they all. - Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward. - If there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. Let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. - If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? - He which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. When ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. Mk. 14.8; Lu. 21.3; Mk. 9.41; 2 Co. 8.12 1 Jn. 3.18; Jas. 2.15-16; 2 Co. 9.6-7 Lu. 17.10 A Puritans Catechism Q 49 - Which is the fourth commandment? A - The fourth commandment is, Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Law of God Chapter 19 PARAGRAPH 6 Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse and unallayed rigour thereof. The promises of it likewise shew them God's approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works; so as man's doing good and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under grace. ( etc;
Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Hallelujah! What a saviour For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 1 Corinthians 5 v 21 You know brethren, that the pardon and justification of sinners is spoken of in different ways in the Bible. In Romans 3 v 24, it is said, 'Being justified freely by his grace, through the redemption thatt is in Christ Jesus.' Again, in Romans 5 v 19, 'For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.' But observe that these words express it more fully. I think it means that those of you who have come to the Lord Jesus, His righteousness shall cover you, that you will appear one mass of righteousness. And, brethren, observe what a provision is here for sinners - for the chief of sinners; for it matters not how great of how small a sinner you are if you come to Christ, His righteousness will cover you so that none of your sin will be seen. O my friends, is not this a gospel worth preaching? May you now say as Luther used to do, 'Thou art made my sin, and I am made hty righteousness.' |