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Dear Congregation,
I want to thank all of you who have prayed and supported the work of the Gospel through the church in 2023 and this first month of 2024. It is a great joy to minister at Westminster Baptist and I love the church here greatly. Through this past year, there have been heart-wrenching tragedies alongside blessings too. This is often the case in Christian life and yet we are called to keep trusting and believing. We often bear the battle scars of past experience and circumstance, as we live in this sinful world and anticipate heaven. We see Mordecai, mocked and scorned for years in Esther and on the brink of execution, yet he latterly knew blessing from God. The most important thing was he was faithful in serving the Lord. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful - 1 Corinthians 4.2. This verse especially applies to ministers, church workers, but to all Christians. We are stewards of the oracles of God and to us has the light of the gospel been revealed. We should therefore be striving to be faithful, not popular, faithful. May that be our aim by the grace of God. In the beginning month in recent years we have spent a week praying together on each day for certain things. As a reminder that with continuing faith that prayer is essential. Key to our hope and joy and endurance and love, and with new resolve to make time to pray regularly alone and with your family and with some group of fellow believers. Alongside reading the Scriptures these should be our daily routine. There are various encouragements in the Scriptures to pray: - Pray without ceasing (1 Th. 5:17). - Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ep. 6:18). - Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; (Col. 4:2). These are a few verses of the many that encourage us to pray and undoubtedly set before us a biblical mandate that we should be concerned to pray. Maybe you have fallen out of the 'habit' or relegated prayer to a part time practice; or you only pray when trouble or danger comes. To that end I would ask the church to pray, if led, the suggested topics below so we might pray for the same things (roughly speaking) on the same day to encourage us. Let us be prayerful people and realise we too need prayer. To say we are praying for someone should be an expressio 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 fo rthe 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) 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 - True wisdom inspireth modesty. Kings are to be respected, man's ignorance of futurity; his inability in the day of death. The common abuse of God's forbearance. Good and bad men will surely meet with their deserts in the end, though it fall out otherwise for a time. Cheerful enjoyment of present good commended. God's work is unsearchable. Ecclesiastes 8 Preface - Paul giveth Timothy a solemn charge to do his duty with all care and diligence; certifieth him of his approaching end, and of the glorious prospect he had in view. He desireth him to hasten his coming, and to bring Mark with him, and certain other things: warneth him to beware of Alexander: informeth him what had befallen him at his first apology: and concludeth with salutations, and a benediction. 2 TImothy 4 Daily Light - Morning Stand fast in the Lord. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. The LORD loveth judment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever. - The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are nto of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. - If they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. - He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. - Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. - Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. - He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life. Phil. 4.1; Job 23.11 Ps. 37.28; Ps. 121.7 He. 10.38-39; 1 Jn. 2.19 Jn. 8.31; Mt. 24.13; 1 Co. 16.13; Rev. 3.11; Rev. 3.5 Daily Light - Evening Enoch walked with God. Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Having made peace through the blood of his cross... You, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight. - In Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. Ge. 5.22; Am. 3.3 Col. 1.20-22; Eph. 2.13 Ro. 5.10-11 1 Jn. 1.3 2 Co. 13.14 A Puritans Catechism Q 44 - Which is the second commandment? A - The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for i th eLord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 9 The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which are not many, but one), it must be searched by other places that speak more clearly.20 20 2 Pet. 1:20–21; Acts 15:15–16 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Only one sin For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. - Roman 5 v 19 Only one sin. Some of you see little eveil in one sin, or in a hundred sins; but here you see one sin cast Adam and all his children out of paradise. God did not wait till it was repeated. It appeared a small sin. The outward action was small - only stretching out the hand and taking an inviting fruit. Some of you think little of sins that make no great noise; such as breaking the Sabbath, drinking too much, speaking what is false, sitting down Christless at the Lord's table; but see here, one small sin brought a world under the curse of God. God would rather a world should perish than one small sin go unpunished.
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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 th econtacts 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 - Remedies against the vanity of life ae, a good name, mortification, patience, wisdom, or a considerate and prudent conduct. The difficulty of getting wisdom. The result of the preacher's researches. Ecclesiastes 7 Preface - The apostle foretelleth the evil characters that should appear in the last days. He describeth the enemies of the truth: setteth forth unto Timothy his own example, and exhorteth him to abide in the doctrine he had learned, commending unto him the manifold use of the holy scriptures. 2 Timothy 3 Daily Light - Morning There shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing. - Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. - Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. - The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Deu. 13.17; 2 Co. 6.17; 1 Pe. 2.11; Jude 23 1 Jn. 3.2-3; Titus 2.11-14 Daily Light - Evening Who art thou, Lord?... I am Jesus. It is I; be not afraid. - When thou passest through the waters. I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God...thy Saviour. Thou I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. - Emmanuel...God with us. Thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. - If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. - Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Ac. 26.15; Mt. 14.27; Isa. 43.2-3 Ps.23.4; Mt. 1.23 Mt. 1.21; 1 Jn. 2.1; Ro. 8.34-35 A Puritans Catechism Q 43 - What is required in the first commandment? A - The first commandment requires us to know andacknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 8 The Old Testament in Hebrew (which was the native language of the people of God of old),14 and the New Testament in Greek (which at the time of the writing of it was most generally known to the nations), being immediately inspired by God, and by His singular care and providence kept pure in all ages, are therefore authentic; so as in all controversies of religion, the church is finally to appeal to them.15 But because these original tongues are not known to all the people of God, who have a right unto, and interest in the Scriptures, and are commanded in the fear of God to read,16 and search them,17 therefore they are to be translated into the vulgar language of every nation unto which they come,18 that the Word of God dwelling plentifully in all, they may worship Him in an acceptable manner, and through patience and comfort of the Scriptures may have hope.19 14 Rom. 3:2 15 Isa. 8:20 16 Acts 15:15 17 John 5:39 18 1 Cor. 14:6,9,11-12,24,28 19 Col. 3:16 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Remember the sabbath day I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day... - Revelation 1 v 10 John was keeping the Christian Sabbath in Patmos. Even though an exile, far from fellow-Christians, he was walking in the Spirit when God gave this blessed vision to him. Thus, my friends, even when away from the house of God, if you will seek to be in the Spirit, and to honour the Sabbath, God will make up for the want of ordinances. 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 vanity and misery of riches to one that wanteth an heart to use them; to whom, although he hath many children and long life, an untimely birth is preferable. The vanity of insatiable desires. From the past, which is known, the vanity of man is seen; the future is unknown. Ecclesiastes 6 Preface - Timothy is exhorted to constancy and perseverance in the discharge of his duty, as a good soldier of Christ, looking for a certain reward of his fatigues and sufferings to divide the word of truth rightly, and to shun profane and vain babblings. The dangerous error of Hymenaeus and Philetus. The foundation of God standeth sure. Of vessels honourable and dishonourable. Timothy is taught what to flee, and what to follow, and how the servant of Christ must behave toward all men. 2 Timothy 2 Daily Light - Morning Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. - Christ...hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. - The way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. No man cometh unto the Father, but by me. - Through him we...have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God. - Having...boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. - 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. Jn. 10.7; Mt. 27.51; 1 Pe. 3.18; He. 9.8 Jn. 10.9 Jn. 14.6; Eph. 2.18-19; He. 10.19-20; Ro. 5.1-2 Daily Light - Evening His word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. Necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!... What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. - They called them, and commanded them not to speak a all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them... We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heartd. - The love of Christ constraineth us. I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth... Thou wicked and slothful servant...thou oughtest...to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Go...to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee. Jer. 20.9; 1 Co. 9.16,18; Ac. 4.18-20; 2 Co. 5.14 Mt. 25.25-27 Mk. 5.19 A Puritans Catechism Q 42 - Which is the first commandment? A - The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 7 All things in Scripture are not alike plain in themselves, nor alike clear unto all;12 yet those things which are necessary to be known, believed and observed for salvation, are so clearly propounded and opened in some place of Scripture or other, that not only the learned, but the unlearned, in a due use of ordinary means, may attain to a sufficient understanding of them.13 12 2 Pet. 3:16 13 Ps. 19:7; Psalm 119:130 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Looking at Christ But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: - Philippians 2 v 7 He was the eternal Son of God - equal with the Father in every thing, therefore equal in happiness. He had glory with Him before ever the world was. Yet His happiness also consisted in giving. He was far above all the angels, and therefore He gave far more than they all: 'The Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many.' He was highest, therefore He stooped lowest. They gave their willing services, He gave himself: 'Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be made rich, Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.' Now, dear Christians, some of you pray night and day to be branches of the true Vine; you pray to be made all over in the image of Christ. If so, you must be like Him in giving. A branch bears the same kind of fruit as the tree. If you be branches at all, you must bear the same fruit. An old divine says well: 'What would have become of us if Christ had been as saving of His blood as some men are of their money? Daily Prayer - Thursday
- Give thank 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 - Cautions against abuses in divine service, against murmuring at oppression. The vanity of riches. The cheerful enjoyment of what a man hath is good, and the gift of God, and a blessing to him that hath it. Ecclesiastes 5 Preface - Paul affectionately saluteth Timothy, assuring him of his constant prayers for him, and remembrance of that sincere faith which had been derived to Timothy from his mother and grandmother. He exhorteth him to stir up the gift of God which was in him; and not to be ashamed of the testimony of the gospel, but to be ready to suffer for it according to his example: and to hold fast the form of sound words which he has learned. He putteth him in mind of the general defection of the converts in Asia, and commendeth Onesiphorus for his repeated kindness toward him. 2 Timothy 1 Daily Light - Morning I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee. (Moses) stood between the LORD and you at that time, to shew you the word of the LORD: for ye were afraid. - There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. - Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; but Christ as a son over his own house, whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. Deu. 18.18; Deu. 5.5; 1 Tim. 2.5 Nu. 12.3; Mt. 11.29; Phil. 2.5-7 He. 3.5-6 Daily Light - Evening Everlasting consolation. I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant. By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. - 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. - I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. The gifts and calling of God are without repentance. - Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? - The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. - So shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. This is not your rest. - Here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. 2 Th. 2.16; Ezek. 16.60 He. 10.14; He. 7.25; 2 Tim. 1.12 Ro. 11.29; Ro. 8.35; Rev. 7.17; 1 Th. 4.17-18 Mi. 2.10; He. 13.14 A Puritans Catechism Q 41 - What is the sum of the ten commandments? A - The sum of the ten commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 6 The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for His own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men.9 Nevertheless, we acknowledge the inward illumination of the Spirit of God to be necessary for the saving understanding of such things as are revealed in the Word,10 and that there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed.11 9 2 Tim. 3:15-17; Gal. 1:8,9 10 John 6:45; 1 Cor. 2:9-12 11 1 Cor. 11:13,14; 1 Cor. 14:26,40 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Heavenly tenderness Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. - John 16 v 7 When friends are about to part from one another, they are far kinder than ever they have been before. It was so with Jesus. He was going to part from His disciples, and never till now did His heart flow out toward them in so many streams of heavenly tenderness. Sorrow had filled their heart, and therefore divinest compassion filled His heart. 'I tell you the truth, it is expedient for you that I go away.' Surely it was expedient for Himself that He should go away. He had lived a life of weariness and painfulness, not having where to lay His head, and surely it was pleasant in His eyes that He was about to enter into His rest. He had lived in obscurity and poverty - He gave His back to the smiters, and His cheeks to them that plucked off the hair. Now, surely, He might well look forward with joy to His return to that glory which He had with the Father before ever the world was, when all the angels of God worshipped Him. And yet He does not say; 'It is expedient for me that I go away.' Surely that would have been comfort enough to His disciples. But no: he says: 'It is expedient for you.' He forgets Himself altogether, and thinks only of His little flock which He was leaving behind Him: 'It is expedient for you that I go away.' O most generous of Saviours! He looked not on His own things, but on the things of others also. He knew that it is far more blessed to give than it is to receive. Daily Prayer - Wednesday
- Give thanks to God for the Bible, its inspiration and preservation for us to read it today. (2 Timothy 3.16, Proverbs 30.5.) - Give thanks to God that we have easy access to the Scripture in English, in our mother tongue. - Pray the Lord would bless us as we study the Bible through the ministry this coming year. That as we work through a book of the Bible the Lord would continue to help us to grasp God's truth. - Pray for the Lunchtime outreach service and those who attend; pray that more from the offices nearby and Christians who commute are able to join us. Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via FaceBook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - The vanity of human life increased by oppresion; and by envy. The absurdity of idleness. The good of contentment. The folly and misery of covetousness. The advantages of society. The throne of kings is not exempt from vanity and vexation. Ecclesiastes. 4 Preface - The duty of servants. Those who teach not according to the apostle's doctrine are to be avoided, as corrupters of Christianity. The gain of godliness with content. The evil of covetousness. What Timothy is to flee, and what to follow and perform. A charge to the rich not to be proud and confident in their riches, but to be beneficent and liberal. Timothy is enjoined to adhere to the true faith, and to shun profane and vain controversies. 1 Timothy 6 Daily Light - Morning Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. - Glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. Ye are...a royal priesthood...that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. Ye...as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by 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. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. Ps. 50.23; Col. 3.16-17; 1 Co. 6.20 1 Pe. 2.9; 1 Pe. 2.5; He. 13.15 Ps. 34.2-3 Daily Light - Evening Draw me, we will run after thee. I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. - I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love. - I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. - Behold the Lamb of God! - As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. - We love him, because he first loved us. My beloved spake, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. Song 1.4; Jer. 31.3; Hos. 11.4; Jn. 12.32; Jn. 1.36; Jn. 3.14,15 Ps. 73.25; 1 Jn. 4.19 Song 2.10-13 A Puritans Catechism Q 40 - What did God reveal to man for the rule of his disobedience? A - The rule which God first revealed to man fo rhis obedience is the moral law, which is summarised in the tem commandments. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 5 We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to a high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it does abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.8 8 John 16:13-14; 1 Cor. 2:10-12; 1 John 2:20, 27 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Misers of grace And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. - John 1 v 16 A Christian in our day is like a man who has got a reat reservoir brimful of water. He is at liberty to drink as much as he pleases, for he never can drink it dry; but instead of drinking the full stream that flows from it, he dams it up, and is content to drink the few drops that trickle through. O that ye would draw out of His fullness, ye that have come to Christ! Do not be misers of grace. There is far more that you will use in eternity. The same waters are now in Christ that refreshed Paul, that gave Peter his boldness, that gave John his affectionate tenderness. Why is your soul less richly supplied than theirs? Because you will not drink: 'If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.' Daily 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 mihgt fulfil our vocations (jobs, studies, family responsibilities and time we spend alone). (Ecclesiastes 9.10, Ephesians 6.6) - Pray for the Lord's blessing on the working week for us and all in the congregation. - Pray the Lord would grant us grace to be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20) Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via FaceBook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - The vanity which the Preacher found in the pursuits of pleasure. Wisdom excelleth folly, yet a like event happeneth to both. The vanity of human labour, the fruit of which must soon be left to a man knoweth not whom. Nothing better than a cheerful use of what a man hath gotten; but that is the gift of God to the good only. Ecclesiastes 3 Preface - Paul foretelleth and describeth a great apostasy to happen in the latter times. He directeth Timothy what doctrines to teach, and by what rules to regulate his conduct, so as to save both himself and his hearers. 1 Timothy 4 Daily Light - Morning Their Redeemer is strong. I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins. - I have laid help upon one that is mighty. - The LORD...thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. - Mighty to save. - Able to keep you from falling. - Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. - He is able...to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him. Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor 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. Jer. 50.34; Am. 5.12; Ps. 89.19; Isa. 49.26; Isa. 63.1; Jude 24; Ro. 5.20 Jn. 3.18; He. 7.25 Isa. 50.2 Ro. 8.35,38-39 Daily Light - Evening Seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. - Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. He that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. - Christ...suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps. Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Jer. 45.5; Mt. 11.29; Phil. 2.5-9 Mt. 10.38; 1 Pe. 2.21 1 Tim. 6.6-8 Phil. 4.11 A Puritans Catechism Q 39 - What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment? A - At the day of judgment the bodies of the wicked being raised out of their graves, shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to unspeakable torments with the devil and his angels for ever. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 4 The authority of the Holy Scripture, for which it ought to be believed, depends not upon the testimony of any man or church, but wholly upon God (who is truth itself), the author thereof; therefore it is to be received because it is the Word of God.7 7 2 Pet. 1:19–21; 2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Thess. 2:13; 1 John 5:9 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings A triumphant deathbed I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: - 2 Timothy 4 v 7 I think the dying thief could say: I believe, and enter with joy into Paradise; but he could not say: 'I have kept the faith.' This makes the difference between a peaceful and triumphant death-bed. Paul 'bought the truth, and sold it not.' That good thing committed to him he kept, by the Holy Ghost given unto him. He held the beginning of his confidence steadfast unto the end. Learn that perseverance in the faith is needful to a triumphant deathbed. It is Christ, and Christ alone, that is our peace in dying; yet the hand that has longest held him has the firmest hold. It is not our perseverance that is our righteousness before God, but the doing and dying of the Lord Jesus; and yet without perseverance in the faith ye cannot be saved. Alas! you that turn aside to folly, you are preparing clouds for your dying bed. Can you say you have kept the faith, poor backslider? Daily Prayer - Tuesday
- Give thanks to God for those who have recently recovered from sickness. - Pray for those who are sick or receiving treatment in our congregation. - Pray that we each would walk close to God, putting off sins that easily beset us and that we would daily give thanks for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (1 John 1.3; Hebrews 12.1; 1 Thes. 5.16.) - Church Services Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via FaceBook) Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Bible Study and Prayer Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Lunch Hour Service Thursday afternoon between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (and also available online via FaceBook) Outreach/Witnessing Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer. Daily Reading Preface - By the necessary change of times of vanity is added to human travail. There is a fitness in God's works, which man cannot thoroughly find out. Man's object is to enjoy present good, so far as God alloweth, whose counsels are immutable. From the abuses of human judgments God's judgment is inferred. Men and beasts are visibly alike in their mortal bodies; their spirits, which go different ways, are unknown. Ecclesiastes 3 Preface - Directions to Timothy how to admonish persons of different conditions. Concerning widows. Elders, if they do well, are to be doubly honoured; and are not to be censured without full proof; and then openly and impartially. A caution not to ordain any one precipitately. Advice respecting Timothy's health. Some men's characters are more easily discerned than those of others. 1 Timothy 5 Daily Light - Morning I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. - Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off. I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry. Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not. Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath eh in anger shut up his tender mercies? And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. - I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Ps. 31.22; Ps. 69.2; Lam. 3.54-57 Ps. 77.7-11; Ps. 27.13 Daily Light - Evening He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested. - Ask what I shall give thee. And Solomon said unto God... Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people. - And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore. 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 now power... O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Ps. 91.15; 1 Chr. 4.10; 2 Chr. 1.7-8.10; 1 Ki. 4.29 2 Chr. 14.11-12 Ps. 65.2 A Puritans Catechism Q 40 - What did God reveal to man for the rule of his disobedience? A - The rule which God first revealed to man for his obedience is the moral law, which is summarized in the tem commandments. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 5We may be moved and induced by the testimony of the church of God to a high and reverent esteem of the Holy Scriptures; and the heavenliness of the matter, the efficacy of the doctrine, and the majesty of the style, the consent of all the parts, the scope of the whole (which is to give all glory to God), the full discovery it makes of the only way of man's salvation, and many other incomparable excellencies, and entire perfections thereof, are arguments whereby it does abundantly evidence itself to be the Word of God; yet notwithstanding, our full persuasion and assurance of the infallible truth, and divine authority thereof, is from the inward work of the Holy Spirit bearing witness by and with the Word in our hearts.8 8 John 16:13-14; 1 Cor. 2:10-12; 1 John 2:20, 27 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Like the planets ... I have finished my course. - 2 Timothy 4 v 7 The moment a soul is brought to Christ, he has a course to run. And as John fulfilled his course, he said, 'Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose' (Acts 13 v 25). Paul says: 'But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God' (Acts 20 v 24). 'Wherefore seeing, we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us' (Hebrews 12 v 1). Every one has a different course. Like the planets, all do not shine in the same part of the sky. So every believer has his course - a work to do. One has the course of a minister, another the course of a master, another that of a servant. Each of us has a work to do for Christ; let us do it diligently. 'My meat is to do the will of him that sent me.' 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, ther 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. May these verses challenge us all at the start of this new year to be a people of prayer. 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. Know that we have a prayer hearing and answering God. Pastor Jonathan Arnold. 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) 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 preacher sheweth that all things here below are vain, because the creatures are restless in their courses, and there is nothing new brought forth, but the old things are forgotten. He sheweth it by his own experience to be so in the studies of wisdom. Ecclesiastes 1 Preface - The office of a bishop is to be esteemed a good work. The qualifications requisitte in a bishop, and in deacons. Why Paul wrote these instructions to Timothy. The important truths of the Christian revelation. 1 Timothy 3 Daily Light - Morning My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. How precious...are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee. - How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! - Thy love is better than wine. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. - Thou art fairer than the children of men. As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. - His countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is most sweet; yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend. Ps. 63.5-6; Ps. 139.17-18; Ps. 119.103; Song 1.2 Ps. 73.25; Ps. 45.2 Song 2.3-4; Song 5.15-16 Daily Light - Evening Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation. I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. - Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backsliding. Behold we come unto thee; for thou art the LORD our God. - I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases. - He restoreth my soul. - O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou was angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe. I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. Ps. 51.12; Isa. 57.18 Isa. 1.18; Jer. 3.22; Ps. 85.8 Ps. 103.2-3; Ps. 23.3; Isa. 12.1 Ps. 119.117 Isa. 43.25 A Puritans Catechism Q 38 - What shall be done to the wicked at their death? A - The souls of the wicked shall at their death be cast into the torments of hell, and their bodies lie in their graves till the resurrection and the judgment of the great day. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 3 The books commonly called Apocrypha, not being of divine inspiration, are no part of the canon or rule of the Scripture, and, therefore, are of no authority to the church of God, nor to be any otherwise approved or made use of than other human writings.6 6 Luke 24:27,44; Rom. 3:2 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Why bread? For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That 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. - 1 Corinthins 2 v 23-24 This day, my friends, I set before you the plainest and simplest picture of the silent sufferings of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. in that night in which He was betrayed, he took bread. Why bread? Firstly, because of its plainness and commonness. He did not take silver or gold or jewels, to represent His body, but bread, plain bread, to show you that when he came to be a surety for sinners, He did not comin in His original glory, with His Father's angels. He took not on Him the nature of angels, he became man. Secondly, he chose bread to show you that He was dumb, and opened not His mouth. When I break the bread it resists not, it complained not, He yielded to the hand of infinite justice. 'He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.' 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 - Lemuel's lesson of temperance and chastity. The afflicted are to be comforted, and the poor defended. The praise and properties of a virtuous woman. Proverbs 31 Preface - Paul exhorteth to pray and give thanks for all men, for kings and magistrates especially. God willeth the salvation of all men. Paul's commission to teach the Gentiles. He directeth how women should be attired; permitteth them not to teach; but promiseth that they shall be saved in childbearing on certain conditions. 1 Timothy 2 Daily Light - Morning Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase. He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. - Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and lavour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. I beseech you...brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. - The love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. - Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Pro. 3.9; 2 Co. 9.6; 1 Co. 16.2 He. 6.10 Ro. 12.1; 2 Co. 5.14-15; 1 Co. 10.31 Daily Light - Evening There shall be no night there. The LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory. The city had no need o fthe sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. - They need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light. Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. - Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son. - Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Rev. 21.25; Isa. 60.19 Rev. 21.23; Rev. 22.5 1 Pe. 2.9; Col. 1.12-13; Eph. 5.8 1 Th. 5.5 Pro. 4.18 A Puritans Catechism Q 37 - What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? A - At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed both in soul and body in the full enjoying of God to all eternity. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 2 Under the name of Holy Scripture, or the Word of God written, are now contained all the books of the Old and New Testaments, which are these: -- OF THE OLD TESTAMENTGenesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes The Song of Solomon Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi -- Of the New TestamentMatthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation All of which are given by the inspiration of God, to be the rule of faith and life.5 5 2 Tim. 3:16 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings It was good When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was. - John 11 v 6 Had Christ come at the first and healed their brother, we never would have known the love that showed itself at the grave of Lazarus, we never would have known the power of the great Redeemer in raising from the grave. These bright forth-shinings of the glory of Christ would have been lost in the Church and to the world. Therefore it was good that He stayed away for two days. Thus the honour of His name was spread far and wide. The Son of God was glorified. 'This people have I formed for myself; they sahll show forth my praise.' This is God's great end in all His dealings with His people - that He may be seen. For this reason He destroyed the Egyptians. 'That the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord'. 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 - Agur's confession of his own simplicity. The purity of God's word, and danger of adding thereto. The two points of Agur's prayer. A servant not to be wrongfully accused. Four wicked generations. Four things insatiable. Parents not to be despised. Four things hard to be known. Four things little, but wise. Four things stately. Silence in case of error the way to prevent wrath. Proverbs 30 Preface - The salutation. Timothy is put in mind of the charge before given him by Paul. The end of the commandment is charity, from which some had turned aside to teach the law which they understood not. The scope of the law was to condemn wickedness, which is the design of the gospel also. Paul blesseth God for calling him to the ministry notwithstanding his great demerit, whereby all penitent sinners that believe are assured of mercy through Christ. He urgeth Timothy to a due discharge of his trust, warning him of some who had deserted the truth, of whom Hymenaeus and Alexander had been delivered by him unto Satan. 1 Timothy 1 Daily Light - Morning What the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. The law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? - By him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Forasmuch...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. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren. Ro. 8.3; He. 10.1-2; Ac. 13.39 He. 2.14-17 Daily Light - Evening All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. There is none righteous, no, not one...there is none that doeth good, no, not one. - There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. - How can he be clean that is born of a woman? Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me... Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. The LORD...hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die. - Whom he justified, them he also glorified. - 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. - If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. Walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. Ro. 3.23; Ro. 3.10,12; Ec. 7.20; Job 25.4 He. 4.1 Ps. 51.3,5 2 Sa. 12.13; Ro. 8.30; 2 Co. 3.18; Col. 1.23 1 Th. 2.12 Q 36 - What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? A - The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united in Christ, do rest in their graves, till the resurrection. Baptist Confession of Faith Of The Holy Scriptures Chapter 1 PARAGRAPH 1 The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience,1 although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will which is necessary unto salvation.2 Therefore it pleased the Lord at sundry times and in diversified manners to reveal Himself, and to declare (that) His will unto His church;3 and afterward for the better preserving and propagating of the truth, and for the more sure establishment and comfort of the church against the corruption of the flesh, and the malice of Satan, and of the world, to commit the same wholly unto writing; which makes the Holy Scriptures to be most necessary, those former ways of God's revealing His will unto His people being now completed.4 1 2 Tim. 3:15–17; Is. 8:20; Luke 16:29,31; Eph. 2:20 2 Rom. 1:19-21, 2:14–15; Psalm 19:1-3 3 Heb. 1:1 4 Prov. 22:19-21; Rom. 15:4; 2 Pet. 1:19–20 Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Avoiding sin Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridgroom. - Matthew 25 v 1 The truest mark of children of God is their avoiding sin. They flee from their old companions and old ways, they walk with God. And yet even this is imitated by the foolish virgins. They go out to meet their Lord. They flee old sins for a time, they hasten from their work to the house of God, they seek the company of God's children, perhaps they try to save others, and become very zealous in this. O how sad that many who now cling to the godly will soon be torn from them, and bound up with devils and wicked men! |
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