Daily Reading for Tuesday 1st August 2023

Prayer
-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
Sermons
Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (also available online via Facebook)
Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (also available online via Facebook)
Bible study and prayer
Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (also available online via Facebook)
Lunch hour service
Thursday between 1:00pm and 1:30pm in church (also available online via Facebook)
Outreach/witnessing
Saturday morning at Victoria Street (outside the big Boots store) for 10:30am (opposite Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer.

Daily readings
Preface - Samson returning to visit his wife is denied admittance to her. He setteth fire to the corn of the Philistines with foxes and firebrands: his
wife and her father are burned by the Philistines. Samson smiteth them, and retireth to the rock Etam. The Philistines come up against him: the men
of Judah with his consent deliver him bound to the Philistines. He killeth a thousand of the Philistines with the jawbone of an ass. God openeth
a fountain in Lehi to relieve his thirst.
Judges 15
Preface - The Holy Ghost is conferred by Paul on twelve of John's disciples. He preacheth at Ephesus, first in the synogogue, and afterward in a
private school for two years; God confirming the word by special miracles. Certain Jewish exorcists, attempting to cast out a devil in the name of
Jesus, are sent off naked and wounded: the gospel gaineth credit, and magical books are burned. Paul proposing to depart soon, Demetrius and
the silversmiths raise an uproar against him, which is with some difficulty appeased.
Acts 19

A Puritans Catechism
​Q34 - What is sanctification?
A - Sanctification is the work of God's free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and
more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings
The wonderful grace of Christ
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. - Titus 3 v 5
When the Holy Spirit leads a man to the cross, his heart there breaks from seeking salvation by his own righteousness. All his burden of
performance and contrivances drops. First, the work of Christ appears so perfect, - the wisdom of God and the power of God - divine righteousness.
'I wonder that I should ever think of any other way of salvation. If I could have been saved by my own duties, my whole soul would now have refused it.
I wonder that all the world did not see and comply with this way of salvation by the righteousness of Christ.' (Brainerd) Second, the grace of
Christ appears so wonderful. That all this righteousness should be free to such a sinner! That I so long, neglected, despised, hated it, put
mountains between, and yet that He has come over the mountains! 'That thou mayest remember and be confounded, and never open thy mouth
any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou has done' (Ezekiel 16 v 63). Have you this broken heart - broken
within sight of the cross? It is not a look into your own heart, or the heart of hell, but into the heart of Christ, that breaks the heart. Oh, pray for
this broken heart! Boasting is excluded. To Him be glory. Worthy is the Lamb! All the struggles of a self-righteous soul are to put the crown on your
own head instead of at the feet of Jesus.