Daily Readings for Saturday the 9th September 2023

Prayer
Prayer
-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
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)
Study bible and prayer
Wednesday evening at 7:00pm in church (also available online via Facebook)
Lunch hour service
Thursday afternoon 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 (across the road from Town Hall - No. 64). Afterwards we go back to church for prayer.

Daily Readings
Preface - During the course of the war David still groweth stronger. The six sons which were born to him in Hebron. Abner, offended by Ish-basheth, threateneth to revolt to David; to whom he sendeth to offer his service. David refuseth to treat, till he hath first received back his wife Michal; who on his demand is restored to him. Abner having communed with the Israelites goeth to David, by whom he is feasted, and sent away in peace. Joab returning from battle is displeased with the king, and following Abner murdereth him treacherously. David curseth Joab, and mourneth for Abner.
2 Samuel 3
Preface - Prophecy for its greater tendency to edification is preferred before speaking with tongues. Tongues not understood, like indistinct musical sounds, are of no service to the hearers. All gifts should be refered to edification. Tongues are of use for the conviction of unbelievers; but in the assemblies of the church prophecy is more useful. Rules for the orderly exercise of spiritual gifts in the church. Women are forbidden to speak there. An exhortation to use each gift freely, but with decency and order.
1 Corinthians 14

A Puritans Catechism
Q72 - How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
A - The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convicting and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort through faith to salvation.

Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes  A Path - Daily Devotional Readings
A Gospel of holiness
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 2 Corinthians 5 v 14.
The life of holiness is not what the world falsely represents it - a life of preciseness and painfulness, in which a man crosses every affection of his nature. There is no such thing as self-denial, in the popish sense of that word, in the religion of the Bible. The system of restriction and self-crossings is the very system which Satan hath set up as a counterfeit of God's way of sanctifying. It is thus that Satan frightens away thousands from gospel peace and gospel holiness; as if being, who did everything that was disagreeable and uncomfortable to him. My friends, our text distinctly shows you that it is not so.
We are constrained to holiness by the love of Christ. The love of Him who loved us, is the only cord by which we are bound to the service of God. The scourge of our affection is the only scourge that drives us to duty. Sweet bands, and gentle scourges! Who would not be under their power?