Daily Readings for Sunday 22nd October 2023

Dear Congregation,

Thank you all for your prayers and support for the work of the church throughout 2023. I know we all have been through varying difficulties and some through particular hardships. Once again we can thank the Lord that we have been brought through trusting in the Lord as our refuge and strength. As I encouraged the congregation at the start of last year it is vitally important to pray to keep close to God and continue faithfully in our Christian life. Alongside reading the Scriptures these should be our daily routine. There are various encouragements in the Scriptures to pray:
-Pray without ceasing (1Th. 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 this be a prayerful church and prayerful individuals, knowing that we have a prayer hearing and answering God.

Pastor Jonathan Arnold

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, adn 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 morning) Scripture reading - Matthew 6 v 5-15
Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (also available online via Facebook)
(Sunday evening) Scripture reading - Romans 7 v 1-13
Bible study 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 Reading
Preface - Jehoram's evil reign. Mesha king of Moab rebelleth. Jehoram with Jehosaphat and the king of Edom goeth against him; being distressed for want of water they apply to Elisha, who promiseth them water, and assureth them of victory. The water cometh in great plenty, and is mistaken by the Moabites for blood; they come in hopes of spoil, and are entirely defeated. The king of Moab failing in his attempt to break through unto the king of Edom, sacrificeth his son, and raiseth the siege.
2 Kings 3
Preface - The apostle desireth the Thessalonians to pray for him, testifying his confidence in them, and praying God to direct them. He condemmeth the idle and disorderly, and requireth others to abstain from their company; concluding with prayer and salutation.
2 Thess 3

Daily Light - Morning
O God, my heart is fixed.

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee; because he trusteth in thee, - He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD, His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. - In the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.
Ps. 108.1; Ps. 27.1
Isa. 26.3; Ps. 112.7-8
Ps. 56.3; Ps. 27.5-6
1 Pe. 5.10-11

Daily Light - Evening
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; 
and his kingdom ruleth over all.

The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. - Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou has not knownme: that they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.

He doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? - If God be for us, who can be against us?

He must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. - Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Ps. 103.19; Pro. 16.33; Am. 3.6
Isa. 45,5-7
Dan. 4.35; Ro. 8.31
1 Co. 15.25; Lu. 12.32

A Puritans Catechism
Q32 - What is justification?
A-Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings
He is precious
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. - Hebrews 13 v 8
How sweet, that Jesus ever liveth. He is the same yesterday, and to-day, and forever. You will never find Jesus so precious as when the world is one vast howling wilderness. Then He is like a rose blooming in the midst of the desolation - a rock rising above the storm. The Bible, too, is more full of meaning. Have you ever prayed over that verse, 'He doth not afflict willingly?' O precious book, that conveys such a message to the mounrer's dwelling! And does not trial bring more meaning out of that verse, 'We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose'? The bible is like the leaves of the lemon tree; the more you bruise and wring them the sweeter the fragrance. 'Is any afflicted? - let him pray.' Do you not find that prayer is sweeter now. The soul finds vent for its feeling toward God. 'Call upon me in the day of trouble - I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.'