Daily Readings for Thursday 22nd February 2024

Daily Prayer - Thursday
- Give thanks to God that we are part of a global church made up of true Christians across the world.
- Give thank  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
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 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 - Eliphaz sheweth that man's goodness profiteth not God: he accuseth Job of various sins, to which he imputeth his calamities: he bringeth evidence of the example of wicked men to shew that God's judgments at length overtake them: and exhorteth Job to repentance with promises of mercy.
Job 22
Preface - Paul vindicateth his apostolical character, and right to a maintenance from the churches: though he relinquished that right for the furtherance of the gospel, not content with doing only his indispensable duty; but voluntarily subjecting himself in many points, where he was otherwise free, in order thereby to win over more converts to Christ. Those who contend for a corruptible crown use much labour and abstinence; so doth the apostle strive for one that is incorruptible.
1 Corinthians 9


Daily Light - Morning
What man is he that feareth the LORD?
Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. - Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. - I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee. Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD,, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.
Ps. 25.12; Mt. 6.22
Ps. 119.105; Isa. 30.21; Ps. 32.8-11
Jer. 10.23


Daily Light - Evening
When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

There arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. - He giveth his beloved sleep.

They stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. - Absent from the body...present with the Lord.
Pro. 3.24; Mk. 4.37-38
Phil. 4.6-7
Ps. 4.8; Ps. 127.2
Ac. 7.59-60;
2 Co. 5.8


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.


Of Religious Worship  and The Sabbath Day
Chapter 22
PARAGRAPH 7

As it is the law of nature, that in general a proportion of time, by God's appointment, be set apart for the worship of God, so by his Word, in a positive moral, and perpetual commandment, binding all men, in all ages, he has particularly appointed one day in seven for a sabbath to be kept holy unto him,28 which from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord's Day:29 and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week being abolished.
28 Exod. 20:8
29 1 Cor. 16:1–2; Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10

God Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings
Sweet companionship
...thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: - Ruth 1 v 16
The soul in Christ has many sweet companions - brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. The soul that is united to the Vine-tree is united to all the branches: 'We know that we are passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren.' 'I am a companion of all them that fear thee.'
Believers have many things to say to one another, as John says to Gaius: 'I had many things to write unto thee, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: but I trust I shall shortly see thee, adn we shall speak face to face;' So did believers in the days of Malachi: 'Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard. '(Malachi 3 v 16). And so do believers still. They may tell of their past experiences modestly, humbly, with self-loathing, and for the glory of Christ; as Jesus told the maniac: 'Return to thine own house, and show how great things God hath done unto thee' (Luke 8 v 30); and as David speaks: 'Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul' (Psalm 66 v 16).