Daily Readings for Thursday 5th December 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 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 - The miserable ruin of Nineveh.
Nahum 3
Preface - Christ visiteth Zacchareus the publican. The parable of a nobleman who left money with his servants to trade with in his absence. Christ rideth in triumph into Jerusalem: he weepeth over the city: driveth the buyers and sellers out of the temple: teacheth daily therein: the rulers seek to destroy him.
Luke 19


Daily Light - Morning
It is good for me that I have been afflicted;
that I might learn thy statutes.

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. - We suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

He knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.

Thou Shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in  the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no... Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him. - For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth.
Ps. 119.71; He. 5.8; Ro. 8.17-18
Job 23.10-11
Deu. 8.2,5-6; He. 12.6


Daily Light - Evening
By strength shall no man prevail.

Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied... And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it... So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone.

There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength... Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy. - Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.

I ...glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. - Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.
1 Sa. 2.9; 1 Sa. 17.45,49,50
Ps. 33.16,18; 1 Chr. 29.12
2 Co. 12.9-10; Zech.4.6


A Puritans Catechism
Q 25 - How does Christ execute the office of a king?
A - Christ executes the office of a king in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.


The 1689
Baptist Confession of Faith
Of Repentance unto Life and Salvation
Chapter 15
PARAGRAPH 3
​
This saving repentance is an evangelical grace,4 whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, does, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self–abhorrancy,5 praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavor, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well–pleasing in all things.6

4 Zech. 12:10; Acts 11:18
5 Ezek. 36:31; 2 Cor. 7:11
6 Ps. 119:6,128

Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings
The presence of Christ
But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us.
Luke 24 v 29

It is the presence of Christ with the soul that gives true peace and true holiness. It is not circumstances, nor ministers, nor place, nor time, but Jesus present. To sit under His shadow, gives great delight. To lean upon the Beloved alone supports his faltering steps. A true believer cannot be satisfied while Christ is away: 'Make haste, my Beloved.' One that is not a wife may be content with other lovers, but the faithful bride longs for the return of her Lord. The ordinances are all cold and barren till he treturn. Ministers speak, but not to the heart. The companions cannot give rest nor ease. Oh! brethren, do you know what it is to long for Himself - to cry, 'Make haste my beloved.'?