Daily Prayer - Wednesday
- Give thank to God for the Bible its inspiration and preservation for us to read it today. (2 Timothy 3.16, Proverbs 30.5.) - Give thanks to God that we have easy access to the Scripture in English, in our mother tongue. - Pray the Lord would bless us as we study the Bible through the ministry this coming year. That as we work through a book of the Bible the Lord would continue to help us to grasp God's truth. - Pray for the Lunchtime outreach service and those who attend; pray that more from the offices nearby and Christians who commute are able to join us. 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 - Under the type of a linen girdle hidden at Euphrates God prefigureth the destruction of his people. Under the parable of bottles filled with wine he foretelleth their excess of misery. He exhorteth them to prevent their impending judgments by repentance: and sheweth that their impending judgments by repentance: and sheweth that their abominations are the cause of these evils. Jeremiah 13 Preface - Christ is delivered bound to Pilate. Judas hangeth himself. Christ's silence before Pilate. Pilate's custom at the feast, and proposal to the people: his wife's message: being urged by the multitude, he washeth his hands in his own justification, and releasing Barabbas delivereth Jesus to be c rucified. Christ is mocked of the soldiers, crowned with thorns, crucified between two thieves, reviled, and calling upon God expireth. The astonishing events which attended his death: the centurion's confession. Joseph of Arimathaea beggeth his body, and burieth it. His sepulchre is sealed, and a watch set over it. Matthew 27 Daily Light - Morning Thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil. I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great, according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation. O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us... Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. - LORD, though our iniquities testify against us, do thou it for thy name's sake: for our backslidings are many; we have sinned against thee. - We acknowledge, O LORD, our wickedness, and the iniquity of our fathers: for we have sinned against thee. If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. Jon. 4.2; Nu. 14.17-18 Ps. 79.8,9; Jer. 14.7; Jer. 14.20 Ps. 130.3-4 Daily Light - Evening Sanctification of the Spirit Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, - yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! - (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. The Comforter...is the Holy Ghost. - The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace. In a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. All these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 2 Th. 2.13; Song. 4.16 2 Co. 7.11; Eph. 5.9,10 Jn. 14.26; Ro. 5.5 Ga. 5.22 2 Co. 8.2 1 Co. 12.11 A Puritans Catechism Q 48 - What is required in the third commandment? A - The third commandment requires the Holy and reverent use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, Word, and works. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Law of God Chapter 19 PARAGRAPH 5
Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The Lord our shepherd The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23 v 1 It is exceedingly interesting to know the many names by which Christ call Himself in the Bible. These are above one hundred, I think one hundred and seven. He calls Himself a rose, 'I am the rose of Sharon,' and a lily, 'I am the lily of the valley.' The reason why He has so many names is that one name would not describe Him; He has so many offices that one name would not explain them; nay all of them put together do not, for Paul said, 'Unto me who am less than the least of all saints is this grace given, that I might preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.' Of all the names given, that of a shepherd is the sweetest.
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Daily Prayer - Tuesday
- Give thanks to God for salvation and the redemption that is found alone through Jesus Christ. - Give thanks to God for granting us particular skills and abilities that we might fulfil our vocations (jobs, studies, family responsibilities and time we spend alone). Ecclesiastes 9.10, Ephesians 6.6) - Pray for the Lord's blessing on the working week for us and all in the congregation. - Pray the Lord would grant us grace to be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20) 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 - Jeremiah complaining of the prosperity of the wicked prayeth against them. God sheweth him what ill usage he might expect from others, seeing his own kindred dealt so ill with him. God lamenteth the desolation of his heritage; he threateneth their evil neighbours, but promiseth restoration and grace to the penitent. Jeremiah 12 Preface - Christ again foretelleth his own death. The rulers conspire against him. A woman poureth precious ointment upon his head. Judas bargaineth to betray him. Christ eateth the passover and pointeth out the traitor: he instituteth his last supper: foretelleth the desertion of his disciples, and Peter's denial of him. His agony and prayer in the garden. He is betrayed and apprehended. One of the servants of the high priest hath his ear cut off; Jesus forbeddeth opposition: he is carried to Caiaphas, falsely accused, pronounced guilty, and treated with indignity. Peter's denial and repentance. Matthew 26 Daily Light - Morning Ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. Thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests. - Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called hou out of darkness into his marvellous light. Ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God. - Priests of God and of Christ. Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus. - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. - The temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Ex. 19.6; Rev. 5.9-10; 1 Pe. 2.9 Isa. 61.6; Rev. 20.6 He. 3.1; He. 13.15 Eph. 2.10; 1 Co. 3.17 Daily Light - Evening We made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them. Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation. - Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving. - Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist stedfast in the faith. Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? - Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward. 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. Ne. 4.9; Mt. 26.41; Col. 4.2; 1 Pe. 5.7-9 Lu. 6.46; Jas. 1.22 Ex. 14.15 Phil. 4.6-7 A Puritans Catechism Q 47 - Which is the third commandment? A - The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Law of God Chapter 19 PARAGRAPH 4 To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general equity only being of moral use. Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Study holiness But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 1 Peter 1 v 15 Seek daily likeness to Jesus. We are not justified by our sanctification; and yet without sanctification we cannot have abiding peace or communion. We are justified entirely by the doing and dying of the Lord Jesus; and yet, when justified, He will change us into His image; so that the longer we are justified we should be the more sanctified. Study holiness, if you would have peace now, and be found of Christ in peace. The holiest believers are evermore the happiest. Prayer - Monday
- Give thanks to God for salvation and the redemption that is found alone through Jesus Christ. - Give thanks to God for granting us particular skills and abilities that we might fulfil our vocations (jobs, studies, family responsibilities and time we spend alone). (Ecclesiastes 9.10, Ephesians 6.6) - Pray for the Lord's blessing on the working week for us and all in the congregation. - Pray the Lord would grant us grace to be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20) 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 prophet proclaimeth God's covenant, and rebuketh the Jews for disobeying it: he denounceth evil against them for their idolatries, and against the men of Anathoth, who devised his death. Jeremiah 11 Preface - The parable of the ten virgins; and of the talents, which a king distributed among his servants, to be improved by them. A description of the last judgment. Matthew 25 Daily Light - Morning Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. - I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. - O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. - (Not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified...) - If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. - To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind. Mt. 6.10; Ps. 103.20-21 Jn. 6.38; Ps. 40.8; Mt. 26.42 Mt. 7.21; Ro. 2.13; Jn. 13.17; Jas. 4.17 Ro. 12.2 Daily Light - Evening The ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. - Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. - I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith. - He that is spiritual judgeth all things. Take heed what ye hear. - I know thy works...and how...thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars. - Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. H ecalleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will thy not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not th evoice of strangers. Job 34.3; 1 Jn. 4.1; Jn. 7.24; 1 Co. 10.15; Col. 3.16 Rev. 2.29; 1 Co. 2.15 Mk. 4.24; Rev. 2.2; 1 Th. 5.21 Jn. 10.3-5 A Puritans Catechism Q 46 - What is forbidden in the second commandment? A - The second commandment forbids the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Law of God Chapter 19 PARAGRAPH 3 Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties, all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father for that end abrogated and taken away. Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The stream of grace He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7 v 38 The Holy Spirit is an imperishable stream. It is not like those rivers of which you have heard, which flow through barren sands till they sink into the earth and disappear. Not so the stream of grace. When it flows from Jesus Christ, it flows into many a barren heart; but it is never lost there. It appears again - it flows forth from that heart in rivers of living water. When a soul is brought to believe on Jesus, and to drink in the Spirit, it often appears as if the Spirit were lost in that soul. The stream flows into such a barren heart, that it is long before it makes its appearance; but it is never lost. The Scripture must be fulfilled: 'He that believeth on me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.' Dear Congregation,
I want to thank all of you who have prayed and supported the work of the Gospel through the church in 2023 and this first month of 2024. It is a great joy to minister at Westminster Baptist and I love the church here greatly. Through this past year, there have been heart-wrenching tragedies alongside blessings too. This is often the case in Christian life and yet we are called to keep trusting and believing. We often bear the battle scars of past experience and circumstance, as we live in this sinful world and anticipate heaven. We see Mordecai, mocked and scorned for years in Esther and on the brink of execution, yet he latterly knew blessing from God. The most important thing was he was faithful in serving the Lord. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful - 1 Corinthians 4.2. This verse especially applies to ministers, church workers, but to all Christians. We are stewards of the oracles of God and to us has the light of the gospel been revealed. We should therefore be striving to be faithful, not popular, faithful. May that be our aim by the grace of God. In the beginning month in recent years we have spent a week praying together on each day for certain things. As a reminder that with continuing faith that prayer is essential. Key to our hope and joy and endurance and love, and with new resolve to make time to pray regularly alone and with your family and with some group of fellow believers. Alongside reading the Scriptures these should be our daily routine. There are various encouragements in the Scriptures to pray: - Pray without ceasing (1 Th. 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. 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 be a prayerful church and prayerful individuals, knowing that we have a prayer hearing and answering God. Pastor Jonathan Arnold Daily Prayer - Sunday - 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 Sunday morning at 11:00am in church (and also available online via Facebook) (Sunday morning) Scripture reading - Psalm 118; Matthew 10 v 16-23 - Sermon by Jonathan Arnold Doctrine Class - in church (after lunch) (and also available online via Facebook) (Doctrine Class) - Heaven - Ephesians 1 v 3; Ephesians 2 v 6; Revelation 21 v 1, 4-6; Revelation 22 v 1-3, 5; Romans 8 v 18-19 Revelation 12 v 22, 17 - Class by Dennis Arnold Sunday evening at 6:30pm in church (and also available online via Facebook) (Sunday evening) Scripture reading - Psalm 25; Jeremiah 32 v 36-44 - Sermon by Jonathan Arnold 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 great disparity between God and idols. The prophet warneth to prepare for a removal out of the land: he lamenteth over the spoil and desolation of it: he prayeth God to correct his people with moderation, and to turn his fury upon the heathen that wasted them. Jeremiah 10 Preface - Christ foretelleth the destruction of the temple: he showeth what signs and calamities shall go before it; and what shall happen at the time of his coming. By a parable of the fig tree he marketh the certainty of the prediction. No man knoweth the day and hour, which shall come suddenly. We ought therefore to watch, like good servants who expect their master's coming. Matthew 24 Daily Light - Morning Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. - Death and life are in the power of the tongue. - The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. - Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. - I believed, therefore have I spoken. Whosoever...shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. - With the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Mt. 12.34; Col. 3.16 Pro. 4.23; Pro. 18.21; Ps. 37.30-31; Eph. 4.29 Ac. 4.20; Ps. 116.10 Mt. 10.32; Ro. 10.10 Daily Light - Evening I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Oh that thou wouldest rend the heavens, that thou wouldest come down - As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? - Make haste, my beloved, and be thou like to a roe or to a young hart upon the mountains of spices. Our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. - Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. - God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope. - Whom having not seen, ye love. He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen, Even so, come, Lord Jesus. - It shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD: we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. 2 Jn. 14; Isa. 64.1; Ps. 42.1-2; Song 8.14 Phil. 3.20; Titus 2.13; 1 Tim. 1.1; 1 Pe. 1.8 Rev. 22.20; Isa. 25.9 A Puritans Catechism Q 45 - What is required in the second commandment? A - The second commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Law of God Chapter 19 PARAGRAPH 2 The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man. Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The reason why When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. John 2 v 4 Some might ask, Why, then, was Lazarus sick? The reason: 'For the glory of God.' Christ was thereby in an eminent manner made known. First, His amazing love to His own was seen, when He wept at the grave. Second, His power to raise the dead. He was shown to be the Resurrection and the Life when He cried, 'Lazarus, come forth.' Christ was far more glorified than if Lazarus had not been sick and died. So in all the sufferings of God's people. Sometimes a child of God says: Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do? I will teach, preach, do great things for Thee. Sometimes the answer is, Thou shalt suffer for my sake. It shows the power of Christ's blood, when it gives peace in an hour of trouble, When it can make happy in sickness, poverty, persecution and death. Do not be surprised if you suffer, but glorify God. It brings out graces that cannot be seen in a time of health. It is the treading of the grapes that brings out the sweet juices of the vine; so it is affliction that draws forth submission, weanedness from the world, and complete rest in God. Use afflictions while you have them. Daily Prayer - Saturday
- Give thanks to God that we have good news of salvation to tell that the repentant sinner might have everlasting life through Jesus Christ. (John 3.16.) - Pray the Lord would bless the Gospel outreach by the church in Westminster. Both on Saturday mornings and at services. - Pray the Lord would work in the contacts we have made both on Saturday mornings and at services; through personal conversations and online contacts. 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 prophet bewaileth the manifold sins of his people, and the judgments coming upon them: he sheweth that disobedience is the cause of their calamity: he exhorteth them to lament over their desolation; and not to trust in human abilities, but in knowing God: he threateneth the Jews and their neighbours. Jeremiah 9 Preface - Christ exhorteth to observe the doctrine, but not to follow the evil examples, of the scribes and Pharisees; and particularly not to imitate their ambition: he pronounceth various woes against them for their blindness and hypocrisy: and prophesieth the destruction of Jerusalem. Matthew 23 Daily Light - Morning I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me. I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. - I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost. The LORD taketh pleasure in his people. - My delights were with the sons of men. - His great love wherewith he loved us. - Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's - Whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. Song 7.10; 2 Tim. 1.12; Ro. 8.38-39; Jn. 17.12 Ps. 149.4; Pro. 8.31; Eph. 2.4; Jn. 15.13 1 Co. 6.20; Ro. 14.8 Daily Light - Evening Seek ye out of the book of the LORD. Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide. - By the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. We have...a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. - That we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Isa. 34.16; Deu. 11.18; Jos. 1.8 Ps. 37.31; Ps. 17.4; Ps. 119.11 2 Pe. 1.19; Ro. 15.4 A Puritans Catechism Q 44 - Which is the second commandment? A - The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Law of God Chapter 19 PARAGRAPH 1 God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it. Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings He will come For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Hebrews 10 v 37 Christ is at this moment gathering a people from among the Gentiles. He is building up the great temple of the Lord, adding stone to stone. He cannot come till this is done. When all this is done, then He will come, and put on the top-stone, with shoutings of 'Grace, grace unto it.' He told Paul to remain and preach at Corinth: 'For I have much people in this city.' For the same reason He makes His ministers remain and preach on; for He has much people still. When He comes, those that are ready will enter in with Him to the marriage, and the door will be shut. There are, no doubt, many elect one, many that were given Him by the Father. Daily Prayer - Friday
- Give thanks to God for many good things we enjoy and daily blessings. - Pray the Lord would supply the needs of those in the congregation at Westminster and guide us as we help those destitute and suffering. Especially those we have met in the pandemic. (Numbers 6.24-26.) - Pray for the ministry among the children and that they would know Christ from a young age. A rich blessing in this troubled world. - Pray for the evangelistic work, that people would know the greatest blessing of all salvation by the grace of God through Christ. 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 calamities of the Jews, both of the dead and the living. The prophet upbraideth their stubborn and shameless impenitency: he sheweth God's severe judgments against them; and bewaileth the misery of his people. Jeremiah 8 Preface - The parable of the marriage of the king's son: the unworthiness of those that were first bidden: others called in their place: the punishment of one that came without a wedding garment. The question calculated to entangle proposed concerning paying tribute to Caesar, and Christ's answer. He refuteth conclusively the Sadducees who questioned him concerning the resurrection. He showeth which are the chief commandments of the law. He proposeth to the Pharisees a knotty question concerning Christ. Matthew 22 Daily Light - Morning My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee... The LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed. - Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersover thou goest. - In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. - Our sufficiency is of God. Lead us not into temptation. - O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. - My times are in thy hand. Ex. 33.14; Deu. 31.6,8; Jos. 1.9; Pro. 3.6 He. 13.5-6; 2 Co. 3.5 Mt. 6.13; Jer. 10.23; Ps. 31.15 Daily Light - Evening Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works. How forcible are right words! - I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance. They that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. - If two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. The LORD God said, it is not good that the man should be alone. - Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Let...no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brother's way. - Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also e tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. He. 10.24; Job. 6.25; 2 Pe. 3.1 Mal. 3.16; Mt. 18.19 Ge. 2.18; Ec. 4.9-10 Ro. 14.13; Ga. 6.1-2 A Puritans Catechism Q 43 - What is required in the first commandment? A - The first commandment requires us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; and to worship and glorify him accordingly. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation Chapter 18 PARAGRAPH 4 True believers may have the assurance of their salvation divers ways shaken, diminished, and intermitted; as by negligence in preserving of it, by falling into some special sin which woundeth the conscience and grieveth the Spirit; by some sudden or vehement temptation, by God's withdrawing the light of his countenance, and suffering even such as fear him to walk in darkness and to have no light, yet are they never destitute of the seed of God and life of faith, that love of Christ and the brethren, that sincerity of heart and conscience of duty out of which, by the operation of the Spirit, this assurance may in due time be revived, and by the which, in the meantime, they are preserved from utter despair.
Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Such is your declaration For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. 1 Corinthians 1 v 26 The bride in the Song of Solomon says: 'As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.' So do you say in coming to the Lord's table: I have found rest in the shade of Christ, His fruit is sweet to me; His way of pardon, His Spirit, His commands all are sweet to my taste. When the maniac had the devils cast out, he sat at the feet of Jesus clothed, and in his right mind. Once he bade Jesus depart: 'What have I to do with thee?' Now Christ is all. Such is your declaration at the Lord's Table. When Paul was an unconverted man, he was a blasphemer - he breathed out threatenings. But when he got a taste of Jesus, he said, 'I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.' Such is your declaration in taking that bread and wine. Can you truly say that you have found the treasure, that you have sold all for it, that you have sat down under the shade of that apple tree, and that you delight in His holy fruit; that you were once far from Christ, but now sitting at His feet; that you now preach the faith which once you destroyed - that, like Paul, you glory only in the cross of Christ? Can you say, in the sight of God, that Christ is your manna, your sweet food, your peace, your all? Then you are welcome to the Lord's table. 'Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved.' 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 - Jeremiah is sent to call the Jews to repentance in order to prevent their captivity. Their vain confidence rejected after the example of Shiloh. God threateneth them for their idolatry. He requireth not the sacrifices of the disobedient. A call to mourning for the abominations in Tophet: judgments denounced because of them. Jeremiah 7 Preface - Christ rideth into Jerusalem upon an ass amidst the acclamations of the multitude. He driveth the buyers and sellers out of the temple, and healeth the diseased there. His reply to the priests and scribes who took offence at the hosannas of the people. He curseth the barren fig tree, whic presently withereth: he silenceth the priests and elders who questioned his authority. The parable of the two sons whom their father sent to work in his vineyard. The parable of the vineyard let out to wicked husbandmen. Matthew 21 Daily Light - Morning I am with thee to save thee. Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the LORD, Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of he terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee...and ll flesh shall know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. - Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; year, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. - In that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted. - The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fell, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. Jer. 15.20; Isa. 49.24-26; Isa. 41.10 He. 4.15; He. 2.18; Ps. 37.23-24 Daily Light - Evening He satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. Ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see thy power and thy glory. - My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. - Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. - They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. - They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures. - My people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD. Ps. 107.9; 1 Pe. 2.3 Ps. 63.1-2; Ps. 84.2; Phil. 1.23 Ps. 17.15; Rev. 7.16-17; Ps. 36.8; Jer. 31.14 A Puritans Catechism Q 42 - Which is the first commandment? A - The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation Chapter 18 PARAGRAPH 3 This infallible assurance doth not so belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long, and conflict with many difficulties before he be partaker of it; yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him of God, he may, without extraordinary revelation, in the right use of means, attain thereunto: and therefore it is the duty of every one to give all diligence to make his calling and election sure, that thereby his heart may be enlarged in peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, in love and thankfulness to God, and in strength and cheerfulness in the duties of obedience, the proper fruits of this assurance; -so far is it from inclining men to looseness. ( Psalms 88;;
Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Love for eternity So are the paths of all that forget God; and the hypocrite's hope shall perish: Job 8 v 13 A hypocrite lives for time. This was all Judas lived for if he could pass off for a while as a true disciple, if he could keep up appearances for a time, if he could indulge his lusts, and yet be esteemed a believer, and a true apostle. He tried to keep up appearances to the last. So Demas wanted to deceive Paul for this life - to be thought a brother. Alas, how many of you are thus foolish! Living so as to keep up an appearance of being a Christian for a little time, though you know that you are living in positive sin, and that you will be discovered before the world in a short time. You only are truly wise who live for eternity, who live as you shall wish you had done when you come to die. Daily Prayer - Wednesday
- Give thank to God for the Bible its inspiration and preservation for us to read it today. (2 Timothy 3.16, Proverbs 30.5.) - Give thanks to God that we have easy access to the Scripture in English, in our mother tongue. - Pray the Lord would bless us as we study the Bible through the ministry this coming year. That as we work through a book of the Bible the Lord would continue to help us to grasp God's truth. - Pray for the Lunchtime outreach service and those who attend; pray that more from the offices nearby and Christians who commute are able to join us. 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) (Wednesday evening) Scripture reading Romans 8 vs 32-34 - sermon by Dennis Arnold 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 enemies sent against Judah are eager to fall upon her. God directeth the siege because of her sins. The prophet lamenteth the evils that would follow from the corrupt manners that prevailed; he proclaimeth God's judgments; he calleth the people to mourn for the impending calamities. Jeremiah 6 Preface - The parable of the labourers who were hired at different hours to work in the vineyard. Jesus fortelleth his own passion and resurrection: answereth the request of the mother of Zebedee's children, and quencheth the indignation of the other disciples thereat. He giveth sight to two blind men. Matthew 20 Daily Light - Morning The disciple is not above his master. Ye call me Master and Lord; and ye say well; for so I am. It is enough for the disiple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord, - If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. - I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. Consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Forasmuch...as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. Mt. 10.24; Jn. 13.13 Mt. 10.25; Jn. 15.20; Jn. 17.14 He. 12.3,4 He. 12.1-2; 1 Pe. 4.1 Daily Light - Evening My son, give me thine heart. O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever! Thy heart is not right in the sight of God. - Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. They... first gave their own selves to the Lord. - And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and wrought that which was good and right and truth before the Lord his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart, and prospered. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord. - As the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart. Pro. 23.26; Deu. 5.29 Ac. 8.21; Ro. 8.7-8 2 Co. 8.5; 2 Chr. 31.20-21 Pro. 4.23 Col. 3.23; Eph. 6.6-7 Ps. 119.32 A Puritans Catechism Q 41 - What is the sum of the ten commandments? A - The sum of the ten commandments is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbour as ourselves. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation Chapter 18 PARAGRAPH 2 This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion grounded upon a fallible hope, but an infallible assurance of faith founded on the blood and righteousness of Christ revealed in the Gospel; and also upon the inward evidence of those graces of the Spirit unto which promises are made, and on the testimony of the Spirit of adoption, witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God; and, as a fruit thereof, keeping the heart both humble and holy. Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings Taught by the Spirit Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. Proverbs 3 v 5 Well may every soul that is untaught by the Spirit of God exclaim: 'This is a hard saying, who can hear it?' And, indeed, there is perhaps no truth that calls forth more of the indignant opposition of the world than this blessed one, that they who trust in the Lord with all their heart do not lean to their own understanding. The understanding, here, plainly includes all the observing, knowing, and judging faculties of the mind, by which men ordinarily guide themselves in the world; and, accordingly, it is with no slight appearance of reasonableness that the world should brand with the name of fanatics a peculiar set of men, who dare to say that they are not to lean upon these faculties, to guide them in their every-day walk and conversation. But surely it might do something to moderate, at least, the opposition of the world (if they would but listen to us), to tell them that we never refuse to be guided by the understanding, although we altogether refuse to lean upon it. Every enlightened believer, however implicitly he depends upon the breathing of the Holy Ghost, without whose almighty breathing he knows that his understanding would be but a vain and useless machine, leading him into darkness, and into light, yet follows the guidance of the understanding as scrupulously and as religiously as any unconverted man is able to do. Therefore, it ought never to be said, by any man who has a regard for truth, that the believer in Jesus casts aside the use of his understanding, and looks for miraculous guidance from on high. The truth is this, that he trusts in a divine power enlightening the understanding, and he therefore follows the dictates of the understanding more religiously than any other man. Daily Prayer - Tuesday
- Give thanks to God for salvation and the redemption that is found alone through Jesus Christ. - Give thanks to God for granting us particular skills and abilities that we might fulfil our vocations (jobs, studies, family responsibilities and time we spend alone). Ecclesiastes 9.10, Ephesians 6.6) - Pray for the Lord's blessing on the working week for us and all in the congregation. - Pray the Lord would grant us grace to be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20) 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 judgments of God upon the Jews for their universal depravity and incorrigibleness; for their adultery; their blasphemous impiety; their worship of strange gods; their injustice and oppression for want of fearing the true God; and their prevarication in religion. Jeremiah 5 Preface - Christ healeth the sick in Judaea: answereth the question of the Pharisees concerning divorce, and the objection of his disciples to the expediency of marriage: receiveth little children with tenderness: instructeth a young man how to attain eternal life, and how to become perfect: showeth how hard it is for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God: and promiseth great rewards to his disciples, and to all who have forsaken ought to follow him. Matthew 19 Daily Light - Morning I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. - We are all as an unclean thing. - I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. As many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. - Ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. - Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but...the righteousness which is of God by faith. Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him. - The fine linen is the righteousness of saints. - I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness. Zech. 3.4; Ps. 32.1; Isa. 64.6; Ro. 7.18 Ga. 3.27; Col. 3.9-10; Phil. 3.9 Lu. 15.22; Rev. 19.8; Isa. 61.10 Daily Light - Evening The day shall declare it. Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. Why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ... So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more. God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. - The Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son...and hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. The Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. 1 Co. 3.13; 1 Co. 4.5 Ro. 14.10,12-13 Ro. 2.16; Jn. 5.22,27 Jer. 32.18-19 A Puritans Catechism Q 40 - What did God reveal to man for the rule of his disobedience? A - The rule which God first revealed to man for his obedience is the moral law, which is summarised in the ten commandments. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation Chapter 18 PARAGRAPH 1
Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings The father's gift I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; Isaiah 42 v 6 God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish.' 'Herein is love; not that we loved God.' God not only provided the Saviour, and upheld Him, but He gave Him - gave Him away, to be a covenant Saviour of the people, and a light to lighten the Gentiles. When Abraham bound his son Isaac upon the altar and lifted up the knife to strike, this was giving away his son at the command of God, This is just what God did. He took His son out of His bosom, and gave Him away to be bound, to be a covenant Saviour of the people. There are not more wonderful words in the whole Bible than these: 'I will give thee.' 'God spared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up to the death for us all.' The Son was infinitely dear to the Father. God cannot but love that which is perfectly holy and beautiful. Now, such was Christ. From all eternity there had been the outgoings of love and infinite admiration from the bosom of the Father towards His well-beloved Son. Canst thou part with me? Canst thou give me up to the garden and the cross? 'I will give thee.' Sinners were infinitely vile in the sight of the Father. God cannot but hate that which is enmity and rebellion to Himself. 'He is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.' How loathsome and hateful this world must have been in His eyes, where every heart was enmity against him! Canst thou give me up for such sinners, for the sake of such vile worms? 'Yes, I will give thee.' Prayer - Monday
- Give thanks to God for salvation and the redemption that is found alone through Jesus Christ. - Give thanks to God for granting us particular skills and abilities that we might fulfil our vocations (jobs, studies, family responsibilities and time we spend alone). (Ecclesiastes 9.10, Ephesians 6.6) - Pray for the Lord's blessing on the working week for us and all in the congregation. - Pray the Lord would grant us grace to be good ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5.20) 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 - Israel is excited to repentance by promises, and Judah by threats of hostile invasion and the calamities of war. The prophet lamenteth bitterly the afflictions of his country. Jeremiah 4 Preface - Christ proposeth a little child to his disciples for a pattern of innocence and humility; he warneth them to avoid offences, though at the expense of an hand, a foot, or an eye: and not to despise the little ones: he teacheth how to treat an offending brother, and how oft to forgive him, by the parable of a king. Matthew 18 Daily Light - Morning If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. - I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee. - Your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. - God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. - That he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean. - They shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only. but by water and blood. 1 Jn. 1.9; Ps. 51.3-4 Lu. 15.20; Isa. 44.22; 1 Jn. 2.12; Eph. 4.332; Ro. 3.26 Ezek. 36.25; Rev. 3.4 1 Jn. 5.6 Daily Light - Evening Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee? Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. - Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. The prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. - An high priest...holy, harmless, undefiled. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. - The prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. Ps. 94.20; 1 Jn. 1.3; 1 Jn. 3.2-3 Jn. 14.30; He. 7.26 Eph. 6.12; Eph. 2.2 1 Jn. 5.18-19 A Puritans Catechism Q 39 - What shall be done to the wicked at the day of judgment? A - At the day of judgment the bodies of the wicked being raised out of their graves, shall be sentenced, together with their souls, to unspeakable torments with the devil and his angels for ever. The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith Of the Perseverance of the Saint Chapter 17 PARAGRAPH 3 And though they may, through the temptation of Satan and of the world, the prevalency of corruption remaining in them, and the neglect of means of their preservation, fall into grievous sins, and for a time continue therein, whereby they incur God's displeasure and grieve his Holy Spirit, come to have their graces and comforts impaired, have their hearts hardened, and their consciences wounded, hurt and scandalize others, and bring temporal judgments upon themselves, yet shall they renew their repentance and be preserved through faith in Christ Jesus to the end.
Robert Murray M'Cheyne - God Makes A Path - Daily Devotional Readings When weakness is strength 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. 2 Corinthians 12 v 10 When the believer is weakest, then is he strongest. The child that knows most its utter feebleness, entrusts itself most completely into the mother's arms. The young eagle that knows, by many a fall, its own inability to fly, yields itself to be carried on the mother's mighty wing. When it is weak, then it is strong; and just so the believer when he has found out, by repeated falls, his own utter feebleness, clings, with simplest faith, to the arm of the Saviour and leans on his Beloved, coming up out of the wilderness, and hears with joy the words: 'My grace is sufficient for thee; my strength is made perfect in weakness.' |