29th September 2025

29th September 2025


Pray (ACts)


Read (Exodus 20:1-3 focus v1-2a)


Message (Alan Burke) 


The LORD God that we worship is not silent, he speaks to his people today audibly, not through the wee voice in your head that is likely your conscience and if you hear voices when there is no one around then you should seek some help. But the LORD our God is speaking through his word as it is read and preached. If you want to hear the LORD audibly speak to you it is not some course that you go to, some special technique you use and if anyone tells you things like that run, but if you want to hear the LORD audibly speak then go to a church where the word is faithfully preached and you will hear God speak. For the process of revelation has ceased for we have everything we need through the word incarnate Jesus Christ. 


Here though the process of revelation had not ceased, the LORD speaks to his people. Up to this point he had been relaying his message to his people through Moses, you will see that if you look back through the previous chapters but here at the beginning of chapter 20 the Lord speaks directly to his people. And how does he begin (2), he does so by saying “I am the LORD your God”. He doesn’t say, I am the Lord the God of Israel, or I am the God of the congregation in the wilderness, or I am the God of Abraham, no, instead the LORD addresses them and says I am the LORD your God. 


This serves not only as a self introduction but also to be the motivation for his people to follow him, for he is the LORD, he is Yahweh, the covenant keeping God who swore promises to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He is not some unknown God of the nations, a figment of the imagination like all other gods of the other nations that surround them and today, no he is the self revealing God who speaks to his people by his word. 


While the process of revelation was ongoing for the congregation in the wilderness today God’s revelation is complete, we need no new words from God, he has given us everything we need to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. For  while in the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (Heb 1:1–2). We do not need any more revelation we have everything we need to know this God, the Lord our God. 


The most important thing in our lives is to know him, to trust in him, for in the Exodus he was showing his people his grace and through Jesus Christ he has shown us grace upon grace. We are dependant on the grace of God to work in us and our neighbours, friends and family through His word. It is the Word of God that his salvation has been made known, and we have been given everything we need to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him, for from Genesis to Revelation, from “In the beginning” (Gen 1:1), to “Amen” (Rev 22:21) it is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q86 What is faith in Jesus Christ?
A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel.