31st January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Ezekiel 20:1-44 focus v27-44) Message (Alan Burke) We are at war. I can’t imagine Keir Starmer ever saying those words, if Churchill was Prime Minister today he would do something about what is going on in Ukraine but these days we’re too worried about the consequences and never mind what it would do to the economy. Yet we are at war, the believer is at war against the flesh and the Devil, it is a war against the former self (see Gal 5:17, Jam 4:1 & 1 Pet 2:11). For those whom the Lord through Ezekiel confronted they weren’t even trying, they were still sinning like their fathers. Instead of devoting themselves to the Lord they continued in their idolatry as v31 confronts them. This wasn’t a long forgotten history, one that they had repented off, lamented their sinfulness this was who they were, nothing had changed, idols, child sacrifices and idolatry continued, this is the people of God who were to be set apart, a holy people (Ex 19:1-6). They had rebelled against the Lord, they continued to rebel against the Lord and because of this who were they to inquire of him, why should the Lord reply, they wanted to be like the nations, like the people of the world, who serve wood and stone. The Lord our God wanted his people to put him in his rightful place but they had not, he had told them to have no other gods before him but they had went after the other gods and he hands them over to their desires. Time and time again the Lord had been gracious to his people but he had enough and they would face his judgement. Yet the Lord as continues to speak there is reason to hope in the midst of their faithlessness, in the midst of their sin, for he in his forbearance, because he is long suffering would bring about a new exodus for his names sake. He in the midst of this would gather a people to himself, where they would meet with them in the wilderness entering into judgement with his people (34). He would establish a new covenant with his people (35-37). The details are vague but its significance is clear, the Lord would do what he has done in the past, again electing a people, choosing not because they deserved it but because of his gracious choosing. The Lord through Ezekiel is not telling his people of a restored Israel, a nation but instead of what he would do in the future. For he has poured out his wrath but on his son, he judged him in the place of his people, he is bringing people into covenant relationship with him because of his gracious choosing, his election, a true Israel his people and they will be brought into relationship with him through what Jesus Christ has done, the new exodus has now come and we await the Lord leading us to the promised land. Until that day we should never forget that we are at war, against the flesh and the Devil, it is a war against the former self (see Gal 5:17, Jam 4:1 & 1 Pet 2:11), we should be those who live to serve the Lord our God, that we would love him, turning from the sin that his word confronts us with living for his glory above all because of what he has done for us. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q102. What do we pray for in the second petition? A. In the second petition, which is, Thy kingdom come,” we pray, that Satan’s kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened.
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30th January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Genesis 2v15-17) Message (Scott Woodburn) Did you know that Adam had the ability to keep God’s commands? When the Lord commanded Adam that he wasn’t to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, He wasn’t asking Adam to do an impossible task. In today’s passage we see the birth of something called the Covenant of Works. The Westminster Confession describes it in this way “The first covenant made with man was a covenant of works, wherein life was promised to Adam, and in him to his posterity, upon condition of perfect and personal obedience.” Adam and those following him would enjoy everlasting life on the basis of Adam’s perfect and personal obedience. The first man was made with true holiness and the law of God written upon his heart. It was well within Adam’s ability to keep God’s law but instead our ancestor made the decision to walk his own path. What was the result of Adam’s fall? Paul would speak this way in Romans 5 “sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men…many died through one man's trespass…judgment following one trespass brought condemnation…because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man…one trespass led to condemnation for all men…by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners” That’s desperately bleak reading isn't it? Sin, death, trespass, judgement, condemnation. Awful foreboding words that accurately describe the spiritual condition of the human race without Christ. What we need is another Adam. An Adam who obeys perfectly and personally. Interestingly, Paul described Adam as a type of the one to come (Romans 5v14). So who was the one to come? Jesus is His name. Christ’s obedience was perfect and complete. It was both active and passive. The Lord is the second Adam, the true man and the one who replaces the bleak words above with grace, mercy, forgiveness, life and salvation. Adam heard God’s voice and choose to disobey. Christ heard God’s voice and said “I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me.” (John 6v38) I am so thankful for the perfect and personal obedience of Christ. No hope without it. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q101 What do we pray for in the first petition? In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy name,” we pray, that God would enable us, and others, to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known, and that he would dispose all things to his own glory. 29th January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Ezekiel 20:1-44 focus v5-26) Message (Alan Burke) Back in the day things were better weren’t they? It’s a matter of opinion of course, I’ve been told recently how awful things are these days. The individual in question was thankful that they weren’t my age and having to do it all again. We can all be a bit like that, long for times past although I’d dispute that things were actually better back in the day, different yes, better hmmmm. Like after all I remember as a wain scraping the ice of the inside of the window in the bedroom, hearing the siren sound and the bombs going off, wondering was the family ok and watching news of the tit for tat murders although LW Atlantic 252 was still on the radio, a 5p mix had a right few sweets and I could eat Ricicles for breakfast without the government interfering because they had too much sugar like these days. The Lord here takes his people on an overview of their history, there might have been a perceived golden age, when things were better back in the day but in reality it was a nonsense the same issues were there. The story of their history is of continuing sin, their detestable practices, how throughout the generations they had rejected the Lord’s rule over them. Even though he had by his grace chosen the people elected them not because they deserve it but by his gracious choosing and they had rejected him. This was a path not only that their forefathers had chosen it was the path that they had chosen, that they had embraced. We are told of the Exodus Generation in v5-10, the Wilderness generation in v11-15 and then the children of the wilderness generation in v18-23. Each generation failed to obey the word of the Lord. Each time they rebelled, v8, v13, v21, each time the Lord warned them he would pour out his wrath on them but he relented. They though did face his judgment. Each time the people went not after the Lord but to sin and their detestable practices. So while the Lord had given them good decrees and laws to live by he handed the children of the wildness generation over to v25 we are told “to statutes that were not good and laws they could not live by”. This was the Lord handing them over to their idolatry, idolatry that saw them become defiled, where they offer other first born sons to the fire of Molech, sacrificing their own children. The Lord had redeemed them so that they may serve and worship him but instead they did not serve and worship the Lord and the Lord handed them over to their sin and detestable practices. Things were not better, things might have been different but the Lord confronted the elders of Israel with were broad bush strokes their history, showing how he chose them, how they rebelled against them, how judgement came. We might look back and think things were better, I especially miss Kellogg's Start cereal, things might have been different but sin has been the constant feature of every generation and this generation and it is just manifested in different ways. When we repent and believe, when we are born again then because of the work of Jesus Christ within us we have been freed us from our slavery to sin. But our flesh is so corrupt, so sinful that even as we have been born again it is a loosing war until we are given a renewed will, for when we die we will be made perfect in holiness. Until then even thought we are justified, regenerate we are still sinners nonetheless, our problem is sin and we are prone to love our own sinful flesh more than we love our sinless saviour. It is a daily fight against sin, we must never think that we are on top of it, we must look to the Lord, praise him for his grace towards us. For here the Lord God had promised his wrath on his people, they deserved it and likewise we deserve his wrath, but we know his grace. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q100. What doth the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us? A. The preface of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, Our Father which art in heaven,” teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others. 28th January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Luke 17v7-10) Message (Scott Woodburn) By this stage of January the vast majority of us have fallen back into our same old routines. I’m not getting at you by the way, just highlighting the trouble we all have in keeping our promises. In light of your return to chocolate or your failure to go to the gym five times a week, allow me to assure you of your standing with Christ. Does your eternal salvation depend upon your earthly success? Thanks be to God that the answer is no. As Christians we are great at comparing ourselves to others and falling short. Your family isn’t as well organised as that famous Christian on Youtube. You climb out of bed at 8am while your Christian friend has been up from 5am to read and pray. You listen to the testimony of other Christians and feel rotten because your life isn’t as “victorious” as theirs. What is to be done? A Presbyterian of another age was called Gresham Machen and in his dying days he wrote to a friend saying “So thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it.” Machen was right, but what do we mean by the active obedience of Christ? Christ’s obedience to God’s demands was perfect and complete. Whatever was required by the law of God, Christ fulfilled it. He was active in keeping God’s law and could rightly be described as a profitable servant. Not so for you and I. Even on our best days we are unprofitable servants who have only done our duty (v10). My prayer life is not what it should be, I frequently miss opportunities to share Christ and my “to do” list never seems to get shorter. Will I be lost? By no means! I stand righteous before God because He has declared me righteous by faith in Christ. Jesus is the perfectly obedient servant who has completely fulfilled the law’s demands. He stands at the right hand of the Father and all who have received Him by faith are counted as obedient and righteous and forgiven. I’m sure you’ve heard of imputation…it simply means that by faith, Christ’s righteousness is credited/imputed to our account. We might be unprofitable servants but we have trusted the actively obedient Christ. Are we free then to spend the rest of our days on the sofa? No. Brothers and sisters, if you are moved by the finished work of Christ, if you are humbled by His active obedience and if your Saviour’s love gives you great joy - then follow Him. You will never obey perfectly, you will often feel like a failure and even now you might be all too aware of your limitations but please remember that your standing with the Lord has never been dependent upon the quality of your obedience. What wisdom we received from Gresham Machen. He spoke truth that I hope we will remember this year - “So thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it.” Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q99 What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer? The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer, but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called, The Lord’s Prayer. 27th January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Ezekiel 20:1-44 focus v1-4) Message (Alan Burke) I learnt when I was a wain that the easiest thing to do was just say sorry and get it over and done with even if I wasn’t. I might have told you that before. The reason why it comes to mind is I’m sure that you’ve been in a situation that someone has come to you and you know fine well they are not sorry, they might nod and smile but they are there because they want something from you. Here as we come to Ezekiel 20 remember the people had just been told by the Lord to lament. What were they to lament? It was their sin. Now a group of elders come to Ezekiel and they come to inquire of the Lord, while in chapter 9 it had been the civil leadership, here it is the religious leadership, these are the the spiritual leadership of God’s people in Exile. If we only read v1 we might think, good they have finally got the message but in how the Lord responds to them it makes it clear that they hadn’t. They were not looking to the Lord in repentance, lamenting their sin instead they are coming to the Lord thinking that things are on the up, that the Lord would do the needful for them because they were a special people, a chosen people and they believed everything was starting to fall together, they were going to be released from their captivity and back at home soon enough. You might say sure there is nothing said of their inquiry of the Lord, the text is silent on what they asked for but the response from the Lord makes it clear that they hadn’t understood anything, the significance of what had happened, look at what the Lord says in response to them coming v3, As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.’ These elders who came to the Lord we might want to give a pat on the back and sure at least they came what more does the Lord want, like sure if someone comes to worship it can only be a good thing, give them a pat on the back for it. The problem was and is for us today is that anyone who comes to the Lord failing to hear and respond to the word of God then they will rightly face his judgment. Failing to hear and respond brings the Lord’s derision. Think to what they are doing, even though the Lord has told them time and again that they need to repent they in effect have done what they can do to explain it away. For all of us, if you’re at home unable to get to worship because of age and infirmity or if you’re out every Lord’s day morning and evening what we must do is hear the word of the Lord and respond appropriately. What we need to do is hear it, respond accordingly trusting in Jesus for our salvation and live as response. Nothing else will do. We might think that it doesn’t really matter but it does, for all who refuse to hear and fail to respond they will face the consequences of that, his judgment but for all who hear and respond the receive his amazing grace that would save wretches like you and I. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q 98. What is prayer? A. Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies. 25th January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 6v1-4) Message (Scott Woodburn) “First posted 28th January 23” As a once newly married man I would often hover beside the dishwasher when Jenny came home from work. It wasn't that I liked standing beside the dishwasher, I merely wanted Jenny to know that not only had I filled the dishwasher but I had emptied it too. A pat on the back can be lovely from time to time but again Jesus warns us about the deceitfulness of the human heart. Christ tells us to “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." (v1) This couldn't be clearer. Everyday we are to do the good works that God has prepared for us to do but when we do those good works we don't shout about it for everyone to hear and see. To underline His point Jesus paints a picture of giving to the needy. When we engage in such an act we are not to blow any trumpets before us (v2). Hypocrites do exactly this so that they might receive the praise of others (v2b) but the Christian is to do good quietly. If we give to the needy, no one else needs to know about it. If we are to visit the sick, we don't need to post it on Facebook. If we do good to the downhearted, we should never take out an advert in the Newsletter boasting about our works. We are to act so quietly that Jesus even says our own left hand shouldn't know what our right hand is doing (v3). In other words if your right hand gives a generous financial gift, not even your left hand needs to know and certainly not your friends and neighbours down the street. Jesus makes it crystal clear that the loud, boastful giver has already received their reward (v2). What reward does such a person receive? They might get the praise of their neighbours and for a time everyone might delight in such a person but their "reward" is fleeting and they can expect nothing from God for such sinfully arrogant works. On the other hand if our giving is done in secret then the Lord who sees all things will reward us (v4). This isn't the key to health, wealth and prosperity - we are certainly not suggesting that we do good things secretly in order to get good things. This is an attitude just as bad as the one that blows the trumpet. Instead we do good things secretly and frequently knowing that the Lord sees our actions and knows our motives. We live this way in order to bring Him glory and to respond to the beauty of the Gospel. The individual whose life is marked by such humble service will certainly know God's blessing in this life and in the next. Brothers and sisters, go forth and do good. Do as much good as the day allows. Do good liberally and frequently and humbly and quietly. Do good in work. Do good in life. Do good in the church "and whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3v17). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q97. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s Supper? A. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord’s Supper, that they examine themselves, of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves. 24th January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Ezekiel 19 focus v10-14) Message (Alan Burke) If you’ve read this chapter from start to finish you’ll have grasped already that it’s not the cheeriest of passages, actually it’s pretty dark and depressing. The first lament concerns the peoples leaders in verse 2-9 and this lament or rather this verse of the lament turns its attention to the people as a whole. The imagery moves from the lioness to a vine. Just as the lioness in the first lament had spoken of the people so too does the vine. This is speaking of the people themselves, how their mother was like a vine. The nation were planted beside abundant water in the land of Canaan (Deut 8:7-8) where they prospered. The Lord had given his people everything that they needed and all they were to do is to look to him. In the beginning it was a fruitful vine we are told, full of branches because of what the Lord had given to his people. The branches were strong suitable for a rulers sceptre, branches that towered above the thick foliage. But it was uprooted in fury, thrown to the ground, it shrivelled, was striped of its fruit, its strong branches withered and fire consumed them. The vine was replanted in the desert in a dry and thirsty land. Further woe came to them for destructive fire came from one of its own branches and consumed it and it had not branch left fit for a rulers sceptre. This is figuratively speaking of the history of the people of God, how they knew the favour of God, they were given everything that they needed, the Lord had provided for them in every way so that they might become a mighty nation and although the description is brief these verses speak of the fall of the nation. There was no hope in anywhere here in chapter 19, but the Lord would do a new thing. What that is the Lord had already told his people, for a shoot would come up from amongst them (17:22), it is Jesus Christ who is that shoot. God’s promises cannot and will not be undermined by human sinfulness, even if that is generational, his promises to Judah, his promises to David are being fulfilled, for the Lord has set his king on Zion his holy hill, one day, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, will triumph over all (Rev 5:5). The good news is that the Lord has done what we because of our sin were unable to do, he has triumphed to bring salvation for all of his people. What they needed to do was to trust in the Lord their God, to look to him and the salvation that he would bring. What we need to do is to look to the Lord and the Salvation that has come in Jesus Christ, trusting him in the midst of life and death. As we end think to what the Lord had done for his people, in short everything. He had chosen them, redeemed them, placed them in the land flowing with milk and honey and every time along the way his people had showed their ingratitude to what he had done. They turned from the Lord their God, the leaders were evil in his sight, the people rejected his rule and wanted kings to rule over him no matter how evil they had been. What we need to know is that we must look to the Lord above all things, he calls us to faithfulness, to be faithful to his word and his rule. His people expected his blessing because they were his but they failed to follow his ways. We can easily fall into the same expectation, thinking that we are the Lord’s so we can do what we like but we can’t, the Lord will not bless a people who do not follow his ways. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q96. What is the Lord’s Supper? A. The Lord’s Supper is a Sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace. 23rd January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 5v38-48) Message (Scott Woodburn) “First posted 26th January 23” As I recall events in my childhood I remember the different approach my mother and father took to the various playground scraps I would get myself into. My mum was outraged that I was fighting and told me to wise myself up and keep myself out of trouble. My dad on the other hand told me to stick up for myself and to always hit harder than I’d been hit. Who was right? I’ll let my mother and father sort that out between themselves. The Lord understood the age in which He lived and reminded His hearers that it had often been said “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” Where did such wisdom come from? We find this truth in Exodus 21v24, Leviticus 24v20 and Deuteronomy 19v21. Why did God command such things in the first place? Simply because the Lord knows exactly what our hearts are like. Few of us when wronged seek to meet that wrong proportionally. What do I mean? Imagine someone takes your eye…often we seek two eyes in revenge. Someone takes our tooth? We prefer to smash in that person’s entire mouth. That’s the way of the world isn’t it? Let your enemy know that you are not to be messed with. Make your rival regret that he ever crossed your path. I am fascinated by American history and I am reminded of the Civil War. The Union army far outnumbered the Confederate army and when the Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was asked how they would overcome such vast numbers his reply was “Kill them sir! Kill every man!” This is often our default response - meet aggression with even greater aggression. The Lord’s command sought to regulate justice in Israel and restrain His people from unlimited vengeance. Years later on the mountain Christ took this command further using four examples. Firstly, if we are slapped on the right cheek we are to turn our left cheek to the attacker (v39). Secondly, if someone sues us for our tunic we are to give them our cloak as well (v40). Thirdly, if someone forces us to go a mile (a common practice imposed by the Romans) we are to go two miles (v41). Finally, we are to give to those who beg from us and not refuse the one who seeks to borrow (v42). These are stunning verses and our immediate temptation is to try to water them down, after all we don’t want to be pushovers and this is a tough world. But before we ignore this passage what does Christ require of those who bear His name? To be a Christian is to be someone prepared to endure insults and shame (v39), someone willing to experience the loss of all things (v40), someone ready to exceed the demands of our enemy (v41) and someone who is as generous with others as Christ has been generous with us (v42). If this is not enough Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us (v44). Leviticus 19v18 is clear that we are to love our neighbour and it would appear that those in Christ’s day saw the natural extension of this command as a call to hate our enemies. But Jesus gives no room for such an interpretation. There is no reward for merely loving those who love us or greet those who greet us (v46-47). Jesus told His Jewish audience that even the hated tax collectors and Gentiles did such things. Instead the one who wishes to be called a son of the Father in heaven (v45) is to understand that just as the Lord causes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on the righteous and wicked alike (v45), we are to love our friends AND our enemies. Such a challenge takes our breath away with its size and scale but before we can gather ourselves the Lord finishes by commanding us to be perfect just as our heavenly Father is perfect (v48). What does Jesus mean? The sermon on the mount is not a self-improvement handbook whereby we do lots of good things and achieve earthly perfection. Instead as we consider Christ’s call to discipleship we realise that our perfect and holy God should be our focus. As Christians we strive after the things of God desiring sanctification and holiness. We will not be perfect on this side of glory but as we walk the narrow road we long for the day that we are made perfect by our perfect Lord. Brothers and sisters, these verses couldn't be more challenging! Who has not experienced poor treatment? Who among us always seeks to love our enemies? How often have we turned the other cheek or walked the extra mile? I confess today my selfishness and my arrogance and my desire to be right and my longing for revenge and my delight at the downfall of my enemies. What a wretched man I am! Lord have mercy and cause my feet to follow the rarely followed path laid down by Jesus. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q95. To whom is Baptism to be administered? A. Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible Church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible Church are to be baptized. 22nd January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Ezekiel 19 focus v2-9) Message (Alan Burke) The Lord is telling his people in response to what he has said in chapter 18 to take up a lament concerning the princes of Israel. They were to lament, show their grief and sorrow. This first lament concerns the princes of Israel and pertains to two princes. The imagery used is of a lioness and her cubs. The imagery of a Lion if often used in the Old Testament, figuratively it speaks of the tribe of Judah. The imagery acts as a signpost that is fulfilled in the book of Revelation, in Revelation 5:5 where we are told; Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Rev 5:5, see also Gen 49:9, Num 23:24, 1 Kings 10:19-20, Micah 5:8). The lioness in verse 2 relates to the people of Israel. It figuratively tells of how Israel had taken her place among the nations and the cubs are the kings of Israel. The first cub that is spoken of in v3 is that of Jehoahaz. He was placed on the throne after the death of his father Josiah (2 Kings 23:31). Josiah his father was one of the last good kings in Israel, Jeremiah comes on the scene towards the end of his reign as well on the international scene Nebuchadnezzar and Babylon. Jehoahaz, he is like a lion, it speaks of how he tore the prey, how he devoured men, he did evil in the sight of the Lord unlike his father. The hooks that he was led away to the Land of Egypt in are likely manacles in shackles. The second lion cub is Jehoiachin. The analogy leaves out the reign of his father who died in Jerusalem. Jehoiachin is the last legitimate king of the people, for when he was taken into exile in Babylon his nephew Zedekiah was appointed as puppet king by Nebuchadnezzar the one that the prophecy in chapter 17 speaks off. Jehoiachin became a young lion, he devoured men he destroyed their fortified towers and laid waste their cities and the lands that surrounded Israel they looked on and were came against him. The hope of the people in their king was miss-founded, his reign was evil and he faced the consequences of that. Look at what we are told of the fait that awaited him, how v8 the nations spread their net for him, he was tapped in their pit, with hooks they pulled him into a cage and brought him to the king of Babylon. This is figurative language describes what happened him. This is a lament for their leaders, they were being told to by the Lord to be sorrowful, to grieve, to mourn because their rulers had failed them. The people had in their past longed for a king to be just like the nations around them and this is what it had brought them. They were blaming God for what had become of them but it was their leaders as well as themselves who were responsible for their plight. Psalm 146 warns us; 3 Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. 4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. 5 Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, (Ps 146:3–5). Our hope should be in the Lord himself, in what he has done. For while the days of kings were ended he would set his king on Zion’s hill (Ps 2), the true King, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. It is the true King Jesus Christ who is the one who has triumphed over sin and death for us. The one that the Lord sovereignly has set to rule over all in spite of the sinfulness of Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin, it is the Lord and true King that we must look to in this life. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q94. What is Baptism? A. Baptism is a Sacrament, wherein the washing with water, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord’s. 21st January 2025
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 5v27-37) Message (Scott Woodburn) “First posted 24th January 23” The Gospel isn’t just for Sunday morning between the hours of 11am and 12noon, it is to cover our entire lives just as the tide envelops the once dry beach. As the Lord continued to teach on the mountain He stressed the practical implications of Christ-ward Gospel living. Followers of Christ are to keep themselves from adultery - our marriage bonds are to be taken seriously and we are not to betray our husbands or wives by inviting others into our bedroom. So far, so straightforward. Most of us probably wouldn’t dream of being unfaithful to our spouse but as always the Lord shines His gaze at the blackness of our hearts. We may never have a physical relationship with another woman but how often do we allow our eyes to enjoy the curves of the lady next door? How often have we been excited by the thought of seeing that man at work who pays us far more attention than our husband ever does? The Lord is clear “everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (v28). If we have ever allowed lust to fill our hearts then we have already committed adultery. What is to be done? Jesus says that if our eyes are filled with lust we should pluck them out (v29). If our hands cause us to sin then we should cut them off (v30). It is better to lose an eye or hand than to spend eternity in hell (v30). It is alleged that a Christian by the name of Origen took such teaching so seriously that he followed Matthew 19v12 and made himself a eunuch by cutting off his own penis. Is this what Christ requires? No. Brothers and sisters we are not to mutilate our bodies in response to sin but we are to take sin exceptionally seriously. This is Christ’s point. Sin is horrendous, it is rotten, it is depraved and the wages of it is death and eternal hellfire. John Owen was right when he said “be killing sin or sin be killing you.” May we be increasingly aware of our sin and may we make a regular practice of repentance. The Lord is faithful both to forgive us and to sanctify us. In similar manner we are not to take marriage lightly. Divorce has become incredibly common and incredibly easy in this generation but these verses show the Lord's high regard for marriage. Scripture teaches that divorce is permissible on the grounds of adultery (v32) and desertion (1 Corinthians 7) but by the grace of God our marriages will be for a lifetime. Brothers and sisters, I know that many of you are currently experiencing marriage tension and my counsel to you is not to be ashamed and seek immediate help. I think the fear of being judged by others pushes us to keep things to ourselves but marriage is so serious that I would urge you again to seek help. Does your husband have a habit of lifting his hand to you? Has your infidelity caused your wife to fall into depression? Has your love for one another grown cold? Is your husband’s drinking pushing you to the door? Seek help. Turn to the Lord primarily and additionally seek the help of others. Let me say a word to the those of you who know the pain of divorce. I remember as a child telling my mum that no one in our family was divorced. She told me how stupid I was to believe that and then she recounted the great number in our family who had gone through a divorce. There are an incredible number of us who know the sting and shame of divorce. My dear brothers and sisters may you know that divorce is not the unforgivable sin. May you know that divorce will not keep you out of heaven. May you know that the Lord understands divorce and its tragedy more than you will ever know. He does? Yes. He once described Israel as His unfaithful wife who He sent away with a certificate of divorce (Jeremiah 3v8). If you feel the weight of divorce upon your shoulders then turn to the One who fully understands your pain. Dear God, strengthen and keep our marriages we pray! Forgive us and assure us of that forgiveness! For Christ’s sake. Amen. Finally, the Gospel impacts our words. Christ urges us to speak simply saying either “yes” or “no” (v37). Some have used these verses (v34, 36) to teach that Christ commands us to refuse to make all oaths or vows. What are oaths and vows? An oath is when we make promises to someone and call on God as a witness. A vow sees us making promises directly to God. Are all oaths and vows banned by Jesus? No. His point in these verses is that the Christian should be marked by truthfulness. It is unnecessary for us to swear by God to prove our truthfulness - we should be truthful. Our yes should be yes and our no should be no. If you are called as a witness then be truthful. If you make a promise to God then keep it. If you promise your wife that you will be faithful then keep your eyes from that pretty girl who works at the garage. The Gospel is not just for Sunday. It’s implications impact every inch of our lives - our marriages, our relationships, our words…not one inch is out of bounds for the Gospel. These verses therefore speak to each one of us. In response may we hear and heed them with maturity and may the Holy Spirit apply them to our lives. May He make us as holy as forgiven sinners can be. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q 93. Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament? A. The Sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. |
Alan
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