16th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 8v1-17)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


As Jesus came down from the mountain He was followed by great crowds and they would soon witness extraordinary deeds (v1). The Lord was approached by a leper who sought healing from his awful condition (v2). What is a leper? A leper is someone who suffers from the illness of leprosy. Leprosy is a disease which impacts the skin and nervous system of the sufferer. It can cause deformity and damage the nerves so much that the leper loses feeling in the affected area which can lead to further problems. Leprosy is still an issue in over 120 countries but is curable thanks to modern medicine.


In Christ's day it had no cure and the leper was treated as a social outcast. Leprosy is passed by contact and so for Jesus to be anywhere near such a man was a scandal. But the leper was a man of faith and Christ had no fear of leprosy. He touched the leper and healed him and urged the man to show himself to the priest so that he could keep the law of Moses and be reintegrated back into society (v3-4).


Later Jesus was met by a Roman Centurion (v5). This man may not have been a leper but Christ's interaction with him was yet another scandal. The Romans were seen as an occupying force and so Christ was consorting with a Gentile representative of the hated Roman Empire. Remarkably the centurion was a man of faith. He had a servant at home who was paralysed and suffering greatly (v6) but instead of allowing Jesus to come to his house the centurion knew that he was unworthy to receive such an honour (v8). All this man wanted was a word from Christ which he was sure would heal his servant.


We don't know how or when the Roman heard about Christ but nevertheless he had a correct opinion of the Lord. He said "I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” (v9) What was the centurion saying? The centurion's ultimate boss was the Roman Emperor and in his role as a centurion he had the Emperor's authority. If the centurion commanded one of his soldiers he was essentially speaking on behalf of the Emperor. The centurion was to be obeyed because of the authority invested in him by his ruler.


The centurion had understood that just as he had authority from the Emperor, Christ was sent by God and had authority like no other. This acknowledgement caused Jesus to marvel. He healed the centurion's servant (v13) and explained about the utter necessity of saving faith. Many Gentiles like the centurion would come to trust in Christ and recline at the heavenly table of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (v11). But others like a great many Jews would rely on their ethnic background and refuse to believe in Christ (v12) thus securing a place in hell.


Later Jesus healed Peter's mother-in-law (v14), cast out countless demons and healed everyone who came to him suffering from sickness (v16). All of this was to fulfil Isaiah's prophecy which said "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases" (Isaiah 53v4).


I suspect that all of us reading this devotion are more than familiar with illness. We have visited sick loved ones, held the hand of friends at countless hospital beds and we have wept in graveyards as we have said farewell to family and neighbours. These verses don't teach that Christ will always visit us with healing. Sadly some have claimed that as long as your faith is strong then you will be healed - I humbly reject those who preach such a message.


Christians will certainly suffer from illness and sometimes they will know healing and sometimes they will not. Christ's interaction with the leper, the centurion and the rest show us that He is the suffering servant of Isaiah 53. Jesus takes our weakness, our infirmity, our sickness and our sin and He makes an end to it all at Calvary.


Dear brothers and sisters, may the Lord visit you with comfort in your struggle with illness. May He ease your pain and may He lift your fears. I long for the day that I will never have to stand at another grave or pray at another hospital bed. But this I know, such a day is coming and has been secured at the place called Calvary where Christ was pierced for our transgressions and was crushed for our iniquities. We may not see healing on this side of heaven but truly and eternally our faith in Christ has made us well.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q78 What is forbidden in the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our neighbor’s good name.
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15th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read - Hebrews 11:21 and Genesis 28:10-15


Message Alan Burke 


Today we pick up the account of Jacob, on Monday it was more of character overview, today though we focus on one event in Jacobs life while he was on the run from his brother. With no light to guide his path other than the sun, and no premier inn’s or airbnb’s along the way, the exhausted Jacob was forced to stop, enjoying the comfort of his stone pillow, doubtless, he must have wondered whether there was anything in his father‘s pious hopes for his future, in a God that he’d been told about but did not know. But the Lord God was using this journey that Jacob was on, that would begin a transformation in his character. That is why we are focusing on Genesis 28 and not Genesis 48 were he blesses the sons of of Jospeh which Hebrews 11:21 refers to. 


I can’t imagine that resting your head on a stone pillow and drifting off to sleep would have been incredibly comfortable but it is what happened when he drifted off to sleep that is significant. There the Lord revealed himself to Jacob in the form of a dream. Remember that this revelation of God isn’t because Jacob had earned enough brownie points along the way, no he was a mess and had left carnage behind him. Yet the Lord did not bring him face to face with his shameful past, he didn’t rub his face in the mess that he had made of his life, instead the Lord in what he was doing was helping him to see the future with the Lord himself as his God, with a life lived in faith. 


In the dream, the Lord caused Jacob to see a ladder, or rather a stairway. There as the angels ascend and descend as they go about the business of the Lord God Almighty, he there standing over it all speaks to Jacob. In his self revelation the Lord declares to him (13);“I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac”. Jacob would have known from what he had been taught and heard as a child before the Lord said anything else that this was the Lord God, the same God who had called his grandfather and father. It would have reminded him how what had taken place in the lives of his forefathers was God’s doing not their own. Just as the Lord had called Abraham, appeared to Issac that everything that had followed wasn’t dependant on their own efforts but on God in His grace and sovereign purposes. 


None of it was dependant on Jacob, on what he had done or would do, it wasn’t dependant on his past or his future rather it was dependant on the covenant keeping God and His Grace. The Lord was making it clear, so that Jacob could be left in no doubt that this future depended not on himself on his character, but dependant on the LORD God. The Lord in all of this, in his promise confirms that Jacob is the chosen line. In addition to the promise and assurance of a future hope, God graciously grants intimate assurance to Him to sustain his faith, despite his questionable past God has chosen Jacob to be the one that would continue this line of promises, that would continue this hope that would come first promised in the offspring, the seed of Adam and Eve that one day one would come to deal with the mess that sin has caused. This revelation of God was one of Hope, hope for all. 


We need to remember that the salvation of God, in His initiative, in His sovereign purposes brought salvation to us. Jacob didn’t deserve it, none of us deserve it, none of us could have earned it, yet, God by His Grace, in Jis unmerited favour towards us has shown this grace to us, because just like the case for Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and everyone here this grace, this unmerited favour is not dependant on our works, our efforts but is dependant on what God has done for us in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, our salvation just like Jacobs was dependant on faith, Faith that is wrought in us by God, for it is by grace we are saved though faith, this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph. 2:8-9. One last thing, Hebrews 1 reminds us how God at many times and in many ways, spoke but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son (Heb 1:1-2) so there are no more dreams, don’t be expecting a Jacob experience, but God still speaks through his Son, through His word read but primarily preached and we should expect God to speak to us through that but are we willing to listen? 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q77 What is required in the ninth commandment?
The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, (Zech. 8:16) and of our own and our neighbour’ s good name, (3 John 12) especially in witness-bearing. (Prov. 14:5,25)
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14th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 7v15-29)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


The Christian preacher John Owen once said "The rule and method of the gospel is, that the tree be first made good, and then the fruit will be so also." Do you see his point? Good works don't make us good only the Gospel can do that. The Gospel is preached, the Spirit causes us to be born again and then we freely call upon Christ and are saved. The tree is first made good and then good fruit follows.


John Owen wasn't the first to promote such teaching. Jesus warned His followers of false prophets who would come among them acting like sheep in an attempt to hide the fact that were really ravenous wolves (v15). How can we recognise such wolves among the people of God? Jesus says you will recognise them from the fruit they display.


We have already discussed that judging the actions of others is not off limits to the Christian and so if someone comes among us displaying bad fruit then we have every right to question the legitimacy of that person's faith. We must admit that every Christian is a sinner saved by grace and every Christian is at the same time justified and sinful. But with that stated we must guard the church against those who pretend to be saved but in reality are unrepentant wolves.


Diseased trees bear bad fruit (v17) and ultimately every bad tree will be cut down and thrown into the fire of judgement (v19). Therefore we must be discerning about who walks through the doors of a local fellowship. This isn't a call to remove everyone from our fellowship who we don't like and it isn't an excuse to refuse mercy to a Christian who has messed up. Instead we are to be wise, discerning and we are to consider the fruit that is on display from those around us.


Consider two imagined examples.


Think of Martha. She attends church every week but everyone knows that Martha delights in gossip and if you cross her then you will face her wrath. She hasn't spoken to some members for years and had major arguments with at least two former ministers, one of whom was clear that he left the church after Martha's persistent opposition. Martha's behaviour has caused several others to leave and one woman was reduced to tears after Martha tore strips off her because the harvest display didn't meet Martha's standards. People say "That's just Martha. She's always been like that. Just ignore her."  But is that good enough? How should we respond to the bad fruit that has been evident in Martha's life for generations?


Think of William. He served on the church committee for twenty years and successfully stopped every initiative that he didn't like. He didn't do this by debate and reasoned discussion, he did it by threat and by striking fear into his fellow committee members. William's younger brother left committee to avoid any confrontation with his older sibling and at one particularly tense meeting William made a threat to speak to his solicitor. Eventually William became an elder and after several disagreements with the new minister told him "I'll make you regret this." What does the persistent bad fruit in William's life tell us?


We must be wise in this wicked age. Christ is clear that not everyone who says to Him "Lord, Lord" will enter heaven (v21). There will be many who on the last day will tell the Lord that they did extraordinary things in the name of Christ (v22), but amazingly Jesus will tell them "I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness." (v23). Again I'm not saying that we denounce everyone who has ever made a mistake but persistent rotten fruit could well suggest that there is a wolf among the flock. Sadly the mistake of the modern church is to tolerate wolves and allow them free reign in the sheep pen.


The sermon on the mount is extraordinary and worth studying for the rest of our lives. Christ teaches us as One with true authority (v29) and therefore we must listen to and act on what our Lord commands.


Hearing Jesus and doing what He says makes us like the wise man whose home was built securely on the rock (v24). No storm can shake the Christian from such firm foundations (v25). Others who reject the teaching of Jesus are like a fool who builds on the beach (v26). The foundations are not secure and when the inevitable storm comes they will be swept away (v27).


Brothers and sisters, may we heed the sermon on the mount and may we bear good fruit in keeping with our repentance. May we be charitable to those who stumble and a challenge to those who are ravenous wolves. Christ is coming again and blessed are all of those whose feet are planted firmly on the rock. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q76 Which is the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
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13th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read - Hebrews 11:21 and Genesis 25:12-28:9


Message Alan Burke 


Every now and then I flick threw the news headlines on my phone just to see what is happening in the world. A couple of weeks ago now there was a headline that grabbed my attention mainly because I thought it was just daft, the headline was “'Elon Musk has made me embarrassed to drive my Tesla now’”. Like wise the bap, such a first world problem. We of course can all get reputations but for it to be “depressing, and sometimes embarrassing” to drive your car because of Elon Musk says more about you than him. We know that reputations matters, Proverbs reminds us that “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” (Prov 22:1). The proverbs of course is the wisdom of God and we know that a good name is to be esteemed. While Elon Musk’s reputation isn’t great today we look at a man who couldn’t be held up as a man who was trustworthy, a man of integrity, someone who was virtuous man, rather Jacob was a man of cunning, deceit and self centred ambition and what is wonderful for us who are sinners, altogether sinful although not as sinful as we could be that Jacob was one who we are told was commended for his faith, he lived ’By Faith’. 


Most of us know the story of Jacob, today is really a character overview before we delve into the wonder of God’s grace later in the week. So Jacob, the second son of Isaac and Rebekah a twin to Esau although the two of them couldn’t have been more different. Family dynamics weren’t great to say the least, Jacob was the favourite of his mum and his bother Esau was the favourite of his dad and it led to an incredibly messy family situation. He acquire his brothers Esau’s birthright for a bowl of stew and with the help of his mother, when his father Isaac was old and his eyesight had faded, thinking that he was at deaths door, Jacob deceived him, obtaining the blessing due to his brother (Gen 25:12 - 28:9). It’s not surprising that Esau was angry, he had been swindled by his brother and he wanted revenge, vowing to kill his brother Jacob as soon as the period of mourning for his fathers death was over. Before he had the chance though, Rebekah discovered the desire of Esau’s heart, that he planned to kill his brother Jacob and she desired to save his life, she warned Jacob and had Issac send him to his uncle Laban to find a wife. 


With no where else to go, no other course of action, he went, fleeing for his life, towards Haran, retracing the long arduous route though the wilderness that his grandfather Abraham had traveled about one hundred and twenty five years earlier, but the situation that Jacob was in was even more perilous that Abrahams was. Abraham had gone on this journey as he answering the call of God, Jacob was instead fleeing because of his sin, original sin had distorted him, actual sin distracted him, and indwelling sin had manipulated him, fleeing because he had allowed sin to rule his life and his decisions. The marks of this man were not trustworthiness, integrity or any virtues that are commendable, rather Jacob was a man of cunning, deceit and self centred ambition. He ended up having to flee from his own to save his life. The situation all because of his own making he was a man who had brought this on himself. 


Yet he is a man who is listed among the heroes of the faith. And once more we are reminded as we look Jacob that the message of Hebrews 11 isn’t be like those listed there, rather the message for all of us is to us is to trust in the promises of God. The promise of God of the Christ that would come and bruise the head of the serpent that Jacob looked to, whom would bless all the nations through Abraham’s seed, Jacob was looking to the Christ the Messiah, the holy one of God, Jesus our saviour! It is Him that we must look to, it doesn’t matter if you have A good name that is more desirable than great riches; and esteemed or if you are more akin to Jacob, the only way that any of us are saved is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q75 What is forbidden in the eighth commandment?
The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbour’ s wealth or outward estate. (Prov. 21:17, Prov. 23:20–21, Prov. 28:19, Eph. 4:28)
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11th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 7v7-14)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


It is sure evidence of Satan's work when a Christian's view of God gets twisted beyond all recognition. What do I mean? There are Christians who view God as a King who is sitting waiting for them to mess up before pouring down vengeance upon them. Equally there are Christians who think that God gives them lots of chances but His patience will finally run out and He'll remove their name from the Lamb's book of life. Furthermore I have met Believers who think that God needs to be "buttered up" before the floodgates of blessing are opened.


The reality is that our God is a kind, gracious and loving God who we can truly call Father without any buttering up. Instead of hiding under the bed from a nasty pretend god we can approach the true God with confidence in prayer. Jesus tells us to ask, seek and knock. In each case we will receive, find and have a door opened to us (v7-8). We would never give our son a stone instead of bread or a serpent instead of a fish (v9-10). Even though we are sinful we still know how to give good things to our children (v11a) and so in the same way our heavenly Father who is truly good gives us only good things when we ask.


Some have made these verses mean that we should be rich and happy and healthy but Jesus was no prosperity preacher driving around in a new BMW. What good things does the Lord give us as we ask, seek and knock? Nothing is specified in Matthew's account although Luke 11v13 records Jesus as saying that the good thing is the Holy Spirit. We can be sure that the Lord only gives us what is good and by faith in Christ we have already received every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1v3). Therefore we draw near and ask in full confidence and assurance of faith for all the blessings of a child of God. What is of more value than a strengthened assurance, a passion for the lost, a zeal in prayer, a hunger for God's Word and innumerable other blessings which often seem to escape us as Christians?


In response to this good news, the Father's love for us should overflow into how we treat others. Christ summarises the entire law and prophets by saying "So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them" (v12) This has been called the "golden rule" and collates God's law into one simple point. The Christian is to love their God and their neighbour. What does our love for others look like? Do to others what you wish would be done to you. Immediately we will then seek our neighbour's good. We will refuse to gossip about or slander our neighbour. We will do all we can to help our neighbour and promote his welfare. Christ compels us to love our neighbour.


The road laid down by Jesus runs contrary to the wisdom of the world. Christ's road is narrow and it is difficult but it leads to everlasting life (v13-14). It is a road of blessing as the Father gives to those who ask and it is a road of response as followers of Christ seek to love those around them. The other road is broad and easy and for a brief moment sounds incredibly tempting - who wouldn't want a simple, hassle free life? But it is a road that leads to destruction and an eternity in hell.


The Lord isn't waiting for you to trip up so He can finally destroy you, instead we know that God is good and just in all His ways. Brothers and sisters, whatever spiritual good you currently lack seek the Lord who gives generously to all who ask and when you realise the extraordinary love of God to sinners like us, go and love your neighbour in response. This is the narrow road of faith and truth be told, it is the only road that matters. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q74 What is required in the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring and furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.
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10th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read - Genesis 27 and Hebrews 11:20


Message Alan Burke 


It was ‘By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future’, that is what Hebrews 11:20 tells us. Yet when we turn to Genesis 27 the account of how Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau is a shambles, fill with deception, as Jacob and Rebekah conspire together to prevent Esau from receiving the blessing of his Father. There is no one that comes out well in this account, there is no one that can hold their head up high and look down at others, everyone’s hands are stained. Everyone in this account were trying to bring about what they wanted by their own means. Both Isaac and Rebekah were as bad as each other. 


Isaac who by faith blessed Jacob and Esau, was a man that was intent on disobeying the word of God. Even though God had been clear, Isaac desired something in his heart that was contrary to what God had said. The reason for that conclusion is a simple one, for when Rebekah sought the Lord of why her children struggled in the womb (Gen 25:23). There we learn how the older would serve the younger, Esau would serve Jacob and Isaac didn’t like it. Also remember how Esau sold his birthright for a some bread and lentil stew, he swore to Jacob that the birthright was his. Even so Isaac was a man who lived by faith, he looked to the promises of God in Christ but he’s not a poster boy, a role model, but what is wonderful and should be a comfort to us for he was one who had faith. It is not an excuse for us to seek to live contrary to the word of God, just because we feel, because we want should never be the reason to go against God’s word. 


It was by faith we are told Isaac blesses both Jacob and Esau, the blessing received via the deception of Rebekah and Jacob comes first, the near blind Isaac thought Jacob was Esau through the deception, after coming near at his fathers invitation he kisses him and after Isaac smells his clothes Jacob is blessed by his father, with the blessing that Isaac had intended to give to Esau (v28-29). Then Jacob makes a quick exit, Esau arrives, and Isaac is enraged, he trembled violently, Esau burst out with a loud and bitter cry, but it was too late.


Isaac had sought bless Esau with the blessing of the covenant promises that were given to him, he failed. God had elected Jacob to be the one, chosen Jacob to be the one through whom the promises of the Christ would ultimately be fulfilled. God had told this couple before Esau and Jacob were born the way it would be but sinful people make sinful choses and in the end the older brother would serve the younger at least for a time, while the younger brother would see prosperity and nations would bow to his descendants. 


The blessing of Isaac to his sons was dependant on faith, for Isaac was still a stranger in the land of promise, he was an alien, a foreigner, he had no land to pass on, nothing of which could be bestowed on his children of significant worth, yet he had the word of the Lord and the blessing that God had promised, Isaac was confident in the word of God, that is what he had and while he had sought to bless Esau Jacob’s line shows the enduring faith in that word. Isaac at the end of his life had only one thing of value that he left his descendants, God’s word of promise, it was that word that sustained Isaac in the highs as well as the lows. What do we have of value for our children, for our children’s children, is not in treasure here on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 


This is one mucked up family, yet our God is faithful to forgive, His plan of redemption is not derailed by the mess of our lives, our sinful actions, know that what matters here today is faith. What mattered for Isaac in the carnage of his life, he was saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The faith he had was in Christ, he was saved Christ, they only faith that saves is in Christ! For every believer it is by faith alone in Christ alone that we are saved. Just as Isaac was heavily flawed, he uses we who are likewise heavily flawed for his glory. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q73 Which is the eighth commandment?
The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal. (Exod. 20:15)
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9th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 7v6)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


We are to proclaim the Gospel openly and freely as often as we can and yet there comes a time that the Lord counsels us to walk away from certain people. I know such a statement sounds incredibly harsh and contrary to Christian love but this little verse teaches exactly that.


Jesus tells us not to give holy things to dogs nor to give pearls to pigs. Why not? They might trample them underfoot and turn and attack us. Here Christ compares a certain group of people to wild dogs and pigs. On the island of Ireland it is rare for us to encounter an actual wild dog or pig but in certain parts of the world both are a menace. A pack of wild dogs is a fearsome challenge to a lone traveller and if you find yourself in the path of a rampaging wild pig then run and climb the nearest tree.


Who are the people that Jesus compares to wild dogs and pigs? Those who for one reason or another have grown absolutely hard to the Gospel and respond to it with contempt, scorn and perhaps even violence. I hope you have next to no experience of such individuals but they certainly exist. For many the Gospel isn't good news but it is something to be opposed and hated.


The Lord counsels us to share the Gospel of the Kingdom but He doesn't demand that we keep on sharing it with those who repeatedly reject it. How should we respond to the man who has heard the Gospel countless times but mocks the Lord in response? Or what about the woman who knew the Gospel as a child but now hates God and calls Him a liar? Or the family member who warns if we start with that Gospel rubbish over Sunday lunch he's going to shut our mouth permanently?


Brothers and sisters, if you know such an individual I would urge you to pray on but move on. What do I mean? Our hearts break for the dogs and pigs and so in response we pray that the Lord would soften their bitter and hard hearts. But as we pray on we should also heed the Lord's call to move on.


The Gospel is not a joke and it is not worthy of contempt. If an individual proves to be a pig or a dog by their mocking of the holy things of God then we can move on from that person in good conscience. By God's grace He will break them and bring them to Himself but we no longer need to give them the pearls of God's Word.


Finally, let me speak to those who hate the Lord and mock the Gospel. My friend, I know that you may rage against the Lord but one day you will stand before Him. There are those on earth who have heard nothing of the Gospel and will still stand condemned. How will you escape the Lord when you have heard the message of the cross repeatedly but responded with hate? You have spat in the face of Christ without realising that there will be a day of reckoning. Please put aside your bitterness and flee to Jesus for He is able to save even the wildest pigs and dogs.


 
Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q72 What is forbidden in the seventh commandment? The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.
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8th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read - Genesis 26 and Hebrews 11:20


Message Alan Burke 


‘By Faith Abraham’, and ‘By Faith Isaac’. The thing is that these two men were equally as flawed, and Isaac made many of the mistakes his Da did for he was a sinful man just like we are sinful. When we get to Genesis 26 we are told of of how the Promises of God that had been first pledged to Abraham would be for Isaac but then from that moment on there is a sense that we’ve heard this all before, haven’t we? Déjà vu in a sense for what we are seeing here we had seen before in the life of Isaac’s father Abraham. Once more there here was a famine in the land at the time, but this time the Lord warns Isaac not to go down to Egypt, instead he is told that he must dwell in the Land that God would show him (Gen 26:1-2). God would be with Isaac and give him lands, multiply his offspring as the stars of heaven and his offspring would have these lands and all the nations on the earth shall be blessed though him.


So Isaac goes as the Lord had told him, yet just like Abraham Isaac falls into the same trap as his father, instead of relying on God where he is, he instead in the situation he found himself he tried a wee bit of DIY (Gen 20). What happens is that in fear Isaac foolishly tired to pass of Rebekah of as his sister (7-9). It is the pagan Abimelech that rebukes Isaac the man of God, the pagan Abimelech who has a better moral compass than Isaac who was living by faith. We learn in v8-10 how Abimelech saw Isaac caressing his wife, he summoned Isaac and rebuked him. 


Again, the message of Hebrews isn’t be like, rather the message for all of us is to us is to trust in the promises of God. While Isaac may have relied on himself he was still trusting ultimately in the promises of God. Those words of verse 11, “By Faith Isaac”, actually each time it is said throughout Hebrews 11 and of those whom it is said of should give us comfort for all these men and women of faith in Hebrews were more than conquerers through Christ Jesus. For the message of Hebrews 11 isn’t be like those listed there, nor is todays message isn’t be like Isaac, rather the message for all of us is to us is to trust in the promises of God. To trust in Jesus Christ. For they as we are justified by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone just like Isaac.


There is an application I want to draw out for us here as we close. The world, the culture around us in the main rejecting biblical morality, they try to silence that immediate revelation that God has put within each one of us that which God has written on our hearts. Yet sadly there are times that the morality of those who do not claim to know Christ Jesus, our neighbours and our friends can shine a light on our own behaviour. God even uses those outside His Church to challenge and rebuke those inside, in those situations there is only one right thing to do and that is repent, seek to change that behaviour, Isaac had no choice, he was a marked man by Abimelech and in time the people feared him for the Lord blessed him. Yet our God is faithful to forgive, otherwise Isaac would not have been mentioned in Hebrews 11, none of those listed would. God’s plan of redemption is not derailed by the mess of our lives, our sinful actions, know that what matters here today is faith. What mattered for Isaac in the carnage of his life, he was saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The faith he had was in Christ, he was saved Christ, they only faith that saves is in Christ! For every believer it is by faith alone in Christ alone that we are saved. Just as Isaac was heavily flawed, he uses we who are likewise heavily flawed for his glory.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q71 What is required in the seventh commandment?
The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour’ s chastity, in heart, speech, and behavior. (1 Cor. 7:2–3,5,34,36, Col. 4:6, 1 Pet. 3:2)
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7th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 7v1-5)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


There are whole sections of the Bible that no one reads and no one remembers and then there are sections like Matthew 7 that even the dogs in the street seem to know. Why? Because Jesus said "Judge not, that you not be judged." (v1). At first glance this is wonderful news in this pagan world. Many think that what Jesus means is "No one can say anything to me. No one can judge me. I know that I left my wife for another women but don't you dare say a word! Didn't Jesus say 'don't judge'?" I'm sure you've heard a similar argument, indeed I've even seen tatttoos that declare boldy "Only God will judge me."


But is that what Jesus meant when he urged us not to judge? No. Christ doesn't prohibit all judging. The Christian has every right to speak into this sinful world. We have a duty to declare God's truth which acts as a judgement upon all kinds of sinful acts. Additionally whenever there is disagreement in a local fellowship, we are to judge and be discerning so that we might get to the bottom of any argument. The Biblical standard for truth is the testimony of two or three witnesses - these witnesses are to judge the truth of any matter.


So the Lord isn't telling us to never ever judge, instead He warns here against judgement that is harsh on others and light on yourself. That's what we are often like isn't it? We say that we hate liars but we're not shy about telling a little white lie to get out of a jam. We say that those who break the speed limit should be punished severely and then we rage against the police when they pull us over for the same crime.


When Jesus warns against judging others, He speaks against a spirit that is so harsh and critical on others but will never ever judge our own actions. We know this to be true because verse two says "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." (v2). If we are extremely harsh with others over sins that we have committed ourselves then we can expect a similar harsh judgement from the Lord.


To help us understand the point, Jesus uses the famous picture of the speck and the log. He said "Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye." (v3-4). The Lord doesn't prohibit all judging, instead He challenges us in the harshness of our hypocrisy.


Imagine a church member called Maggie (no one I know). Maggie doesn't realise it but she is the biggest gossip in her fellowship. She loves nothing more than to hear the latest news and then to add her own two cents. Maggie has questioned the motives of hundreds of people and muddied the name of hundreds more. But one day Maggie heard that someone had been talking behind her back and she was immediately outraged. "How dare they?" raged Maggie. "That's a so called Christian!" she told herself. "What are you going to do about the gossip in this church?" she asked her pastor. Do you see the Lord's point? Maggie (I'm still not thinking of anyone in particular!) with a log in her own eye went to war to remove the speck out of her neighbour's eye.


Judging is not out of bounds for the Christian but when we judge we should be mindful of our own twisted hearts. May we seek the Lord to ensure that our motives and judgements are pure, taking the log out of our own eye before we do anything else! May we not seek to destroy our neighbour for things we do ourselves. May we be generous to people who wrong us and strive to think the best of their motives (for surely one day the shoe will be on the other foot). But with all of that said, may we be courageous in the face of sin and evil and be prepared to call it out for what it is. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q70 What is the seventh commandment? The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
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6th February 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read - Genesis 25, Hebrews 11:20


Message Alan Burke 


Isaac was a miracle baby, he was the long awaited child of Abraham and Sarah, one who was born to them when they were advanced in years and beyond the natural age for bearing children. His name literally means laughter and for his parents that  name that would evoked varied emotions, that would have often brought back to their minds how God had promised them a son and told them that they would be given a son even in their old age to which they responded with laughter. Not only that, for it would also have brought back the years of hurt and disappointment but also how by the power of God Sarah was able to conceived and first looked down at those little eyes of her son Isaac, and seeing him grow before her eyes calling him Isaac, laughter because God has brought her laughter, (Gen 21:6). 


Isaac grew, we learn about how he was one who was received back from death when Abraham when tested offered him as a sacrifice. Some years later, Isaac and Rebekah get together, how it took place is told to us in Genesis 24, Throughout which the providence of God is clear, God was at work bringing Rebekah and Isaac together and is displayed both in the ordinary as well as the extraordinary. Showing that God can be trusted even when there seems like no earthly chance of things working out. 


As the narrative moves on history repeated itself in Genesis 25. There we learn of how Isaac and Rebekah struggled to have children and in the midst of it, Isaac prayed to the Lord for His help in the situation because Rebekah could not have children (Gen 25:21). The word that is used to speak of Isaac’s prayer, his intercession to the Lord means to beg, to plead. Isaac in his desperation cried out to the Lord, yet the Lord did not answer him immediately, we learn that it was twenty years before the Lord granted his prayer and Rebekah conceived and to them were given two sons, twins, Esau and Jacob. 


Isaac was a man that we learn in Scripture was one who sought the Lord, but also Rebekah his wife too, for when she had conceived, the children struggled, they wrestled within her and she also turned to the Lord from whom she learns that the two children are, in Genesis 25:23 we read;


“Two nations are in your womb, 
and two peoples from within you will be separated; 
one people will be stronger than the other, 
and the older will serve the younger.” (Gen 25:23). 


What did the Lord mean in this? 


It was that His covenant promise would continue through the younger brother Jacob rather than the older brother Esau. It wasn’t how things usually worked, usually the eldest boy even until fairly recently received the inheritance. Yet as Esau and Jacob grew, Isaac favoured his older son who was a hunter of game while Rebekah favoured Jacob. We don’t have time to focus on the ins and outs but these were two flawed parents. 


I know it’s not the thrust of where we are going today for we are focusing on what comes in chapter 27 but there is an application that we learn from the life of Isaac and Sarah even though they were flawed individuals. It is easy to get discouraged isn’t it, when we have the same struggles, when nothing seems to change. It can be easy for us to simply give up when we have cried out to the Lord for what seems like years or what is actually years and that God has to us done nothing, our prayers to us are unanswered, they have fallen on deaf ears. Yet the Lord works in prayer even though we cannot see it, even when his answer seems contrary to what we desire. For Isaac and Rebekah he answered according to His purposes, but they had to wait, twenty long years for the answer.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q69 What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto. (Acts 16:28, Gen. 9:6)
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