20th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read - Hebrews 11:31 Message Alan Burke Did you hear Billy’s mum is a prostitute? From my school days if something like that had have ever got out it would have been the end of Billy, not the end per say but he’d have never heard the end of it, he’d have never lived it down, ridiculed, slagged off, teased, mocked. The school would have intervened of course, we’d have had one of those assemblies where the deputy head or the head gave us a rollocking because of our behaviour, there’d have been detentions, internal suspensions, suspensions etc, these days sadly often that abuse goes home because of social media and kids never get away from it. The school playground is one thing but I imagine and I really hope that I’m wrong but if Billy and his mum arrived and sat beside you on Sunday morning you’d be more than a wee bit awkward and there’d be many who would show their prejudice, there would be comments, looks, you might even choose to move from where you are seated. Regrettably this is the type of behaviour that I have seen from people who have heard the gospel for years and failed to understand the heinousness of their own sin and just how scandalous the grace of God is. Today we focus on Rehab, this woman is a wonderful testimony of the grace of God, so much so that the apostle makes it clear that this woman who Paul calls a prostitute was a woman of faith, as we are told in Hebrews; “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.” (Heb 11:31). Those words should give those of us who are saved such comfort and such assurance, for those who are not it should help you to know that even the vilest sinner in this world if they repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ they will be saved, that your sin is not to great to be forgiven, even if the world found out about you and wouldn’t forgive your, God’s grace is sufficient to cover our sin. Here in the midst of the destruction of Jericho as God brought judgment on the canaanites, we see hand in hand the wonderful grace of God, and for all who will respond to it it is freely given even to the most unlikely people. We will get into more of the detail of Rahab as the week goes on but we need to know that the gospel is for all who will trust in Christ alone for their salvation, who are willing to turn from their sin. I’ll throw this out here, how would we react to the person who is just out of prison came to worship on the Lord’s Day? I’ve known places where this has happened and the people were clear that their church wasn’t for people that that, how would we react to the person smelling of drink, who had eyes as big as saucers, the prostitute, the abuser, the trafficker, is the gospel just for people like us or is it for sinners like us? My hope is that it is for sinners like us, as we know just how heinous our sin is and how wonderful the grace of our God is through Jesus Christ, for we are saved by grace through faith. We must be willing to welcome those who have shady pasts into the fellowship of the church, if they have come by faith in Christ, repenting of their sin and believing in Christ Jesus for their salvation then they should be with the gathered Church on the Lord’s Day, Christ didn't die to make good people better - the Gospel is life saving medicine for terminally ill sinners. You may be seen as a fine upstanding member of your community but you are still a sinner. Who can be saved? Any and all who call upon the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Sinner, regardless of your past the door to salvation has not been barred against you. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q105 What do we pray for in the fifth petition? In the fifth petition, (which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors, (Matt. 6:12)) we pray, That God, for Christ’ s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; (Ps. 51:1–2,7,9, Dan. 9:17–19) which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. (Luke 11:4, Matt. 18:35)
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18th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 12v15-32) Message (Scott Woodburn) Do you remember when Christ urged His Disciples to be as wise as serpents and gentle as doves (Matthew 10v16)? In this instance Jesus displayed exactly what that advice looked like in practice. He understood that the Pharisees sought to destroy Him and so He wisely withdrew Himself from their presence (v15). But Jesus did not go into hiding, instead He continued to heal all of those who followed Him thus fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy “Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not quench,until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.” (Isaiah 42v1-4) Jesus is the chosen servant of God in whom the Father is well pleased. Christ came in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring both Jew and Gentile to repentance and faith. The Lord gives hope to the weak, never breaking the one who is like a bruised reed and never snuffing out the one who is like a smouldering wick. The Messiah had come in power and authority, Scripture was being fulfilled. Christ gave more evidence by healing a demon-possessed man who was both blind and mute (v22) but while the people wondered "Can this be the Son of David?" (v23), the Pharisees were sure that Jesus was only able to cast out demons because He was working with Satan (v24). This response was utterly disgraceful and knowing their thoughts Jesus taught saying “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?" (v25-26) In other words Jesus challenged the wisdom and logic of the Pharisees' accusation. If Christ was working with Satan to cast out a demon who was also with Satan, then Satan was divided and his kingdom could not stand. It simply made no sense that Jesus would confront Satan whilst at the same time being an ally of Satan. Furthermore it appears that some Pharisees also claimed to be able to cast out demons. If Jesus was working with Satan were the sons of the Pharisees also friends with Beelzebul? (v27). This was not something that the Pharisees could or would accept and so their own followers would act like judges in this matter - they were not in league with Satan and neither was Christ. Jesus performed His mighty acts in the power of the Spirit of God and therefore the kingdom of God had arrived (v28). The Lord had come not to join forces with Satan but to destroy him. Christ described Satan as "the strong man" (v29) accurately describing a fearsome foe but nevertheless Satan could not compare to Jesus. The Lord had entered the kingdom of man and tied up the strong man. The enemy of God's people was powerless to stop Jesus from plundering his house (v29). What does this mean? Jesus has entered into a cosmic battle on our behalf and struck a decisive blow against Satan. The enemy remains active to this day but he has been bound by Christ and so his activity is restricted. In the meantime the Lord is plundering the house of Satan by the preaching of the Gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit - Satan's captives are being set free. The victory is not in doubt but the battle continues and whoever is not on the side of Christ is against Him and a scatterer (v30). The Pharisees were certainly against Jesus and it was in response to them that Jesus uttered a sombre warning "Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come." (v31-32) These verses have proved controversial for they state that there is a sin that cannot be forgiven and this has caused many to wonder what that sin actually is. I've heard all sorts of explanations for these verses including the popular but incorrect assertion that suicide is the sin that can't be forgiven. But the answer is closer than we think. Firstly. let's deal with the positive aspect of these verses. Jesus says that all manner of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven and anyone who speaks against Him can also find mercy. As we repent of our sin and put our faith in Christ we will find that God's grace is glorious indeed. Secondly, let's deal with the unforgivable sin. Jesus said blasphemy against the Spirit and speaking against the Spirit cannot and will not be forgiven. What does this mean? Jesus cast out demons by the power of the Spirit and the Pharisees declared Him to be Satanic. This is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. This is the unforgivable sin. It is ultimately a sin of terrible unbelief that assigns the work of God to the enemy himself. It is a sin that sees the glory of the Gospel and spits all over it. It is a sin that shows such hardness of heart that the individual in question cannot and will not repent. It is an awful spiritual condition and Christ's teaching should serve as the strongest of warnings to the one who has no time for the things of God. To the tender hearted Christian I would joyously counsel you that a Christian cannot commit the unforgivable sin. In the Christian life there will surely be times of difficulty and doubt but the true Believer can never totally or finally fall away. Thank God for how He has worked faith in you and will surely keep you to the end. But to the individual that has grown cold to the things of God and increasingly hates the Gospel - my friend you are in dire need of Jesus. Your path away from Him is only leading to the one place and your bitterness towards Christ might indeed lead you to blasphemy of the Holy Spirit from where there is no return. Here is the Gospel...Christ died for our sins and was raised for our justification. Here is your response...repent of your sins and put your faith in Christ. Do it now. Do it without delay. There may come a day that its too late. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q104 What do we pray for in the fourth petition? In the fourth petition, which is, Give us this day our daily bread,” we pray, that of God’s free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them. 17th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read - Joshua 6 & Hebrews 11:30 Message Alan Burke The sight of the Israelites marching round the walls of Jericho, blowing their trumpets would have been a sight that the inhabitants of the land weren’t too concerned about. After all they were in a fortified city and what good was marching and blowing trumpets against the city. It took place in the same way for six days, they marched round the city once just as God had told them, along with the ark of the covenant. I wonder what the inhabitants of Jericho thought as they look on but what is remarkable is that the people of God unlike the generations that went before them believed in the word of God. By Faith God’s Word was Obeyed by his people and on day seven the people marched round the city seven times and then they circled the city and finally shouted. The walls came tumbling down, the Lord indeed gave His people the city and everything was devoted to the Lord. It was when the people of God, by faith, followed the commands of God that the walls of Jericho that had stood for years upon end, that what was deemed an unconquerable, impenetrable city fell at a shout. While every fibre of their being might have told them that this was doomed to failure it was by faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days (Heb 11:30). Instead of faithlessness of the people as in the wilderness generation, we have the faith of the people here clearly displayed, they knew all things were possible through God, they chose to trust in Him and God did what only he could do, they had the victory by faith. In all of this God was at work, this was God’s work from beginning to end. In the midst of the victory though we are shown the grace of God, for while the victory was given to the people, while the city was devoted to destruction while Joshua pronounced his oath of curse on the city of Jericho if anyone tried to rebuild it, we are shown the one way to be saved from the wrath of God, for there is one family that is spared in the midst of this scene and while we will think of it more next week it would be amiss to not touch on it now. Rahab, who by faith welcomed the spies, was not killed (Heb 11:31). Those who have faith in the Lord are spared from his anger, from his wrath against our sin. For it is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that we are saved, there is no other way. Saving faith involves trust, the people of God had it as the walls fell down, Rahab had it and was saved, God honours the obedient faith of his servants. Rahab shows how the Canaanites could be saved, Rahab shows how any person who has ever lived can be saved, that is to trust in the one true God, to have faith in what he has done in Jesus Christ, for it is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that we are saved (Rom 10:13). One more thing I want to draw out off this for us, is that we are confronted with is that God’s ways are not our ways, all of this was ridiculous from a worldly point of view, it doesn’t take a military tactician to figure that out but God used what was foolishness to man to obtain the victory. The ultimate example of this is in the cross of Jesus Christ, it is foolishness to man but it is the wisdom of God, it is through the death of Jesus Christ that we indeed are saved. In this know that obedience God’s word from us, requires by faith our obedience, it is through faith we have the victory in Christ. It is only through faith in him that we can be saved from the final judgement that comes, when all will be devoted to destruction. This world is on a one way ticket, it is a world that is decaying, but it is a world in which there is a way of salvation provided through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ for us. Brothers and sisters, while the cross is foolishness to many, it is the wisdom of God for us. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q103 What do we pray for in the third petition? In the third petition, (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven, (Matt. 6:10)) we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, (Ps. 67, Ps. 119:36, Matt. 26:39, 2 Sam. 15:25, Job 1:21) as the angels do in heaven. (Ps. 103:20–21) 16th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 12v1-14) Message (Scott Woodburn) One Saturday long ago Jesus and His disciples were making their way through some grain fields. The Lord's disciples were hungry and so plucked some heads of grain to make something to eat (v1). This act was not theft and had long been established in the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 23v25). Nevertheless when the Pharisees witnessed the actions of the disciples they said to Jesus “Look, your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.” (v2). In Christ's day there were thirty-nine different types of work that were prohibited on the Sabbath and every good Jew understood “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy." (Exodus 20v8-11) At first glance the Pharisees seemed to have an open and shut case. Christ was supposed to be a great teacher and yet His followers broke a basic and fundamental principle of the faith - the picking of grain was work and work was not for the Sabbath. In response Jesus took the Pharisees to the Scriptures and reminded them of when David received loaves from the tabernacle for his men to eat (1 Samuel 21v1-6). David had no right to eat the loaves as they were reserved for the priests and it would appear that this incident took place on the Sabbath. Yet David was not condemned for his actions either by Ahimelech the priest or Scripture itself. Furthermore, Jesus made the point that strictly speaking the temple priests broke the Sabbath every week by their work. It was required that they changed the consecrated bread (Leviticus 24v8) and offered the doubled burnt offering (Numbers 28v9-10). Despite this "Sabbath breaking" the priests were guiltless in the sight of God (v5). What point was the Lord making? David's hunger was a work of necessity was met by no Scriptural condemnation. Later the temple laws allowed the priests to do their Sabbath work without guilt. Finally with the arrival of Jesus the greater temple had come (v6). The tabernacle pointed to the temple and the temple pointed to Christ. He alone was and is the Lord of the Sabbath and He alone gives the correct interpretation of true Sabbath observance. Jesus was clear that the Sabbath is a day for mercy and not sacrifice (v7). To underline His point He entered the synagogue of the Pharisees and came across a man with a withered hand asking him "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" (v10). Additionally Jesus asked “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?" (v11). Whilst the Pharisees sought a debate about the plucking of grain, Christ declared the lawfulness of doing good on the Sabbath day (v12). There isn't a farmer alive who would refuse to rescue his sheep on the Sabbath despite the work required. People are much more valuable than sheep and so at Christ's word “Stretch out your hand.” the man's withered hand was healed (v13). Tragically the Pharisees continued to miss the point and responded with hatred and seeking to destroy Christ (v14). What are we to make of all this? Firstly, the Christian Sabbath is no longer a Saturday but a Sunday. Why? Because Christ rose on the first day of the week which is Sunday. When we gather as a Church we consider Sunday to be the Lord's Day and a day for rest and the things of God. Secondly, the Christian is still bound to keep the Sabbath day holy. The moral law of God is still in force and we have no right to make the Lord's Day an anything goes affair. So how then do we keep Sabbath in a Christ honouring way whilst avoiding Pharisaic squabbles? Our shorter catechism gives a helpful answer "The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’s worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy." There are three parts in that answer. One, we rest from our work and other recreations on the Lord's Day - there are six other days to cut your grass. Two, we spend the day in the public and private worship of the Lord. Three, we are able to engage in works of necessity and mercy - feeding your family is a necessity and helping your widowed neighbour is a mercy. Brothers and sisters, our modern problem is not that we squabble like the Pharisees about what is and isn't lawful on the Lord's Day but more that we have grown to treat the day just like any other. Covid didn't help and for many it has proved incredibly difficult to break the bad habits of lockdown. But the Lord's Day is not a chore but a delight. It is a day set aside by the Lord to remove the baggage of this world and to spend time delighting in Him. It is a day for mercy and it is a day where necessary acts are not prohibited but most of all it is a day to feast on the riches of Christ. He is the true temple and the Lord of the Sabbath, rejoice in Him this coming Lord's Day and may you find a wonderful rest for your soul. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q102 What do we pray for in the second petition? 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. 15th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read - Joshua 6 & Hebrews 11:30 Message Alan Burke The closest thing we have to a walled city today here in the province is ‘Stoke city’. If you’re wondering where I’m on about which I’d be surprised if you are it’s that place where depending what you call it marks you out as one or the other, Stroke city as in as in, Derry Stroke Londonderry. Many years ago now I use to work in a shop just inside the city walls on Ferryquay street and the walls are still impressive today. Jericho had walls albeit slightly different which had made it an impenetrable fortress in its day. The city began with a huge round stone circular wall which were more like foundations, on this was built the upper walls. The stone base that encircled the city was fifteen feet hight, about four and a half meters. On top of that was a brick wall which sloped upward, angling at thirty five degrees for thirty five feet, just over ten meters. In total the walls of Jericho were about fifty feet, that’s about fifteen meters. The Israelites had came from the wilderness, crossing the Jordan when they clapped their eyes on the fortress of Jericho would have known the enormity of the task before them. Their options were to lay siege to such a city, starve them out, try to weaken or destroy the stone walls by either fire or tunnelling or they might build and earthen rampart that would scale the wall. Jericho was seen as impenetrable, it wasn’t going to fall easily and any attack on a city like this would have involved heavy losses from the attackers. Jericho was a city that took security seriously and would have had an ample supply of stores of food and equipment, all the people had to do with such a force as the Israelites was to wait, we are told there in verse one, “No-one went out and no-one came in”. Those in the city just had to take out the their attackers as they came close or wait for them to run out of food, either way this was a no win for the Israelites. It is in the midst of this scene that the Lord gave to Joshua instructions about how this is going to play out. To have the victory over the people of Jericho he and the people were to march round the city, blowing trumpets, doing this for six days and in the end on the seventh day march round the city seven times and giving a big shout. What a plan, I know some of you and your bark can be pretty fierce but I doubt any of you can bring down walls with it. In everything that Joshua was being asked to do verse 4 is the key. The Lord was going out before his people, as the priests went out the ark went with them. The visible presence of the Lord symbolised in the ark of the covenant of the LORD is to go with them into battle. The city would fall if they obeyed God’s word. In all of this the Lord was making it clear as He had done so time and time again, that what his people needed to do and need to do is trust in Him. For their salvation was not achieved in their own work or effort it was by the work of the Lord. That is a lesson that they needed to learn and be reminded of time and time again and it is a less we need to learn and be reminded of time and time again. We need to look to God, to trust in Him, for salvation comes not through what we achieve or our own work or effort it is by the work of the Lord. For it is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that we are saved, there is no other way, we are reliant as much on the work of God for eternity as the Israelites were that day for God to work and give them Jericho. For the people they had the option, to have faith in God’s word or try to do it themselves. Unlike the previous generation who died in the wilderness this people had faith in God’s word and obeyed it. Each generation of God’s people has the same option before them to have faith in God’s word or try to do it themselves, sadly we often try to do it ourselves in those instances we need to repent and look to the Lord our God once more, his way is always better. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q101 What do we pray for in the first petition? In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name, (Matt. 6:9)) we pray, That God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known; (Ps. 67:2–3) and that he would dispose all things to his own glory. (Ps. 83) 14th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 11v25-30) Message (Scott Woodburn) Allow me to make something of a bold statement - there isn't anyone alive who doesn't have some idea about the existence of Almighty God. You might ask "what about the man isolated in the middle of a jungle?" and I would answer with Romans 1 and Psalm 19. Paul wrote "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1v20) and David said "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." (Psalm 19v1) Scripture teaches something called "general revelation" or in other words God has revealed Himself to humanity in a general way. It doesn't matter if you live in a great city or you find yourself isolated in a forest, creation shows us that there is a powerful God who has created all things and creation itself sings out about the glory of God. However not everyone understands the Gospel. Not everyone accepts Christ as Messiah. Not everyone is prepared to repent and trust in Christ. Jesus pronounced "woe" upon the towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum for their failure to receive Christ. The men and women in those towns knew that God existed by the testimony of creation and they were even a religious people who knew what was said in the Scriptures and yet they still did not believe despite witnessing the mighty works of Christ. Why? The special revelation of God is required. In general revelation God speaks to all people everywhere. In special revelation He speaks only to those who have been enlightened by the powerful work of God the Holy Spirit. Jesus thanked God the Father for hiding His truth from the wise but openly revealing it to His little children. The so called wise had their eyes closed by disbelief while the little children of God had their eyes graciously opened by the will of God (v26). It is impossible for sinful humanity to somehow figure God out. It doesn't matter how many pilgrimages you go on or how many mountains you climb, the Lord must first reveal Himself to us. Jesus said that all things had been handed over to Him by the Father. What things? Jesus has been given power and authority and dominion. He is the Son of Man of Daniel 7 to whom "was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed." Only God the Father knows God the Son and only God the Son knows God the Father (v27). But this knowledge of God is also given to the one whom Christ chooses (v27b). Here is special revelation. If you are a Christian and know Almighty God, it is because you are a recipient of God's special revelation. Your eyes have been opened and you have come to know your Saviour. Not everyone receives the Gospel but nevertheless we are to proclaim it openly to all humanity calling upon everyone to repent and believe in Christ. It is Jesus Himself who calls those who labour and are heavy laden to come to Him for rest (v28). Who are these people? The one who feels the weight of sin upon their shoulders and the one who carries the heavy burden of the law each day and the one who has heard the demands of the Pharisees and has become exhausted as a result. Jesus said to such an individual "I will give you rest." (v28) This isn't a weekend in Portrush but rest for the soul (v29). To His followers Christ offers an easy yoke and a light burden. A yoke was placed upon a beast of burden to ease the load they were being asked to carry. Christ's yoke is easy because He Himself carries the weight of sin and obedience. His burden is light because He Himself has fulfilled the heavy demands of the law. The one who trusts in Christ will find a master who is not arrogant and proud but is a gentle and lowly (v29). Christ is the humble Saviour who carries the burdens of His people to Calvary and offers them salvation and truth in return. General revelation shows everyone that there is a God. Special revelation shows some that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life. Come to Him today and He will surely give you rest for your soul. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q100 What doth the preface of the Lord’s Prayer teach us? 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. 13th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read - Joshua 6 & Hebrews 11:30 Message Alan Burke From a human perspective, rational, scientific whatever we want to call it what happens in Joshua 6 is ridiculous. I don’t know any General’s although I know a few fellas in the army and if they were ordered to take look to the people of God in Joshua 6 of how to capture a city they’d want their commanding officer sectioned. Think about it, march round the city, blow a trumpet, give a shout and you’ll have the victory they’d have laughed you out the room. Yet this is what the Lord God told his people to do and we are confronted once more with the omnipotent God. What we often do is reduce God to a pocket sized deity who has been shaped by our own limitations and experiences, we are made in the image of God so God must be like us. May the Lord forgive us for how we have reduced him to the God’s of wood and stone, those are but the imaginations of men like the gods of the nations. Instead as the Westminster Larger Catechism reminds us when it asks “What is God?” (Q7), "God is a Spirit, (John 4:24) in and of himself infinite in being, (Exod. 3:14, Job 11:7–9) glory, (Acts 7:2) blessedness, (1 Tim. 6:15) and perfection; (Matt. 5:48) all-sufficient, (Gen. 17:1) eternal, (Ps. 90:2) unchangeable, (Mal. 3:6, James 1:17) incomprehensible, (1 Kings 8:27) every where present, (Ps. 139:1–13) almighty, (Rev. 4:8) knowing all things, (Heb. 4:13, Ps. 147:5) most wise, (Rom. 16:27) most holy, (Isa. 6:3, Rev. 15:4) most just, (Deut. 32:4) most merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth. (Exod. 34:6) While from a human perspective the fall of Jericho was impossible but we come before the infinite God, the one who had redeemed His people from Egypt, the mighty acts and the wonders of God were clear for that people to see, God brought them through the Red Sea and wiped out pharaoh’s army, that’s where we were last week but as is made obvious as we let scripture internet scripture. Yet the people passed through the Red Sea (11:29) but it wasn’t the faith of all the people it was rather the faith of some. For we know that that generation were known as a faithless generation, a rebellious one. Now we pick up forty years later, God through Moses had given the people His law, they had been wondering in the wilderness for all that time. It is there in the wilderness that the Lord had taught them to rely on Him and now we have a new generation who were called to follow the Lord and do what He called them to do as they enter the promised land. The question is as they enter the promised land, one flowing with milk and honey, would they be like the unbelieving generation that came before them? No they wouldn’t, this generation has learnt, this generation are not like the previous one, there is no gurning or moaning, the people act in faith, such was the difference ether the Lord’s chastisement of his people had made. The Lord had disciplined his people. It isn’t something that we like to think about, we often have a desire for some cosmic therapist who just affirms us, who will help his people to just sail through life like a breeze on a summers day, but that is not the Lord our God, it’s not the God of the bible. If that is what God was like then we would never lear nor be conformed more and more into his likeness. God can use what we face in many situations to discipline us, the hardships we face at home, the troubles at work, while of course many of these things are the result of living in a fallen sinful world as fallen sinful people others are sent by God to discipline us. At other times God disciplines us by simply allowing the consequences of our sin to run their course. While we are forgiven in Christ Jesus, while we will not be condemned with the world (1 Cor 11:32), we are corrected by God, that is what he did to his people of old and that is what he does with his people today. 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; (1 John 5:14) but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord’ s prayer. (Matt. 6:9–13, Luke 11:2–4) 11th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 11v16-24) Message (Scott Woodburn) One of the errors we can make is imagining Christ's ministry as a universally popular affair. We tell ourselves that it was only the "baddies" like the Romans and Pharisees who couldn't be bothered with Jesus. But this statement isn't accurate and the truth is somewhat different. Jesus compared His generation to children in a marketplace playing a game of weddings and funerals (v16). These children called out "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn." (v17). How are we to understand this image? When John the Baptist came he lived a simple lifestyle neither eating nor drinking and the people of his day said he was demon possessed (v18). When Jesus came eating and drinking they called Him a glutton and a drunkard and criticised Him for spending time with tax collectors and sinners (v19). So Jesus characterised His generation as children who were never happy. They gurned about John's fasting and they gurned about Christ's feasting with sinners. They missed what was in front of their faces and the majority rejected the message of the Gospel. Rather than receiving the message of the Kingdom, Christ's generation played a foolish game of criticising the lifestyle of both John and Jesus. But the deeds of both men put the wisdom of God on full display (v19). Neither played games in order to draw a crowd and neither pandered to their generation by striving to keep everyone happy. Instead both John and Jesus declared the Gospel by the foolishness of preaching and Jesus underlined it with mighty acts. Tragically it still wasn't enough to convince the critical crowd. Therefore Jesus called "woe" upon the cities where He had performed His mighty works. He said “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you." (v21-22) Tyre and Sidon were cities often denounced in the Old Testament for their worship of the false god Baal. Amazingly Jesus said it would be easier in the final judgement for such pagan cities than for cities like Chorazin and Bethsaida who had witnessed Christ's ministry and rejected Him. Jesus was certain that the pagan cities would have repented in response to His ministry whilst the Jewish cities preferred to criticise and critique the Lord. Similarly Jesus compared Capernaum with Sodom. The famous cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were known centres of wickedness. Indeed as Lot welcomed two angels into his home, the inhabitants of Sodom came to his door wishing to rape the angelic visitors (Genesis 19). Nevertheless Jesus said that if He had done mighty works in Sodom then the city would have remained to His day (v23). Sodom wouldn't have been destroyed because Sodom would have repented in response to Christ. Sadly Capernaum did not repent and instead of being exalted to heaven Christ predicted that they would be brought down to Hell. It will be easier for the land of Sodom on the last day than for Capernaum who witnessed the mighty acts of Christ and turned their backs on the Son of Man. To let ourselves off the hook we might be tempted to say that if we had the earth shattering ministry of Christ in Ballynahinch then we would surely have repented. But brothers and sisters, Jesus speaks in our town every single week. He sets His table for us and He pours out the waters of baptism. He has torn the curtain in two and we can draw near in prayer. What is our response to such a bounty? We gurn that the sermon is too long. We complain that we don't like the hymns. We moan about the issue of the day before moving to something else tomorrow. We reject the true use of the Lord's day and we go climbing the Mournes instead. We have become bored with the things of God and like little magpies we are in search of the latest shiny thing. My friends we have not been left starving. Jesus is at work in our churches in wonderful ways that sadly we have decided to reject. I fear that our generation are like little children in a marketplace playing silly games when we have the serious things of God at our fingertips. May God have mercy on our rebellious hearts and on the final day may we not be found in Chorazin, Bethsaida or Capernaum but Zion. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q98 What is prayer? 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. 10th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read - Exodus 13:17-14:21, Hebrews 11:29 Message Alan Burke I hope you have been blessed by the word of God as we have worked our way through Hebrews 11, we’ve still some weeks to go so we are by no means finished. What we have been brought face to face with throughout is sinful men and women, who are held out to us to model their behaviour for they were ultimately sinners who were saved by grace though faith. While Hebrews doesn’t go into their faults and failures, instead it commends them because despite of the sometimes reprehensible people that they were, the carnage that some of them left, they were blessed by God because it wasn’t about them, it was about the kingdom of God and the coming Christ, the Messiah the one to whom they looked. In each instance it talks about saving faith, not a temporary one. As we’ve been looking Hebrews once more we have been focusing on the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea and Hebrews tells us “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land” you’re maybe left scratching your head. If you’re familiar with the account of what took place you will know time and time again, before and after they left Egypt, in the main these people were not people of faith, more of unbelief, God said “they have not known my ways” (Ps 95:10), even though God displayed his glory before them. The apostle doesn’t say anything of what follows about their unbelief. Hebrews 3:7 also warns of the unbelief of the people in that generation, taking the words of Ps 95 in V7-11 and in verse 12 tells us “See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God” (Heb 3:12). Hebrews 11 in each instance talks about saving faith not a temporary one what do we do with the faith of the people many of whom even in Hebrews are a warning to us of unbelief?Well I think the answer is as follows, when it speaks of the people in v29, in how by faith the people it is not speaking of all, it is speaking of those whom among them died indeed have faith, Moses and Aaron, Caleb and Joshua to name some of them, it is speaking of the believing remnant among the people of God. There were a great multitude of the visible people of God, the Israelites were well over two million but God by his grace granted because of the faith of the few that the whole people should pass through the Red Sea. All those who left Egypt were part of the visible people of God, they were part of the visible church if you will but not all were part of the invisible people of God, ie those who believed, the invisible church. Some among the multitude were but not all. Today it is likewise possible to be part of the visible people of God, part of the visible church that is seen walking through the door, or pretend you are because you have your name on the books, but it is a very different thing to be part of the invisible church. You today might do all the kind of things believers in Christ do, you might partake of the sacraments, you for all intensive purposes are here and no different but unless you actually posses faith in Christ then it is for naught. It is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that we are saved, there is no other way, we are reliant as much on the work of God for eternity as the Israelites were that day for God to work to give them another day. The Egyptians on the other hand though their military strength was enough, they had confidence in themselves, they had it all but before the Lord God none of this mattered, only faith saves, faith in Jesus Christ, we are ever dependant on the work of God for our salvation. Many people put their trust in what they have, in their strength, wisdom, riches, but none of these can save us, were the whole realm of nature mine it would be an offering far to small as the hymn writer puts it, what matters is faith, saving faith in Christ alone. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q97 What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’ s supper? 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, (1 Cor. 11:28–29) of their faith to feed upon him, (2 Cor. 13:5) of their repentance, (1 Cor. 11:31) love, (1 Cor. 10:16–17) and new obedience; (1 Cor. 5:7–8) lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves. (1 Cor. 11:28–29) 9th March 2023
Pray (ACts) Read (Matthew 11v1-15) Message (Scott Woodburn) In most churches it doesn't matter if you've had a rubbish week, you'll tell everyone you meet that all is well. Sunday morning comes, you put your brave face on and you enter church to meet the same people and tell them the same things. Very few of us will ever tell the truth. Imagine this conversation in the average fellowship..."How are you Mark?" "Not good Sam. I've been racked by doubts this week and haven't slept a wink. Can you pray with me?" I hope conversations like this are happening each week but I suspect they're the exception rather than the rule. As Christians we are beset by weakness and on occasion we will even question God. Extraordinarily even John the Baptist knew such awful moments. John was in prison and continued to hear about the deeds of Christ (v2) but as he stared at the prison walls what he heard brought him no comfort. Indeed it seems that John was in such distress that he sent his disciples to Jesus to ask “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (v3). Did you catch that question? The forerunner of Christ had come to a point in his life where he asked "Is Jesus really the one?" It would be easy to point an accusing finger at John and promise that you would never make such a statement, but that wouldn't be true. I'm confident that you have wondered where Christ is in moments of severe personal distress. I'm certain that at times you have not slept because you have felt utterly forsaken by God. For my part I remember taking a funeral of a little baby girl who had been kicking in her mother's womb one day and was quiet the next. Her daddy wondered why this had happened and all I could muster was a shake of my head as I looked at the floor. Christ's response to John's doubt lacked harshness or insult. Instead Jesus' answer drew from Isaiah 35v5-6 "Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy." In gentle tones Christ sent word to John that Scripture was being fulfilled, Jesus was the One that John had been waiting for (v5). But with that word of comfort also came a gentle rebuke when Jesus said "Blessed is the one who is not offended by me." (v6). Jesus meets our doubts with grace but also a warning not to fall away. John's followers soon left Christ and Jesus turned to the crowd to tell them about John. Perhaps Jesus was so crushed by John's doubt that He would use this opportunity to mock John's lack of faith? No. Christ declared that the people who travelled to the wilderness to see John didn't go to gaze at a tender quiet soul shaken by the wind and dressed in soft clothing (v7-8). Christ was clear, they had gone to see an uncompromising prophet who was the promised messenger who would prepare the way for Christ (v9-10). As far as Jesus was concerned there was no one greater than John the Baptist. This is a remarkable statement from Christ and made all the more amazing by Jesus' next statement that the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John (v11). What does it all mean? Firstly, John's greatness? John the Baptist can rightly be called the greatest because of the role he played in the history of salvation. John was the prophet predicted by a prophet (Malachi 4v5-6), he was the forerunner of Christ, he came preaching the need for repentance, with his own eyes he saw Jesus and he was the second and greater Elijah (v14). John's ministry was the pivot between the days of preparation and the days of fulfilment. Additionally John's ministry brought to a close the day of shadow and now in Christ the light shines brightly. No wonder Jesus declared the greatness of John the Baptist! Secondly, the least in the kingdom? What a privilege it is to be a Christian on this side of the cross. We know the Gospel fully, we have received the complete canon of Scripture and the good news of Christ has come to both Jew and Gentile. If John was great and unapologetically pointed to Christ, even the least known Christian is greater still as they proclaim an even fuller picture of our Lord. Brothers and sisters, we are prone to doubt, we fear, we toss and turn, we wonder "Why?" and we watch helplessly when the Church suffers violence against her and it seems that the violent are triumphant (v12). But "He who has ears to hear, let him hear." (v15), we are those who often cry "I believe, help my unbelief" (Mark 9v24) and our precious Lord draws near to say “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14v27). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q96 What is the Lord’s Supper? 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. |
Alan
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