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Read - 2 Corinthians 7v5-16 Message - Scott Woodburn When you say sorry do you always mean it? Probably sometimes but all the time? We are always telling our daughters to say sorry properly. Don't just say it to get it over and done with but say it and mean it. Paul didn't regret sending the Corinthians a difficult letter (v8). There were important issues to be addressed and so Paul put pen to paper as a result. But he is sorry that the difficult letter caused the Corinthians grief (v8). Paul's heart was wide open to the Corinthians and therefore even though the difficult letter was necessary, Paul ultimately didn't like causing hurt to those whom he loved. Yet the grief that had been caused lasted only for a little while (v8) and it was a godly grief that had led the Corinthians to repentance (v9). Paul clarifies what he means. There is a worldly grief that produces death (v10b). Or in other words a man can feel sorry for his circumstances or behaviour but still never turn to the Lord. He might say sorry to a wounded party and then continue to deny the grace of God or indeed he might still curse the Lord's name. Such worldly grief does not result in eternal life because it fails to comprehend that God is the one whom we have offended. We have sinned against Him on a daily basis and yet in our worldly grief we never turn our face in repentance to the Lord. Godly grief is quite the opposite. Godly grief for sin leads to repentance that leads to salvation without regret (v10a). The shorter catechism speaks of repentance unto life and describes it this way "Repentance unto life is a saving grace,1 whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience." In the language that we use with our children, it is a proper sorry. Look at the fruit of this repentance. The Corinthians were eager to resolve the situation within their church (v11b), they were eager to restore the relationship with Paul. Repentance unto life had brought indignation to the Corinthians (v11c). This immediately sounds negative but not in this case. This is a righteous anger directed at their foolishness and sin. It had also produced fear (v11d) which here means either fear of the Lord or fear of the Apostle. Either way the Corinthians had recognised their sin and it had worked in them the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of wisdom. It had worked a longing in them for the Apostle and his well being (v11e) coupled with a zealousness (v11f) to correct the issues in their fellowship paying attention to the punishment of the guilty party (v11g). As verse 11 ends Paul tells the Corinthians that at every step they have proved their innocence. At every step their Godly grief had led to repentance unto life. This remains exceptionally good news. Our Confession states "As there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation; so there is no sin so great that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent." The blood of Christ washes clean the sinner who truly repents. It was true in Corinth and it is true today. Thanks be to God! Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.
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Read - 1 John 2:14 Message - Alan Burke How can I know that I have forgiveness in Christ, how can I know that I have assurance in Christ and how can I have strength in Christ? Well here John tells us. You could be forgiven for thinking that John’s loosing his memory, after all he literally repeats what he has just said to those who are mature christians (fathers), he’s like a broken record, repeating what he has taught them already. But it’s not that he was loosing his memory or that he is a broken record but that what he has said to them is so important. He literally repeats it word for word to emphasises what he has just said. It’s like he saying; You know him who is from the beginning, you know this, don’t forget it, if I have to say it a thousand times I’ll say it again, because you know him who is from the beginning. This is how you have forgiveness and assurance. But in turning to speak to the young christians (young men) he reminds all believers of the strength that they have in Christ. Believers are to remember that we are strong in the faith when the word of God abides in us, when it lives in us. It is not the strength of one’s youthfulness, that is not the real strength anyone has for even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength (Is 40:3-31). Think of a ship that is loosed from its moorings, that drifts along with the prevailing currents, well unless the word of God is central to our lives and the church, in all that we do, unless we preach Christ crucified we will find ourselves like that ship loosed from its moorings, drifting along with the prevailing currents. It has happened to many other places and will happen to us unless we hold to the biblical truth and convictions that we have with enthusiasm, for the gospel isn’t just good news it is great news, it is a balm for the soul, and when we know it this is how the true light shines. How do we grow in our strength and grow into maturity in our faith, simply it is when the word of God abides in us. Nothing is more important to your spiritual health as the ordinary means of Grace, the way in which we grow, have knowledge of forgiveness, assurance and strength is though the word of God, when it is read and preached and by the sacraments and prayer. These are the things God has given us to keeps us from errors, His word acts as our rule and guide in all that we believe and how we live, it is the word of God that should be the main thing, it is the thing that gives us strength, so look to it every day, read it, think on it, pray to him who reigns over all and you will grow more and more into the likeness of Christ. We have knowledge of forgiveness, assurance and strength only by doing it in God’s way. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 1 What is the chief end of man? Man’ s chief end is to glorify God, (1 Cor. 10:31, Rom. 11:36) and to enjoy him for ever. (Ps. 73:25–28) Day 211
Pray (ACts) Read - 1 Tim 3:16, Gal 2:11-13, 2 Peter 1:21 Message - Alan Burke Today as I write this I sit in my study surrounded by book, they range from fiction, ideologies, philosophy, histories, but the vast majority of them are books that are written about the bible and what it teaches. This is only possible because of the invention of the printing press. Before that time books were only the preserve of the social elite and literacy rates were low. Yet the invention of the printing press brought great change that could and possibly the greatest is that the bible was translated into the common language of the people. Before this point the church it is sad to say had allowed the tradition of men to compromise the unique authority of the bible, instead of being the means of salvation for sinners it had became a tool to keep the status quo so that no one would challenge the churches complete control over the lives of every person. This shouldn’t surprise us, after all from the earliest time the Word of God has been challenged, in the book of Genesis we see how Satan in the form of a serpent lied to our first parents (Gen 3:4), telling half truths so that they would eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil that God had forbade (Gen 2:17). Jesus himself had warned his disciples of those who would come in his name, who would lead many astray (Mt. 24:4-5). We are given examples even in the New Testament of false teachers and false teaching challenging the Word of God that had crept into the very first churches. Many of the new testament letters make stark warnings about the judgement that awaits false teachers and the dangers that faced all who listened to them. In the years that have followed every generation of Christians have faced false teachers and false teaching, it has not gone away. In our reading today Paul teaches us that “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (1 Tim 3:16), if you have a King James in front of you, you will read “given by inspiration of God”, the word used in the Greek literally means God-breathed. It means that the words of scripture are the very words of God, the prophets and apostles were not inherently infallible human beings (Gal 2:11-13) however when God used them to communicate his revelation they spoke as they were carried along but the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). God is the source and ultimate Author of Scripture. Though written by human authors, Scripture nevertheless has the full weight of His authority. He is the author of the Bible, and has given it to direct the belief and behaviour of His people. The Scriptures are infallible and true in all that they affirm. They are sufficient, containing everything that is necessary to know for salvation and eternal life. They are clear, so that a person without special preparation can understand what God requires without the intervention of an official interpreter Sola Scriptura: “Scripture alone”. Our ideas about God and our conduct should be measured, tested, and where necessary corrected and enlarged, by his word contained in the scriptures. It was through the recognition that the Bible cannot be subject to any person or group, however exalted, that the Reformers freed their consciences from human traditions and authorities. I would be foolish to ignore the books that surround me, after all we are all prone to error, and the creeds, confessions and statements of faith of our church are a standard to keep us from error. The best theological minds of each generation have debated them in the light of Scripture to ensure that they concur with Biblical teaching. But as we close today I want to ask some questions of us? Where do we place our authority? Is it scripture? Is it our own understanding? Have we unwittingly came to ‘my bible and me’ attitude? Does our understanding of God’s word impact our worship? Does our understanding of God’s word impact our lives? Have we put the culture around us before God’s word? Have we put pragmatism before God’s word, more concerned that it works instead of is it in accordance with God’s word? I hope that our answer is the Word of God impacts who we are and all that we are. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 100 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, (Matt. 6:9)) teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; (Rom. 8:15, Luke 11:13) and that we should pray with and for others. (Acts 12:5, 1 Tim. 2:1–2) Day 212 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 6v14-7v1 Message - Scott Woodburn We took time on Tuesday to consider Calvin's "duplex regimen" or in simple terms the fact that as Christians we live in this world but we also have a citizenship in heaven. We cannot avoid rubbing shoulders with those who do not know Christ, we are neighbours, work colleagues and friends, but the secular world should never be joined with the spiritual. Paul uses the image of an unequal yoke to underline his point (v14). He borrows this imagery from Deuteronomy (22v10) and Leviticus (19v19). Ploughing with an ox and a donkey united under the same yoke made no sense. A yoke was a wooden beam that was used to unite two animals in the same cause. How could an ox and donkey work together to pull the same plow? They would be different sizes, different strengths and have different needs. There could be no union in the field and Paul tells the Corinthians there could be no union between them and the unbelievers around them (v14). Righteousness and lawlessness have nothing in common (v14b) neither can there be any fellowship between light and darkness (v14c). This might seem harsh to the Corinthians and to us but Paul drills down into his argument. He asks if Christ and Satan (called here Belial) have any accord or agreement? (v15a). Perish the thought! Therefore a believer can have no portion with an unbeliever (v15b). So seeking to apply this verse, should we buy a barn in a field and go and live there far away from the pagan world? No. Remember as Christians we are citizens of this world. We will encounter the unbelieving world every single day. Your postman. The checkout operator in Poundland. Your boss. Your sister. Your dad. Indeed Paul gives us a bigger vision when in Romans he urges us to be subject to the governing authorities (13v1). Hiding away on a desert island is not an option for the follower of Christ, instead we are to love those around us, praying for their salvation and playing a full part in the communities in which we live. At the same time our citizenship is in heaven. We are part of the church of Jesus Christ and in the spiritual world we are to have no relationship with the pagan world around us. In the context of the Corinthians they were to reject the false teaching of the false apostles. In his first letter Paul urged them not to be involved in pagan worship (1 Corinthians 10). Light was to have nothing to do with darkness and as it was for the Corinthians, so it still stands for the modern church. The standards of the world should never trump the standards of God. If the world has decided the Word of God is irrelevant, the church doesn't seek to keep up. If an elder in the church doesn't know Christ, he should not be an elder. If the government try to dictate the content of sermons, we should resist them with every fibre of our being. If there are false teachers in the church of Christ, they should be opposed and rejected. Tom may be a wonderful man but, if he doesn't know Christ, then we shouldn't seek to date him or marry him. Vince may be passionate about the Boys' Brigade but, if he doesn't know Jesus, how can he help advance Christ's kingdom among boys? A yoke that seeks to unite the kingdom of God with the kingdom of man is a yoke that must be broken, for the temple of God can have no agreement with idols (v16a). 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. Day 213 Pray (ACts) Read - Psalm 19:1-4b, 1 Cor 10:31, Message - Alan Burke I don’t know if you have ever taken the time to just sit and watch the world go by? Watching the birds, the movement of the clouds, the traffic go past. And then theirs the people, you may see the same coat, the same school uniform, the same hairstyle but you will know that no two people are the same, their may be similarities, they may even be identical twins or triplets but all seven billion four hundred and forty two million of us are unique and each facing many different circumstances. But what’s it all about? According to the ‘Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy’ written by Douglas Adams, the ultimate answer, the answer to life the universe and everything is… (does anyone know?) well it is 42. Not really that helpful is it, but what life is all about? Let me ask a different question; why did God create the earth and all that is in it, why did he create the sun and the stars in the sky, why did he create man in his own image? The answer is simply this, to show forth his unfathomable Glory. Lets think for a moment about the scale of the universe, Astronomers estimate that there are in the region of one hundred billion stars, that one with twenty four zeros. 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Yet it all exists for the Glory of God, his purposes not ours. Think to those words you read from Psalm 19, that praises the Lord for his great gift to humanity both creation and the law, it begins by speaking of how God is revealed in His creation. We may have been to busy to ever think about it but the world and all that is in it reveals his power and majesty, the natural order proves that there is a mighty and majestic creator. And God has revealed Himself and his great glory, his power, wisdom, and worthiness of honour and worship from the start of human history though everything that surrounds us, it reveals His power and His goodness. Paul uses these words in Romans 10:18-19 to show how each and ever person has received the message of God’s glory in creation. Creation is one grand stage that displays the Glory of God. We also as God’s creatures exist to reveal the glory of God to make it know to all. It is the work of God though his word, accomplished by Christ, bestowed by his free grace and received by faith that we are saved. There is no place where we can make a claim to have done anything, it is His work, all of it, and he is wonderfully glorified in our salvation. And we are called to live for Him in whatever we do. This should transform tasks that we might otherwise see as insignificant. In this sense, there is to be no division between ‘ordinary’ and ‘spiritual’ activity. Everything we do we do should be to the Glory of God alone, Soli Deo Gloria, Latin for “to God alone be glory” (1 Cor 10:31). But ask yourself this, how much more would our lives be transformed if we really lived to the glory of God? How much would disagreements among the church be transformed if we really lived to the glory of God? How much would family situations be transformed if we really lived to the glory of God? Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 102 What do we pray for in the second petition? In the second petition, (which is, Thy kingdom come, (Matt. 6:10)) we pray, That Satan’ s kingdom may be destroyed; (Ps. 68:1,18) and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, (Rev. 12:10–11) ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; (2 Thess. 3:1, Rom. 10:1, John 17:9,20) and that the kingdom of glory may be hastened. (Rev. 22:20) Day 214 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 7v2-16 Message - Scott Woodburn Mount Rushmore is a monument carved into the Black Hills in the American state of South Dakota. If you have ever seen it then you know that it depicts four American Presidents. There is George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt charting the birth of the USA to its progress into the modern day of 1927 when construction began. There have been 44 men who have held the office of President on 45 different occasions and obviously it would be nigh on impossible to depict them all. But why Washington and not Polk? Why Jefferson and not Pierce? Why Lincoln and not Harrison? Why Roosevelt and not Van Buren? Truth be told in every walk of life there are those who stand out and those who don't. There are the golden children and those who barely look bronze. We all have our favourites and we all have those to whom we pay little regard. My Mount Rushmore will be different to yours and that's okay. A little girl in church told me recently that she was a princess and I replied that I was a king. She rebuked me gently by reminding me that we are all God's children and so I could only be a prince as we were all equal in His sight! She was right. We shouldn't seek to exalt ourselves to the mountaintop and neither should be play favourites. Continuing to appeal to the Corinthians Paul urges them to make room in their hearts for him (v1). It seems that for many, Paul's star was fading. We have talked throughout these devotions about the strained relationship between Paul and the Corinthians. But strained or not, the Corinthians could not argue that Paul was a fraud. He had wronged no one in their fellowship (v1b), he had corrupted no one (v1c) and he had stolen nothing from them (v1d). He reminds them of this not to condemn them (v3). His goal here isn't to belittle them or embarrass. Paul loves the Corinthians - they are always in his heart (v3b). Yet he speaks boldly to them (v4a). This is a sure sign of Paul's love. He speaks the truth to them but it is spoken in love. It is easy to give strangers a piece of our mind. The rude sales assistant or the late postman or the police officer who has dared pull us over. It is much more difficult to speak frankly to those who we love. But Paul speaks. He has a righteous pride for the Corinthians (v4b). They may have experienced difficult days together but Paul couldn't help but remember what they once were, and what they are now by the grace of God. Even though they have known affliction (v4d), he takes comfort in the Corinthians (v4c) and he overflows with joy when he considers them (v4e). What a picture this is of grace filled charity to our brothers and sisters in the Lord. Words had been spoken and this fellowship had experienced ups and downs and yet Paul hadn't climbed a ladder to scratch the Corinthians off his own Mount Rushmore. He had asked them to open their hearts to him once more, just as his was wide to them. After all, churches in every age are called to live together and ultimately to die together (v3b). We will walk together in life and weep together in death. Brothers and sisters, we have been forgiven much by Christ. Every single sin has been paid for by His blood. He doesn't play favourites and He isn't stingy in His grace. He lived for us and He died for us. What then? May our fellowships be places where we are quick to repent, even quicker to forgive, with hearts wide open to the household and family of God. Why? For Christ's sake. Amen. 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,” we pray, that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. Day 216 Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 2:12, Acts 2:38 Message - Alan Burke There are many ways that we measure, evaluate, quantify different things in our lives. There are doorways across the land with lines drawn against them with the heights of children throughout their years, signs that say how many yards there are to the roadworks, the calories that were contained within that sharing bag of crisps that we just ate by ourselves. How do we measure, evaluate, quantify salvation, is it how you happen to be feeling today, how good you feel you are doing, no the way that we have assurance that we measure, evaluate, quantify salvation is not based on us, our efforts, endeavours, works, it is dependant on Christ. This is good news for the weary, the broken, the imperfect believers like you and I, salvation is dependant on God himself, it is reason to rejoice, reason to have hope, for the believers assurance is not in themselves but in their Saviour. Once more as John here writes to those who are spiritual children. They are in need of nourishment, sustenance, food for their development, they are in need of the word, that which was from the beginning that John had been teaching them about and he draws their focus to it once more. ‘Dear children, your sins have been forgiven’. John has the confidence that this is true, not because of what he is seeing in them, the fruit of it in their lives, rather it is because they had confessed their sins, and Jesus was faithful and just to forgive their sins and to cleanse them from all unrighteousness (1:9). As a result, they are those who can know that their sin has been dealt with, they can know the joy of sin forgiven, for the forgiveness wasn’t dependant on their confession but rather it was dependant on the one whom they confessed to, forgiveness was secured on account of his name (12e). Think back a moment to the book of Acts where Peter declared to all who were gathered on the day of Pentecost, ‘repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven (Acts 2:38). It is forgiveness that comes from a relationship with Christ Jesus that brings true knowledge of God, and we are accepted as the children of God though him. We can have this confidence, if you believe in Jesus Christ, if you have confessed your sins, then know have been forgive on account of his name. You may think really, how can I be secure in this, after all I just had a blow up with that grumpy oul husband, or I just keep falling into that sin that no one knows about, or my relationships with those around me are a mess, maybe you just feel wretched because the world seems in a mess because of Covid 19 and your a prisoner in your own home. Well know if you have confessed your sins, then know have been forgive on account of his name that your sins are forgiven on account of his name. Your sin has been dealt with, on account of his name, dealt with on the cross completely, all off it, aye that blow up with the grumpy oul husband, that sin you keep falling into, your relationships that are a mess, no matter how you are feeling it has all dealt with. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 104 What do we pray for in the fourth petition? In the fourth petition, (which is, Give us this day our daily bread, (Matt. 6:11)) 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. (Prov. 30:8–9, Gen. 28:20, 1 Tim. 4:4–5) Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 6v14-7v1 Message - Scott Woodburn I've mentioned before in these devotions that Paul isn't a universally popular figure in our modern age. He has all sorts of accusations thrown at him and frankly this passage is one that is often used to beat him with. "He's so intolerant! He hates women! We shouldn't listen to him!". I don't make these arguments. We should always listen to the Spirit inspired apostolic teaching of the man once called Saul. We say with confidence that his gathered writing from Romans to Hebrews is nothing other than the Word of God. His stance about the distance between the two kingdoms of the church and the world is not driven by bigotry. Instead he understands that the church is the blood bought bride of Christ and therefore has nothing in common with the spiritually blind and dead world around us. The church, the people of God, are according to Paul "the temple of the living God" (v16b) What does he mean? When we hear the word "temple" we immediately think of a building, some grand bricks and mortar structure built for God's glory for Him to reside in. That's not how Paul uses the word. The church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ the cornerstone. The structure is built together as a dwelling place for God by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2v20-22). We are the temple of the living God. It is for this reason that Paul teaches the distinction between the secular world and the spiritual. To prove his point, the apostle reminds the Corinthians of the Covenant of Grace. He takes them back to the book of Leviticus (26v11-12) with the Lord promising to dwell with and to walk among His people (v16b). Indeed the Covenant of Grace is summed up with God's promise that He will be our God and we shall be His people (v16c). How could such a temple have an alliance with darkness? It cannot. It should not. Instead Paul quotes from Isaiah 52v11 urging separateness for the people of God (v17). This verse has been used and abused by many. How separate is separate? If John talks to Bob who once talked to Steve and John doesn't think Steve should be talked to should John stop talking to Bob? I hope that last sentence confused you. The different levels of separation I've heard about confuse me. In Isaiah 52 the people are urged to flee from Babylon. They are to have nothing to do with Babylon's false religion, pagan practices and idols. In the same way the Corinthians are to be separate from the pagan worship outside and the false apostles inside. Today we take the same approach. We cannot have fellowship with those who deny Christ. We cannot follow the example of those who adore statues and idols. We cannot reach agreement with Islam or Mormonism. We cannot agree that all roads lead to heaven. We refuse to make images of Christ and we cannot allow prayers to the saints. There are many well meaning and sincere religious people in the world today but they are sincerely wrong. God is our Father and we are His children (v18 & 2 Samuel 7v14). He has opened our eyes and brought us out of darkness into His marvellous light. Since all of these promises belong to us through Christ (7v1a) we are to live lives consistent with our confession. We live in two kingdoms but we know that only the kingdom of God will stand. Therefore we live in the fear of God (7v1c), attending to the ordinary means of grace by which the Lord grows us up in the faith. He cleanses us, He sanctifies us, He makes us holy (7v1b) and when the kingdom of man passes away God Himself will walk among His people once more. 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,” we pray, that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. Day 218 Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 2:13 Message - Alan Burke You may have read the devotion on Monday and been encouraged, but it’s now Wednesday and your weary. It could be any number of reasons, the loneliness of self isolation is getting to you, the weins are driving you round the bend, things are going from bad to worse in so many ways and you are just pure scunnered. Draw your minds back to what John has already said, look back to chapter 1 verse 1 …That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. Words that echo back to the begging of the Gospel of John (1:1) as well as the book of Genesis (1:1). They remind us how before all that now is, there was God and there was Jesus Christ with God the Father because he was and is God. And it is the preexisting Jesus that John brings our focus upon, the incarnation of Jesus, the second person of the trinity. For those who are mature in the faith (fathers), who have respond to the gospel, who have grown in it, it is him that you have know, Jesus himself, God incarnate that accomplish the work fo salvation (4:14). What ever the believers to whom John wrote had heard, what ever we have heard, nonsense that has been spouted by false teachers, this truth is a truth that those who believe can be confident off, that Jesus was and is God, he was the one who all things were made, the one whom all things hold together. The one who we find forgiveness in and the one who we have assurance in. Salvation, their salvation, our salvation does not rest on what we have done, it rests upon Jesus’ name. We can be sure of salvation not because we feel sure of ourselves, not because we think we are good enough, rather in the life of the believer the opposite is true. Instead our security, our assurance is because we know Jesus is enough, if we have Jesus we have all that we need to be assured for forgiveness, holiness, enough to persevere. The more mature we are in the faith the more we ought to know him, the more that we know him, the more we are people who know his truth, the more we can be assured by what he has done. Now John then turns to the young Christians (young men), those who were and are young in the faith. It is just as applicable to those who are mature Christians but is pertinent to young Christians that they know the truth that they ‘have overcome the evil one’. In faith, all believers have overcome the evil one (13b). This is a word of encouragement, this should give us assurance for you have overcome the devils power in your lives. You may wonder really, how is that possible, I am a miserable Christian, even when I try to do what is right I still fail. Well you have overcome the devils power in your life when you came to salvation through the name of Jesus Christ. At that moment, you were transferred from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of God and are now a child of God, His dear Son (Col 1:13). We all need to know this and be reminded of this from time to time, because there will be days that we wonder how can I keep going, is it really worth it, when we have no assurance because life is tough and we have fallen out with our own shadow, when we seem to fall into sin. Then we need to know before anything else that we are secure in what Christ has done, for his name’s sake, we are in a position to face what ever comes our way, the flesh and the devil. The war has been won, the enemy has been defeated, we need to look to Christ and know what he has done. To know that we have been rescued from the devil’s grip, and that he has no more power over us, is part of the glorious assurance that God wants to give to even his newest children. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 106 What do we pray for in the sixth petition? In the sixth petition, (which is, And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, (Matt. 6:13)) we pray, That god would either keep us from being tempted to sin, (Matt. 26:41) or support and deliver us when we are tempted. (2 Cor. 12:7–8) Day 219 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 7v5-16 Message - Scott Woodburn Do you remember the Golden Girls? Blanche, Rose, Dorothy and Sophia? Four women of a certain age living in the same house in Miami. It wasn't exactly my cup of tea but my mother loved it and as a result I can still sing the theme song. "Thank you for being a friend, traveling down the road and back again, your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant." We all need a pal and a confidant sometimes. Paul certainly did. He had entered Macedonia to preach the Gospel but was afflicted at every turn (v1). He describes the experience as "fighting without and fear within", battles outside and battles inside. Thankfully for Paul the Lord is the one who comforts the downcast (v6a) and sometimes he uses the gift of friendship to do it. Paul was comforted with the arrival of Titus (v6b) who arrived at the apostle's side full of joy (v13b). Was Titus always a happy man? Probably like all of us he had good days and bad. Yet on the day he visited Paul he had brought a good report from Corinth. Titus who comforted Paul had himself been comforted by the Corinthians (v7). Despite the issues discussed throughout Paul's letters to the Corinthians, they were concerned about Paul and shared these concerns with Titus (v7b). Paul with endless trouble and worry suddenly hears that the Corinthians care. He is ministered to by his friend Titus. In the desert of despair that was Macedonia, Paul sees an oasis of peace in the words of his friend Titus. Paul hadn't been put to shame in this regard. He had told the Corinthians what Titus was like and his testimony have proved true (v14a). The same was accurate about the Corinthians. Paul had told Titus about them and once more Paul was found to be a teller of the truth (v14b). So true in fact that Titus now held the Corinthians in high regard. They had received him with "fear and trembling" (v15c). He was Paul's representative who was carrying a difficult message. Yet they didn't treat Titus with contempt but instead acted with obedience (v15b). The result was rejoicing in Paul's heart and a renewal of his confidence in the Corinthians (v16). What can we learn? Modern Christianity often places a great value in independence. Church is about me and my needs we think. My relationship with Christ is played out in splendid isolation we say. But remember that Christ died for the church. He died for His people. Charles Spurgeon once said "the feeble saints cost Christ as much suffering as the strong ones, the tiniest child of God could not have been purchased with less than Jesus' precious blood, and the greatest child of God did not cost him more." Every inch of the church is precious in the sight of the Lord. I'm aware of of my own negativity. Its easy to have coffee with a friend and to spend the time giving off. Its even easier to spend an hour with a buddy and to not ask a single question that matters. I'm reminded of my coffee dates with my late friend Noel Agnew. Noel would let you complain but at some point he would take you to Christ with that big gruff voice, "Now tell me the good news" he would say. He would leave my heart refreshed and my gaze heavenward. May each of us be refreshers of the hearts of Christ's saints and may we always praise the Lord for when he sends a Titus to minister to our souls. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q107 What doth the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach us? The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen,” teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him; and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen. Day 201 - The Lord's Day
Day 202 Pray (ACts) Read - Genesis 4:3-5 and Hebrews 11:4 Message - Alan Burke We have all seen the change in the season, as the nights are get shorter, the warm sun is failing, the wind has began to bite and the autumnal colours are on display. At this time of the year meeting houses would normally be filled with the bounty of harvest as people gathered in to give thanks and praise the Lord, to worship Him for his goodness to us in how He provides all our needs. This coming Lord’s day we give thanks to God for the his provision in the harvest and even thought this year has been like no other and our lives have been transformed in ways that we never imagined we give Him our thanks for seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night have not ceased (Gen 8:22). Today we look to the account of Cain and Abel, two brothers who were brought up in the same home, they were both taught about God and as they grew they became the first farmers, Cain in arable, Abel in livestock. They lived as God intended, they cared for God’s creation, providing the necessities to live by and those who work the ground still do to this very task, they care for God’s creation (Gen 2:15). Yet when Cain and Abel brought their offerings what is striking is that the Lord only had regard for Abel and his offering (Gen 4:4). There is that bit inside us wants to say; ‘that’s not fair’, they both brought their offering, what more do you want God!’ Was it that Cain brought a sack of Brussel sprouts and Abel brought a nice bit of lamb for a good Sunday roast? Was it that the sprouts only cost £2 a kilo and the lamb came in at £13 a kilo? Of course it wasn’t, it wasn’t the value of what they brought it was something far more important. We learn from Hebrews 11:4 that it was… ’By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings.’. The offering Abel brought was a better sacrifice not because of its value but that it was offered in faith, whereas Cain brought his offering but it was a token gesture that revealed his indifference to God. We will think more as the week goes on about how we are to come before the Lord God for Scripture address both the outward form of our worship and our inner motivations, the visible and the invisible, the seen and the unseen. In Cain we see someone who’s inner motivations were wrong, his offering may have looked the part to all around, he may even have brought an abundance of it but it was worthless, what mattered above all was faith. His worship displeased God even though he did outwardly it seemed he was doing what was required but his heart was far from the Lord. You may be lamenting that this year the meetinghouse won’t be decorated from top to bottom, the choir won’t have some fantastic new pieces to preform for us and there will be no supper afterwards with that slice of apple tart with some cream, yet these things do not matter, we may love them but what matters above all else is faith. Do you have faith? Abel had faith and for all those who lived in faith do so with a sure confidence in who God is, in His character, that He is who He says He is. We can have confident trust in the eternal God who is all powerful the God who has revealed himself though his word and the Word incarnate our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ whose promises have been proven, who will never leave us or forsake us. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 92 What is a sacrament? A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers. (Gen. 17:7,10, Exod. 12, 1 Cor. 11:23,26) Day 203 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 5v16-21 Message - Scott Woodburn What defines a successful church? Easy, a successful church will have the most people, the most money, the most impact in the community and the most organisations for our children. It certainly isn't going to be the place where the congregation is tiny. It won't be the place where the preaching isn't as good as all the churches in the town. It won't be the church where there is a Sunday school class of three children taught by Vera who is now almost 80. Read the opening paragraph again. Is what we have just read correct? I suspect not. In every walk of life we can judge the success or failure of a venture or a person on earthly wisdom. Paul raises a red flag against such wisdom as the chapter closes. He no longer regards anyone according to the flesh. He doesn't check their bank balance or how shiny their teeth are. These things are of no regard. He once considered Christ in such "fleshy" ways, but no longer (v16b). If anyone has received Christ they are a new creation (v17a). What they were has gone and been replaced by the new (v17b). What does this new life look like? Paul has already explained it in his letter. The new birth sees the veil lifted from our eyes. We recognise Christ as our Saviour and receive Him by faith. Even though we are passing away physically, everyday we are being renewed (sanctified) inwardly. We have a hope of heaven and know that one day we will stand again physically before Christ. The law couldn't do it but the Gospel of grace can. The glory for this belongs to the Lord who has reconciled us to Himself through Christ and given us a ministry of reconciliation (v18). Prince or pauper, pagan or priest, all who trust in Christ will be saved. The old will go and the new will come! God in Christ has reconciled us to Himself (v19). He no longer counts our trespasses against us. His wrath has been poured out upon the Lamb who is the propitiation for our sins. Jesus was sinless but was made to be sin (v21a) so that through faith in Christ we might become the righteousness of God (v21b). What defines a successful church? Let me humbly suggest that one mark of "success" is that the church large or small declares faithfully the Gospel of Christ. Their efforts might see many saved or there may be no discernible fruit. Either way such a church rests on the truth that it is God who gives the increase. The Lord has reconciled us, through Christ, to Himself and entrusted to us the Gospel and so in closing let me use the written word to call upon you to be reconciled to God (v20). You have heard the Gospel in this devotion. Probably you have heard it numerous times before. Today is the day to believe it. Repent of your sin and put your faith in Christ and you will be saved. Nothing else matters! No earthly wisdom will be applied to you today, you will not be turned away because of your looks, your finances or your past. Instead, simply, I implore you on behalf of Christ...be reconciled to God. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q93 Which are the Sacraments of the New Testament? The Sacraments of the New Testament are Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. Day 204 Pray (ACts) Read - John 4:24 and Gen 4:3-5 Message - Alan Burke Do you prefer shepherds pie or a steak and kidney pie, roast chicken or beef, apple tart or apple crumble, a cup of tea or or a cup of coffee, Coke or Pepsi, walking in the Mourne’s or along the sea shore, red or blue, chair or pew, piano or organ, Psalm 65 or We plough the field and Scatter? Regardless of your preference it is still a preference. What about worship, do our preferences matter? Well to help us think about this we first think to the words of Jesus in John 4. It is an encounter that I’d say most of us are familiar with, Jesus and the Samaritan woman and in their interaction Jesus says this “...true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him” (Jn 4:24). Let’s think about that for a moment. Jesus said true worshipers will worship “in spirit”, this means that worship must come from within. Think back to Monday when we thought about Cain and Abel (Gen 4), they both brought their offering to the Lord but how the Lord only had regard for Abel’s offering. The difference between the two was faith, Abel brought his in faith (Heb 11:4), effectively Abel brought his offering “in spirit”. Abel brought his offering with a heart that was motivated out of love for God and gratitude above all else. Is this how we come to worship the living God or are we focused on our preferences, our wants, our tastes? Look also what Jesus Said, that worshipers will worship in “truth”. None of us I imagine would suggest that we make a six foot effigy and begin to bow down before it, we know the Ten Commandments of the Lord, his Ten Words that were given to Moses on Mount Sinai (Ex 20), we know that to make a six foot effigy would be wrong but what about everything else we do? How carefully though do we though examine what we do against the word of God to know if we come in “truth”, is what we are doing biblical, does it match up to what God has revealed in the scriptures or do we instead look to what the church down the road or the new mega church in the states is doing. Worshipers should worship in “spirit and truth”. It matters both how we come (in spirit) and it matters what we do (in truth). When we come together this Lord’s day to worship God if we are able, are we lamenting at what we have lost because of Covid, that the harvest service simply isn’t like harvest should be because the meetinghouse won’t be decorated from top to bottom, the choir won’t have some fantastic new pieces to preform for us and there will be no supper afterwards with that slice of apple tart with some cream or will we be delighting that we can come to worship the living God worship in spirit and truth though Jesus Christ, knowing what matters is not our preference but the living God. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 94 What is baptism? Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, (Matt. 28:19) 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. (Rom. 6:4, Gal. 3:27) Day 205 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 6v1-2 Message - Scott Woodburn Imagine an event in human history that was so momentous, so glorious that it has changed everything forever. You'd pay attention to such an event wouldn't you? Perhaps such an event happened in 1963 when Lee Harvey Oswald's bullet took the life of President John F. Kennedy? Kennedy allegedly had big plans and would have almost certainly transformed the USA for generations. Perhaps we need to go further back and ask if the event played out in Europe. The Allies were on the ropes and found themselves on the beaches of France waiting to be pushed into the sea. When all looked lost, for some reason, Hitler ordered his troops to pause, giving vital time for the "miracle of Dunkirk" and a retreat to the shores of the UK. We could recall countless other moments like those outlined above, yet all would fall short compared to the events of 2000 years ago. God had taken on flesh and in turn was taken by the hands of sinful men to a place of torture and death. Jesus was fully God, fully man but without sin. He became sin for us and made an end of it as he died on the cross and days later was raised to life. What Jesus did has changed everything forever. As we like to sing at Christmas, Jesus was born that man no more may die. If what I have written is true (it is) then what will you do with such knowledge? Paul has been given the ministry of reconciliation and urges his listeners not to receive the grace of God in vain (v1). What does he mean? We deserved the cross not Jesus. We deserved the wrath of God not Jesus. Yet in his magnificent grace Christ died for the ungodly. We receive the grace of God in vain when we hear and know the Gospel yet at every turn we refuse to believe it. I am convinced that no page in the history of this world is as glorious as the page that speaks of Christ's death and resurrection. No other event in history had the impact that Christ's sacrifice still has. To know this to be true (again, it is) and to reject it, is to make oneself the greatest fool who has ever lived and to receive the grace of God in vain. Christ has come and the words of Isaiah 49 (quoted by Paul in verse two) have been fulfilled. A favourable day has come. It is a day of grace, a day that all who call upon the Lord will be saved. It is today. A day of salvation for all who will believe. Christ alone has made this a reality. The events of Calvary have changed everything forever. Change? Like the change promised by Obama or Boris? No. Real change. No more sin, no eternal punishment, no hell, but salvation, reconciliation, peace, forgiveness and hope. Real change brought about by the work of Christ. It's time to believe it. Repent of your sin and trust in Christ. Behold, now is the favourable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q95 To whom is Baptism to be administered? 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. Day 206 Pray (ACts) Read - Exodus 32, Matthew 15:7-9 and John 4:24 Message - Alan Burke This year has been a year like no other, our lives have been impacted in so many different ways by Covid-19 and it will only be in the years to come that we will understand the impact that it has had. The Church of Jesus Christ has been likewise been impacted in so many ways yet we know that God ordains whatsoever comes to pass (Ps 115:3; Dan. 4:35). As we come to harvest we can see the impact that Covid-19 has had clearly, the meetinghouse won’t be decorated from top to bottom, the choir won’t have some fantastic new pieces to preform for us and there will be no supper afterwards with that slice of apple tart with some cream. This week we have been thinking of what matters as we come to worship on the Lord’s Day, that we come with the right heart, that we worship in spirit and truth (Gen 4:4, Jn 4:24). What does this look like though? As we think about this lets look to two example the first from Exodus 32 and then next from Matthew 15. Let’s think first to the most enthusiastic worship service in history, we may not have been there but we know of it and that is the worship that was given not to God but by his people to the golden calf as his people worshiped the idol they had made and made sacrifices to it (Ex 32). No one could say that their worship wasn’t filled with enthusiasm, that it wasn’t filled with emotion and feeling that was stirred up within them. Sadly though even though they worshiped the form and the focus of that worship was wrong and the Lord was angry with it. It was filled with enthusiasm, emotion, feeling but both in its form and focus it was wrong. On the other hand Jesus himself challenges and criticises the worship of the religious leaders in his day that had the right form and focus by saying that while they honoured God “with their lips,” their “heart is far from” him (Matt 15:7-9). Neither the enthusiasm of God’s people who worshiped the golden calf or the religious leaders who honoured God with their lips with their heart far from him were pleasing or acceptable to God. For us as God’s people we must search our hearts as we come every Lord’s Day, keeping our focus on the one we come before, the God who reigns over all. The church is made up of people from every tribe, tongue and nation, there will be many cultural differences that impact worship that are inconsequential, yet the focus should always be not on what pleases us but God, is it God centred, God directed, do we ascribe honour to God in the reading, preaching singing and praying of his word, do we desire it to be done according to His will and His word? Our services or worship to God can be filled with emotion but if there is a lack of truth, a lack of the word of God in its reading, preaching, singing and prayer then it will be empty, likewise there can be a service that is full of the reading, preaching, singing and praying of God’s word but it can be dead orthodoxy. True worship comes from those who worship in spirit and truth, who have a heart that was motivated out of love for God and gratitude above all else and who love truth, who love when his word and it is read, preached, sang, prayed so that worship is Christ exalting. Is that what our worship is? Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 96 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. (1 Cor. 11:23–26) Day 207 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 6v3-11 Message - Scott Woodburn Humanity needs little to no excuse to reject the Gospel, sadly though the church often makes it much easier for people to denounce Christ. This is no new phenomenon. Acutely aware of the accusations against him, Paul reminds the Corinthians that he put no obstacle in anyone's way. There could be no fault found with his ministry (v3). This verse always weighs heavy with me. I am fully aware of my limitations and painfully aware of my mistakes. May God be merciful and give the increase despite my failures. In the text Paul could commend himself to the Corinthians in every way (v4a). He had endured all sorts of trials to show that he was not a false apostle (v4b-5). He was a man and minister of integrity (v6-7) who used the weapons of righteousness to attack Satan's kingdom and to defend himself from the Devil's barbs. What are these weapons? The shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of the Lord (Ephesians 6v16-17). Paul knew both sides of every coin. Some honoured Paul and his ministry, others suggested he was a dishonourable man out for personal gain (v8a). Some praised and encouraged while others slandered his word and appearance (v8b). Some believed Paul to be an imposter, others knew that he was a true Apostle (v8c). He wasn't worth knowing, yet to some they realised the power of his ministry (v9a). He lived and laboured as a dying man preaching to dying men (v9b). Often he was punished and sorrowful and poor and empty handed (v9c-10). Yet at the same time he was alive, rejoicing, rich and one who possessed everything. Such was the life of the Apostle as he walked the roads preaching Christ. Paul had hidden nothing from the Corinthians. He had told the truth and been straight with them (v11a). Indeed to them he can say "my heart is wide open to you" (v11b). He loves them and wants what is best for them. Unfortunately it seems that the Corinthians had restricted their affection towards Paul (v12). What had happened? The rough and tumble of congregational life. The falsehoods of the false apostles. The necessity of church discipline. Life had happened, taken its toll and restricted the love that came from the Corinthians to their Apostle. I always find verse thirteen so emotive. It is easy to think that Paul was a giant who never knew trouble and slept like a lamb every night. Yet here he asks his spiritual children to love him a wee bit more (v13). Here is our application. In the rough and tumble of our fellowships may we excel in love. From the pulpit to the pew and back again, may our hearts be wide. None of us are faultless. No hands are clean. No lips can say they've never spoken falsehood. Again may we excel in love. Father God, forgive us our failings, remove obstacles to Christ and water our shrivelled hearts with the Gospel so that they might flower once more and be wide to our brothers and sisters. For Christ's sake. Amen! 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, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves. Day 209 Pray (ACts) Read - Romans 1:16-17 Message - Alan Burke Today I want to tell you a story, a synopsis about a man who lived some time ago. Growing up he didn’t have it easy and his parents did all that they could so that he could have a better life than them, wanting him to go to university. They made sacrifices to make it possible that he could get an education and a career. He worked hard, excelled at his studies, got his degree, was on his way to becoming a lawyer. Then everything changed on night during a thunderstorm and he ended up becoming a monk. You may know his name, Martin Luther. Why do I tell you about Martin, because as a monk in his own word… ““…I wearied myself greatly for almost fifteen years with the daily sacrifice, tortured myself with fastings, vigils, prayers, and other very rigorous works. I earnestly thought to acquire righteousness by my works.” The more hd tried, the more he attempted to please God by what he did, the more he became aware of his own sinfulness before a God who is Holy, abundant in goodness and truth and that before this God all his efforts were worthless. Saying; “Though I lived as a monk without reproach, I felt that I was a sinner before God with an extremely disturbed conscience. I could not believe that he was placated by my satisfaction. I did not love, yes, I hated the righteous God who punishes sinners, and secretly, if not blasphemously, certainly murmuring greatly, I was angry with God.” Luther wrestling with his own sinfulness, he worked tirelessly to earn God’s favour but while he was studying Romans, he came to not so much a discovery but a rediscovery of biblical truth that is still ignored by many that became the great cry of the Reformation, that matters because none of us have a leg to stand on before a God who is Holy, abundant in goodness and truth and that before Him, all our efforts are worthless. While reading Paul’s letter to the Romans, hearing how the faith of the believers there was being reported all of the world he went on to read; ”For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.” He now understood for the first time that God freely gives the perfect righteousness he requires, through personal trust in Christ, He now knew the grace of God, he now knew that the righteousness of God is shown in the righteousness of Christ that is imputed to us. Imputed isn’t a word that we use very often, but what it means is that though faith, when God looks at the sinner he sees not the sin but Christ and his righteousness, it means that though faith when God looks at Alan Burke he sees not my sin but Christ and his righteousness, it means though faith when God looks at you he sees not your sin but Christ and his righteousness. For Luther, a man who had been tormented by his sin he understood like never before God’s great plan of salvation, that though faith alone that sinners are justified, declared righteous by God without words. It led Luther to write he, “...thereupon felt altogether born again and entered paradise through open gates.” How about if I asked you, ‘are you are righteous before God?’ ‘Are you righteous before a God who is abundant in goodness and truth, holy and just?’ The answer is that if you have faith then though personal trust in Christ Jesus then the righteousness of God has been imputed to you, though faith when God looks at you he sees not your sin but Christ and his righteousness. For Luther who had been tormented by his sin he understood along with the other reformers that it was though faith alone that sinners are justified, declared righteous by God through faith alone, Sola fide: “faith alone”! Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 98 What is prayer? Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, (Ps. 62:8) for things agreeable to his will, (1 John 5:14) in the name of Christ, (John 16:23) with confession of our sins, (Ps. 32:5–6, Dan. 9:4) and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies. (Phil. 4:6) Day 210 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 6v14-7v1 Message - Scott Woodburn I've been told that if Brexit ever takes place British passports will change colour. This isn't some strange prophecy that I heard on the internet. British passports are currently burgundy in colour but after Brexit new British passports will return to the original dark navy. For some this is a sign of freedom while others will make their way to the Post Office to collect an Irish passport application form. Most of us probably give little thought to the colour of our passport, it is a big enough struggle just remembering where we put it after we got home from Turkey. Yet today I want to introduce you to the concept of what John Calvin called a “duplex regimen”. Was he speaking about some kind of fitness regimen? Do it twice a week for great results? Not quite. Calvin’s argument was that the Christian lives in a world of two (duplex) governments (regimen). One government is the secular world around us and the other is the spiritual. Is this just made up hullabaloo? Not at all. Paul was a Roman citizen by birth (Acts 22v28) and appealed to the laws of his day (Acts 22v25). He lived and worked in the secular Roman world which, in Paul’s time, was the most powerful empire on the face of the earth. Yet for Paul, a man of faith, he had heavenly citizenship as well by virtue of the fact that he had received Christ by faith. He reminded the Philippians that their citizenship was from heaven and from there they awaited their Saviour Jesus (Philippians 3v28). This is all well and good but so what? Take a journey with me back to 2016. Donald Trump was running for the office of President of the United States and much was being made of his religious credentials. In American politics faith plays much more of a role than it does in our corner of the world. Trump was apparently a Presbyterian who loved the whole Bible rather than calling to mind a certain verse. Others however pointed out his bluff and bluster and questionable attitudes and actions. Some said that Trump was God’s man and all Christians should vote for him, others argued that a candidate’s character was of vital importance and that they would never vote for Donald J. Trump. What was a Christian to do? Understanding the duplex regimen helps greatly. A Christian is at liberty in the secular world to vote for whatever candidate they wish. They should do so prayerfully and carefully but they should not be compelled from the pulpit to vote for a certain candidate “or else”. Christians voted for Trump, others did not. Neither group should be condemned. But what if Donald Trump appeared at church one Sunday and was preaching to become the new minister? During the last election, news began to spread that Donald Trump was no longer an active member of his church. To use a local expression “he doesn’t darken the door of the place”. Would such a candidate be acceptable to fill a pulpit? Certainly not. The church is the kingdom of God and in the kingdom of God believers should have no partnership with unbelievers (v14). What does any of this mean practically? As a Christian you have a dual citizenship, one in heaven and one on earth. Here on earth you will live daily beside unbelievers of all kinds. Some will be sympathetic to the church, some will despise it. Regardless, you are to love them and strive to share the Gospel with them when you can. You are to be a good citizen of the secular kingdom. You are to pay your taxes, you are to obey the speed limit, you are to vote, you are to engage the culture speaking truth into darkness, you are to pray for those in power. But at every turn you are to be careful that the secular and spiritual do not become entwined. The church is to be in the world but not become like the world. Neither Jesus, His kingdom or His people are of this world (John 17v16 & 18v36). So Lord, guide us we pray, as we citizens of heaven pilgrim through this barren land! 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. Day 191
Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 4v7-12 Message - Scott Woodburn One of my greatest treasures is a "pink vogue" tea set that belonged to my mother. It might seem strange for a grown man to possess such a thing. I've never used it for tea parties, I know it isn't complete and each cup would only hold a mouthful of tea but to me it is precious because it reminds me of my mum and home. It sits today in a cupboard high above the reach of little hands because it simply would not survive the rigours of everyday family life. As we continue our journey through 2 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that we are as fragile as those precious items kept behind lock and key. The Apostle describes the human condition as being like "jars of clay" (v7) or in other words, to be human is to be weak and easily broken. Jars of clay were common in the ancient world. They were cheaply made and replaced as they would often crack or smash into hundreds of pieces. As humans we are frail, beset on all sides by sin, disease, weakness and finally death. Yet in these jars of clay we have a treasure. Paul has already spoken of this treasure at the beginning of the chapter. It is the truth of the Gospel, that Christ died for sinners. Our eyes have been unveiled and the light of Christ has shone in our lives. It is this way to show that the "all-surpassing power" belongs to God (v7b). Salvation doesn't come because we are big and tough and strong. Not a bit. We humans, troubled and weak as we are, have been saved by the power of God. The glory belongs to Him. We are weak and hard pressed on all sides but we will never be crushed (v8a). We will often be perplexed at how life unfolds and the trouble that follows but we will never despair (v8b). The Christian will on occasion know persecution but equally God will never abandon His people (v9a) and even if our enemies take our very life, the Christian will not be destroyed (v9b). Paul could speak from experience. Just as the Lord was under constant threat, so too Paul carried in his body the death of Christ (v10a & v11a). He was able to say "From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus." (Galatians 6v17) Paul was a battle scarred soldier of Christ who knew daily trouble and threat of death. But such suffering was for Christ's sake and would mean life for those who would hear the Gospel preached from Paul's lips (v10b & v11b). Death may have been at work in Paul but with confidence he could say life was at work in the Corinthians (v12). Paul's hope also belongs to us. Christians still die everyday because of their faithfulness to Christ and while we in the west haven't experienced such persecution for a very long time we are beset on all sides by various kinds of trials. We are jars of clay stalked by death but have received life through the Gospel of Christ. Hear this...one day we will be raised imperishable. One day the jar of clay will shatter but on the last day this mortal body will put on immortality. It is our great hope that the dead will be raised to life everlasting. No more sin. No more cancer. No more weakness. No more death. What a day! Come quickly Lord Jesus! Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q83 Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous? Some sins in themselves, and by reason of several aggravations, are more heinous in the sight of God than others. Day 192 Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 2:9-11 Message - Alan Burke Fall outs among families are never fun, relationships can be left in tatters over something that was said or done, over inheritance when someone gets the lion share and others are left angry or jealous. Relationships that were once so close now in pieces, and once where there was love there is now hate. I’d love to say that this is a problem is just out there, it doesn’t affect the church but it does. We see people who sit on opposite sides of the meetinghouse because of someone they fell out with years ago, we see people stop coming because they fell out with the minister and I am sure that we could all think of examples, we wouldn’t maybe call it hate but there is no love between them. As John continues he explains how the outworking of love will be seen in the life of the believer and among believers, what it is to walk in the commands of God, how love is to be made complete in us (5) and he starts not with love but with hate. For If a person claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness, but whoever loves his brother abides in the light (9-10). The contrasting statement teaches us that if we do not love one another that is to hate them. Steady on John, sounds a bit strong that doesn’t it. It certainly not how most of us would understand it, how we would see it. Just because we don’t love someone it doesn’t mean that we hate them, rather we would view our attitude as neutral, wouldn’t we, we may not love that person who sits on the other side of the meetinghouse, we may not love our minister but we certainly couldn’t say that we hate them. Look back to what John said again and you will see that it’s one or the other, either we hate or we love. Among the christian fellowship, among the church they are to love, and if you do not love them then you hate them and you walk in darkness. There is no neutral. If we fail to care for one another, love one another, our brothers and sister in the Lord it is a failure to live in love, a failure to live in the light. This may seem like an onerous task, a high bar being set, but here John is deliberately awakening the church to the need for radical love among the covenant community if we claim to follow Jesus. It may sound extreme to us, we may sit at the opposite side of the church, but we are to love one another, if it sounds to much then remember what Jesus has done for us, on our behalf, the love that he has shown that exemplifies love. If we do not love one another then we hate and we walk in darkness. Whereas, for those who love their brother or their sister in the Lord, they live in light (10). It is not enough to say that we love our brother or sister, we must show it in our relationships with one another. After all it is easy to claim that we have the truth, to be in the light, for years church membership was simply a right of passage, but the truth, the truth will be seen in the spiritual reality in the life of a believer. If your profession of faith is true, that we walk in the light then it will be expressed in love for one another, if we love, we want to encourage those whom we love, build them up, but lack of love leads to darkness, if we are focused on ourselves, the problem will be that we will soon loose what it is to love. We are to be a church, a fellowship of believers, brothers and sisters who show our faith is genuine by keeping and delighting in keeping the word of God the commands of the Lord, we know that we have come to know if if we obey his commands (3). The objective test if you will, the Shibboleth, the yardstick of how we are to know if the truth is in us, how we know that we share and others share in the likeness and character of Christ, it should be seen in how we love each other, in how we treat our brothers and sisters, we are to love. Prayer (acTS) Sing WSC Question 84 What doth every sin deserve? Every sin deserveth God’ s wrath and curse, both in this life, and that which is to come. (Eph. 5:6, Gal. 3:10, Lam. 3:39, Matt. 25:41) Day 193 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 4v13-18 Message - Scott Woodburn I once knew a family in Larne who liked to take a picnic to various local graveyards. Their particular favourite was one at Islandmagee where the graveyard sloped down to the water. I understand the beauty of such places and I have on occasion walked among headstones in a reflective mood but I can't imagine sitting down to a sandwich surrounded by marble tablets. What intrigues me though is that graveyards display the theology (or lack of it) of a nation. Take a drive around Roselawn and you will see the crests of various football teams carved beside the name of the deceased. Some headstones have national flags engraved. Some hold masonic symbols. Some bear the phrase "for God and Ulster". Indeed the late Martin McGuinness' headstone in Derry City Cemetery describes him as an "óglach" or "volunteer" in the "Óglaigh na hÉireann" a title taken upon themselves by the IRA. I think John Calvin had it right. His grave was unmarked and today its whereabouts remain unknown, because for Calvin, in both life and death, Christ is all. In today's passage Paul quotes from Psalm 116v10. In this Psalm we read of a person who is experiencing great trial. The Psalmist writes in verse 3 "The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; I suffered distress and anguish." Yet the Psalmist wasn't hopeless or faithless. In the very next verse he speaks of calling upon the Lord. Paul says he shares the same spirit of faith as the Psalmist. They are both individuals who trust in the Lord even in the most difficult trial. Paul believes and therefore speaks (v13b) because he is confident of the resurrection to come. No empty masonic hope thrills Paul. No trusting that "the big man upstairs will be good to me". No boasting about being a volunteer in a blood soaked shame filled organisation. Paul knows that the One who raised Christ will also raise the Christian and present them blameless before Jesus (v14). So Paul endures "all this" (v15a), the beatings, the mocking, the spit, for the benefit of the church. As the Gospel is preached, more and more people are being reached by the grace of God (v15b) and as grace abounds so too does thanksgiving, overflowing to the glory of God (v15c). No wonder Paul doesn't lose heart (v16a). Even though he sees the frailty of human life and knows that outwardly he is wasting away (v16b), he also understands that inwardly he is being renewed day by day (v16c). The Christian has this confidence that we are being sanctified on a daily basis. The Spirit is at work and the One who started our sanctification will bring it to completion at the day of Christ (Philippians 1v6). All of our troubles are temporary and while they sting and crush today, they will dwindle when compared to the eternal glory that waits for the one who dies in Christ (v17). Therefore we set our gaze (v18a) not on the things of this world, but the things of glory. All things seen are temporary says Paul (v18c), all is vanity says Solomon (Ecclesiastes), all things (including us) are passing away. So instead we look to the unseen (v18b). In temptation and trial, in famine and distress, in persecution and sword, we lift our eyes heavenward to where Jesus is. We consider the eternal (v18d) rather than the temporary. Brothers and sisters today's trouble may cause your knees to buckle and I can guarantee that you will weep again in graveyards across this land but in Christ your day of trouble is not in vain. A day is coming and coming soon that you will be with Him forever. Not even death can rob us of this hope. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." (Psalm 116v15). How about that for your headstone? Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q85 What doth God require of us, that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin?To escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption. Day 195 Pray (ACts) Read - Psalm 51:5, Rom 5:12 Message - Alan Burke Often when we hear bad news we respond with fear, anxiety, anger, disbelief or denial, it doesn’t do anything to change the news that we have heard but it is how we begin to deal with it. I’m sure we have seen those responses in people, even in ourselves when we have been confronted with our own mortality with the diagnoses of a terminal illness of someone we know or love or even ourselves, we have seen it when there has been news of a redundancy, a marriage break down, it can be in any manner of thing. As you read this, it may be something that you try to ignore by burying your head in the sand, you may hate when the word is used, or hate the one who tells you the truth but we are sinners. Sin is far more than giving into that extra biscuit, far more than bad behaviour, or doing what is wrong according to social conventions like wearing a mask or not, recycling or just throwing it all in the black bin, sinful because that is our nature and we are also sinful because of both what we do and what we do not do. Remember Jesus words, when he said; ’by their fruit you will recognise them, do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles’ (Mt 7:16). Thats because the fruit of the plant indicates the nature of the plants life within. As autumn has come and the leaves are bringing to fall, the acorns and chestnuts are on the ground, if you take one of those acorns will it grow a mighty Sycamore tree, or take the chestnut and it will grow to a mighty oak tree, of course not. In much the same way we who are descend from Adam, who are born born by ordinary generation will always be sinful (WSC16), we cannot be any different from that which we came from. No matter how many generations come and go we are descended from Adam, we still come from the one tree, and we are by our very nature sinful, this is called original sin (Rom 5:12). But there is more, for we are sinful not just because of original sin, that we by our natures are sinful but because of our actual sin. A million times, in a million different ways, day after day after day, we all sin. Paul testified on behalf of all sinners: “So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand.” We are guilty before God for our sins in Adam, as well as guilty for our actual sins. We must remember that we are not sinners merely because we sin; we sin because we are sinners by nature. Just as from the moment of David’s existence, from his conception in his mothers womb his parents' corruption meant that David was corrupted as well. He not only confesses his sin in this psalm, but that he was conceived and born a sinner. As J.I. Packer states, "The assertion of original sin makes the point that we are not sinners because we sin, but rather we sin because we are sinners, born with a nature enslaved to sin.” We deserve the wrath of God yet the amazing truth is that God who had been infinitely wronged by sin, in his unsurprising love for sinners sent His only begotten Son, to bring salvation all those who believe in Him (Eph. 1:3-11, Rom 6:3). In spite of Original Sin, and our actual sin we can be reconciled to God who makes us alive and gives us eternal life and hope in Him, “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). Prayer (acTS) Sing WSC Question 86 What is faith in Jesus Christ? Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, (Heb. 10:39) whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation as he is offered to us in the gospel. (John 1:12, Isa. 26:3–4, Phil. 3:9, Gal. 2:16) Day 196 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 5v1-5 Message - Scott Woodburn Did you put any weight on over lockdown? I was reading an article recently that said a good percentage of people did exactly that. But never worry! Christmas will probably be cancelled so you'll not be taking any trips down Quality Street this December. Our body can sometimes take too much of our focus. We want to be slimmer. We spend a fortune on magic cream that will hopefully stop our chin sagging. We spend hours every week in front of the mirror lamenting the new wrinkles that have appeared. Paul has already described the human existence as a "jar of clay". Indeed he says that everyday we are wasting away. Talk about being discouraged! But Paul's goal is quite the opposite. As a new chapter begins he reminds us of the hugely significant hope that only a Christian can have. Describing our body as a tent, he says that even if this tent is destroyed we have a God built eternal home in the heavens (v1). Did you notice the change? This body is a temporary tent and one day we will move into an eternal home. From canvas to bricks and mortar. Some of you have built your own homes and spent a year or so in a caravan while your new home developed. In the caravan the stormy nights seemed to shake every part of your abode but months later in your new house, the storms passed and you slept like a baby. For the Christian our heavenly home is where we will find our permanent address. It is a place of security and peace and never again will we be troubled by the things of this earth. No wonder we groan in this body and long for home (v2). Paul when death comes will put on his heavenly clothing and therefore he will not be found naked (v3). He will have a home to go to. As Christians we share Paul's hope. If death would visit us today it would no doubt cause much grief amongst those who love us, but the Christian who has died, they are now with Christ which is better by far. We will not be shamed in nakedness but instead clothed in Christ's righteousness and we will be with our Saviour. The Christian's condition after death has been described as the "intermediate state". At death, a Christian's soul is immediately made perfect and it returns to the Lord. Those precious saints who have gone on before us enjoy heavenly bliss even now. But this state is temporary or intermediate. A final state awaits. Paul speaks in verse four of being further clothed with the mortal being swallowed up in life. Here he speaks of our hope at the day of Christ. It is our sincere belief that when Jesus returns the dead will be raised to life. Those who have rejected Christ will stand again raised to dishonour but those who have gladly received him will be raised to eternal joy. We will receive a resurrected body reunited with our soul and we will stand again. The mortal will be swallowed up by life. Some will read this and scoff, but it is certainly true. After death the Christian knows only joy in both the intermediate and final state. God has prepared this very thing for us and guarantees it by giving us the Holy Spirit who dwells within. Your bottom might be a little bit too big. Your head might be getting shinier and shiner as your hair recedes. You may never have met a biscuit you didn't like but child of God...rejoice. One day we will leave the tent and head for the mansion. God Himself guarantees it. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q87 What is repentance unto life? Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience. Day 197 Pray (ACts) Read - Romans 3:10-12, 22 Message - Alan Burke When we look around though, we see people who do not claim faith yet do things that we would applaud them for. Like the person I bumped into this week walking with the on the way back from the school run taking time to pick up litter as they went, then there is the firefighter who runs into an inferno to try and save the life of someone he does not know and no one would think less of him if he just manned the hose, or the countless NHS staff who day after day show care and compassion to countless people across this land, never mind the countless others who do what they can quietly for others, who obey the law of the land retuning the wallet they found in the street with its entire contents. On Monday we thought about how that we are sinners, that we are sinners because our nature is sinful we call this original sin and because of our actual in how we a million times, in a million different ways, day after day after day all sin. It affects are so complete that it has left NO part of the human being (including our will) untouched. Look at the Romans 3:10-12 and see how ruined we actually are. We do not do what is right, we do not seek for God, we have all turned away, rebelled against God. All of who we are has been touched, tainted, ruined by sin, Romans 3:10 makes clear that ‘There is no one righteous not even one’ (Rom 3:10 cited from Ps 14:1-3, 53:1-3, Ecc 7:20). But we see many actions that are applaudable, much Civil Righteousness as John Calvin puts its, so how can Romans say that there is no one righteous not even one (Rom 3:10). It is because when we are judged by the standards that are not of this world, not social conventions and trends around us, not by the morality of society instead we are judged by the standards of the law of God there is not one of us that can be called righteous. That means that not one person in their natural state is morally and ethical upright, just, law-abiding, honest, good. Most people I assume would be willing to admit that they are not perfect but this is far from admitting that we are unable and totally opposed to that which is moral, ethically upright, just, law-abiding, honest and good we are ‘totally depraved’, yet that is who we are, every human being who has ever lived apart from Jesus that is. Since no one can be righteous before God by keeping the law, right standing with God comes through faith alone in Christ alone, we may have right standing before God only by the imputed righteousness of Christ that is ours by faith not on the many acts of Clvil Righteousness we may do, by faith alone through our Representative Head Jesus Christ (Rom 3:22). Prayer (acTS) Sing WSC Question 88 What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to usthe benefits of redemption? The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation. (Matt. 28:19–20, Acts 2:42,46–47) Day 198 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 5v6-10 Message - Scott Woodburn On Tuesday we considered the Christian's heavenly hope - an intermediate state with our souls made perfect in the presence of Christ and a final state with raised body and soul in the presence of Jesus. I'm aware then when we start throwing theological terms around like this, our eyes can gloss over. But please not today! The good news of our eternal dwelling should produce in us good courage. Indeed Paul says the truth of his eternal home causes him to be "always of good courage" (v6a). Admittedly he knows that while we are here on earth we are away from the Lord (v6b). He doesn't mean that the Lord is far distant from his people like some unconcerned deity. The Lord is always with us. Paul simply means that here on earth we cannot yet see the heavenly realties that belong to the Christian. We walk by faith and not by sight (v7). Faith is a receiving and resting in Christ as he is offered in the Gospel. We were not there at Calvary to see with our own eyes and today we cannot see Jesus but the Gospel has been preached, the Spirit has been at work, our eyes were opened and we received Christ by faith. We are those of whom Jesus spoke when he said "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (John 20v29). We are men and women of faith walking every day towards home. We are of good courage because we know the heavenly promises are yes and amen in Christ. So much so that we would rather be with Jesus which is better by far (v8, Philippians 1v23) But it isn't yet. Soon, but not yet. Until then we make it our aim to please the Lord (v9). We do not know the future and we certainly cannot predict when we will hear God's upward call. These things aren't our concern. Instead we live everyday seeking to love and honour the Lord in all that we do or say. What does God require of us? Obedience to His revealed will. Even Christians will stand before the judgement seat of Christ (v10). The Christian need not fear the last day. We do not stand before the judgement seat of Christ for Him to consider if we should be saved or if we have done enough. We speak of justification of sinners. God declares us to be righteous in His sight. Therefore on the last day our justification isn't going to be revoked, instead the Lord will acknowledge us as belonging to Him. He will publicly acquit us in the sight of the world and He will graciously reward us for the good we have done in the body (v10). So dear brothers and sisters be of good courage! The journey in front of you may be long or short. It may be filled with hard days and few that feel good. At times the journey may seem exhausting and you fear that you will soon fall by the wayside. Keep going. Be of good courage. Every single day, you are closer to home. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q89 How is the Word made effectual to salvation? The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort through faith unto salvation. Day 199 Pray (ACts) Read - Romans 5:18-21 Message - Alan Burke It’s been one of the main news stories of the past couple of weeks, as the United States gear up for the 2020 presidential election. On the 3 November the population will go to the poling station to decide whether it will be the incumbent Republican Donald Trump who will continue to represent them as President for another four years or it will be Presidential challenger Democrat Joe Biden who will represent them. Our politicians are our elected representatives, here we have Boris as our Prime Minster, we have Arlene as our First Minister and Michelle as our Deputy First Minister and they represent us. But who represents us before God? Over the past few days we have been thinking about our natural condition, "The assertion of original sin makes the point that we are not sinners because we sin, but rather we sin because we are sinners, born with a nature enslaved to sin.” (J.I. Packer). There is no part of us that has been unaffected by that sin and that sin means before God there is no one righteous not even one (Rom 3:1). Adam’s disobedience brought us all under the curse of sin, but that is not the end of the story, for although Adam was our representative head God has appointed for us a new representative head that being Jesus Christ. God in his great mercy and abundant grace has given us a new representative head, when Paul says, “so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19) he means by “many” all who share have put their trust in Jesus Christ as their representative. Thus, in Jesus Christ, we are counted as one with him. And as it was with Adam that we are seen as sinners, in Jesus we are seen as righteous. It means that when God looks at us, he doesn’t see original sin or the actual sin in our lives, in how we a million times, in a million different ways, day after day after day all sin. No God instead sees the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, but it is more than that, not only does God see the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ, it is as we had perfectly lived our lives in obedience and died on the cross in ourselves and are in fact righteous. It is call imputation, when the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ is given to us, it is imputed to us. We are now righteous before God, justified before him, declared righteous before God for the sake of Jesus Christ. If you have heard the good news of Jesus Christ, and with faith believed all that he has done to reconcile sinners to God, if you believe Christ died and was resurrected to declare you righteous before God, then you are represented by Christ. You have eternal life, nothing can change that truth, you are secure, for Christ is our Head, our Covenant Keeper, who makes us alive and gives us eternal life and hope in Him!! “For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). What ever you face in the coming days and weeks, know that it is no longer dependant on you, your civil righteousness or anything else that you can do but on Christ as your representative head. Prayer (acTS) Sing WSC Question 90 How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation? That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, (Prov. 8:34) preparation, (1 Pet. 2:1–2) and prayer; (Ps. 119:18) receive it with faith and love, (Heb. 4:2, 2 Thess. 2:10) lay it up in our hearts, (Ps. 119:11) and practice it in our lives. (Luke 8:15, James 1:25) Day 200 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 5v11-15 Message - Scott Woodburn Paul's life isn't driven by the hope of retirement and long walks on a sun kissed beach. Instead he is a servant of the one true God. He knows Him, has been saved by Him and endures all things for the sake of the Lord. He knows that one day he will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. Paul is a man who fears the Lord. This is what drives his life and gives him the fire to preach Christ in an effort to persuade others (v1). What is the fear of the Lord? Charles Hodge puts it this way "The fear of the Lord is that fear or reverence which the Lord excites, or of which he is the object." To fear the Lord is to know Him, to love Him, to trust Him. It is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9v10). It isn't the fear a servant has for their master, instead it is the fear a child has for their father. God knows what drives Paul (v1b) and Paul hopes that the Corinthians know this too (v1c). There are those who boast about outward appearance (v12b) and as we have previously discussed, Paul apparently didn't look very good. But the Apostle points out that what really matters is the content of a man's heart (v12c). Those who opposed him seem to have looked better and sounded better, but the Apostles' goal was never to impress or entertain but instead to preach Christ and Him crucified. This was Paul's ministry and message. Some may have considered that he spoke out of insanity (v13a), others may have considered him perfectly reasonable (v13b). Regardless, says Paul, when he spoke it was for God and for His church (v13). Paul never acts for himself. He isn't building a brand or kingdom so that he will benefit from riches. It is the love of Christ that controls or compels Paul (v14a). Why preach? Why take the abuse? Why face criticism? Because Paul understood the glory of the Gospel. He concluded that Christ had died for the sins of His people (v14a). Just as in Adam all sinned, so too in Christ all have died (Romans 5v19). Christ's death is our death and His life is our life. Paul told the Galatians this very thing "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2v20) We have been born again to a life of selflessness not selfishness. We live for the one who died and was raised for our sake (v15b). Covid has changed nothing. As Christians the Lord has removed the veil from our eyes and driven by the fear of the Lord we seek to reach the lost. The lost may be fearful of a pandemic or they may be living in undisturbed comfort, either way the love of Christ compels us to declare to them the glory of the Gospel. In a dying and disease filled world the answer is still Christ who died so that we might live. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q91 How do the Sacraments become effectual means of salvation? The Sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them Day 181
Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 2:1 Message - Alan Burke 1 John 2:1 I imagine if I stood up on Sunday and started calling the congregation, ‘My little children’ there would be many who would think I’m taking the mick, people would suppose that I was talking down to them. Maybe id get away with it for a week or two but for after that there would be many who would have had enough. Look here to John 2:1, this is a letter from a pastor to his people, John had been dealing with nonsense that was being spouted by the opponents of the Gospel, the thing that they were saying, the things that they were doing (Ch 1). Now his pastoral heart comes to the forefront once more as he calls them, ‘My little children’. John is concerned for those to whom he writes as a parent for their child, how he address them shows this, he is a pastor showing his concern for his spiritual children. He is writing so that they whom he cares for would not misunderstand what he has just said and interpret it as a licence to do what ever they want and to sin all the more, to think that ‘after all if forgiveness was freely available then why not’ ‘…go on sinning so that grace may increase?’ (Rom 6:1). The reason is that they should not sin (1b) is because sin was and is incompatible with fellowship with God, for as he had said in chapter 1 v6 “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.” (1:6). Instead John wants his readers confess their sin, to desire to live without sin, to really live in the light, being conformed more and more into the likeness of their Saviour Jesus Christ. For sin is pervasive, it effects everything we do, who we are, when we allow sin to go unchecked in one part of our lives it impacts everything else. We may see that sin that we harbour, the hidden sin that lies behind closed doors, what we look at online, how we speak to our spouse, our flirtatious exchanges with a college, our constant desire for more things, to not really be an issue but sin is pervasive and slowly impacts the entire lives. Instead we are to confess it, for we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence - Jesus Christ (1d). He is our advocate as John makes clear, the one who will stand on our behalf, as the council for the defence in a court room, interceding for us. He assists our feeble prayers with intercession for us (Rom 8:26). We have nothing that we can plead before God to gain forgiveness but Jesus Christ our defence, literally our advocate enters a plea on our behalf, as our representative head. He is the righteous one who died for the unrighteous so that he might bring them to God (1 Pet 3:18). Jesus Christ, who was without sin, who was obedient unto death, stands in our place, he pleads his own righteousness before God so that we who are sinners may be forgiven in his righteous act. The hearts of genuine Christians desire to live in this way, it doesn’t mean that we will ever be completely free from sin but that we will desire to please out Lord and our God. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 74 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. (Gen. 30:30, 1 Tim. 5:8, Lev. 25:35, Deut. 22:1–5, Exod. 23:4–5, Gen. 47:14,20) Day 182 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 3v1-6 Message - Scott Woodburn It has been stated that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. For his critics Paul needed to prove himself to the Corinthian church. He hadn't appeared in front of them, he was full of big words in his letters but in person seemed weak and unimpressive. Why should we listen to such a man? Paul wondered if he needed to prove himself all over again (v1) or perhaps get a letter of recommendation from his local church (v1b). Such letters would be carried by Christians whenever they moved from one church to another. The letter would state that the individual was a Christian in good standing and should be welcomed by their new church. Did Paul need such a letter for the Corinthians to believe him? Perish the thought. Instead Paul says the Corinthians are his letter, written on his heart for all to read (v2). Paul knows these men and women and they know him. He cherishes them, they are written on his heart and he needs no external letter of recommendation to prove himself to a church that he was instrumental in planting. Indeed the very existence of the Corinthian church in such a pagan city was in itself evidence that Paul's ministry was genuine. Paul says that the church in Corinth show that they are a letter from Christ delivered by the apostle (v3). This letter was not written in ink but by the Holy Spirit. This letter was not carved into tablets of stone but into hearts of flesh (v3b). Paul's claims and proof about the Corinthian church couldn't be any more extraordinary. Paul is utterly confident in all of this through Christ toward God (v4). Paul doesn't plead his case with arrogance reminding the Corinthians how wonderful he is (v5). He knows that he is only sufficient for such work because God made him sufficient (v5b). He is a sufficient minister of the new covenant (v6). A covenant not of works but of grace or as Paul puts it, not of the letter but of the Spirit (v6b). For the letter only kills but the Spirit brings life (v6c). Here Paul makes a distinction between the law and the Gospel. The law is from God and is therefore good (Romans 7v12), but it cannot curb human sin (Romans 8v3) and ultimately brings death (Romans 7v10). The Corinthian church was not built by law observance but by the Spirit. Here is Paul's defence, here is his letter of commendation. He arrived in Corinth in much weakness but fearlessly preached the Gospel. The Spirit moved powerfully, sinners were saved and a local fellowship was born. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof and in days of doom and gloom you might ask "Where is the Lord?". I would respond "He is reigning". Of course a preacher would say that, but where is the evidence? In Northern Ireland you don't need to look too far. Across this land there exist fellowships of Christians who have been converted to Christ by the preaching of the Gospel and the work of the Spirit. These fellowships are sometimes big and sometimes small. Many of them have preachers known around the country and many have preachers known only to their flock. Many of them have music so wonderful that it could grace a concert hall and many have Gertrude on an old piano that sounds somewhat out of tune. Yet all of them belong to Christ. Where the Word is preached faithfully, where the sacraments are administered correctly and where discipline is exercised - there is the church. May we love the church and take her seriously and understand that she is worth being part of. Extraordinarily she is Christ's letter to this world, a letter of grace and forgiveness to guilty sinners, a letter that cries out "You must be born again!". Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q75 What is forbidden in the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may, unjustly hinder our own, or our neighbor’s, wealth, or outward estate. Day 183 Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 2:1 Message - Alan Burke 1 John 2:2 Many of you will know and love the modern hymn “In Christ Alone”, writer by Stuart Townend and Keith Getty. Doubtless you have sang it many times and not given it much thought but this is a song that caused much controversy around ten years ago. Why, because of the words “the wrath of God was satisfied”. Maybe you are wondering why these words caused any controversy, but for some the idea sounded harsh, maybe it was what is associated with the term wrath, the violet emotions and behaviour that results in it. Maybe it was that people didn’t like the idea of unbelieving family and neighbours being subject to the wrath of God. Yet on the Cross Jesus took upon himself the wrath of God, he was the object of the Father’s wrath. It matters because as we thought about on Monday Jesus is the righteous one who died for the unrighteous so that he might bring them to God (1 Pet 3:18). Jesus Christ, who was without sin, who was obedient unto death, stands in our place, he pleads his own righteousness before God so that we who are sinners may be forgiven in his righteous act. As John continues (2:2) he explains to us how Jesus can be our defence, how he can grant us pardon for the sin, how we can have confidence of sins forgiven, of coming before the living God and that is in his atoning sacrifice. It was Jesus who atoned, who offered a sacrifice for our sins, he made a propitiation as the King James version rightly translates it. A propitiation means that of a sacrifice that turns God’s wrath into favour, for Jesus the perfect sacrifice for sin when he died on our behalf took the wrath of God so that we might know his favour. God the Father gave Jesus His only begotten son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sin, God himself provided the means of our forgives and paid the cost of it. Today the problem is sin is treated so lightly, few would deny that acts of deliberate, clear cut evil are incompatible with faith in Jesus Christ, but many have the view that God makes considerable allowances for weakness and failure, grace abounds, they deny that any of their own actions, their own sin fall into the category of evil. But John writes as a pastor to his children those whom he has spiritual oversight off, writes so that they would not sin (2:1). Because God is light, in him there is no darkness (1:5), if we have fellowship with him while we walk in the darkness we lie and do not practice truth (1:6). None of us are free from sin, none of us can claim to be without it, none of us can claim we do not need the propitiation offered by Jesus for sinners and none of us should belittle sin, sin is serious, it is evil, it is darkness, it is what is opposed to the Light. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 76 Which is the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment is, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (Exod. 20:16) Day 184 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 3v7-11 Message - Scott Woodburn When the late Brian Clough took over Leeds United in 1974 he only managed to last 44 days in the job. What was the problem? Clough notoriously said what he thought and he thought very little of Leeds' previous manager Don Revie and how Leeds had played their football. It isn't really the done thing to criticise the person who once upon a time sat at your desk. As this chapter continues the Apostle Paul speaks of the Prophet Moses and references "the ministry of death" (v7). It is shocking language and at first glance seems to suggest that Paul had no time for Moses and the ministry he exercised. Thankfully Paul isn't on an ego trip but instead is comparing the old and the new covenants. Moses carried the tablets of stone down the mountain with the ten commandments of God carved upon them. Moses wasn't offering the people an alternative path of salvation, instead the law was to be a guardian until Christ came (Galatians 3v24). The law was holy and righteous and good but the people would be utterly unable to keep it. What they needed was a Saviour who would keep the law perfectly on their behalf and pay the price for lawbreakers. That Saviour was Jesus. Moses' ministry was one of condemnation (v9a). The law commands and inevitably the people fail. So the law was published once more at Sinai as a constant reminder of their inability and need of the Christ who was to come. It would be a mistake therefore to think that the ministry of Moses was all black and bleak. Paul stresses that there was glory in Moses' ministry (v7,9a). As he came down the mountain from talking with God his face shone and the people feared to come near him (Exodus 34v29-30). Let’s too not make the mistake that under Moses salvation was by obedience or works. Dearly beloved, the church stretches from Genesis to Revelation and in every day that the sun has risen, salvation comes only by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Moses’ ministry was to a "church under age" as the Westminster Confession of Faith puts it. The church was organised as national Israel where the ministry of prophets, priests and kings was exercised. It was not without its glory but it was temporary and passing away (v11a). The permanent was coming (v11b) and the glory of the permanent would far outstrip the glory of the temporary. This isn’t to run Moses down but when Christ came He fulfilled the law completely. He was the Saviour that the church had been waiting on. He was the greater Moses whose face shone at the transfiguration. He was the ultimate prophet, priest and king. His blood paid the price fully for the sins of His people and his church would grow in Jerusalem, Judea and to the ends of the earth. The glory of the new far surpassed the glory of the old and it is all because of Jesus. As Paul has already told us in this letter, every promise of God finds its yes and amen in Christ. This same glorious Christ today intercedes for His church and He gives us hope for future glory. In Romans 8v18 Paul reminds us "that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." One day our faith will be turned to sight and we will dwell in the new heavens and new earth where righteousness dwells. We shouldn't be surprised. It is our eternal home promised and prepared by the glorious Christ for His precious bride. So look around today at the temporary. Just as the new covenant outstripped the old, the Christian's future outstrips our present. The future's bright, the future's glory. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q77 What is required in the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man and man, and of our own and our neighbor’s good name, especially in witness bearing. Day 185 Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 2:1 Message - Alan Burke 1 John 2:3-6 The question of assurance is one that arises often today. How does a person know that they do indeed know God? Perhaps you are reading this filled with doubt, or you could be filled with guilt because of sin, alternatively you may lack assurance because you never had that ‘experience’, you can’t name the hour or the day that you came to faith. How can you have assurance that you indeed know God. This questions was in John’s mind, he answers by saying we can be sure, we can literally know, we can confidently know that we have come to know God… ‘if we obey his commands’ (5). This is the yardstick, the test, what quantifies true faith is whether or not we keep his commandments. John’s not saying that your salvation is dependant on works, that certain conditions need to be fulfilled, rather if you are desiring to walk in the light, and you are trying to obey his commandments, this is the characteristic of the knowledge of God. If we truly love God then it is expressed in our keeping of his commandments, it is not a condition of our salvation, it is not a means of earning God’s favour by our works rather if we love God it is tangibly evidenced in our lives. The saying goes, actions speak louder than words, when we say it we mean that a persons actions are a better indication of what a person believes and who they are than what they say, talk is cheap after all, it can easily deceive. For those who claim to know God, and they do not know obey his commands, they do not have unity, show by their actions and speech that as John says that they are a liar and the truth is not in them (4). For those, though who love God, keep his word, they do not merely have the truth of God but God’s love is made complete in them (5). In all that we do we should desire to walk in the way with he he walked, we live we must live as Jesus did (6). We may think that the bar has been raised so high that it is impossible, how can we possibly live as Jesus did, for his life showed his active obedience to God the Father and his death his passive obedience! He was fully God and fully and fully man, taking to himself a true body (Heb. 2:14,16, Heb. 10:5) yet without sin (Heb. 4:15, Heb. 7:26). We are sinners, how then can we do this? The point is not that we will be perfect, that we will be sinless, rather it is that in our lives we will examine whether our thoughts, words and deeds show that our allegiance is to the God who is light. Remember how Jesus said ’by their fruit you will recognise them, do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles’ (Mt 7:16). The fruit of the plant indicates the nature of the plants life within. If we really walk in the light it will be seen in our lives, we look to his example and follow it, for those who abide in Christ cannot fail to display the fruit of the Spirit in their lives, a Christ-like character should be plain for others to see as we lived as Jesus lived, we ought to walk in the same way that he walked (6). We are not to be made anxious, worrying about our salvation, for if we truly love God will our desire will be to obey his commands and reflect on what we do, what we say, how we think of others, our prayer life, how we spend our time and money, how we raise our children, how we treat our coworkers, our spouses, neighbours and friends. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 78 What is forbidden in the ninth commandment? The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our neighbour’ s good name. (1 Sam. 17:28, Lev. 19:16, Ps. 15:3) Day 186 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 3v12-18 Message - Scott Woodburn The Apostle Paul is able to have boldness in his ministry because the mystery of redemption has now been revealed (v12). Paul's hope is that the coming of Christ has put away the types and shadows of the past and now in Jesus the fullness has come. Moses was unable to minister in such a way. After spending time with the Lord, Moses' face was radiant. So much so that the people were fearful to approach him (Exodus 34v30). Moses therefore took to wearing a veil after conversing with the Lord (Exodus 34v33). Eventually Moses' face would return to normal and eventually his "ministry of condemnation" would come to an end (v13b). The law and the types and shadows of the sacrificial system were only ever temporary. They couldn't bring salvation but their purpose was to point the people to the Christ who was to come. Unfortunately in Moses day, Paul's day and today the hearts of the Jews are hardened against the things of Christ (v14). To this day "whenever Moses is read a veil lies over" the hearts of Jews worldwide (v15). All seems hopeless and lost for spiritually blind Jew and Gentile. What is to be done? We are confident and we are bold in our proclamation of the Gospel. To this very day, Jesus is able to remove spiritual blindness (v14b). "When one turns to the Lord" (v16) the veil is lifted, hearts are softened, eyes are opened. We need no gimmicks, we do not need the latest thinking in church growth, our message does not need to change. The Gospel is preached, the Spirit works and sinners once blind, now can see. This is all possible because "the Lord is the Spirit" (v17a). What does this mean? Have we got the Trinity wrong when we say that we believe in God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit? Does this verse state that Jesus is the Spirit? Is God three yet one or two yet one? Paul's point here is that the Spirit gives life to the previously hardened sinner and Christ is the Spirit. Just as Jesus stated that "I and the Father are one" (John 10v30), so too He and the Spirit are one. Charles Hodge tells us that Jesus and the Spirit are "not one and the same person, but one and the same being." There is no disunity or confusion in God and when the Spirit of the Lord is at work, freedom is always the result (v17b). This freedom in Christ allows us with unveiled faces (18a) to behold the glory of the Lord. We no longer require the temporary types and shadows of the past, instead the fullness has come. We behold Jesus in all of His majestic glory and day by day we are being made more and more to resemble Christ (v18b). We are being sanctified each day and while we rarely notice any progress in our sanctification we can be sure that "he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1v6). It was true in Corinth and it remains true to this very day. Since we have this hope, we are very bold (v12) for it comes from Christ who is the Spirit (v18c) and we know that Jesus never fails. Prayer (acTS) Sing WSC Q79 Which is the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbor’s. Day 188 Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 2:7-8 Message - Alan Burke Here, as John begins this new section, speaking to his ‘Dear friends’ literally his beloved (7), it is clear he cares for his people, deeply cares, he is concerned for their salvation. They are his brothers and sisters in the Lord and as he obeys the word, God’s love is made complete in him and is shown in his care for those whom he writes. He writes not with a new command but an old one, what is John talking about, not a new command rather it is an old one, it is one that they have heard since the beginning, this old command is the message you have heard. Look at the context, look with what comes before in verse five and what comes after in verse ten. In verse five, But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. In verse ten we read ‘whoever loves his brother lives in the light’ What is the command that is not new, that is an old one? It is the command to love. Jesus spoke of a new commandment, a command to love one another but to them it is not new, years have past, they have heard this teaching. We need to go back to John chapter 13, where the love and humility of Jesus was so vividly portrayed to his disciples whom he was with. They were gunning among themselves, bickering over who was the greatest, and Jesus took of his outer clothes, and washed their feet, he did what they were unwilling to do, he showed them and example by his actions of what love looked like, love that would humble itself before others, that would be willing to do what others would not, love that was willing to wash the feet of the one who would betray him. It’s hard for us to imagine and understand the significance of what Jesus did, it wouldn’t have been lost on those who were there or those who heard it, what Jesus had done was a powerful demonstration of the commandment that he had given his disciples to love ones enemies (Matt 5:44), a love that displayed itself in self giving. After washing their feet, after he had put on his outer garments, while they were all together in the upper room, a new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another (Jn 13:31-35). The command that is not new, but an old one, that which they had heard from the beginning was to love one another as Jesus had loved. This is how believers are to live, we are to love. We are to love one another lets be real about it, it can be hard to love one another, it can be hard to love someone who has hurt us, whom we have history with, but Jesus only requires from us what he has already manifested in his own person and life. For Jesus in his sacrificial life and death provide the example of love. We are to love each other as Christ loved (Jn 15:12). The truth of how ‘Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends (Jn 15:13). It was Jesus who gave the command to love, but it was Jesus who lived out love for his own, (Jn 13:1). We see it manifested most vividly on the cross, it is the act by which we are gathered together. We are to love, just as this love, sacrificial love, giving love, was seen in Jesus so vividly it should be seen in us. What genuine Christianity looks like according to John is seen in the love that we have for one another. Prayer (acTS) Sing WSC Question 80 What is required in the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, (Heb. 13:5, 1 Tim. 6:6) with a right and charitable frame of spirit toward our neighbour, and all that is his. (Job 31:29, Rom. 12:15, 1 Tim. 1:5, 1 Cor. 13:4–7) Day 189 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 4v1-6 Message - Scott Woodburn Life is rarely easy for anyone. Admittedly there are some who never seem to catch a break, but most people at some stage will know trouble, disquiet, sleepless nights and heart rending sadness. The temptation in such moments is to give up. "Why do I bother?" we ask. "What's the point?" we cry. Whilst we are often tempted to raise our Biblical heroes to pedestals believing them to be superhuman, the evidence we have in the Scriptures paints a different picture. Just because Paul was an Apostle didn't mean that he never struggled (2 Corinthians 11v24-28). Yet he was, like us, a recipient of God's mercy (v1a). A man who had been made a minister of the new covenant (v1b) and therefore he didn't lose heart (v1c). Paul understood that this present age was and is temporary and it doesn't compare to the hope that is ours in Christ Jesus. This hopeful heart filtered its way into Paul's ministry. He didn't seek to convince people with"secret and shameful ways" (v2a), nor did he seek to deceive (v2b) and he certainly did not take God's Word and distort it (v2c). Paul's approach to the Corinthians was marked by integrity. He opened the Scriptures and set forth what they taught plainly (v2d). Indeed if the Corinthians examined their conscience they would know that what Paul is now saying is true (v2e). Often we are like magpies and are attracted to the latest bright shiny fad in the church. One day, the church to be at, is down the road, the next it is two towns over. One day, there is no preacher as good as the one in Seattle, the next it is that one in Florida. But Paul reminds us here that there is much to be said for a simple ministry that doesn't make the headlines or attract the crowds. Paul never preached Paul (v5a) but Christ as Lord (v5b). He became a servant of the Corinthians for the sake of Christ (v5c). Paul was once an enemy of Christ but God brought him out of darkness and into the glorious light of Christ (v6). He had been miraculously converted and now by the grace of God, Paul preached Christ and Him crucified. As we have discussed, Paul's conversion didn't keep him from trouble and if the history books are to be believed Paul was beheaded outside the city walls of Rome. Yet during his life he was a servant of Christ and exercised that ministry faithfully, plainly and humbly. Life is rarely easy for anyone but today we keep going. There are many to whom the Gospel message is "veiled" (v3). They don't get it, don't want it, don't see the need. Satan who is "the god of this age" has blinded their minds (v4) so that they do not see Christ. But we are not blind. We have not been left in darkness. Christ has removed the veil from our eyes and today we see "the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." So brothers and sisters press on! Find a church close to your home where the Bible is preached faithfully and attend it. Do not lose heart even if it seems the hordes of hell stand at your door. As Boris speaks, as Covid continues and as October comes, our Saviour remains. "The light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1v5) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q81 What is forbidden in the tenth commandment? The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estate, envying or grieving at the good of our neighbor, and all inordinate motions and affections to anything that is his. Day 190 Pray (ACts) Read - John 13:31-35, 1 Cor 13:4-6 Message - Alan Burke If you mention the word ‘love’ to many they think of romantic love, or if you spoke of the love we have for each other in the church to those outside it they would see love as simply niceness. What does it mean though for believers to love one another, what does it mean to do what Jesus commanded us to do, to love one another, just as I have loved you and how by this people will know that we are his disciples if you have love for one another (Jn 13:31-35). Well we need to look to Jesus and how he loved. On Monday we thought about how Jesus washed his disciples feet (Jn 13), how he showed his love in how he served them, doing what they were unwilling to do, how he showed them by his example of what loved looked like, how love that would humble itself before others, that would be willing to do what others would not, love that was willing to wash the feet of the one who would betray him. But Jesus also made a whip out of chords, came to the temple and drove out the sheep, cattle, scattered the coins and the money changers and over turned the tables, forcing them out of God’s house of prayer (Jn 2:15). Were his actions unloving, were they lacking in love when he did this? No they were not. If he had tolerated their behaviour that was sinful and wrong that would not have been love. I’m not suggesting we go make a whip out of chords and clear the meeting house out on Sunday, but when we tolerating behaviour that is sinful and wrong that is not love, as a church we are to love, love one another, where are we to look as the example of love, we are to look to Jesus. Love is not weakness, it is not politeness, love doesn’t call sin good, but it is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth, It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Cor 13:4-6). A doctor who tells his patient that he has cancer is not lacking in love, the minister who tells us that we are sinners is not lacking in love, and for all of us, the test of our love for one another is how we respond when we are ill treated, whether we show kindness or we lack kindness, our freedom from jealously or envy, our sincere graciousness towards people, our endurance when people are difficult, our humility or lack there off, our attitude to our self, our ability to control anger, our freedom from a critical spirit, our willingness to suffer for the sake of good relationships, our determination to persist in friendships no matter what happens, that is love. When we truly love one another, where we display it, where we are characterised by great love, we will be a place that people want to be part of, they will see that the gospel is real in how it is lived and how it is spoken off and it will be attractive to many. And He who showed that love in his life and death, has given us the power to live in that way also, for we are members of a new community, the Holy Spirit is working within us if we walk in the light, if we keep his commands and we are able to reflect the light of God. We are being conformed into the likeness of Christ our saviour by the work of the Spirit within us and God empowers us to fight our flesh and keep in step with the Spirit of God (Gal. 5:16-26). Do you love? Prayer (acTS) Sing WSC Question 82 Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God? No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, (Eccles. 7:20, 1 John 1:8,10, Gal. 5:17) but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed. (Gen. 6:5, Gen. 8:21, Rom. 3:9–21, James 3:2–13) Day 171
Pray (AC-ts) Read — 1 John 1:8-10 Message Alan Burke Some years ago now I remember sitting in a morning midweek having a wee cuppa with some of the older members of the congregation. I had joined them because one of the ladies arrived down to tell me that today wasn’t pavlova or a myriad of different traybakes, today they had home made sausage rolls. The minister I worked with at the time lead us in prayer and took us though a passage, asking questions along the way. I can’t remember how it came up but in conversation I had called myself a sinner and said that they were sinners too. For most of those gathered I had said nothing wrong, but for one lady it was is I had thrown what was left of my cold cup of tea in her face, the rage, it was something akin to the transformation that happened to Dr. Bruce Banner in the incredible Hulk. I want you to know as you read this that you are a sinner just as I am, and if you don’t like it, you don’t believe it, then you are deceiving yourself and the truth is not in you (8, Rom 3:23). But here is the paradox, if you admit it, face up to the reality that you are a sinner, if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom 10:9). If we do this then we will be saved, that sin no longer stands against us, it has been dealt with. If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from unrighteousness (9). Here’s the but, but if we fail to see that we are sinners, if we deny that we are sinful and deny our sin, then we deny the ability of Christ to save us. For it is only those who are sinners need a saviour. For those who persist in saying that they have not sinned, that they are not sinners, then the word of God is not in them (10). Sadly there are many even in the church today that say that they are not sinners, that they are not sinful, their attitude their behaviour and it is especially seen when it comes to sexual ethics. And if you think that this problem is just out there, its not in here lets not kid ourselves, sadly this attitude infects the church too, we no longer call sin sin, adultery has become an affair, we don’t steal copyrighted material we just stream it, selfishness is seen as standing up for my rights, and then there is greed, jealously, envy, malice, bitterness, how we can be critical of other believers and show such little forgiveness towards our brothers and sisters the last thing we want to admit is that our attitudes are sinful and that we are sinful. What we need to remember is that although we are sinners, God in his grace forgives sins, let our old self be crucified with Christ, let us turn from sin and live in that resurrected life, so that we become more like the God whose fellowship we are learning to daily enjoy. Let us live in the light (5,7), live in this way just as Jesus told us to as disciples. Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Question 66 What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment? The reason annexed to the fifth commandment, is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve for God’ s glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment. (Deut. 5:16, Eph. 6:2–3) Day 172 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 1v23-2v4 Message - Scott Woodburn As we have worked our way through these verses we have quickly seen that Paul's integrity and motives had been called into question by his opponents in Corinth. Even a change to his travel plans had given ammunition to those who sought to tarnish the reputation of the Apostle. It seems so petty as we read this letter to think that even a travel itinerary could sow seeds of division in a local fellowship, but are we so different? How often do we assign to someone else the worst possible motives? How often do we make up our minds without hearing every side of the story? Paul calls God as his witness in the matter (v23a). The Lord knows that Paul's motives were pure. It was to spare the Corinthians that Paul decided not to visit (v23b). Later in the letter Paul speaks of church discipline in the local fellowship. Our forefathers once declared that one of the marks of a true church was the exercise of discipline. It sounds extreme to our modern ears but a church where "anything goes" is no church at all. Paul takes no delight in church discipline, he is not dictator, lording it over the Corinthians (v24a). Instead he wants to work among them for their joy (v24b). Yet after making a "painful visit" to them, he had no appetite for another one (2v1). He loved the Corinthians and did not wish to cause them more pain, essentially saying "How can I have joy when I have caused you pain?" (v2). Instead Paul wrote them a stern letter (v3a). The number of letters Paul wrote to Corinth is a disputed point. There was a letter that came before 1 Corinthians as we see in 1 Corinthians 5v9. Then we have 1 Corinthians itself. After 1 Corinthians comes the stern letter of which we read here (some argue 1 Corinthians is the stern letter) and finally 2 Corinthians which some argue is actually two letters in one. Regardless of your opinion on this matter Paul is clear about his intentions. He hoped his letter would cause the Corinthians to address the problems in their fellowship. So much so that when he finally came to them he would not suffer further pain from those who should cause him to rejoice (v3a). Paul did not believe all was lost in Corinth, quite the opposite, he was confident that the congregation would respond to the letter by addressing the difficult issues. This would in turn restore Paul's joy which would be shared by the Corinthians themselves (v3b). Lest the Corinthians believe that Paul's letter came from a place of malice and score settling, he is clear that the stern letter anguished him and caused him tears but came from a place of deep love for the Corinthians (v4). We should not be foolish to think dark clouds of division will never roll over our local fellowships. Satan and sin will see brother against brother and sister against sister but, when division comes, all is not lost. The exercise of church discipline sounds negative but always has a positive end in sight. The positive end is repentance and restoration. In days of "cancel culture" one word can cause you to lose everything. The church offers another way, a path that leads to abounding joy in local fellowships across the land as sins are forgiven and relationships restored. We shouldn't be surprised. After all, the church belongs to Jesus. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q67 Which is the sixth commandment? The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill. Day 175 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 2v5-11 Message - Scott Woodburn If you ever find yourself in the city of Berlin and take a trip to the Altes Muesem it will be your pleasure to see the Severan Tondo. It is a painting from 200AD and it depicts the Roman Emperor Septimius Severus, his wife Julia Domna and their two sons Geta & Caracalla. You'll notice however that Geta's face is missing. Someone took a chisel to the painting, removed Geta's "bake" and rubbed animal excrement where his face used to be. Was he the victim of a modern mob who decided to punish him retrospectively? No. He was the victim of his brother's rage. Later in is his life Geta was murdered by his brother and a "damnatio memoriae" announced. In plain english, Geta's memory was damned and any mention or picture of him was to be removed from polite society. Such a practice seems to be making a comeback in modern society but in today's passage Paul shows it has no place in the church. Paul has been attacked in Corinth and he has already spent time in this letter defending his ministry and his travel plans. He doesn't make light of these attacks. In a very real way he says the individual in a local church who causes pain, causes pain to the whole body (v5). As we consider such a verse may we consider our own actions in the church which of course belongs to Jesus. We may think that our vendetta is against just one person, but the vendetta will always harm the whole. What should be done when an individual seeks to cause strife in a local fellowship? As we mentioned last week, discipline should be exercised and the goal of this discipline should always be restoration. This isn't always possible. Often in the modern church the troublesome individual packs up and leaves and refuses to submit to the discipline of the local church. But in Paul's case it would appear that the troublemaker has been punished by the church (v6) and has repented as a result. How do we know this? Because Paul urges the Corinthians to "forgive and comfort" the repentant sinner (v7). He has been disciplined, he has repented and now his spiritual condition is Paul's primary concern. The Apostle doesn't want this individual to be overcome with sorrow (v7b). To avoid this the Corinthians are to show their love for the former troublemaker (v8). Paul may have been the focus of the attack but he makes clear that if the Corinthians forgive, Paul also forgives. He wants them to be obedient in this matter (v9) understanding that he will not return to Corinth to open old wounds, instead the truly repentant sinner will receive forgiveness and comfort. The Apostle is no fool. He doesn't want the Corinthians to be outwitted by Satan (v11). Paul knows the designs of the enemy (v11a). Satan thrives on church division. The one who gossips in the church carpark delights the enemy. The one who causes and continues division has Satan cheering them on. The one who refuses any discipline receives a pat on the back from the father of lies. The one who refuses to repent and the one who refuses to forgive help in the devil's cause. But please Lord God not us! As we sit at the feet of the Apostle this morning may the Word challenge and the Spirit bring change. May we remember that we have been saved by the blood of Christ, becoming members of His church. May we be quick to repent of sowing seeds of division. May we be abundant in forgiveness towards the repentant. May we be wise to Satan's schemes and may we always strive for the unity of the Church. 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 neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto. Day 176 Pray (ACts) Read - Gen 2:16-17, 3:6, 15, Gal. 3:13 Message - Alan Burke If you have ever had a choice to make it can be an excruciating thing, like making the decision about to look for a new job, move house, sometimes it doesn’t really matter the choice we make, like what are we going to have for dinner tonight as far as I’m concerned as long as its not tomato pasta it will be grand. Other times there are consequences for our actions, like jumping on car roofs down the street. We thought about freedom on Monday, well Adam was the only man who had true freedom, he had the ability, the freedom to choose either to obey or disobey the ‘Covenant of Life’ that God made with him, God had given our first parents Adam and Eve the ability to choose with absolute freedom of will, God invited man to accept his word. In return for this simple faith and obedience, God promised to give to Adam a blessing out of all proportion to the little that was required of him. If he would obey he would have everlasting life; he would never die. Not only would this life be everlasting; it would be a more abundant life than Adam originally was given. He would be brought to a state where it would no longer be possible to sin and where he could have fellowship with God all as a result of perfect obedience that was dependant on God’s unmerited favour towards his image bearers. But if Adam did not obey their would be consequences. We know what happened, Adam ate of the tree (Gen 3:6), the consequences we all face to this very day, this world is fallen because of Adam’s first sin and we are slaves to sin. Adam had not obeyed the word of God and as a result there were consequences. Yet scarcely had fallen into sin before God approached Adam in the garden, He promised Adam and Eve that he would send a mighty deliverer and redeemer. In Genesis 3:15 we have God's first revelation of the ‘Covenant of Grace’. God promised man that there would be a conflict between Satan and the seed of the woman and that the seed of the woman would be victorious. "It [a descendant of Eve] shall bruise thy [Satan's] head, and thou [Satan] shalt bruise his [Christ's] heel.” Even in the beginning God promised to deal with the sin that enslaves us, to bring us into a right relationship with him. How, By his only Begotten son the Lord Jesus Christ, who would take upon Himself our nature (Heb. 2:11-16; Phil. 2:6-8), to live a life of obedience where Adam failed and we all have failed, keeping all the commandments, living by them (Gal. 3:12), and die under the curse that sinful man brought upon himself:“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us” (Gal. 3:13). Where Adam failed to live according to the Covenant of life our representative head, Christ, the Second Adam, perfectly kept the covenant by obeying God’s perfect law, on behalf of sinners. As Romans 5:18-19 teaches: “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. ” Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 70 Which is the seventh commandment? The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery. (Exod. 20:14) Day 177 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 2v12-13 Message - Scott Woodburn For some in Corinth Paul couldn't be trusted. He said that he would return to Corinth and yet there was no sign of him. Instead of Paul standing in front of them, they had a letter. Obviously Paul was a man whose yes was no and his no was yes. None of this was true. Why was Paul hindered in his plan to return to Corinth? We already know that he was reluctant to make another painful visit to the church but more light on the circumstances shines in these verses. Paul arrived in Troas to preach the Gospel (v12a). Troas was the region in the northwest of modern Turkey from where Paul could easily travel to Greece and Corinth. It's clear therefore that Paul's intentions were not duplicitous as some had argued. Instead he would labour in Troas, preaching the Gospel, before making his way across the Aegean Sea to Corinth. What changed his direction? An opportunity to preach Christ in Macedonia was opened for the Apostle (v12b). Macedonia was far to the north of Corinth and Paul didn't decide to go on a whim. In Acts 16v9-10 we read "And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them." What an exciting opportunity! Churches planted and sinners saved! Yet Paul was not at rest because he was unable to meet with Titus in Troas (v13). What's the significance of this? Even though Paul's plans were changed by God Himself, Paul's heart was still at Corinth. He hoped Titus would bring good news about the church. Perhaps news about a church full of forgiveness and peace. No such news would come and so it was with excitement but also sadness that Paul went on his way to Macedonia (v13b). We read such verses and they can seem incidental. We'll not be making a magnet of these verses to put on the fridge and even the most keen of our Facebook friends would struggle to hit "like" for 2 Corinthians 2v12-13. But Paul's love for the church and for the lost shines out here. He hasn't forgotten Corinth despite the barbs and he hasn't forgotten that those who die without Christ go to a lost eternity. Paul's priorities weren't wrong, his motives weren't driven by the flesh, quite the opposite. Why love the local church? Because with all her faults she is full of individuals for whom Christ died. Why love the lost? Because we know what lies ahead and the necessity of saving faith in Christ. As a church we support individuals and organisations all across the world as they labour for Christ, some in places utterly hostile to the Gospel. May that support continue and increase. May we never cause them to be restless in spirit (v13a) and may the Lord raise up among us more men and women prepared to heed the call to "Macedonia". The enemy may continue to use empty accusations to distract us from the work, but may we forever be unashamed "of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1v16) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q71 What is required in the seventh commandment? The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s chastity, in heart, speech, and behaviour. Day 178 Pray (ACts) Read - Gen 2:16-17, 3:8, 15, Rom 5:19 Message - Alan Burke If you could sum up what the redeeming work of Christ in one word I wonder what it would be? Forgiveness, redemption, adoption, love, there are many that we could come up with but there is one that I want to draw your attention to and that is obedience. For the work of scripture regards the work of Christ as one of obedience. We thought about the obedience that God had called Adam to on Wednesday, one that he failed to live up to, Adam did not obeyed the word of God and as a result there were consequences. Yet scarcely had fallen into sin before God approached Adam in the garden, He promised Adam and Eve that he would send a mighty deliverer and redeemer. In Genesis 3:15 we have God's first revelation of the ‘Covenant of Grace’. God promised man that there would be a conflict between Satan and the seed of the woman and that the seed of the woman would be victorious. "It [a descendant of Eve] shall bruise thy [Satan's] head, and thou [Satan] shalt bruise his [Christ's] heel.” Today we look at how “…just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19). For the contrast between the disobedience of the first man Adam and the Last man Jesus is clear. The life of Christ was clearly one of sustained, flawless and consistent obedience, in his ‘passive obedience’ and his ‘active obedience’. What do we mean by ‘passive obedience’ and his ‘active obedience’. Well Christ in his passive obedience he was a victim sinful men who sent him to the cross, and there on the cross He also received the wrath of God due to the sins of His people. We call this the ‘passive obedience’ of Christ not because Jesus was inactive; He purposefully and actively laid down His life for His flock (John 10:1–18). He there died in our place for the sins of his people. If the death of Jesus were all that we had, we would simply be restored to a place of neutrality. But God didn’t send Jesus to earth on Good Friday and say, “Die for the sins of your people and that will take care of it.” No, because more was needed. What more was needed that the cross you may wonder, think back to Adam what was required of him was obedience, the same obedience that he demands from all his creatures, for ’cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law’ (Gal 3:10, Deut 26:26). Christ in his active obedience by coming, born without sin through virgin birth, lived without sin his whole life, he honoured God in our place, and for us actively obeyed God in our place by keeping the law (Luke 22:39–46; John 19:28–30). Through his life and his death he was our substitute and though faith there is a glorious exchange, we stand before God with the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ (Phil 3:9). Christ did what Adam did not do, what we could never do, and though his ‘passive obedience’ and his ‘active obedience’ has dealt with our sin, achieving everything we need so that we may become the righteous of God (Rom 5:19). A glorious exchange takes place through faith so that we are accepted in his righteousness, we are his children, we are adopted because of what Jesus has done. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 72 What is forbidden in the seventh commandment? The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions. (Matt. 15:19, Matt. 5:28, Eph. 5:3–4) Day 179 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 2v14-17 Message - Scott Woodburn We obviously don't have any photographs of the apostle Paul. Ultimately his appearance didn't and doesn't matter but an ancient source does describe him in this way "A man of middling size, and his hair was scanty, and his legs were a little crooked, and his knees were far apart; he had large eyes, and his eyebrows met, and his nose was somewhat long." It seems that if Paul was signed by a modelling agency it would only be because they needed someone to model balaclavas. Paul wasn't unaware of the criticism. Later in this letter he writes what his opponents say about him "For they say, 'His letters are weighty and strong, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech of no account.'" (2 Corinthians 10v10) In other words, his critics argue that Paul is a big talker in his letters but of no significance in person. Criticism always stings but Paul never was a charismatic individual with bright white teeth or the greatest showman with razmatazz and shabang. Simply put, Paul preached Christ crucified. He may have been weak but the Gospel never is. Safe in this knowledge Paul describes his journey to Macedonia as a "triumphal procession" (v14). As he went, the Gospel was preached and news of Christ spread like a beautiful fragrance (v14b). The Gospel preached in a decaying world is like the smell of baking bread to an empty belly. It is a declaration that Christ died for the ungodly. It declares that He knew no sin but became sin so that we might become the righteousness of God. It is a declaration that must be believed. The Gospel is not for an elite group but it is to be preached openly and freely to all. Paul speaks of being the aroma of Christ to both the saved and the perishing (v15). To the one who has believed, the sweet smell of salvation is from life to life (v16) but for the Christ rejecter, the proclamation is from death to death. The same message brings salvation to those who receive it and condemnation for those who reject it. John Calvin once made this very point, stating that the Gospel "is never preached in vain, but is effectual, leading either to life or to death." It is a terrifying thing to consider the man who hears the Gospel each week in his own church, sitting in his own pew and rejects it every time. Woe to such a man! The scale of the task of preaching the Gospel causes Paul to proclaim "who is sufficient for these things?" (v16b). Paul knows his weakness. He may well be balding with crooked legs and one eyebrow but he is certainly not a "peddler of God's word" (v17), hawking it around for shameful gain. Instead he is an apostle commissioned by God, who speaks in Christ (united to Him by faith), in the sight of God. We should never tire of hearing the Gospel. We should always seek to encourage and pray for those who preach it without fear or favour. Ballynahinch may have its troubles and often the Bride of Christ in this town is weak and divided, but I thank God that in every corner of "the Hinch", the sweet fragrance of the Gospel drifts through our streets. May the church in Ballynahinch continue to be "the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." (v15). To God alone the glory, may He give the increase! Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q73 Which is the eighth commandment? The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal. Day 180 The Lord's Day Day 161
Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 1v1-2 Message - Scott Woodburn Now and again I'll come across an article or statement that says something like "the problem here is that people are listening too much to Paul and not enough to Jesus." Perhaps you've encountered that yourself? In many Bibles Christ's words are highlighted in red letters because they're obviously more important than any others...right? My own Bible was a gift and I cherish it but I wish it didn't include red letters for the words of Jesus. The problem here is that we are tempted to think that all Scripture is God breathed but some of it is more God breathed than the other parts. This is simply untrue and Scripture from beginning to end proceeds from the mouth of God. Paul was used by the Lord to author at least 13 books of the New Testament. I'm satisfied that Hebrews should also be considered from Paul and therefore half of the New Testament comes from the man once called Saul. See the issue? If the words in red are of more worth than anything from Paul...half of the New Testament should be rejected or downplayed. It isn't a modern problem. There were many in Corinth who questioned the authority of Paul. These individuals stirred up so much trouble that Paul's visit to Corinth was "painful" (2 Corinthians 2v1). Indeed Paul had written another letter to the Corinthians which was hard to write and no doubt hard to read (2 Corinthians 2v4). The false apostles didn't want the Corinthians listening to Paul and were prepared to say anything to get their way. So is Paul a problem? Not at all. Not then and not now. He is "an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God" (v1). The first verse of this book is an extraordinary claim. Paul is an apostle of Christ Jesus. Who were the apostles? Men who has seen the resurrected Christ (Acts 1v22, 10v39–41, 1 Corinthians 9v1, 15v7–8) who were directly appointed by Jesus (Mark 3v14, Luke 6v13, Acts 1v2, 24, 10v41, Galatians 1v1) and who could confirm their ministry and message by the "signs of an apostle" (Matthew 10v1–2, Acts 1v5–8, 2v43, 4v33, 5v12, 8v14, 2 Corinthians 12v12, Hebrews 2v3–4). There are no apostles today, their ministry was foundational as the church grew from its Jewish beginnings to encompass the entire world, but thanks be to God, we still have their Spirit inspired testimony. Churches like my own are slowly but surely returning to live worship. Edengrove will meet for the first time in six months this coming Sunday. I'm all too aware of my own limitations in this regard. What should I say? What should I preach? Will I try to answer the Covid questions? With limited time in our gatherings what passages should be squeezed in? I'm trying to relax about all this. I do not need to reinvent the wheel. My responsibility is to preach the whole counsel of God. A ministry that looks to the prophets and the apostles and one that preaches Christ and Him crucified. As I consider this I am so thankful for the Word of God. In His mercy God has given us a book, inspired by the Spirit and delivered by the testimony of men like Paul. We will open it again this Sunday, we'll read it aloud and I'll preach from it. We may not have the same time, we may be in the "wrong seat", we may find the imposed changes difficult but this Sunday we will hear the voice of God and we will devote ourselves to the apostles' teaching. Something extraordinary will happen this Sunday. I suspect we've long taken it for granted but may we ready ourselves this week to receive the Word of God on the Lord's Day. "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119v103) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q57 Which is the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment is, Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath-day, and hallowed it. Day 162 Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 1:1 Message Alan Burke Does it really matter what you believe? Think about the things that we believe and know to be true in every day life, right now we believe it is important to keep socially distanced, the hand shakes have gone, hugs are a no no, and we are keeping our distance to those whom we would normally be embracing at the door of the meetinghouse. For some this suits them quite nicely but for others others they struggle with the lack of physical contact. Why are we living in this way, it is because we believe that social distancing is an important way of slowing or stoping the spread of Covid-19, it will keep us and those who we love safe. Does it matter what you believe, it does because it impacts how we live. Here John wanted to leave his readers in no doubt that the same Jesus, the preexistent Jesus is the truth that he now speaks off to them, the Jesus of which he speaks of is the Word of life. But why? Because it matters what we believe about Jesus. Here he speaks into a situation that the truth of the Gospel has been blurred, some were making Jesus less than God, others were saying that he was not human, heresy abounded, and John is assuring them that the message he brings that he proclaims to them was no dream, for he had seen and experienced it and the truth matters, it matters to your salvation. The incarnation of Jesus Christ becoming a true, living, breathing man is essential to our redemption. Only a man, a man who was without sin, could satisfy God's justice. But man is not without sin, and therefore could have no hope in making atonement for himself. So God would, if he were to redeem man and uphold the covenant of grace, have to provide a way for a true man to make atonement for the sins of God's elect (Heb. 2:17, 18; 4:15-5:2, Matt. 11:29; Mark 10:39; John 13:13-15; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 12:2-4; 1 Pet. 2:21). Jesus had to be a man so that he could identify with us, suffering in our place and sympathising with us in our weakness. Yet he also had to be fully God, for there is no way any mere human could bear and fully satisfy God’s wrath. By nature, this wrath is infinite in quality. In order to bear the weight of wrath, it is essential that the Savior be divine, in order to satisfy this wrath, he had to offer a sacrifice of such a value that God would be pleased to accept it. John is making it clear that what we know and believe about the Lord Jesus matters. What do we believe about Jesus, this is what the bible teaches; The Son of God, the second person in the Trinity, being very and eternal God, of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fulness of time was come, take upon Him man’s nature, (John 1:1, 14, 1 John 5:20, Phil. 2:6, Gal. 4:4) with all the essential properties, and common infirmities thereof, yet without sin; (Heb. 2:14, 16–17, Heb. 4:15) being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance. (Luke 1:27, 31, 35, Gal. 4:4) So that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood, were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion, composition, or confusion. (Luke 1:35, Col. 2:9, Rom. 9:5, 1 Pet. 3:18, 1 Tim. 3:16) Which person is very God, and very man, yet one Christ, the only Mediator between God and man. (Rom. 1:3–4, 1 Tim. 2:5)(WCF 8:2.) Who do you say Jesus is? Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 58 What is required in the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment requireth the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his Word; expressly one whole day in seven, to be a holy Sabbath to himself. (Deut. 5:12–14) Day 163 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 1v1-2 Message - Scott Woodburn Paul's relationship with the Corinthians was often strained. We heard on Monday that he was forced to write a stern letter to correct some of what was going on in their church. Additionally the apostle described a visit to Corinth as "painful". Yet as he writes to them he does so with love and affection for his brothers and sisters who we have long known as the Corinthians. Paul writes alongside his friend Timothy (v1a). The pair had come across one another in Lystra (a city in modern day Turkey) and Paul had recruited him there (Acts 16v3). It was probably Timothy who had carried 1 Corinthians to the church in Corinth (1 Corinthians 4v17) but as 2 Corinthians begins he is back with Paul in Ephesus. Both men are therefore well known to the Corinthians and so the letter is from Paul with Timothy by his side "to the church of God that is at Corinth" (v1b). This is a remarkable turn of phrase. Paul is writing to friends and indeed foes, he is writing about subjects which cause him pain but he is still aware that the people who will receive this letter are part of the church of Jesus Christ. I think we have lost sight of this today. In Northern Ireland we have become so accustomed to church splits that they cause us little grief. Church membership means next to nothing. Individuals who once promised before God to attend church never darken its door and yet somehow remain in membership. We promise to submit to the leading of the elders but change our minds when we don't agree with their decisions. What does Paul mean when he speaks of the church? The church is both visible and invisible, or in other words we see it with our own eyes on a Sunday but its true membership is invisible to our eyes and known only to God. This invisible church, the true church, is not man-made but exists because the Lord has called sinners out of the world to repentance and faith by the preaching of the Gospel. The church is the kingdom of God. The church has been given the Word of God and the ordinary means of grace which are given to gather and perfect the people of God and the church belongs to Jesus. The church is the bride of Christ, He is the head of the church (not the Pope or Queen) and He is the one whose blood was shed, not for everyone who has ever lived, but for His church. It is to the church in Corinth that Paul writes. But the Corinthian church doesn't stand alone, she is part of the church catholic, the universal church. Paul greets "the saints who are in the whole of Achaia" (v1b). The Roman province of Achaia (pronounced AH-KAY-AH not Ikea!) which is in modern Greece, had other men and women of faith who Paul calls the saints. Roman Catholicism argues that the saints are only those who have been canonised by the Pope. These so called saints must have lived a virtuous life and then when the individual is dead a miracle must be performed on earth via the intercession of the so called saint in heaven. There's more to it than that but hopefully you see already that none of this can be justified. Instead the saints are those who have trusted Christ. You and I are saints through faith in Jesus and therefore part of His church. We belong to Jesus and one another. There are no independent churches but from Ballynahinch to Buenos Aires there is the church. Church life is slowly returning to "normality" but let me ask you...how will you return to the church? As consumeristic, gossipy, grumpy, malcontents, always complaining but never serving? Or as men and women who realise that by faith you have become part of the church of Jesus Christ which is the most significant body on this planet? "Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Saviour." (Ephesians 5v23) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q59 Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath? From the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the first day of the week, ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath. Day 164 Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 1:3-4 Message Alan Burke What do you and I have in common, it could be any manner of things, like a common enjoyment of sitting around a fire pit enjoying a lovely summers evening, or going for a walk on Downhill beach early in the morning, maybe its our common love of steak, or of Robinson’s Lemon Barley Water. If none of these things ring true then I hope if you are reading this that you and I have in common our love of the Lord Jesus, that we are in fellowship with one another, after all fellowship literally means to ‘have in common’. Just as James, John and Simon were sharers in their common pursuit of fishing (Lk 5:10), believers share in the grace of God (Phil 1:7) and in Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:9). Today if you know and love Jesus then we share fellowship with one another as a result of the spiritual privilege we have in Him. We are united in Christ. But why does John after focusing the attention of his readers to the preexistent Jesus the Word of life, now speak to them about fellowship (3) and that fellowship to make his joy complete (4). Well it seems that the fellowship that was shared among them was in decline. Likely because they were being influenced by others, nonsense being spouted by false teachers, leading those to whom he writes up the garden path. What they were hearing was contrary to the truth, and instead of growing in their fellowship with one another the cracks were appearing, divisions were increasing. The likelihood is that some of their number had already left by the time John writes and he feared that others may leave with no assurance, doubting their salvation. Sadly today there are still many who proclaim a message is not the gospel, is not good news, who say the way of salvation is dependant on our works, there are those who say that it is possible to have a relationship with God while rejecting Jesus Christ as the way the truth and the life (Jn 14:6). But here we are reminded to of the truth of the ‘word of life’ (1), in whom there is eternal life (2), that means we can have fellowship with one another. He is the foundation for fellowship in the church, the truth of what the Scriptures teaches has to be our rule and guide, for the 'scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man’ (WSC3), they are what we are to look to. When professing Christians try to cobble together unity that is not based on scripture it will fail unless the truth of the Scriptures is the foundation for fellowship. For our fellowship with God comes first, that fellowship with one another is derived from it. It matters what we believe. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 60 How is the Sabbath to be sanctified? The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, (Exod. 20:8,10, Exod. 16:25–28) even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days; (Neh. 13:15–19) and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’ s worship, (Luke 4:16, Acts 20:7, Ps. 92, Isa. 66:23) except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy. (Matt. 12:1–31) Day 165 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 1v1-2 Message - Scott Woodburn The apostle writes to the Corinthians with Timothy by his side to the church of Christ in Corinth and the whole region of Achaia (v1) and his message? Grace and peace to you (v2). Paul is going to have to defend his ministry, he will have to say tough things, but first he extends a blessing to his brothers and sisters in Christ. Firstly, he speaks of grace. We often call our children and our churches by this beautiful word. What does it mean? Grace is God's unmerited favour to those who deserve His wrath. Paul prays that the Corinthians would know this grace. That in all of their days they would understand and rest in the magnificence of God's grace. God extends this grace to us in the work of Christ. Jesus takes our sin to the cross and nails it there. Jesus is the propitiation for our sins - the sacrifice that turns away the wrath of God. Jesus rose again on the third day for our justification and every inch of it is by the grace of God. Did we deserve it? Not a bit. We deserved Calvary not Jesus. We deserved the wrath of God for our sins. But while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Grace to you, says Paul. Secondly, he speaks of peace. The American pioneer Daniel Boone when asked if he'd made peace with God stated "I didn't know we'd quarrelled." Many are like him. Most believe in a fictitious God who resembles a long white bearded Santa Claus at Christmas. The reality is that there are those in this world who have peace with God through faith in Christ and those who carry on a war with Him that perhaps they are unaware they are fighting. Paul wants the Corinthians to know the peace of God that passes all understanding. A peace that only comes when we know the conscience calming reality of the Gospel - that we will stand in God's holy presence by the blood of Christ. We have been forgiven! Peace to you, says Paul. There are many sources of grace and peace in this world. We are treated well when we don't deserve it. Peace is won on our behalf by soldiers in a foreign field. Paul looks higher. Grace and peace to you from the Father and the Son, says Paul. There is no higher standard and nothing that stills our hearts than knowing and understanding the grace and peace of God to weak and weary sinners. There is much for Paul to discuss and many battles to fight but he begins with a word of grace and peace to a church he loves and cares for. Back in the day my mother would often ask me to do a "wee message for her". It would usually mean a loaf from the Co-op or a delivery to my aunt. The story goes that a mother once asked her son to do a wee message. "Go to the shop and get me some Ormo taddie farls" said the mother before advising her son "If they don't have Ormo get something else." The son ran off to the shop before returning with two litres of bleach. "They didn't have Ormo" he said "so I brought you something else." Paul has a message to deliver and even after all these years he still speaks. It is a message we wouldn't swap for anything else. It is a message of Christ and Him crucified and peace with God for all who believe. We'll return to church in the morning and before we all start weeping uncontrollably and hugging and kissing even though we shouldn't, here's what I'll say first "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." (v2) Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Q61 What is forbidden in the fourth commandment? The fourth commandment forbiddeth the omission, or careless performance, of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness, or doing that which is in itself sinful, or by unnecessary thoughts, words, or works, about our worldly employments or recreations. Day 167 Pray (AC-ts) Read — 1 John 1:5 Message Alan Burke It was a full moon last Wednesday. As I was driving home from Ballynahinch it beamed brightly in the night sky, illuminating the road in front of me so much so that for a brief moment it seemed that was bright enough to drive home without the car headlights on. You will be glad to know that I thought better of it. We can see the effects of light so clearly, normally when we think of light we think of the light of the sun, C.S. Lewis said this about it, “We believe that the sun is in the sky at midday in summer not because we can clearly see the sun (in fact, we cannot) but because we can see everything else”. Here in John 1:5, John gives us a description of God that is not found in the teaching of Jesus that we have recorded in the Gospels but it is a truth that came to John from Jesus himself. For John had heard, seen, touched Jesus, he now testifies and proclaims the truth concerning him and that he had learnt from him. (1-2). He was doing that which Jesus himself had tasked him with along with the other apostles, taking the good news to the ends of the earth (Mark 3:14, Luke 6v13, Acts 1:2, 24, 10:41, Gal 1:1). God is light and throughout the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament light is the obvious symbol of God, in Exodus he manifested himself in light, (Ex 3:1-6, 13:21-22), the psalmist speaks of how ‘he clothes himself in light as with a garment’ (Ps 104:2), we learn from Paul in 1 Timothy 6, that God is unapproachable light to bright for man to behold (1 Tim 6:16), and elsewhere how the Lord is light and salvation (Ps 27:1, 36:9, Isa 49:6). What does it mean thought, well look to what else John says, ‘in him there is no darkness at all’. Lets think about what that means, God is light, in him there is no darkness, the light being what is essentially of God, it contains the truth (1:6, 8, 2:21) love (3:1, 4:7-12), righteousness (1:9, 2:1, 29, 3:7), eternal life (1:2, 2:17, 25), hope (3:3), purity (1:7, 9, 3:3:) and confidence (2:28, 3:21, 4:17). And the children of God are to walk in his light (1:6-7). It is another way of saying that we are to live in his light, live in it, just as we can see that the sun is up not because we can see the sun in the sky but because we can see everything else. As God is light and in him there is no darkness, for the opposite of his light is the darkness. All that is opposite to his goodness is darkness, where we find falsehood (1:6, ��, hatred (1:9, 3:13, 15, 4:20), impurity (1:7, 9), fear (4:18) and sinfulness (2:16), it is the sphere of evil, it is the world (2:15-17, 3:3) and darkness (1:6, 2:6, ��. What it means is that means our actions, decisions, thoughts, beliefs, should be governed by the light and not the darkness, not by this world, not by political correctness, not by public opinion but by the light, governed by God himself. Just as we see the effects of the sun, the effects of the God we worship and who is light (1:5) should see seen in our lives, in everything we do in who we are and not darkness. Is it seen in our lives? Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Question 62 What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment? The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment are, God’ s allowing us six days of the week for our own employments, (Exod. 20:9) his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, and his blessing the sabbath-day. (Exod. 20:11) Day 168 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 1v3-11 Message - Scott Woodburn For those of us of a certain age we can remember an advert for Hamlet cigars. A man is in a photo booth and combs his four strands of hair into place. He sits patiently waiting for the flash that never comes but just as reaches down to figure out what is wrong with the machine it takes his photo. This repeats a few times before he gives up and lights a cigar. Apparently you see, "happiness is a cigar called Hamlet". I'd imagine that most of us in the midst of turmoil don't reach for a cigar. Where do we find comfort then? Paul tells us that God is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort (v3). It is the Lord who comforts us when we are afflicted (v4a) and we in turn comfort others (v4b). The Christian's comfort isn't a cigar called Hamlet but instead a Saviour named Jesus. He is our great high priest who knew trouble in every way but did not sin. He comforts and consoles us as we wait for His return. This comfort is like a lighthouse on a dark stormy night at sea because in this world the Christian will know affliction and trouble. During this affliction, Christ is our hope. Through faith in Christ we have union with Him. Paul speaks here of sharing abundantly in Christ's suffering (v5a). What does he mean? Kim Riddlebarger is helpful "We share in Christ’s suffering by trusting in his suffering throughout his life and especially in his death on Calvary to save us from the guilt and power of our sin. No one suffered more and carried a greater burden than did Jesus." In affliction we look to Jesus the suffering servant and as we gaze upon Christ we find our comfort (v5b). As we shall see Paul was no stranger to affliction, but he patiently endured all that came his way. He knew affliction to such an extent that he "despaired of life itself" (v8), indeed he felt that a death sentence had been pronounced upon him (v9a). But God delivered the Apostle (v10) and Paul's confidence was such that he was sure God would deliver him again (v10b). He hoped that his suffering and the comfort he received would be a blessing to the Corinthians who were certain to experience their own afflictions (v6) and so Paul the Pastor hoped for patient endurance (v6b) and prayer (v11) in the life of the church in Corinth. Paul's hope for the Corinthians was unshaken (v7) knowing that they would endure suffering and be comforting in their time of need. How could he be so certain? Because his was a Christward gaze. We may never have seen days like these but our Saviour hasn't changed since the days Paul called upon Him despairing of life itself. My brothers and sisters, these are days of afflcition for many and some of you this morning have trials that would make even the strongest knees weak. But our hope is unshaken, we know affliction and will certainly know comfort, because dearly beloved we know Jesus. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. (Psalm 34v5) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q63 Which is the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Day 169 Pray (AC-ts) Read — 1 John 1:6-7 Message Alan Burke When I was a wein my mates and I from Kerry park would go exploring. The roaming fields that surround the village that we lived were our playground. When the cows were out from the spring onwards the farmers would have the electric fences up for grazing management, moving the fence so they had new grass to eat each day. If you wanted to cross the fence you would normally just go under it, it was easy enough. There was one day though that the farmer had two lines of wire up and the choice was try to go round it or the simpler solution in our heads was to go over it. I remember doing a running jump but the next fella decided just to put his leg over it, he ended up with a foot on each side and what ensued seemed like a lifetime of pain and tears. We all learnt a valuable lesson that day. Why thought do I bring this up, well as John writes to the church he makes it clear that we cannot live in light and darkness, we cannot have a foot on one side and one and the other, one foot in the light and one in the darkness, nor more than my mate could have one foot on one side of the fence and one foot on the other. For light and darkness are incompatible, they cannot share fellowship with each other, for ‘God is Light’ how in him there is no darkness (5), and as John continues he makes it clear that those who claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness lie and the truth is not in them (6). I can’t imagine that going down too well in most presbyterian churches across the land, the minister calling someone out as a liar from the pulpit saying the truth is not in them. In effect though that is what John does. There are either some to whom John wrote or others they knew who claimed to have fellowship with God yet they walked in darkness, they kept on sinning, they had rejected the truth of his revealed word. Ultimately they did not live in the reality of God that is revealed in Jesus. If they had they would have lived according to the way that God had reveal himself and their sin demonstrated that they did not really know him, that they had no fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. For if we live by the truth we do the will of God (2:17), if we live by the truth we will do what pleases God (3:22), we do what is right (2:29, 3:7), it means that we commit oneself to live in the light, to conform to oneself to God, to have fellowship with those who are in the light. We will think about this more on Friday, but now I leave you with the question, are your thoughts or actions incompatible with the light? Pray (ac-TS) Sing WSC Question 64 What is required in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, (Eph. 5:21) inferiors, (1 Pet. 2:17) or equals. (Rom. 12:10) Day 170 Pray (ACts) Read - 2 Corinthians 1v12-22 Message - Scott Woodburn Sometimes it feels like we can't win, that we can't do right for doing wrong. It might surprise us that even Apostles weren't exempt from criticism. Paul and his ministry have come under attack in Corinth from so called Apostles who were nothing of the sort. Yet Paul while stung by their criticism is not undone. He is able to say with confidence that he behaved among the Corinthians with simplicity, godly sincerity and by the grace of God (v12). He didn't use earthly wisdom to convince or cajole the Corinthians, instead he laboured among them with integrity and while his critics might say otherwise, Paul's conscience doesn't condemn him (v12a). Indeed Paul made a supreme effort to behave in this way towards the Corinthians, perhaps because they were a supremely critical bunch. Even Paul's travel plans seemed to come under the critical gaze of his Corinthians opponents. To some it seemed that Paul was being fickle and saying yes when he really meant no. The truth was that Paul wanted to see them twice. Once on his way to Macedonia (v16a) and then on the way back from Macedonia (v16b). Indeed Paul wanted to see the Corinthians so that they might "have a second experience of grace" (v15) or in plain terms he wanted once again to minister among them. Before God, Paul can promise that his message has not been inconsistent (v18) because he proclaimed Christ among them (v19) in whom there is no inconsistency (v19b). Indeed all the promises of God find their yes in Jesus, He is the fulfilment of the promises of God (v20). To this Paul says "amen" and gives God the glory (v20b). It is the always consistent God who has established Paul and the Corinthians in Christ (v21a). He has called them and saved them and sanctifies them. It is the always consistent God who has anointed Christians with God the Holy Spirit (v21b). It is the always consistent God who has sealed Christians declaring His ownership of the them (v22a) and it is the always consistent God who puts the Spirit into our hearts as a sure pledge of our full and final salvation (v22b). When rumours abound and lies are told we often prefer to plan for war. We can't win, we can't do right for wrong and therefore we will fight our corner and lob a few grenades at our critics. Paul certainly defends himself in these verses but he also takes the Corinthians to a surprising place. Looking Christward he reminds them of the last day (v14). It is on that day that we will receive our vindication. On that day the slander and lies thrown at us will be shown to be hollow nonsense. On that day we will be acquitted by Christ Himself. Today if you are burdened by the slander and the stares, rest in Christ. Your enemies may have made up their minds about you. Your actions may always be seen through a negative gaze but turn your gaze to Jesus. Ultimately the false opinions of others will not stand and only the opinion of Christ should concern us. The critic and the criticised will all discover as George Whitefield once said "What we are, the last day will show." Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q65 What is forbidden in the fifth commandment? The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing anything against, the honor and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations. Day 151
Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 111:4-5 Message Alan Burke Driving down the M2 on the way into Belfast or the way out of Belfast you may have noticed the Thompsons animal feed factory just by the York Road Train Depot. Most of the time I pass it without a second thought, just like the train station, I’m too busy trying to negotiate safely through the traffic. Every now and again though I am exported back to my childhood, not though a by a ring or thought a wardrobe like in CS Lewis’ Narnia stories, rather by a smell that comes form the Thompsons Factory. It recalls to my memory shovelling meal into the auger at milking time. Smells, songs, conversations, call all recall something from memory. Here as the psalmist speaks of how the LORD has caused his wonders to be remembered it is more than recalling from memory (4), it is an intentional act, but it is more than simply to call to our minds the wondrous works of God, remembering also means to proclaim his wonders. That means announcing to one another an to all what the LORD has done so that his wondrous works may never be forgotten that they may always be remembered and that as they are understood that he may be praised. Throughout the history of his people, the LORD had done many wonders, he had redeemed his people time and again, not only in the events of the Exodus. And for his people it is only appropriate that they respond not only to his work of creation, but also what he has done for them, treasuring up the truths that he has revealed. For he is the one who has throughout the history of his people supplied their needs (5), but also how he continues to supply the needs of all of his creation. And he remembers, not like we do, or we do when we call something to mind but ever on his mind his covenant, the promises that he has made, of how he will never leave or forsake his people, how he will never leave or forsake those who are his (Deut 31:5, Heb 13:5). For the LORD in spite of his peoples faithlessness has been faithful to all the promises that he has made throughout the generations. Knowing this should give us great confidence in Him! His covenantal bond assured his people in the day of the Psalmist and it should assure us today of his continuing loyalty, that just like the Israelites, when they failed, when they messed up that their security wasn’t dependant on them but it was dependant on the LORD. When we fail, when we mess up, what we need to remind myself off is that that salvation doesn’t depend on us but in the LORD in his covenant. For Christians these words are assurance that the covenant has been confirmed in Jesus and that the faithfulness and justice of the heavenly Father are so much more true today, his covenant is forever, Paul assures us that no adversity can separate the elect from the Love of God in christ Jesus as he works his purposes on the earth (Rom 8:28-39). This day, give praise to the Lord, with your whole heart (1), giving thanks for your salvation is not dependant on you but on the covenantal God who remembers his covenant forever (5). Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 46 What is required in the first commandment? The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God to be the only true God, and our God; (1 Chron. 28:9, Deut. 26:17) and to worship and glorify him accordingly. (Matt. 4:10, Ps. 29:2) Day 152 Pray (AC-ts) Read - Psalm 2 Message - Scott Woodburn I'm not sure where she bought them but my late grandmother seemed to have a never ending supply of royal family plates. There were plates from the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, plates celebrating the birthday of the Queen Mother and plates from the various royal weddings in the 1980s. Plates, tea towels and trinkets all celebrating the House of Windsor who at one point in time called themselves the House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. As I write, Queen Elizabeth II is the longest-serving female head of state in world history, and the world's oldest living monarch, longest-reigning current monarch, and oldest and longest-serving current head of state. That's quite an achievement I think you'll agree, but there is another King whose throne is stronger and greater. Jesus is our prophet, priest and king. He is the One spoken of in Revelation 19v16 "On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords." He is the One predicted in Isaiah 9v7 "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." Jesus is the king who as we read in Psalm 2v6 has been set on Zion, God's holy hill. David ruled from the earthly Zion that is Jerusalem, Christ reigns today from the heavenly Zion. Jesus comes in the line of David, but only Jesus is God's begotten Son (v7). The nations will be Christ's heritage and the ends of the earth His possession (v8). Today the Gospel continues to sound around this earth and today multitudes are receiving Christ by faith. Heaven will be filled with people from every corner of this globe, all of whom are secure under the care and keeping of Christ the King. He restrains and defeats His enemies and His church will be kept from destruction (v9). Should we make a plate to celebrate? Should we paint Jesus on a white horse on a gable wall? No. Our response to Christ the King must be submission. We are to "kiss the Son" (v12), we are to bend our knee to Jesus, we are to receive Him by repentance and faith lest we be destroyed by His wrath (v12b). Much is made of Harry and Megan these days. They've either escaped from a racist and ungrateful country, throwing off the shackles of the House of Windsor or they've made a selfish and foolish decision in pursuit of financial gain. Make up your mind and take your choice but either way lose no sleep. Royal families and famous houses never stand the test of time and yet Christ's reign will never end, "blessed are all who take refuge in Him." (v12c). Before lockdown I had started preaching every week in a local nursing home. I would read, preach and then we would sing. One wee lady would answer every question by telling me her name and sharing that her church was called "Christ the King". If I heard it once, I heard it ten times, but you know something? I look forward to hearing it again. Christ the King! Christ the King! He is for me! Christ the King! Pray (acTS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q47 What is forbidden in the first commandment? The first commandment forbiddeth the denying, or not worshipping and glorifying, the true God as God, and our God; and the giving of that worship and glory to any other, which is due to him alone. Day 153 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 111:6-10 Message Alan Burke The United Kingdom can trace its sovereignty back to 519 AD, its current form of governance came much later in 1801. There are only two countries in Europe that can trace their sovereignty back earlier, France in 481 and Italy in 476. The top three world superpowers the United States can trace its sovereignty back to 1776, Russia back to 882 and China 1250 BC. Before any of them became sovereign states, the Lord God was at work, at work in the history of the world through his people. God had shown his people his power (6), he had made himself known to them, not only in his actions towards them and on their behalf, displaying it before their very eyes, in redeeming them from Egypt, in destroying their pursuers, providing for them in the wilderness, subduing the canaanites, giving them the promised land, giving them an inheritance of the nations, but also by providing an explanation of what he had done (Deut 7:1-6). Not one of his promises ever failed (Josh 23:14), in all his works towards them, his providential care showed that his word is true, that all his promises would to pass for all he has done revealed his faithfulness and justice, revealing the very character of the LORD to his people, and his word is to be the foundation of all and to be relied upon (7). For the Lord is abounding in love and faithfulness, (Ex 34:6), they had known first hand this to be true, for all his works, his precepts, are trustworthy, they are steadfast forever and ever. His relationship with his children toes not fluctuate with their fickleness, he himself is faithful (8). For in it all he had been working his purposes throughout this history, redeeming his people (9a), so that they could be a light, not only remembering covenant (5), but ordaining it (9b). In closing the Psalmist reminds us how the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (10), not fear of great or terror, rather filial fear, that of a child towards a parent. This is a to be filled with reverence for him, his law, his word, a desire not to offend him. What can we take away form this? The Lord God and his word and works will remain forever, long after the United Kingdom, France, Italy and world superpowers like the United States, Russia and China are reconciled to the pages of history. His great principles of truth and righteousness will stand, they will endure forever even though the nations plot, they try to throw off his truth, we know they do so in vein (Ps 2:1). Also the way of wisdom is to fear the Lord, we should desire to live for him even though our nations move away from this truth, for his precepts are trustworthy, they are established forever (8). Finally the covenantal nature of the Lord should assure us for in the LORD has commanded his covenant (9) forever, He has ordained or appointed it. It as all things are under his control, and we can know his assurance of favour though faith in Jesus. He will overcome all in his way, nations will fall before him as he works his purposes out on this earth for Holy and Awesome is his name, it is to be venerated, feared, for he has shown in all that he has done that he is holy and that he is the LORD. Pray (ac-TS)) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 48 What are we specially taught by these words [before me] in the first commandment? These words [before me] in the first commandment teach us, That God, who seeth all things, taketh notice of, and is much displeased with, the sin of having any other God. (Ezek. 8:5–6, Ps. 44:20–21) Day 155 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Ps 119:105, Rom 1:19-20, Heb 1:1-3 Message Alan Burke It’s not a nice feeling when we are left fumbling about in the dark, when the electricity goes off and we have to find a torch or a candle to give us light. Today most of us have a phone in our pockets that we can use as a torch so were not stuck but likely you can remember a time that you were left in darkness after a power cut and there wasn’t a torch to be found and after finding a candle the problem was you couldn’t find any matches. In life there can be times that we feel like we are fumbling about in the dark not knowing what were doing, where we are going but we shouldn’t because God hasn’t left us in this life fumbling about he has given us his word as a lamp to our feet and light to our paths (Ps 119:105), He has revealed himself to us in two ways, firstly in everything that surrounds us, this is called ‘General Revelation’ as ‘The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork’ (Ps 19:1). God has made it so that the entire natural order bears witness to Him through its beauty, complexity, design, and usefulness. That what is meant when God uses the apostle to says ‘For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 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.’ (Rom 1:19-20) All of creation though, is, ‘not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation' (WCF, I.1). General revelation does not reveal Jesus Christ or His work of redemption for sinners. Thus there is a need for what is called ‘Special Revelation’. Special revelation is the revelation of the way of salvation, and God has revealed himself though his word. In Hebrews 1 we are told how God throughout human history has been active and involved, he had spoken in many times and many ways, revealing himself with his sovereign word throughout the ages. He did not reveal all about himself at one time, He didn’t simply hand Adam and Eve his autobiography, or a guide book, with all that they needed to know, instead the revelation of himself was progressive, revealing more of himself in stages, throughout the history of his people but now He has spoken by his Son (Heb 1:1-2). Though Christ Jesus the process of revelation is done, completed, finished. God’s continuing disclosure of himself is ultimately expressed in the revelation though his Son, never to be added to. Nothing more is needed, no new books, no new revelation and no need for prophets who point forward for Christ has come. All of what he has given us is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Tim 3:15). Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 50 What is required in the second commandment? The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances as God hath appointed in his Word. (Deut. 32:46, Matt. 28:20, Acts 2:42) Day 156 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 97 Message - Scott Woodburn As I write this devotion the last full week of August is upon us. The children are slowly returning to school after a remarkable six months away. Our Prime Minister speaks of getting the country back to work. America prepares herself for an election. The world turns, indeed the world hasn't stopped turning, yet this August feels different. The final weekend of the month is often a last hurrah. We perhaps walk Portstewart Strand for one last taste of summer or maybe we just look forward to an extra hour in bed on the bank holiday. This year though? The sand between our toes feels a little less inviting and the extra hour is perhaps spent with a little more worry. The pandemic hasn't left us, but I have done my best this summer to point you to Christ instead of Covid. I hope the Messianic Psalms have been a blessing to you. I'm always amazed at how Scripture speaks to Scripture and how the Bible is all about Christ. In the Psalms this summer we have been reminded how Christ was the promised One (Psalm 89). We realise that He is the eternal only begotten Son (Psalm 102). Jesus is the condescending Christ...not a negative...but positive...He took on flesh and willingly lowered Himself to a humble estate (Psalm 8). He is the obedient Christ as He actively and passively obeyed the law (Psalm 40) and He was obedient even unto death on a cruel cross (Psalm 22 & 31). His story was to continue with the glorious declaration "He is risen!" (Psalm 16 & 34) and today we rejoice that Jesus has defeated death and we know where He is. Christ has ascended to the right hand of God and has blessed His Church with gifts (Psalm 68). Indeed this Jesus is no slippery politician, nor is He a temporary monarch, today Jesus remains our Prophet, Priest and King (Psalm 2 & 110). Read over my last paragraph and allow the scale of it to sink in. From start to finish the Scriptures are about Christ. Before His ascension he reminded His disciples of this fact. In Luke 24v44 Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” The Law, the Prophets and the Psalms...all of it about Christ. The Old & New Testaments connect in one testimony and the message is Christ. Why would this be the case? Simply because Christ is preeminent. Psalm 97 is Messianic, and we see in verse seven the truth that those who put their trust in idols will be put to shame. Instead the Psalmist encourages these so called "gods" to worship Christ. All the idols of this world will fall before the unsurpassed Jesus. There truly is no one like Him. Later the Apostle takes this verse in Hebrews 1 and applies it directly to Christ, interpreting it as a command to the angels to fall down before Jesus. If you could see the angels today you would be astounded by the beauty and magnitude of such a sight. Elisha prayed that his servant could see the reality of God's host with the young servant blessed by the sight of God's armies encamped around His people (2 Kings 6v17). Yet even the angelic host bow before Jesus. Why would this be the case? Simply because Christ is preeminent. There is no question that this September will be different, "normal" still seems a long way off but beloved of the Lord I humbly remind you that Christ is preeminent. I pray that my written voice doesn't sound patronising today, you I'm sure need no reminder of the preeminence of Christ. Yet allow me to gently speak to your soul as I do to my own...we are not undone and we will not be shamed. Why would this be the case? Simply because Christ is preeminent, He is outstanding, He is supreme, He is all. September is coming but now, then and always "Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!" (v12). Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment? A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images, or any other way not appointed in his Word. Day 157 Pray (AC-ts) Read — 2 Tim 3:16–17 Message - Alan Burke On Monday we thought about how God has revealed himself to us in two ways, firstly in everything that surrounds us, this is called General Revelation and secondly Special Revelation his word the scriptures of the Old and New Testament. General revelation, everything around us, all of creation though, is, ‘not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of His will, which is necessary unto salvation' (WCF, I.1). General revelation does not reveal Jesus Christ or His work of redemption for sinners. That is why there was a need of Special Revelation the revelation of the way of salvation, and God has revealed himself though his word. How though are we to read and study this word, the scriptures of the Old and New Testament? In truth often we read it drawing moral conclusions of how we are to live or not, we read David killing Goliath (1 Sam 17) and draw the conclusion that God will help us kill our own giants of sin and temptation, we read Jeremiah 29:11 and send it to people to encourage them but we wouldn’t include verse verse 10 in that encouragement that tells us that it will be seventy years before this promise is fulfilled. We need to let scripture speak to scripture, let the Word of God interpret the Word of God, context matters. Go read Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 27:5, Luke 10:37 and John 13:27 all together and ignore the context and you will see what I mean, but before you do that know that reading the Bible as if it were about us, we miss the story that God has been telling. We need to let scripture speak to scripture, every story, parable and prophecy contained from cover to cover Old and New Testament is telling a story, one story, of One Lord, One Plan, One People all its sixty-six books focus on Jesus, the one Lord who is the terminal point of God’s promises. It is the story of Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, ascension, reign, of His Son, Jesus Christ. The Righteous Man who rescues sinners. The Faithful Son who laid down His own life for His friends. The Glorious King who slew the ultimate giant, sin, and death, to redeem His people. Yet we can learn from scripture the good and necessary consequences, here is what I mean; Romans 13:1 tells us to “be subject to the governing authorities”. So if the government tell us to bow the knee an idol every night at 6pm we could argue that it is a necessary consequence of this verse but in many other places scripture forbids idolatry. When we read God’s word we need to let scripture speak to scripture to come to know what it means for us in our lives this day. For All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Tim 3:16–17). Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 52 What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment? The reasons annexed to the second commandment are, God’ s sovereignty over us, (Ps. 95:2–3) his propriety in us, (Ps. 45:11) and the zeal he hath to his own worship. (Exod. 34:13–14) Day 158 Pray (ACts) Read - Psalm 45 Message - Scott Woodburn If you've ever spent much time stuck in traffic in Ballynahinch you've probably had a moment or two to consider the window display at Isabella Paige. I may be wrong in saying this but it seems to me like it changes three times a week! But ladies, before you get yourself down to the 'Hinch for a pair of new tracksuit bottoms, please know that Isabella Paige only seems to stock what I call the "best of gear". Like the famous Marks and Spencers adverts..."Isabella Page doesn't sell ordinary clothes, these are clothes made for only the greatest of days!" Psalm 45 is about one of those great days...a wedding day. It is a song to be sung at a royal wedding but it finds its fulfilment in Christ. We know this because verses six and seven are applied to directly to Jesus in Hebrews 1v8-9. He is the King, He is the Bridegroom and according to this Psalm He is the One whose throne lasts forever (v6a). He is a good and righteous ruler, His sceptre (a symbol of His power and authority) is one of "uprightness" (v6b), indeed Christ the King loves righteousness and hates wickedness (v7a). He has ascended to the highest place and God has anointed Him beyond all of His companions (v7b). Once more in this Psalm we meet the preeminent Christ. In response, we as the church, the bride, consider the "pleasing theme" (v1a) of our Saviour. He is our beautiful Saviour full of grace (v2). He rules over us by the sword of His word (v3). He rides forth in victory "for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness." (v4) and none can stand before Him (v5). He is the righteous forever King (v6-7). Amazingly, the preeminent Jesus cares for His Bride. We fill no lack in Him and we do Him no favours and yet He loves us. The Bride is called to leave behind her father's house (v10) and to bow before her Lord (v11). Here is a picture of saving faith, we know our depravity, we know our lack, we know that there is nothing in this world that satisfies and so we run to Christ and receive Him by faith. To be part of the Church of Jesus Christ is a greater privilege than having a seat in the front row at a royal wedding dressed in a fancy frock from Ballynahinch. Consider today the preeminence of Christ and then wonder that He has regard for sinners like us. We think we are dressed in the "best of gear" and yet even the greatest of our works are as filthy rags in the sight of God (Isaiah 64v6) and still the preeminent Christ stoops to save with grace and mercy. As John puts it "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." (1 John 3v1) Charles Hodge was an American Presbyterian and the principal of Princeton Theological Seminary. At his funeral his friend Henry Boardman paid tribute to him in this way. "Christ was not only the ground of his hope, but the acknowledged sovereign of his intellect, the soul of his theology, the unfailing spring of his joy, the one all-pervading, all-glorifying theme and end of his life." Without ever meeting Charles Hodge, it would seem that he understood the preeminence of Christ. No one and nothing comes close the majesty of Jesus. May we never forget it. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q. 53. Which is the third commandment? The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain: for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Day 159 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 112 Message - Alan Burke Over the last couple days we have been thinking about how God has revealed himself to us, through General Revelation what we can see in creation as well as Special Revelation that of the Word of God, the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament. For although creation declares there is a God and it manifests the goodness, wisdom, and power of God as to leave us inexcusable before him (Ps. 19:1–3, Rom. 1:32, 2:1,14–15), they are not sufficient to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation (1 Cor. 1:21, 2:13–14), that is why we need Special Revelation. From cover to cover Old and New Testament is telling a story, one story, of One Lord, One Plan, One People all its sixty-six books focus on Jesus, the one Lord who is the terminal point of God’s promises. As we read it and try to understand it we need to let scripture speak to scripture to come to know what it means for us in our lives this day. We come now to psalm 112 I hope you forgive me if you feel that you are transported back to school and you are sitting English class with your teacher asking you comprehension questions that you don’t know the answer to, but with Psalm 112 in front of you (open bibles, phones out, tablets etc), ask yourself; who is this psalm about? Is it about me? Is it about the people in my church? Is it about believers? While preparing I came across one commentator who said “…if you do not experience the truth of this psalm in your life literally, then it is because of your disobedience to God”. If that really is true then I need to start looking for a job so does Scott. Thankfully this psalm is not about me or you or the people in our church or about believers. When we let scripture speak to scripture we see that the only one who has truly lived in this way and inherited these promises is Jesus, remember from cover to cover Old and New Testament is telling a story, one story, of One Lord, One Plan, One People all its sixty-six books focus on Jesus, the one Lord who is the terminal point of God’s promises. This Psalm is fulfilled in Jesus. So what, what does it mean for us, what are the implications for us as we gather, what are the ‘good and necessary consequences’ that we thought about on Day 157, well thought the blessed man of Psalm 112, we can come with confidence before the living God through faith (Rom 10:9-10). Also we are to be imitators of this blessed man Jesus Christ (Eph 5:1). The Spirit of God works within us changing us as men and women into “sons of glory” (Hebrews 2:10) and We begin to look like the blessed man of Psalm 112. We begin to look like Jesus. So Psalm 112 is who we are becoming in Jesus, as we grow in our knowledge and fear of the Lord, as we delight in his commandments more and more. As we grow we should fear the Lord and delight in His commands more and more (Psalm 112:1). There is are many of his commands that are unpopular in this world but they are there for our benefit, accept them, rejoice in them, no its for our best. Others are blessed though us as we proclaim this blessed man (2), others receive the riches of spiritual blessings we receive in Christ Jesus this blessed man through faith (3). For he is the light of the world and we are to reflect that light, just as the moon reflects the suns light, being imitators of God, showing grace and compassion in all our interactions (4), we are to give freely as we have been given, sharing the good news (5) (Matt 10:28), knowing that nothing can separate us from the love of God (6) (Rom 8:31-39), we need not fear for God is in control, trusting in God (7). Our trust in the Lord should deepen and grow (Psalm 112:7). We should become more gracious, compassionate, and righteous (Psalm 112:). Generosity should mark our lives (Psalm 112:9). Finally as it closes there is a warning (10) how God will ultimately deal with the wicked those who have not confessed with their mouths that Jesus is Lord and believed in their hearts. Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 54 What is required in the third commandment? The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God’ s names, (Matt. 6:9, Deut. 28:58) titles, (Ps. 68:4) attributes, (Rev. 15:3–4) ordinances, (Mal. 1:11,14) Word, (Ps. 138:1–2) and works. (Job 36:24) Day 160 Pray (ACts) Read - Psalm 118 Message - Scott Woodburn One of my first jobs was holding my uncle Sammy's ladder as he cleaned windows around Bloomfield. I would do about an hour after school and would receive anything between 20p & 50p for my trouble. As I was holding the ladder one day, a car stopped in the middle of the street and out stepped a fairly average looking man. He called my uncle's name and immediately the chamois was put away and my uncle descended his ladder with a speed I'd never seen before. He greeted this individual as "Van" and told the stranger that I was "Norman's youngest". I acknowledged the man by saying "Alright Van.". The pair of them got into the car and drove away while I was left to watch my Uncle's equipment. It turns out the stranger was Van Morrison who was born and reared in Bloomfield, just like Danny Blanchflower and also my auld da. I told my mother about this encounter and she was disgusted that I greeted Bloomfield's famous son with "Alright Van." although I'm pretty certain he didn't lose any sleep over it. As we finish our look at some of the Messianic Psalms we take a journey to Psalm 118. It is the final Psalm in a section called the Egyptian Hallel (Psalm 113-118). These Psalms would be sung by the Jews at the Passover as they remembered their escape from Egypt. We know this Psalm is Messianic because it is quoted extensively about Christ throughout the Gospels (Matthew 21v42; Mark 12v10,11; Luke 20v17; Matthew 21v9; Matthew 23v39; Mark 11v9; Luke 13v35; Luke 19v38; John 12v13) and the rest of the New Testament (Acts 4v11; 1 Peter 2v4,7; Hebrews 13v6) The second part of the Psalm (v19-27) speaks of a procession into the city and to the temple to worship God. It is a time of victory and celebration. The Psalmist wants to come and worship God (v19) who has become his salvation (v21). He sings unto God (v28) and thanks Him that His steadfast love endures forever (v29). What has the Lord done to deserve such praise? He has taken that which was despised and made it preeminent (v22). The rejected stone has become the cornerstone. Peter preaches before the council and he tells them "This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone." (Acts 4v11) Jesus was despised and rejected by men and yet today He stands in glory. Jesus came to His own and His own did not receive Him (John 1v11), instead they watched as He was discarded at the cross like a common criminal. Yet the same Jesus was raised triumphant from the grave. Truly the rejected stone has become the most important part of the buildings foundations. Jesus is the preeminent Christ, the cornerstone on which the Church rests. But as we consider this imagery it would be remiss of us not to remember Christ's teaching on verse 22. He reminded the chief priests and Pharisees of this verse and warned "The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him." (Matthew 21v44) Jesus is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offence to those who are perishing (1 Peter 2v8). Many imagine Christ as the laid back teacher in flowing robes who wouldn't have been out of place in San Francisco during the so called "summer of love". This imaginary Jesus is all peace and love and threatens no one. The real Jesus is the preeminent One, a precious Saviour to those who have believed and a crushing rock to those who reject Him. Simply put "there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4v12) So how will we greet the preeminent Christ? Like me casually greeting Van Morrsion, with no knowledge of him or concern for him? Or will we marvel at the preeminence of Christ and throw ourselves upon the Rock where we will find mercy, forgiveness and grace? As Christ's journey to Calvary was almost complete, He sang Psalm 118 with His disciples (Matthew 26v30). It was time for Him to die. The preeminent Christ because our substitute. The rejected stone became the cornerstone. "Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" (v29) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q55 What is forbidden in the third commandment? The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of anything whereby God maketh himself known. Day 160 Pray (ACts) Read - 1 John 1:1 Message Alan Burke I remember going out with a video camera to ask some questions to those who were gathered outside the City Hall in Belfast, asking questions about what people believed about the Bible, about faith and about Jesus. The most surprising responses came not from those who had no church or faith background, rather they came from those who professed faith, who said they were members of churches. Jesus asked his disciples… ‘Who do you say I am?’ (Matt 16:15) so today I ask, ‘Who do you say He is?’. Today we begin a series on the First Epistle of John, it’s a letter from a pastor to his people, in one that he shows his concern throughout, even though he is absent from them and he is anxious about them. And what is John most anxious about, their understanding of who Jesus was and is and evermore all be. As John starts he draws our attention to ‘that which was from the beginning’ (1:1a). Not the beginning of this pandemic, not the beginning of your life but from the beginning, that is before all that is. This statement should bring to our minds the opening of the creation account in Genesis 1, how ‘In the beginning’ (Gen 1:1a) as well as the Gospel of John were we read ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God’ (Jn 1:1) What John wants to draw our attention to is ‘That which was from the beginning… …the Word of life’ (1:1). For before all that is now, there was God and there was Jesus Christ with God the Father because He was and is God. It is from that beginning that the throne of the Eternal Word, the preexisting Jesus has been established (Jer. 12, Ps 93:2). And it is the preexisting Jesus that John brings our focus upon, for not only had John heard, he had seen, he had looked upon and he had touched (1 Jn 1:1, Jn 20:24-29), this word, this Jesus, this is what John wants his readers to have at the forefront of their minds. John wants to leave his readers in no doubt that the same Jesus, the preexistent Jesus is the truth that he now speaks off to them, the Jesus of which he speaks of is the Word of life. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Question 56 What is the reason annexed to the third commandment? The reason annexed to the third commandment is, That however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment. (1 Sam. 2:12,17,22,29, 1 Sam. 3:13, Deut. 28:58–59) Day 141
Pray (AC-ts) Read - Acts 1v6-11 Message - Scott Woodburn When it comes to our understanding of the Gospel we rightly proclaim Christ and Him crucified. This good news is followed by even more as we boldly declare that Christ is risen. Yet that is often where we stop. There's another important bit that comes after the resurrection called the ascension. Ah yes! The ascension! The going up of Jesus to heaven. It immediately rings a bell but perhaps the purpose of it has escaped our attention. This week we will consider the ascension of Christ. Amazingly it was predicted in the Psalms (68v18) but we find a full description of it in Acts 1 thanks to the pen of Luke. Jesus commissions His disciples and sends them out to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth (v8b). He also promises that the Holy Spirit will come upon them empowering them for the mission ahead (v8a). Just as He had told them this, right before their eyes, Christ was lifted up from the earth, before disappearing in the clouds (v9). So far, so wonderful, but what are we to make of this remarkable event? The power of the ascension isn't so much the miraculous nature of it, after all people don't just lift off from the ground and ascend into the heavens everyday. The disciples were amazed by what they had witnessed but angels come with a gentle rebuke and ask "why do you stand looking into heaven?" (v11). They have work to do and need to get on with it because Jesus will return in the clouds (v11b). So although we didn't get to witness this awesome event we are not hard done by. The catechism reminds us that that the ascension was part of Christ's exaltation. His humiliation is over and now He is exalted to the highest place. Paul puts it this way "God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come." (Ephesians 1v20-21) In these verses we find our encouragement and the importance of the ascension. Where is Christ today? At the right hand of the Father. What is He doing? Reigning. There isn't a power on earth that can topple Christ. There isn't a kingdom that will defeat the Kingdom of God. There isn't an authority with the ability to silence the Gospel. Jesus is our great high priest and while no further sacrifice is necessary, we shouldn't believe that Christ is inactive. As American Presbyterian Kevin DeYoung puts it "Christ is reigning, so we can rest." These are fearful days. Days of riots and rage. Days of pandemic and potential second waves. Days were good is called evil and evil called good. We struggle to make sense of these days. We struggle to make sense of the events that rock us personally. Where is our comfort and hope? At God's right hand. We trust a crucified, risen and ascended Saviour. He intercedes on your behalf. He gathers His church. He defends His bride. He defeats and restrains His enemies. Nothing hides from His vision. Nothing escapes His notice. May our focus today become a little bit less tethered to the troubles of this world. May our fears shrink as we gaze upon the sovereignty of Christ. May we remember that "our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3v20) Jesus is the ascended Christ and even as we read, Christ reigns. Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 36. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification? A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end. Day 142 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 103:1-3a Message Alan Burke There are days that we need to motivate ourselves, exhorting ourselves to action, can be hard, that job that we have been putting off that needs done, that phone call that we really should make, that apology that we need to give that would have been better done before now. Sure those things can all wait, just put them on the long finger, they can be added to the to do list for next week, maybe the week after. I know, I’ll just sit here five minutes more, I deserve a break after all and those things aren’t really that important. The problem is, we can then be guilty of forgetting, months down the line we bump into that person we had said we were going to call with, that wee job that we had intended to do or get done is no longer a wee job but a big one, that apology that we had intended to make and never is now to late. Here the Psalmist motivating himself, exhorting himself to praise the Lord with all that is within him (1a). He is motivating himself, exhorting himself to praise the Lord with everything that he is, not only with his lips but also with his life. For in Hebrew thought, the inmost being means in our entirety. So the psalmist is saying with my entire life, I will give praise the Lord my God, in what I say, in how I live, all of it will be lived to his glory. I don’t know about you, but there are times that with the business of this temporal life, the stuff that we end up trying to juggle, work, family, hobbies, that things just get the in the way of living in this way, with our inmost being praising the Lord. It’s very easy to say thanks, isn’t it, but its another thing all together to show that you are thankful in how you respond, in how you live. But the psalmist is exhorting himself, urging himself, encouraging himself to in every way live to the praise of God, living for his glory, that will overflow into the rest of his life. For we like the psalmist come before the God who is known to us, who has revealed himself in creation (Ps 19:1-6, Rom 1:18-21) and to us through his word (2 Tim 3:16, Heb 1:1-14). That’s the significance of LORD in capital letters, this is the personal name of God, that teaches us that God is a personal God, who is over all, ever present, accessible, near to those who call on him and who are directing their praise to him, and this personal name of God is used eleven times in this psalm. So the praise of the psalmist as well as his people today in in response for what God had done, we to be in awe at all that he has done though creation, thought-out history, for all the benefits of God that come to the individual that overflow to the whole community. Today as we come before the God who is known, though Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah of God. That is how we are able to enter the joy of this psalm, in the praise of God, through Jesus Christ. He is our Saviour though him, God has shown more of His goodness and Kindness to us, we know far more than the original hearers and singers of this psalm knew and understood, and we look forward now to the great and glorious day that he returns or that we go to be with him for eternity. The knowledge of this, knowing who he is and all that he has done for us, should lead us to responding with praise, praise to him with our entire being, in all of our lives. Remember his benefits, the blessings that he has shown to us each day and by his grace through Jesus Christ. We can find it hard to motivate ourselves, to exhort ourselves to the praise of God, because we are forgetful people, we forget the goodness of God to us, but remember the forgiveness of sins (3a) that we have received though Jesus Christ that means we have eternal security, not in what he have done but he has done for us, this alone is reason to Praise him with our soul, our inmost being, praising his holy name. Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, (Heb. 12:23) and do immediately pass into glory; (2 Cor. 5:1,6,8, Phil. 1:23, Luke 23:43) and their bodies, being still united to Christ, (1 Thess. 4:14) do rest in their graves, (Isa. 57:2) till the resurrection. (Job 19:26–27) Day 143 Pray (ACts) Read - Psalm 68 Message - Scott Woodburn As a child one of the highlights of my year was the trip into Belfast with a pocket full of birthday money. The first stop would have been Elliott's to buy some fancy dress or magic tricks or plastic pranks before heading down to SS Moore. If I went with my mum we'd get the number 17 bus into the city centre. If it was my dad he would tell us we were getting the bus but inevitably he would walk us all the way into town. I remember trying to keep up with him as he marched us down the Beersbridge Road and over the Albert Bridge. I would have much preferred the bus, but I put up with the march because I knew what was coming at the end. We spoke on Monday of Christ's ascension, His going up into heaven and we see it predicted in Psalm 68. The Psalm begins by calling the people of God to worship. When God arises His enemies are scattered (v1), therefore we are to sing praises to His name (v4). This is another Psalm of David and it is thought that is written when the Ark of the Covenant was brought into Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). It was a time of victory and a time for a triumphant procession into the city. God had acted on behalf of His people in the past. He had led them through the wilderness (v7) and He had scattered Kings before them (v14). He was the God who on a daily basis would bear up His people, He was the God of salvation (v19). And so you can imagine this victory march as it made its way into the city. David writes of the singers and the musicians in the procession of God towards the sanctuary (v24-25). It is a scene full of singing, noise, colour, joy and victory. Later in Ephesians Paul takes verse 18 and applies it directly to Christ. Jesus is the greater David whose victory march sees Him ascend to heaven. At the transfiguration Jesus speaks with Moses and Elijah of His coming departure (Luke 9v31). His procession leads Him to Golgotha and the grave and while to many it seems that this is a march that ends in defeat, Christ instead wins the great victory. He stands again on the third day and finally ascends to glory in full sight of His disciples. Jesus is the fulfilment of verse 18. He is the victorious King who leads a host of captives to freedom (v18b). Christ doesn't bring us freedom with a military campaign, instead He has bound Satan and plundered his house (Mark 3v27). Christ has set the captives free from sin and will lead them home. He today receives what He is due, the praise of His people who know that Christ is their greatest treasure (v18c). We sing "Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!" (v35). Even the rebellious cannot stand (v18d). Jesus has triumphed over them, disarming the rulers and authroities and making a public display of them (Colossians 2v15). As Moses led the people from Egypt to the wilderness to the promised land, so Jesus leads us out of exile. He has broken our chains and remains constant as we aliens and sojourners travel this barren land. The road may be long and fraught with danger and trouble but our destination is not in doubt. Christ leads our procession "And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away." (Isaiah 35v10) Pray (acTS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q38 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection? At the resurrection, believers, being raised up to glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity. Day 144 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 103:8-12 Message Alan Burke Feet and inches versus meters and centimetres, pounds and ounces verses kilos and grams. You are either one are the other, actually that’s not strictly true, Europe might have came in told us we couldn’t sell things in pounds in ounces but I know I can eat a 20 oz steak but if it was on a menu as a 500g I don’t honestly know what that looks like even though its roughly the same. It’s about 5 miles from here to Downpatrick, it took too much mental effort today to figure out that’s 8km so I googled it. There are other things that we are nearly exclusively metric these days, like spanners that is unless you are screwing at something before 1970’s when the likelihood it’s imperial, Royal Mail works in metric, the weigh of that letter matters and its measured in grams. Here we learn more of more of God’s very character and what it is to be forgiven by Him so that we can come before him the Holy God. Look at what the psalmist says, the Lord God is merciful and gracious (8), this a fundamental truth of the very character of God (Ex 34:6), not only is he merciful and gracious, he is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love (8b), he does not always chide nor does he keep his anger forever (9). How can we quantify what God has done, how do we measure it, well it is in distance but not in feet or inches or meters and centimetres, its as high as the heavens are above the earth (10). The psalmist is painting a picture of the greatness of the Love of God towards those who fear him and it is beyond measure, just as far as he has removed our transgressions from us as far as East from the West. In truth we can’t even begin to understand the greatness of the Love of God, but these words help us in some way grasp in some limited way at least greatness of the immeasurable love and grace of God towards us, for when God forgives sin, he completely removes them, the height and breadth of His mercy is vast. Because God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. All of this isn’t dependant on our efforts, ability, it's not dependant on we can do but through what God has done on our behalf. It is through Jesus Christ who took our sin upon his shoulders that we have forgiveness though faith, through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God our heavenly Father. In his gracious activity towards has removed the consequences of our sin as well as the sin itself from us, he redeems, he rescues, he protects, he crowns us with his love and compassion. Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 39 What is the duty which God requireth of man? The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will. (Mic. 6:8, 1 Sam. 15:22) Day 145 Pray (ACts) Read - Ephesians 4v1-16 Message - Scott Woodburn Theology is never just an exercise of the head, it isn't just knowing stuff about God. As we grow in knowledge of the Lord so our hearts are stirred with love and devotion. The ascension therefore isn't an obscure moment that can be overlooked. Jesus has ascended to heaven and today reigns at the right hand of God. His ascension fulfilled Psalm 68 and we know that Christ is the greater David who leads our procession to glory. Today Paul outlines the practical implications of the ascension. The apostle quotes from Psalm 68 in verse 8 with the verses before and after outlining the implications. If you remember nothing else from today's devotion may you remember these words...unity and maturity. Paul writes that we are to walk in a manner worthy of our calling (v1) and that walk is marked by unity (v3). The creed that runs from verse four to six shows us our common faith. There is only one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism and one God. Therefore this creed should cause us to contend for unity in the body. We who are many have become one by the blood of Christ. We are not foolish enough to believe that churches will never experience turmoil and nor do we believe that every member of every church will be best pals. But the Lord teaches us how we are to deal with disagreements. If your brother has wronged you then you are to go and tell him his fault hoping that things can be sorted out (Matthew 18v15). If he hasn't listened then return to him with the support of two or three witnesses (Matthew 18v16). If he still will not listen then the matter is to be brought to the spiritual leaders of the church with potential discipline to follow (Matthew 18v17). With those individuals in your life who have wronged you, have you followed the principles of Matthew 18 to seek the restoration of the relationship? Do they even know that they have grieved you? I notice that in this passage there is no mention of gossip. Slandering your enemy to one of your friends will not restore a broken relationship. Equally there is no mention of a passive aggressive approach. In other words ignoring your enemy whilst firing dirty looks will not restore a broken relationship. In light of the ascension we are to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (v3). Additionally Christ's ascension means that He has given gifts to the church (v8). Throughout history there are have been different offices held in the church of Jesus Christ (v11). We no longer have apostles or prophets but the goal remains the same - to bring the people of God to full maturity. No longer children (v14) but mature adults in the faith (v13). The people of God are to fully equipped (v12a), the work of the ministry is to be carried out (v12b) and the church is to be built (v12c). This doesn't happen with gimmicks or smoke machines but the regularly preached Word and the faithful administration of the sacraments. We've all probably said at a time "I get nothing from church.", "There's nothing there for my children.", "I don't like the music.", "This church is dead". To these declarations I would ask "Is the Word preached? Are there opportunities to sit at the Supper? Do Christians meet to pray? Is the Bible studied? Is the Gospel proclaimed?" If these things are true about your church then you are very blessed indeed. The Spirit is surely moving where such activities take place. When normality returns, cherish the place where you worship God. Our church hopes to return to live worship on September 6th. What will mark our return? I hope unity and maturity. May grudges have been put to death during lockdown. May the Spirit give us renewed hunger for the things of God. May our discipleship be shaped by our theology. Christ has ascended to the highest place giving gifts to His church. Therefore "we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." (v15-16) Pray (acTS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q40 What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience? The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law. Day 146 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 103:13-17 Message Alan Burke For some men the ideal of what a man should be is personified by the silver screen. Depending what era you grew up in depended on which man’s man you looked up to; Cary Grant, John Wayne, Steve McQueen, Bruce Willis. Men who were men, hard working, rough around the ages, could drink you under the table, womanises, letting the women do woman’s work and rear the weins. Today as we look to the psalmist’s description of the Lord God, he portrays what it is to be man and a father that knocks the idea that some have on its head. For God the God of grace (3), the one who is compassionate and gracious (8) is also a Father to his people. God the Father is not called Father because he copies earthly fathers. He is not some pumped-up version of your dad or the men that we watched on the silver screen he is a Father who is compassionate to those who fear him (13). This means that God shows warm compassion, a compassion which goes the second mile, which is ready to forge sin, to replace judgement with grace, it shows his favour towards us. It is love that is so vast it cannot be measured (11). He is our Father and he is also our Creator (14), he has made us from the dust of the ground, not gold, gemstones or granite but dust all to help us understand our dependance on him. For our lives our frail, from dust we come and to dust we will return, just like the flower in the field (15) we flourish in the right conditions even so we are just like the grass and the wild flowers are so brief in their glory (16). We are just the same, but we can have certainty in God and who he is, and how he cares for things as fragile as flowers; how His covenant love will be even more displayed to us. For just as God promised to Abraham he would be with his offspring, that promised is reaffirmed here, but it goes further, how the faithful are to expect that God will set his saving love on their children’s children (17). This is the crowning privilege that God gives to his faithful: though their lives are short and appear almost insignificant, that those who know and love him may still contribute to the future well-being of the people of God by their godly and prayerful parenting and grand-parenting. We have a God who is compassionate and gracious towards us, even though we do not deserve it, we can come as his children, heirs with Christ Jesus (Jn 1:12-13). He has shown us his abundant grace even though we don’t deserve it, in and through the Lord Jesus Christ, our sin has been atoned for (1 Jn 2:2), he has graciously removed the guilt of sin, and lift off the burden as far as the east is from the west, bringing cleansing that we can come before the Lord God. Pray (ac-TS)) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 41 Where is the moral law summarily comprehended? The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments. (Deut. 10:4, Matt. 19:17) DAY 148 Pray (AC-ts) Read - Acts 3v22 & Luke 4v18-21 Message - Scott Woodburn When I was saved I immediately believed that I was going to be a preacher. It came as no surprise to my mother as apparently I would come home from church in the 1980s and preach the morning sermon to her. It was however something of a surprise to me, nevertheless I was new in the faith and so I started reading everything I could get my hands on. Suddenly a world of theology was before me and slowly but surely I realised what I believed and why I believed it. I wasn't a Baptist or Pentecostal, I was Reformed. This realisation came about as I studied the Westminster Standards. They helped me make sense of the Scriptures and one question in particular stood out. Question 23 of the Shorter Catechism asks "What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?" with the answer "Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation." I suddenly realised that the Old Testament wasn't disconnected from the New. The stories, the rituals, the structures, everything, all of it pointed to the truth that Christ was the fulfilment of the entire Old Testament. All of those prophets like Elijah, and those priests like Aaron and those kings like David were types that pointed forward to the One who would be the true prophet, priest and king. That One is Jesus and by the grace of God we will look this week at how He fulfils these roles. It is Peter who in Acts 3 reminds his hearers of what Moses once promised in Deuteronomy 18. Moses once proclaimed that another prophet was promised, this coming prophet was to be listened to and indeed any failure to listen to Him would mean destruction. Moses' words of course would be fulfilled in Christ. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus Himself applies Isaiah 61 to His ministry and publicly declares His prophetic office. Jesus is the true prophet anointed to preach the Gospel to the poor. He comes to heal the brokenhearted and to deliver the captives from their sin. The blind will see and the crushed will be liberated. Jesus spoke these words about Himself and the day that He spoke them, Isaiah 61 was fulfilled (v21). It is as we read in Hebrews 1v1-2 "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." We are living in the last days and if we want to know what God has to say, then we listen to Jesus. When we turn our ear to Christ we realise the emptiness of much of what the world has to say. President Trump refers to "fake news". We hear how politicians like to consider the "optics" of every situation or in other words how an event will make them look. Even this week many are squirming, trying to give answers to the A-Level/GCSE results mess. Who to trust? Who to listen to? Only Jesus. It's often stated that George Orwell once said “In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” We can't actually prove if he said it or not but its a quote that speaks to 2020. Truth is called error and error is called truth. What can be done? Let God be true and every man a liar. Let Christ's Word ring in our ears. He is the great prophet foretold in the Scriptures. Today we would do well to take God at His Word. The Lord declares "This is my Son, my Chosen One, listen to Him!" (Luke 9v35). Pray (acTS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments? Day 149 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 111:1-3 Message Alan Burke Physiology tell us that the human heart is a muscle about the size of our fists that pumps blood around our bodies, beating around seventy times a minute. It is divided into four chambers, upper left and right atria and lower left and right ventricles,, each part of it is so vital to our survival as it takes oxygen-rich blood and pumps it through a network of arteries in the body. Yet figuratively we speak of the heart as the place of ones emotions, we say things like ‘my heart goes out to you’, ‘a heartfelt plea’, ‘in my heart of hearts’, ‘their hearts in the right place’, ‘they have a heart of gold’, ‘a change of heart’, ‘she broke his heart’. Here the psalmist begins with, Praising the LORD, literally a Hallelujah (1a), praising him for what he has done and who he is. Praising the one who flung the stars into space (Ps 8:3-5), the one who set the earth on its foundations (Ps 104:5), the one who made the mountains and valleys (Ps 104:8), the one who made us in his image (Gen 1:27). For the mention of his God’s name should evoke this response in his those who are his servants, those who profess to know him, those who acknowledge him as the LORD God. The psalmist declares that he will extol him, give thanks to the LORD with his whole heart (1b). Figuratively the psalmist is saying, every single part of me will give thanks to the Lord, my inner life, my character, my emotions, my intellectual activities, whether out in the field, in the home, giving thanks, extolling the LORD. No trouble, no coldness, no struggles within, nothing stops him from giving the LORD his complete praise. He will do this gathered with the upright (1c), literally those who are just, righteous, who’s who have faith in the Lord, so the psalmist is gathering with God’s people and they together praise the LORD their God. Joining praising the LORD in the midst of life for His works, his wisdom and goodness, shown in creation and salvation, praising him for his providence (2). His divine acts as his personal involvement with his world of creation, his royal splendour are clearly evident in all his words as well as his work (3). Hallelujah, Praise the LORD indeed this day, with your who heart, because of who is is and all that he has done. Not only did he put the stars in their place (Ps 8:3-5), set the earth on its foundations (Ps 104:5), made the mountains and valleys (Ps 104:8), made us in his image (Gen 1:27), he has brought salvation to us (Tit 2:11). Salvation that we do not deserve (Rom 3:23) though Jesus Christ (1 Tim 2:5). This should lead us to praise for we are included the upright of this psalms through faith (Eph 2:8), nothing who bore our sin on himself (1 Pet 2:24). This should lead us to praise like the psalmist that doesn’t hold back from shouting for joy to the LORD, nothing interfering with the praise that we give. There are times of trouble, coldness, struggles within, will come, in those times I encourage you to look to the Lord, think upon what he has done and give praise to him. Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 44 What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us? The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, That because God is the Lord, and our God, and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments. (Luke 1:74–75, 1 Pet. 1:15–18) DAY 150 Pray (AC-ts) Read - Psalm 110v1-7 & Hebrews 5v5-6 Message - Scott Woodburn For most of my twelve years in Edengrove I've done my best to preach from both old and new testaments. I contend that all Scripture is God breathed and therefore not an inch of it is out of bounds for the Christian. With that principle in mind, a few years ago I preached through the entire book of Leviticus. I don't know if anyone remembers that series and I don't know if you've read Leviticus, but let me give you a picture from that book that has always stayed with me. The Lord spoke to Moses and told him that if anyone brought an offering to the Lord it was to be brought in this manner "If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting, that he may be accepted before the LORD. He shall lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him." (Leviticus 1v3-4) Please notice that the offering was to be without blemish and as the worshipper drew near they were to lay their hand on the head of the animal. In order words they were to identify with it, they were to claim it as their own and it would be acceptable in the sight of God. The Levitical system of worship was temporary. In Hebrews 10 we are told that it was a shadow of the good things to come. Indeed it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin. A perfect sacrifice was required and it was brought by Christ who was the blemish free lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world. Christ is our prophet and He is also our priest. His sacrifice was once and for all, never to be repeated because instead of bringing a lamb to the slaughter, He brought Himself. His blood was able to take away the sins of His people. Psalm 110 is Messianic because in verse four we are told "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.'" Later in Hebrews 5, this verse is applied directly to Christ. Who is Melchizedek? We meet him in Genesis 14, as a prophet he blesses Abraham and in turn Abraham paid tithes to Melchizedek. Long before the book of Leviticus and the priesthood, Melchizedek was also called "the priest of God most high". Melchizedek is also called the "king of Salem" (Genesis 14v18). So Christ comes not as a temporary priest offering sacrifices every year, but instead he comes in the line of Melchizedek who was prophet, priest and king. Look at Hebrews 7 to see the superiority of the order of Melchizedek. Christ belongs to this order and He is a priest forever. We find comfort in this place. Jesus lives to intercede for us as our great high priest (Hebrews 7v25). He knows our weakness as He was tempted and tried in everyway and yet remained sinless (Hebrews 4v15). Child of God are you sturggling to keep going today? Does it feel that the world and its granny are against you? As the worshippers of old drew near to God laying their hands on the animal they brought, may we cling to Christ and "with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4v16) Pray (acTS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q45 Which is the first commandment? The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other gods before me. |
Alan
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