7th November
Pray (ACts) Read - Romans 2:12-13 Message - Alan Burke You were a wain once, we all were. Here’s a question, how good were you at obeying your parents, grandparents, the grownups who cared for you? I’m pretty sure that for you just like me, obedience even though you knew there would be consequences didn’t come easy and for some of you reading this you thank the Lord that your kids and grandkids were spared the cane at school. Our experience shows us that although the years that have gone by we might have got better at it but that we are not very good obeying. Look at verse 13 here, we are told it is those who obey the law will be declared righteous. You might be tempted tot think that is good news for you, and after all we all did so well as wains at obey, but in reality this isn’t good news for none of us are able to keep the law. Paul is addressing here in the immediate context of Romans 2 is a perspective of Judaism that the Jews believed they could be justified by keeping the law, by conforming to its requirements but it is impossible, if you have your bibles before you, flick over the page with me, at least I have to turn the page, and look at what 3:20 teaches us, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” It is not that Paul is teaching that it is possible to obey the law, rather he is making the point of the futility of that argument, that the Jews would have made, that I have kept the commandments of God, while scripture the law of God is an advantage, it is of no use to us before the Lord unless it has worked in our hearts and lives, for none bar Christ have fully kept God’s commandments (Rom 3:9-20). Sadly this is an excuse that many appeal to today, ‘I’ve kept the commandments’, I’ve never hurt anyone, I’m a good person. In a civil sense that maybe true, but before God’s perfect rightness, well, I’d say no we miss the mark, we sin. But lets assume that we ignore the first four commandment, that’s having no other God before the Lord God, well we might do ok, along with no idols, we might think were ok with the third and that we don’t misses the name of God, but it’s best just to ignore the 4th commandment for everyone’s sake, and the rest, well I’ve honoured my parents, I haven’t murdered, I haven’t committed adultery, stolen, given false testimony, not that I’m giving false testimony right now by saying that I haven’t given false testimony, and of course none of us have ever coveted anything. For those who have the law we will be judged by it, and for those who miss the mark, who sin, even if they do not have the law in the moral law of the Ten Commandments they are a law unto themselves for they do the things required of it even though they do not have it and they will perish apart from the law. While all who miss the mark, who sin under the law will be judged by the law. Not one could ever keep the law so perfectly as to be considered righteous before God, even those who would claim that they have kept it, conformed to its requirements, none of us can stand in our obedience. The good news is of course, what God requires of us that perfect obedience to His law that we are unable to keep, well the good news for us is that while we are unable to achieve this, what God requires He has also provided for us. That is why Christ’s obedience can justify us, we cannot obey perfectly but we trust in one who did, and His righteousness is imputed to us, that’s what we were reminded in chapter 1v17, we have a righteousness from God, from faith, the righteous live by faith. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q98 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)
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5th November 2022
Pray (ACts) Read (Hebrews 9v23-28) Message (Scott Woodburn) The earthly tabernacle was purified by blood but the heavenly place has Jesus and His better sacrifice (v23). The Christian doesn't need to go on a pilgrimage to a so called "holy place" instead we lift our eyes to glory where Jesus is. Christ has entered into the heavenly temple which was made without hands (v24). The earthly tabernacle was designed by God but made by man and gave a little glimpse of heavenly realities (v24b) but Jesus is in the real place where He appears day by day before God on our behalf (v24c). Consider that for a wee moment. As a child of God, by faith in Christ, we have a representative, an advocate and a friend who ever lives to intercede for us. This gives us a blessed assurance that we will not be lost and we will never be forgotten. A little girl at church the other week explained Christ's intercession by saying "Jesus cares for us" She was right, He does. But lets be clear about what Jesus isn't doing. He certainly isn't in heaven offering Himself repeatedly as a sacrifice (v25). The priests of the old covenant entered into the holy places with blood from animals repeatedly (v25b). If Christ had to offer sacrifice repeatedly then He would have been suffering since the foundation of the world (v26). No. This is not the case. Christ's humiliation and suffering has ended. His sacrifice of Himself was once and for all to put away the sin of His people (v26). Do you see the difference in the old sacrifices compared to Christ? How many times did the old covenant priests carry out their service? Hundreds and thousands of times I'm sure and yet not once did they manage to deal conclusively with the problem of sin. But by the shedding of His precious blood, Christ's sacrifice was once and enough. His cry was "It is finished" and He spoke truthfully. So Christ isn't suffering today. He will never again face a cross nor will He stand before another earthly court. Instead Christ has appeared once to put away sin and will appear again to save those who are waiting on Him (v28). The next time this world will see Jesus will be when Christ returns in judgement. It has been appointed for each one of us to die and then on the last day to face the judgement of Jesus (v27). The Christian should have no fear of the final day but nevertheless we still take it seriously and work towards it. These days are wicked and time is short, we should be busy in the work of the Lord longing for the last day when we will be vindicated in the eyes of everyone who has ever lived. On that day we will enter into the promised rest and be with Christ forever. The same cannot be said for the one who rejects Christ. The final day will only bring terror to the unrepentant sinner. On that day there will be no second chances, no opportunity to change Christ's mind and no possibility of a reduced sentence. The one who hates Christ will be lost to hell for eternity. Please understand this today. Once again, if you reject the free offer of the Gospel you will spend eternity in hell alongside the devil and his angels. It isn't a place of joy where you and Satan will party eternity away. It is a place of torment and anguish that will never ever end. Yet no one needs to be lost. The blood of goats and calves cannot save nor can even our very best works. Only the finished work of Christ is sufficient and the one who repents of their sin and puts their faith in Christ will certainly be saved. Christ's work is over and for Him there is no more suffering. Even now He dwells in heavenly glory and will surely answer the call of the one who seeks Him. 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. 4th November
Pray (ACts) Read - 1 Samuel 3 and 2 Peter 1:19-21 Message - Alan Burke “First posted 4th October 21” The call of Samuel is a passage that we are all familiar with, mainly because of all those Sunday school lessons we sat through, with such delights as flannelgraph (if you don’t know what flannelgraph is just be thankful and think of it no more). There were many varied applications that were given to us in Sunday school, and the question to end with was ‘if the Lord speaks to you, how will you respond?’. I want to start by saying, and I hope it’s not news to you but we are not Samuel, these are not the days of the Judges, we are not in the temple with the Lord standing at our side, nor is he speaking to us directly in the way he did with Samuel. There may have been times that wanted an audible voice or a big neon sign in the sky but remember God speaking in these ways was not the normal every day experience of his people and these former ways have ceased, for as God through the author of Hebrews reminds us; “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” (Heb 1:1-2a). Before we start thinking of the call of Samuel on Wednesday we are going to think of what the Lord God teaches us through the epistle of 2 Peter 1. Peter explains how he was an eyewitness of the majesty of Christ (16), he was there at the Mount of Transfiguration and heard the very voice of God say… “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” (17). There Peter had seen and heard, he was an eyewitness to what happened. But look to what Peter then says immediately after in verse 19-21. First v19 “we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed”. Yes Peter had seen, he had heard, he had been there on the Mount of Transfiguration, but he is making the point that we have something better, now we have the scriptures, the word more fully confirmed. He goes on to say that we would do well to pay attention (v19) to this word because it’s not from someones own interpretation or imagination but “from God, as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (v21)” What we have before us in the scriptures of the Old and New Testament is the word of God, the complete revelation of God to us, it is everything we need, we do not need anything more, no new revelation, there is no need for an audible voice or a neon sign in the sky. We don’t need a Samuel experience for the Lord has given us everything we need. The bible before you is the very word of God, and when the Scriptures are faithfully proclaimed, God’s voice is truly heard (Lk 10:16, 2 Cor 5:19-20, 1 Thes 2:13, Heb 13:7, 1 Pet 4:10-11). God has designated preaching as the means for his voice to be heard in this world (Rom 10:14-17, 1 Cor 1:18-25). As you come to worship this coming Lord’s day, what are your expectations, are you ready to hear the voice of God as the Lord speaks to you though his word, do you have ears to hear his truth? Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q96 What is the Lord’ s supper? The Lord’ s supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ’ s appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace. (1 Cor. 11:23–26) 3rd November 2022
Pray (ACts) Read (Hebrews 9v11-22) Message (Scott Woodburn) During the days of the old covenant the priests would offer sacrifice day after day and year after year. Priests would live and die and more priests would follow. In the wilderness and later in the temple this system continued but as we have already discovered, it could do nothing to help the conscience of the worshipper. The new covenant is the covenant of grace made new in Christ and everything that Christ has ushered in has brought substance to where there was once only shadow. He has entered the heavenly tent which wasn't made by human hands (v11) and He entered that place by His own blood and not that of goats and calves (v12). Christ has secured for us an eternal redemption by His finished work (v12b) which is far superior to the old covenant days. Back then the blood of goats and calves made the people ceremonially clean and they held back the wrath of God for a time. But they needed to be completed again and again, they were temporary and pointed forward to the sacrifice of Christ which would put an end to sin forever. In this we see God's patience and forbearance. Thanks be to God for His mercy and thanks be to God for Christ. His blood has done immeasurably more than the blood of animals could ever do. He has paid the price for our sin and He has purified our conscience from dead works (v14). We are no longer slaves to sin but instead we live to serve Almighty God. Christ is the mediator of the new covenant and this has been established by His death (v16-17). Just as your great-granda made a will that gave all his belongings to his wife after his death, so too has the death of Christ brought great change. The inheritance we have in Christ isn't silver or gold or a bungalow. By His death the old covenant has been put away once and for all and Christ's blood has paid the price for the faithful in every age (v15). When we sing about the power of Christ's blood we should really, really mean it. During the days of the old covenant Moses sprinkled blood on the book, the people, the tent and all the vessels used in worship (v19-21). This was necessary to inaugurate the old covenant and to purify the people as the came before the Lord. But the blood of Christ was shed as a ransom for many and without the shedding of His blood there can be no forgiveness for sin (v22). No wonder we say that Christ has ushered in a new and better covenant than the one made with Moses. No more priests ministering in weakness. No more repeated and repeated and repeated sacrifices that can't deal with sin or calm our conscience. Instead we have Jesus and His completed work. So as the old song goes..."would you be free from your burden of sin? There's power in the blood! Power in the blood!" Amen and amen. 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. 2nd November
Pray (ACts) Read - 1 Samuel 1:21-28 Message - Alan Burke “First posted 8th September 21” It can be easy for us to get ourselves into the situation where we are left thinking “why did I say that”. Some times it’s because we said things that we shouldn’t have, had a barney with a loved one for example, there are other times though, it’s because we have got ourselves into something that we wish we hadn’t. Then we spend months or years trying to get ourselves out of it even though we feel obliged and if we said were going to stop we feel we would be letting someone down. In her prayer, in her brokenness, Hannah had prayed to the Lord, she had made a vow, saying “O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life…”. Here’s the thing though, the Lord had answered her prayer and the question is now will Hannah keep her vow or keep her son, would she try to wrangle out of it. The time comes for them to make their annual sacrifice to the Lord and Hannah decides to stay behind with Samuel (21-22). Instead she tells her husband that after he was weaned then she would go. Now today things are different we have all types of different alternatives to breast feeding, many brands of formula milk although none of it is as good for a child as breastfeeding. In our culture babies are weaned from 6 months, as solids are introduced and the world health organisation recommends that breastfeeding should continue up to two years and beyond. It was not like this in Samuel’s day, as we know from sources at the time of Samuel mothers would breastfeed their children as long as three years. Knowing this, Elkanah tells to Hannah “do what seems best to you”. What is most surprising in all of this is Elkanah. He supports Hannah in the decision that she has made, in the culture of the time this is a big thing. Elkanah could have simply refused, brought her with him, he could have said that ‘you are not presenting this child to the Lord for he is mine’ and Hannah would have been unable to do anything else. If Elkanah had have refused her decision to take Samuel to Shiloh and present him there, Hannah would have been released from her vow (Num 30:8). But she did take him there, she gave him over to the Lord for her prayer was answered and she knew he was a gift from God. Two things I want to leave you with. Firstly some of those of you who are reading this may not have children, or your children may have flown the coop years ago, for others you are still a full time dad or mum dreaming of being able to drink a cuppa while it is still warm. If you are still full time dad or mum then know your children are a gift, teach them the faith, read and pray with them, bring them to worship, make it the priority for they are a gift of God and they are only lent to us like Samuel was with Hannah. Secondly For Hannah she gave the son she had longed for to the Lord, but for all of us in this life we should bear in mind the words of Jesus in Mark 10 when there seems a great cost what ever that cost may be. “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. (Mk 10:29-30) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q94 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) 1st November 2022
Pray (ACts) Read (Hebrews 9v1-10) Message (Scott Woodburn) During the days of the old covenant there were regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness called the tent of meeting or tabernacle (v1). The rules that Moses followed to establish the tabernacle are outlined fully in Exodus 25-26 and Leviticus 16 and although the Apostle doesn't speak about them in detail (v5) he gives us a brief reminder of old covenant worship. First things first, the tent was prepared with an outer courtyard called "the Holy Place" (v2). In this Holy Place there was the lamp stand, the table and the bread of the Presence. The lamp stand had seven branches altogether. One middle branch with three further branches on each side. It was made to look like a tree with branches, buds, blossoms and almonds. Here is a picture of the Lord - giving life and light to a dark world. The table had the bread of Presence set upon it. This wasn't an offering to God as if He was hungry, instead the bread was for the priests who served the Lord. Just as the lamp stand symbolised the Lord's holiness shining brightly in the darkness, so the table reminded His people that God alone provides. A curtain or veil separated the courtyard from "the Most Holy Place" (v3) where there was the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant. Incense was to be burnt on the golden altar every day and once a year the priest was to sprinkle blood on the altar's horns as he offered sacrifice for atonement. The ark of the covenant was like a large golden chest containing manna, Aaron's staff that budded and the tablets of stone on which the ten commandments were written (v4). The ark was covered by the mercy seat which had two golden cherubim, one at each side. The ark of the covenant was where God would "sit" and speak to His people. It was an earthly representation of His heavenly throne. The manna was a reminder of His provision and sustenance. Aaron's staff was a reminder to sinners that they needed a Saviour lest God's judgement fall upon them (Numbers 17v10). The commandments reminded the people of God's holiness and their need to walk before Him rightly. The mercy seat was where blood would be sprinkled as an offering for sin once per year (v7). To meditate upon these things is a feast indeed. In type and in shadow the tabernacle's structure and furniture conveyed deep truth about heavenly realities but at the same time sacrifices offered in those days couldn't do anything about the conscience of the worshipper. Indeed the Holy Spirit was indicating that the structure of the tabernacle was pointing to a greater day when the way into the holy places would be opened (v8). The Apostle speaks of reform being required (v10) and although when we speak of the reformation we usually think of Martin Luther, Paul is obviously pointing to Christ. Jesus is the true reformer who took the symbols of the old covenant and gave them substance in the new. He is the light of the world. He is the bread of life. He is the fulfiller of the law. He is the altar, the sacrifice, the high priest and the temple. We can rejoice for the shadows have been chased away by the light of Christ. He is all we have and He is all we need. 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. |
Alan
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