19th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 5v7-8)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Do you remember what your granny always used to say? Patience is a virtue! Perhaps your granny didn’t ever say such words but that doesn’t take away the truth of the statement. Patience is indeed a virtue. What is patience? Patience is defined as “the capacity for calmly enduring pain and trying situations." In the case of his listeners, James knew that they were enduring all kinds of difficultly and would continue to do so. There is no “golden age” for the church of Jesus Christ, God’s people will know trouble until He returns. How can I be sure? For Jesus has said “in this world you will have trouble.” (John 16v33)


Therefore, the Christian is to be marked by and known for their patience. The child of God understands that the Lord is coming back (v7b) and so in light of this certainty they are to quietly endure whatever situations they face. To underline his point, James used the image of a farmer. The farmer sows the seed and then he sets about patiently waiting (v7c). It would be a foolish farmer who plants a seed in the morning and expects a bountiful crop before bed. Instead, the wise farmer waits for the harvest, understanding that his work takes time. I am no farmer but I have read that James uses an image here from his own local setting with farmers waiting for the early rains which fell at some stage between October and January, then the late rains which fell around Easter. Both rains were necessary for a bumper crop.


In the same way, Christians are to be patient with hearts well established on the Gospel (v8). Jesus has been crucified for sin, dead in a tomb, raised again to life and surely returning. These are not bare theological statements but the sure basis of our faith. Brothers and sisters, consider the truth of Christ every single day. Set your gaze upon heaven. Rest in Christ as you have received Him in the Gospel. He is coming and that right soon!


But how soon is soon? Are these the last days? The last days started as the Lord ascended to heaven and they will come to a close at His return. None of us can know the day or the hour of the Lord’s return and it is a fool who tries to predict an exact timescale. Even so, James could speak about the Lord’s return being at hand (v8b) and so it is. Will Jesus return in my lifetime? Maybe so. Does humanity have another two thousand years? Perhaps. I offer you no date to write in your diary, instead I urge you to be ready for Christ’s return. To the unsaved I say, repent of your sin and put your faith in Christ - be ready! To my fellow Christians I counsel, be patient, establish your hearts for Christ is on His way.


Pray (acTS)


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Q39 What is the duty which God requireth of man? The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.
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18th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 7:1-6 focus v1)


Message (Alan Burke) 


I was sitting with someone last week who said, “Alan, I know I shouldn’t judge but…” I’ll leave the rest of that blank, you don’t need to know what was said, it won’t do you any good and will start the jungle drums going. Is that true, that we shouldn’t judge? The reason that I start with that is because I’ve heard that comment come from the other side, when someone is defending their actions and they throw out the line “Who are you to judge me!” What Jesus teaches here has been used, misused and utterly abused by many so it is important that we take a moment to understand what Jesus is saying because ‘don’t judge’ does not mean ‘don’t think’. What I mean by that is say hypothetically we have someone who struggles with a sin, let’s say that of gossip. We can take the attitude who am I to judge and think that it is a good idea pour out our hearts to them because we have no right to judge them. Of course we wound’t, we’d tell others not to tell them their business. There are many times that we judge and it is the wise thing to do. 


So what Jesus this is not a requirement to be blind to sin but a plea to be generous. There is a reason why I say that and it is because there is something that is lost in translation here. That is because our English word judge so often in our thinking means condemn or condemnation of someone we judge someone we're inwardly effectively saying they're guilty, we condemn them. 


The Greek word actually has a positive sense to it, it means to evaluate, discern then to decide. For someone who judges they're going to evaluate, discern, decide. It means they are going to listen, to try and understand what is going on, to weigh up what is happening, not only the appearance or the one of incident. A better way of translating this since the word that used in Greek conveys more to us than our English word, would be, "do not judge unfairly”. 


This isn’t a command of Jesus that we should be blind to what people are doing, or that we should simply ignore sin but rather that we should be with grace, mercy, generosity look upon others to evaluate, discern then to decide. To be sharply critical of others is to invite that criteria is placed upon ourselves (7:1). In this Jesus uses imagery of the market place in v2. Telling us “in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” And we will think on that more on Wednesday. 


But for now know that it is in Christ that we are forgiven through Him because of his grace. It is not something that we can demand or that we deserve but only something we receive in the mercy of our great God. But there is also an expectation that as we receive forgiveness that we will also forgive others. And note this is the only petition of the Lord’s payer that comes with explanatory notes for want of a better term as Jesus adds in v 14-15; “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions”. (Mt 6:14–15.)


For those who judge, evaluate, discern then to decide on others harshly that is what they can expect, their heavenly Father will not forgive them, but if they judge, evaluate, discern then to decide on others mercifully then they can expect the same mercy from their heavenly Father. For the measure you use, it will be measured to you. We have the need for a correct measure as we look on others.


Pray (acTS)


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Q 38. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
A. 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.
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16th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 5v1-6)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Despite the abundance of Gospel preaching in Northern Ireland there are still many people who believe dangerous error. What do I mean? The average Ballynahinch Protestant believes that he/she is going to heaven because that’s where all but the very worst people go. This is a false “gospel” and yet I see it’s corrosive impact everywhere. Strangely there are others whose theology owes more to Hinduism or Buddhism than Christianity.


Some believe in karma which is a theory which says “you reap what you sow”. Such individuals have done really well for themselves and their abundance of wealth allows them to live an incredibly conformable life. What is the reason for their success? They are. They did the work, they worked the hours and they are entitled to enjoy the fruits of their labour. Let us be clear, money is not sinful, it is a gift from God which is to be used for His glory. Even so, there are many whose hearts have been tragically captured by pounds, shillings and pence. They don’t need God, they have saved themselves by their wealth and they live with no fear of tomorrow.


As the final chapter of James begins, the subject of money once again appears on the horizon. In James 2, the church received a rebuke for how they were more partial to the rich rather than the poor. The rich man was welcomed in the fellowship and given the best seat whilst the poor man was shunned and treated abysmally. However, in chapter 5 James looks outside the church to critique the rich who act as if they are kings of all they survey.


Once more, money is not sinful and not all rich people are wicked but there were those in James’ day who thought nothing about withholding wages from their workers (v4). Their actions essentially condemned and murdered the righteous person (v6) for how can anyone live if they are constantly denied their due recompense? These righteous men and women did nothing to deserve their treatment and nor did they offer any resistance to the rich man (v6b). Even so, their cries had reached the ears of Almighty God (v4b).


Sometimes all of us act as if God is both blind and deaf. The wicked seem to prosper and there is no justice in this world. But the reality is that although justice moves slowly, it will be done when Christ returns. James believed in the return of Jesus and so he counselled the wicked rich to weep and howl in anticipation of the misery that was to come (v1). Why? They lived to lay up treasure for themselves (v3b), they existed in luxury and self-indulgence (v5a) but they had not considered their relationship with Christ. Instead of preparing to meet with the Lord they had made themselves like sacrificial lambs growing fat and moving endlessly to the butcher (v5b). 


Money can’t buy happiness, money can’t make us right with God and ultimately money cannot protect us from the judgement to come. James speaks clearly and reminds all of us that earthly possessions have a nasty habit of disappearing before our eyes. Riches rot and garments attract the moth (v2), indeed the corrosion of the rich man’s wealth will act as evidence against him in the final judgement and see him consumed (v3). If gold could speak it would say “You fool! You have trusted in a metal which cannot save!” If a suit of fine clothes could talk it would say “You fool! You loved me and despised Christ!"


These are verses directed to the unsaved yet wealthy individual who does what he likes and never considers eternity. If that describes you, then my friend my you discover the endless riches of Christ. He is the greatest treasure and saving faith in Him is worth more than the finest gold. All that you have will be lost, make sure that you don’t follow that path.


But to my fellow Christians, to my heart and yours - let us not read these verses with arrogance but instead with watchfulness that we are not captured by the love of money. Wealth and possessions are so seductive and the love of them can quickly take root in our soul. Be careful that we do not value gifts over the Giver. I think we would quickly say that Jesus is our greatest treasure - may this be proved true in our attitude to silver and gold. 


Pray (acTS)


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Q37 What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death? The souls of believers are, at their death, made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves until the resurrection.

15th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:25-34 focus v32-34)


Message (Alan Burke)


There is a difference between believers and unbelievers, or at leas there should be. Here Jesus makes that point as he talks about the, well depending on what translation you use depends on what you will read, the ESV and the KJV use the word ‘gentiles’ whereas the NIV is a little more blunt here and uses the word ‘pagans’. So what is it? Well both words are actually referring to unbelievers, those who do not believe in the Lord God. What that means is for the many who believe in the existence of God but have not trusted in the son of God Jesus Christ for salvation then they are unbelievers, they are gentiles, they are pagans. I’ve come across many people who call themselves “christians” but in reality are unbelievers, gentiles, pagans. They can call themselves whatever they want but unless they have been born again they are not. Well here Jesus makes the 


The pagans, the gentiles, unbelievers call them what you will they run after these things, i.e. they run after what they eat what they drink what they wear is because they do not live with hope that goes beyond this life, they are living for the here and now and as result it is the temporal that matters not the eternal. They are not trying to store up for themselves treasures in heaven but treasures on earth. The people of God should be those who characterised by faith, whose lives are filled with hope, who are not are characterised by worry, the reason why is that our heavenly Father knows what we need and our God is not made of wood or stone rather he is the one who made the heavens and the earth who created all that is. He is not some deity of the nations, a false God that comes from the imagination of ones mind, he is the God who has revealed himself to us and he is more than capable of supplying our needs is more than capable of providing us food drink and clothing. 


Instead how we are to live as Christian’s, as those who truly believe in the midst of a life where it is easy to worry, where we can be filled with angst about a great many things, is to have perspective, perspective for us on what worry cannot do. What we need more than anything right now is to remember who God is, and put Him and his Kingdom at the very centre of our lives (v33), knowing that through Christ Jesus we are his, and making His rule and our relationship Him our priority. For every day He has planned for us (Ps. 139:16), and nothing we can do, worry and anxiety cannot add a single day to our lives, let tomorrow bring what it will bring (v34), the Lord reigns over it all. We are also to seek his righteousness. This means that we are those who are willing to submit the entire day of our lives to his rule here and now. That means we hear his word and we respond to it, we put our sinful desires to one side and we obey his word. That means not only or external actions but our internal character conforms with God's own character. As chapter 5:48 told us “be perfect therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect” we are seeking his righteousness, we forgive, we love, were people of our word, we are people a sexual purity, God's reign in our lives is seen. 


As we do that, when we submit the God’s rule and reign in our lives, then we are assured that God will meet our needs. Instead of worrying about tomorrow, we look to the Lord our God, for we know that each day has enough trouble of its own. What we need is perspective, and Jesus tells us to put God first. If we do this then how different our lives would be. For often we have lost sleep at night, we are robbed of joy, our worry and anxiety is counter productive, our worry and anxiety take away from our lives and the quality of them and they take our eyes of the one who is in control of it all, the Lord our God who has ordained every single day for us. 


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Q36. 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.
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14th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 4v17)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Do you know the difference between sins of omission and commission? Before we answer, let’s remind ourselves of a tried and tested definition of sin. The Westminster Shorter Catechism asks “What is sin?” before answering “Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.”


With that stated, what is a sin of commission? A sin of commission describes something sinful that we have done. For example, the slanderous gossip which poured from our lips is a sin of commission - we have committed an act which does not conform to God’s law or breaks it altogether. A sin of omission on the other hand describes something that we have failed or omitted to do.


In today’s verse James states that “whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” (v17). James has already stressed in this letter that we are to be hearers and doers of the Word. It is therefore inconceivable that we would hear God’s voice and then simply ignore what He says.


What has the Lord said in James 4? Submit yourselves to God (v7). Resist the Devil (v7b). Draw near to God (v8). Be active in repentance (v8b). Walk through seasons of lament (v9). Humble yourselves (v10). Do not speak evil against one another (v11). Do not judge your neighbour (v12). Do not boast about tomorrow (v13).


Just as it is good for us to say “If the Lord wills” (v15) I think it is also healthy for us to ask “What does the Lord require?”. We can sit through endless sermons, read the latest Christian books and even attend excellent Christian conferences but if we are mere hearers of the Word then we deceive ourselves. Instead we should respond to every sermon, Bible study and daily devotion by asking “What does the Lord require? How can I apply this verse? What difference does this make?”


Brothers and sisters, may we listen well to the precious Word of God and when the time for hearing is done, may we go and do. Flee from sin, if you know the right thing to do then do it. For Christ’s sake. 


Pray (acTS)


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Q35 What is sanctification? Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.
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13th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:25-34 focus 26-31)


Message (Alan Burke)


I think I’ve calmed down a bit since I wrote Monday’s devotion, took the dog for a walk and reminded myself how the Lord is providentially in control and that he has every day ordained for me and you (Psalms 139:16). Jesus tells us not to worry, not to worry about what we eat, drink, the body, what we will wear because life is more important than those things. Jesus now makes it clear the foolishness of worry, whether that is about the wains or Trump, monkeypox or microplastics or how the 1.5C target has been broken and he does that by directing us to nature. Those whom Jesus spoke to were those who knew what it was to struggle for their daily bread whereas you’re finishing off your foie gras with truffle shaving with a sprinkle of Kamebishi Soy Salt on top, those Jesus spoke to knew what it was to worry for what sustained them and the antidote to worry is to look at the birds of the air. The birds don't plant or reap, they don't store away in barns, they don't work hard in order to make sure that there is food for their future needs, the reason why is that our heavenly Father feeds them.


So the birds are provided for by our heavenly Father, and Jesus makes the point are we not much more valuable than they? Well, I know the world has gone daft the woke agenda is dire, but I hope that some of us and I include you have some sense of reality left and know that we are more valuable than bird as we are made in the image of God, they are not. This of course this doesn't mean that work for the believer is unnecessary, he Lord through Paul makes the point in 2 Thessalonians, “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat” 2 Th 3:10, in Thessalonians, there is an emphasis apply we are to work to provide for our own needs, the birds aren't lazy, they’re not idle, they work but they are not filled with worry, they are not anxious about where their food comes from. 


To this Jesus adds in verse 27 ” who are you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? I'm aware that some of you use the King James version, where it says; 27  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? The reason for the difference between adding an hour or adding one cubit is that that the word that is translated as hour and cubit can be used to either speak of height or time. In a sense it matters not we cannot do it, either time or height, we are not God and get these things are small things when we compare them to the work of God in creation and sustaining the world and all that is in it. Then Jesus gives another antidote, this time he compares the lilies wildflowers of the countryside and how Solomon in all his splendour wasn’t dressed as one of them. 


Solomon, the son of David had great wealth (1 Kings 4:20-28), we're not told specifically what he wore, but it was believed at the time because of his great wealth that he would have dressed in royal purple, the most expensive of all dyes, and he would've been adorned and gold and jewels. If you had great wealth in Jesus day would've dressed like that. Solomon in all his splendour was new match for the wildflowers for the lilies. These wildflowers these lilies could've been displaying their beauty one day and scorched withered and died the next. Just like the grass of the field here today and tomorrow is thrown under the fire. Their beauty was something to behold but now gone.


What Jesus is doing here as he makes this point of how fleeing life is, but he is also making the point of how much more valuable we are than the flowers, than the grass, and he will clothe them. Think to the 40 years of the wilderness generation their garments lasted the entirety of the time they had no need for new ones. To that he adds “O you of little faith”. It is like a faith for the disciples that is the cause of their worry of their anxiety. Their Heavenly Father could provide. Because of this, we should not worry, asking what shall we eat, or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? Not worry about what the media feeds us, for the Lord God is providently in control of all things. The treatment plan for us in the midst of our worry our anxiety is to remember who the Lord is. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q34. What is adoption?
A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.
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12th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 4v13-16)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


I write this devotion as a 45 year old man who lives under many assumptions. To assume is to believe that something will happen even if no evidence exists to support the assumption. For example, I assume that I will reach retirement age and enjoy many happy years walking my dogs on the beach, I assume that my current good health will last indefinitely and I assume that in 43 days time I’ll be enjoying my mother-in-law’s stuffing on yet another Christmas Day.


But it doesn’t take a genius to understand that assumptions are not built on anything concrete. Our assuming hearts like to say “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit” (v13), only to hear James’ reply “you do not know what tomorrow will bring.” (v14a). Isn’t that a sobering statement? Not one of us can accurately predict tomorrow.


If that wasn’t enough, James reminds us of human frailty. We are like a mist which appears for a while and then vanishes (v14b). Although we act like we’ll be here forever the truth is quite the opposite. Scripture says that our lifespan is 70 or perhaps by reason of strength 80 (Psalm 90v10). There are those who see 90 and even 100 but most of us will not dance for joy on our 100th birthday. Indeed, the average lifespan for men in the UK is 79 with ladies enjoying an extra few years.


James has already shared with us how the Gospel produces Christian humility and it is the humble heart which understands every breath we enjoy is by the grace of God. Therefore as we make our plans it is good to acknowledge that everything depends upon the will of God (v15). If He wills us to reach 100 then it will be so. No wonder many Christians have made a habit of saying “DV” at the end of bold declarations. What does DV mean? Deo volente or God willing. This phrase isn’t magic and it certainly doesn’t make our plans come true. Instead it is a useful reminder that we aren’t the author of the story.


To live and act and plan ignoring our frailty is sheer arrogance and to boast of the things we’ll certainly do is to deny that we lack knowledge of the whole picture. We are therefore boasting in arrogance and such boating is evil (v16).


Is it always sinful to plan for tomorrow? By no means. James speak against the individual who gives no thought to God and sinfully presumes he/she is the master of their own destiny. It is not sinful to carefully plan for the future whilst acknowledging the sovereignty of God. The lazy fool is told to consider the hard working ant in Proverbs 6v6-8. The ant is active in the summer so that she can reap a harvest later in the year. Your pension plan is not sinful and your spreadsheet which tracks your plans for your dream holiday in 2030 is not wicked as long as we plan and dream in humility and thankful acknowledgment of Almighty God.


Brothers and sisters, may the Lord remind us daily of the Gospel producing in us a Spirit worked humility. Tomorrow doesn’t belong to us but we follow the God who has written all of our days in His book. Trust Him.


Pray (acTS)


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Q33 What is justification? Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.
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11th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:25-34 focus v25)


Message (Alan Burke) 


Donald Trump is president elect, apparently we should all be worried, but at the same time the woke agenda here in the UK is forcing it down our throats and anyone who doesn’t agree with them is a monster and I hope you know that includes you. Oh, I’ve also been told Trump is worse than Hitler but come on people go to the library and get some actual books rather than watching nonsense on YouTube and read about what happened in WWII and get some actual perspective. By the way did you know we are in the midst of a climate disaster, we are about to breach the 1.5C global warming limit this very year so it’s too late all is lost were going to be wiped out. If it’s not by Trump and his policies or climate it will be by a pandemic, bird flu or ebola or even Mpox and there is another thing why can’t we just call it monkeypox anyway there are cases of monkeypox in the UK the BBC told us that at the end of October and you know what is worse than all these things, we should be most worried about above all else!? Actually I can’t decide whether it is plastic or eating meat, both are destroying us, we are filled with microplastics and meat means we are going to get cancer and die but I thought we all died so for me I’m going to enjoy some tasty tasty meat and live with hope with whats coming. Actually scrap that everything is bad for us, we should all be worried, and you know that North Korea has nuclear weapons and in the middle east they don’t like each, the tragedy. How can you sleep at night with all of this, say goodbye to your loved ones right now because it’s over, all is lost!


Ok mini rant over, I wanted to get that off my chest because because life goes on, God has it all planned out from eternity past, all our days are ordained for us, yes each one and the only actual thing that has any real relevance to us is that Labour are handing over the countryside to big business. Yet Jesus tells us Do not worry about our lives. What Jesus is saying to us is don't be overly concerned, don't spend the wee small hours of the morning when you should be asleep letting things you have no real control over to be playing through your mind. Maybe you're the only one who doesn’t worry, who doesn’t feed on the nonsense the media feed us. Yet I suspect that for most of us we worry, we are anxious to some extent. It may not be what the media feeds you it may be the wains, worry about getting older, maybe you’re increasing confronted with how you can’t manage the way you use to, maybe you’re worried about work a new boss, maybe it’s because you have an illness, worry, anxiety can come about so many things. 


Jesus though is telling us as his followers not to worry, don’t be anxious. He tells us not to worry or be anxious about what we eat and drink, about what we will wear and the reason why “Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” It is not that Jesus is saying, sit at home with the feet up enjoy life everything will just fall into your lap, you don't need to work for it. Of course he isn’t, instead he's making the point that there are things that are more important than what the sustains us and what clothes, us these are not the most important things of all, but whenever we focus on these things whenever we're preoccupied with them, whenever what motivates us as worldly success then so often what focusing on these things bring us is misery just like the constant consumption media agenda. 


I think this is a much greater issue in our society than it is in the church, or rather it is a much greater issue than it should be in the church. The reason why is that we in the church have hope lies ahead, whereas in the main people have little or no hope for what happens after death, they are afraid of dying, and their focus is on this life. Yet for all of us who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ we know that this life is not the end, we are sojourners just as Abraham was, we like him look forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Heb 11:10). 


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Q32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from them.
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9th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 4v11-12)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


There are some conversations that I have engaged in that I should never have had. Even as I write these words I’m mindful of things that I have said about fellow Christians which were mean spirited and desperately harsh. But the target of my words probably deserved it…right? No. Returning to the subject of our tongues, James says “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.” (v11). Sometimes we don’t always grasp the meaning of Scripture but not this time. James is as clear as crystal, he says “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers.” (v11).


When we judge a fellow Christian we act as if we have the power and authority to do so. Nevertheless, none of us has that lofty position. Indeed when we speak in harsh judgement we speak evil against the law and judge the law (v11b). What does James mean? As we judge our fellow Christian we are acting as if we ourselves are above the law. We condemn our brother and we defame our sister for their inability to keep God’s commands without realising that we fail to keep the law as well. Our actions our hypocritical, nasty and sinful.


Who are you to judge your neighbour (v12b)? Who are you to claim perfect knowledge of another’s actions or motives? Who are you to act as if you are the master of the law and able to wield it perfectly? These questions should humble us and cause our lips to be still. There is only One who gave the law and there is only One perfect, sinless judge who is able to both save and destroy (v12). I suspect we know the identity of this One and it isn’t someone currently reading this devotion.


The law of God belongs to the Lord. It is good, perfect and just for it flows from God Himself. God alone gave the law and it is God alone who judges rightly. Therefore, to my soul and yours James asks “who are you to judge your neighbour?” (v12). But wait…aren’t there times that judgement is necessary? Absolutely! The Lord calls us frequently to engage in wise, sober judgement.


Consider the elder who denies the resurrection of Christ or the church member who never tires of gossip or the treasurer who steals 10% of the offering each week. Are we to avoid judgement in such instances? No. There are times that judgement is necessary and demanded by the Lord. Imagine your friend approaches you to tell you that she is thinking about leaving her husband for someone she has become very close to in her Bible study group - your response shouldn’t be “None of my business! Judge not lest thee be judged!”


James isn’t speaking about wise, prayerful and considered judgement. He is addressing the petty, snide, sinful, defamatory, slanderous judgement that can sometimes pour from our tongues. To this rotten nonsense James shouts loudly “Do not speak evil against one another.”


May the Lord make it so for the sake of His Church. 




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Q31 What is effectual calling? Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.
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8th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:19-24 focus v24)


Message (Alan Burke)


There are some people I know that what gets them out of bed in the morning is their pay packet, they live to earn as much money as they can and they love to show off all their wonderful new toys that the money gets them, the robotic lawnmower that leaves stripes on the lawn, the cars that are wroth more than my wee house. They love to have the latests tech and they make sure you know what they have is better than yours. On the other hand I know people who could buy and sell me with very little cost to themselves and you wouldn’t from the outside know it, they aren’t living for the money, it isn’t what gets them up in the morning and they don’t flaunt it because it’s not the thing that is important to them. When it comes to money it is easy for us to be captivated by it, if that is what we are devoted to then that is what we will love, that is what we will live for. On the other hand if it is God that we are devoted to then we will live for him and store up treasure in heaven no matter how much money we have on this earth. 


We cannot serve God and money, we can’t be focused on treasures in on earth while trying to store up treasures in heaven, we cannot do it. We are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’” (Mk 12:30 & Deut 6:4-5).  God calls us to live for him and to love him and serve him above all things. The problem is that for all of us we can easily fall into the trap of being possessed by the possessions we have.  With God divided loyalties do not work, here the focus was on wealth, but that overflows to many aspects of our lives, jobs, relationships, possessions, when these things are put before God then we devote ourselves to that and we despise God.  


Remember that one of the disciples namely Judas was one who was motivated by earthly treasure in Matthew 27 Judas approached the chief priest and he asked the question. What are you willing to give me if I haunt him over to you?(v15) the price for his betrayal of his friend was 30 pieces of silver. (Matt 26:15-16). In the Old Testament this was the penalty paid to the owner of a slave if the slave was gored to death by an ox (Ex 21:32). Jesus was worth nothing more than the price of a dead slave to Judas and the Chief Priests, thirty pieces of silver was worth about four months wages. Well, Judas would regret what he had done if he had of heard the words of Jesus not only audibly but in his heart, if his eyes were not bad then he would never have betrayed Jesus. 


What Jesus is teaching here isn't here that we have to give up everything that we have, to withdraw from the material world rather he wants us to be orientated rightly. None of us can serve two masters if we were under two masters we would be torn and pulled in so many different directions we would end up losing our minds. It would have conflicting messages towards us for the disciples of Jesus if we live like that we cannot love money and because we'll be devoted to one and despise the other. Let us love the Lord our God above all things, for money won’t bring us security or an eternal hope but Jesus does. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
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