Day 21 - The LORD's Day
Westminster Shorter Catechism Q21 Who is the Redeemer of God’ s elect? The only Redeemer of God’ s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, (1 Tim. 2:5–6) who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, (John 1:14, Gal. 4:4) and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever. (Rom. 9:5, Luke 1:35, Col. 2:9, Heb. 7:24–25) Day 22 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Genesis 3:1-15 Message Alan Burke Why is it all like this, why are relationships hard, why is their pain, why do we face heartbreak, why is there chronic illness, why coronavirus, why, why, why? Only the Word of God can give us the answer. Today we look to the account of the fall in the book of Genesis, the book of begins. It alone gives us a framework to understand the situation we now find ourselves in, the answer to why this life far from how we would want it or desire it to be. And the simple answer to why is because we live in a fallen broken world, it was never supposed to be like this. When God created man, He created him in His image, male and female He created them (1:27), and all that God had made was ‘very good’ (1:31). The Lord God entered into a covenant of life with His image bearers, He forbid Adam (2:16-17) to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God had given freedom and fulfilment they were created to rely on Him but the Serpent offered autonomy, to go their own way. They chose to go their own way (v7), their eyes were opened (v8). That moment everything changed, they had sinned against God (2 Cor 11:3) and all of humanity fell that day with Adam’s first transgression, all have sinned (Romans 5:12-21). God’s perfect world was now marred by original sin and we lost communion with God, relationship with Him. Adam’s sin has had disastrous consequences which we all live in the shadow off, the result is that every child is born is fallen and born into a fallen sinful world and as a result suffering, pain, physical death are a reality for all of us here today. That’s the why, why it’s like this, why life is far from how we would want or desire it to be. But that wasn’t the end, in Eden, God pronounced Grace (15)! One day ‘the seed’ of the woman who would crush or brush the head of the Serpent. This is the first announcement of the Gospel, it points forward to the one, who would come from the line of the woman who would defeat the serpent. God out of his mere good pleasure entered into a covenant of grace to deliver His image bearers out of the estate of sin and misery, to bring them salvation, how? Through the Redeemer of his Elect the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 2:5-6), who being the eternal Son of God became man (John 1:14, Gal 4:4) fully God and fully man and took the punishment that sin deserves (Rom. 6:23). In Adam all die, even so in Christ all are made alive though faith (1 Cor. 15:22). In Jesus we have hope though faith that when this life is over we go to be with Him and there will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for these things will be no more (Rev. 21:4). That is the great hope we have in the midst of this Pandemic, that is the hope we have in this fallen broken world, a hope that was first pronounced by God in the midst of the fall. Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, (Heb. 2:14,16, Heb. 10:5) and a reasonable soul, (Matt. 26:38) being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, (Luke 1:27,31,35,42, Gal. 4:4) yet without sin. (Heb. 4:15, Heb. 7:26) Day 23 Pray (AC-ts) Read - Job 1.1-22 Message - Scott Woodburn The book of Job is one of the oldest in the entire Bible, a substantial book with 42 chapters and a book that is a difficult read. We meet Job in the very first verse and he is described as blameless, upright, someone who turned away from evil and a man who fears God (v1). He was a family man (v2) and a successful business man (v3). Indeed he would often intercede for his family just in case they sinned against God in their hearts (v5). However, by the end of the chapter Job has lost everything due to the malice of Satan. We are told various things about the enemy in this passage. He is a wanderer with no place to call home (v7). He is limited in his power (v12). He is accountable to the Lord (v6). He hates the church of Christ and wishes to destroy it (v10-11). How can any of us stand against such a foe? Thankfully this chapter also shows us that the Lord is in control of our trials. If Satan was in charge we would be utterly undone. Yet here we see the enemy having to present himself before God - when God calls, Satan must answer. Satan is not given a free reign but is limited by the Lord - when God commands, Satan must obey. We have all probably grown up with an image of Satan as God's equal. These two great beings are locked in a cosmic battle with the outcome unknown. None of this is true. There is only one God and His name is Yahweh (Deuteronomy 6.4). Satan is not God but was part of God's creation before rebelling against the Lord (Ezekiel 28.11-19). God is sovereign over Satan, over us and over our trials. I'm keenly aware that what I have just written can seem very distant from the sting of our trials. We know that God is sovereign, we believe that He is for us, we know that He is good, but why does He allow me to suffer? What is His purpose in the sickness of my child? What is His purpose in the collapse of my marriage? My brothers and sisters I will not patronise you by offering you an incomplete answer. In my limited mind I simply cannot fathom the purposes and plans of Almighty God. But I offer you Biblical certainties to close. Firstly, our faith is not a guarantee of struggle free living. The Christian can expect trials of various kinds (1 Peter 1.6, John 16.33). Secondly, sometimes Satan plays his part in our struggles (1 Peter 5.8), sometimes they come as a result of our sin (1 Corinthians 11.27-30). Thirdly, the Lord does have a purpose in our trials, we may not see it, it may seem incomprehensible to us, but the Lord does have a purpose in our trials and it is good (Romans 8.28). Finally, this fallen world is collapsing in on itself. It cannot and will not last (Romans 8.19-22). All that blights us will one day be put under the feet of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15.25-26). Not yet, but soon. Oh Lord! Speed that day we pray! Until then, with broken hearts, dashed dreams and tears in our eyes, we worship. “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (v21) Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? A. 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. Day 24 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Isaiah 6:1-7 Message Alan Burke If Isaiah was from down the road we might hear someone say ‘thon fella’s a good’n’, or ‘he’s a good lad’. In truth Isaiah was a good man, a righteous man and a holy man. Here Isaiah describes a visible manifestation of The LORD, seated on His throne (1) ruling ruling over the heavens and the earth, there His seraphs serve Him (2), praise is given to Him, proclaiming how He is ‘holy holy holy’ (3). What is most striking is that instead of coming with praise, being filled with joy before the Lord, Isaiah is filled with terror. For want of a better term, he was bricking it. This wasn’t the terror that is experienced by a pupil coming before the headmaster after some incident, this is fear more like excruciating agony and Isaiah exclaims “Woe is me!” (4). Why was he filled with a sense of woe, because he knew that he came before the holy God of heaven and earth and before Him he was morally corrupt. Isaiah wasn’t being melodramatic, a bit theatrical, before the Lord God Almighty was a filthy sinner. Once Isaiah confessed his sin something amazing happens, one of the seraphim flew toward him, with a burning coal form the altar and places it on his lips (6). The LORD by His grace took Isaiah’s guilt and atoned for his sin, Isaiah was cleansed not by his own endeavours but by the grace of God (7). The only way a sinner can approach of the LORD God is by His grace. His grace though faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:8-9), and we have a righteousness that is given to us through faith (Rom. 5:19), we have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11). In a legal sense, God has declared that we can come before him, that we are righteous not by our own endeavours but through faith as the righteousness of Christ has been imputed (1 Cor 1:30). Even if people say about us ‘thon fella’s a good’n’, or ‘he’s a good lad’ are nonetheless sinners before the LORD but by His grace, He has made it so that we can come boldly before Him, entering into the presence of the Living God though faith in Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:2). Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 24 How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. (John 1:18, 1 Pet. 1:10–12, John 15:15, John 20:31) Day 25 Pray (AC-ts) Read - Matthew 5.17-20 Message - Scott Woodburn What does the Christian life look like in days of isolation? Exactly the same as the days before Covid19. The Christian life is one of daily discipleship, picking up our cross and following Christ and obeying His commands. Perhaps you have no problem with any of that except the last bit. Obeying His commands? That sounds a bit legalistic! The Christian life is about grace not works! I know what you are saying but in this extraordinary passage Jesus outlines our relationship with the Law of God. He begins by stating that He has come to fulfil the Law and the Prophets (v17). For those listening to Christ they would have understood what He meant. The Law was the first five books of the Bible (also called the Torah or the Pentateuch) with the Prophets being everything else. The Law was God's commandments and everything else was the Prophets commentating on God's commandments. For Jesus to say He was coming to fulfil the Law and the Prophets was a declaration that He was going to fulfil the entire Old Testament. He didn't come to overturn it but fulfil it. Why would He overturn it? It is all about Him (Luke 24.27,44). Indeed Jesus makes it clear that the Law will not fall until all is accomplished (v18). Jesus would accomplish it. It's important to note that the Law was more than the Ten Commandments (also called the Decalogue). God's Law can be divided into three. The civic, the ceremonial and the moral. The civic told the people of God how they were to live as national Israel. The ceremonial told them how they were to worship. The moral told them how to follow God daily. Jesus kept every inch. We speak of Christ's passive and active obedience. He actively obeyed the Law's requirements and He passively received it's punishments. A Presbyterian by the name of Gresham Machen on his deathbed said "I'm so thankful for the active obedience of Christ. No hope without it." He was right. Christ has fulfilled the Law completely and utterly. Without His obedience there would be no hope for sinners and yet all who have received Christ by faith have His righteousness credited (imputed) to their account. Our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees because we have received Christ's righteousness (v20). The scribes and Pharisees tried to obtain righteousness by works, the believer obtains it by faith. How do we respond to Christ's love? By obedience (v19). Jesus tells us if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14.15). Does that mean we should still sacrifice lambs and refuse to wear mixed fibres? No. The ceremonial and civic law have been fulfilled. The Church is no longer within the borders of Israel with a king in Jerusalem. We no longer approach God bringing a little lamb to a high priest. These types and shadows have been and gone. Christ the fulfilment has come (Colossians 2.17). He is our King (1 Corinthians 15.25) who reigns on high and the Church (called the Israel of God (Galatians 6.16)) is worldwide. He is our Prophet (Hebrews 1.1-2) speaking into our lives on a daily basis by His Word. He is our Priest (Hebrews 10.21) who offered Himself a once and for sacrifice and then sat down. Yet the moral law still stands. We are still to love God and love our neighbour (Matthew 22.37-40). Memorising the Ten Commandments was not an exercise in futility. The moral law restrains evil, it shows us our sin and the holiness of God and it shows us what is pleasing to God. We call this the threefold use of the law. The law is from God and is therefore good (Romans 7.12). We should love it. We should do what it says. What does the Christian life look like in days of isolation? Jesus says "If you love me, keep my commandments." Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q25 How doth Christ execute the office of a priest? Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us. Day 26 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Romans 8:12-17 Message Alan Burke Adoption in the first century was nothing like it is today, an adopted son was chosen. By his adoption the son was given his fathers name and would inherit his estate, he was in no way inferior to a son by birth. What normally happen was that the adopted son would seek to please the father, showing that they were worthy of the fathers deliberate choice. This understanding of adoption helps us as we think about this passage here in Romans 8:12-17. God though Paul was teaching the blessings of what it is to be in Christ Jesus, how there is no condemnation (1), how we have been declared not guilty even though we are guilty, how we have been set free from sin and death(2). To help us to live in this new life we have the indwelling Spirit of God (9), guaranteeing us eternal life (11). And as a result of God’s choosing us, we we are to live in a certain way, we have an obligation as debtors to God for what he has done for us (12). But this isn’t something we do in our own strength but by the Spirit we are to put to death the deeds of the body (13). We are not passive in this, we don’t simply let go and let God do it all for us, nor do we do it in our own strength, instead the Spirit helps us, as we take up the cross and deny ourselves daily (Luke 9:23). We mortify sin in our lives, die to the flesh, this process is called sanctification as we are made holy, conformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. The thing is, we live in this way because it is befitting for a child of God, after all we are chosen, adopted by Him. God by His grace has saved us and we it should lead us to respond rightly to Him putting to death things of the flesh because of the privilege and blessing that we now have, our gratitude should be see in how we live. For we are sons of God (14) though faith, this is the privileged status we now have by the work of the Spirit of God within us, we are His son, his children (which of course includes daughters). This is how we can come before God as our Father, as adopted heirs though Christ Jesus, this is the privilege of those who are His children. Think of the amazing transformation that has taken place, we who by our very nature are sinful, enemies of God (Rom.5:10), but God in His grace (Eph 2:8-9) has saved us, and it means that we can now draw near calling out ‘Abba Father’ (15). As we experience the struggle with indwelling sin what ever that might be we are to know the Spirit of God is living within us helps us daily to overcome it, it should give us the confidence that God will help us in what we face, when we feel like giving up know that He is at work, and we have hope of new resurrection bodies that will be free from sin (16-17). Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 26 How doth Christ execute the office of a king? Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, (Acts 15:14–16) in ruling, (Isa. 32:22) and defending us, (Isa. 32:1–2) and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. (1 Cor. 15:25, Ps. 110) Day 27 Pray (AC-ts) Read - Revelation 1-3 Message - Scott Woodburn "Strange days!" is the word on the street. If I've said it once, I've said it at least four times. These indeed are strange days, the likes of which none of us have ever seen. There is much we can't say for certain about these days or indeed any day. Thankfully the Lord in His grace has revealed plenty to us. He has spoken the final word in Christ (Hebrews 1.2) and the last book of the Bible shows us what the days we live in are going to be like. The name of the book of Revelation comes from the greek word "apocalypsis" which simply means "to reveal". So Revelation isn't a book of deep mysteries unlocked by deciphering numbers and codes, it is a revealing of that which must take place from Christ's ascension to His return. It speaks clearly of the days we are in, days that all too often will see tribulation. The apostle John shared in those difficulties (v9) but the book isn't about him. Wonderfully it begins and ends with Christ. He is revealed as the firstborn from the dead, a faithful witness and one who is reigning over the kings of earth (v5). This same Jesus loves us and has set us free from our sin by His precious blood (v6) and He is coming back in the clouds and every eye will see Him (v7). These are strange days but here we are reminded of our familiar Saviour. The Saviour described as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end (v8). The Saviour who is and was and is to come (v8). Jesus is among His church (v13,20) and in chapter two and three He speaks to His bride. Indeed if this wasn't enough to inspire confidence, chapter one finishes by showing Jesus dressed in His high priestly garments (v9-20). We know from Hebrews that Jesus is our great high priest who ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7.25) and lest you think "Well no one understands what I'm going through.", we are told in Hebrews that Jesus knows exactly what we experience (Hebrews 4.15) an yet without sin. So, again, these are strange days but it isn't a stranger who is at the right hand of the Father. Flesh and blood is at the right hand of God, our elder brother, our Saviour, our King. Jesus is His name! To the saved of God there is no greater comfort than to remember that we belong to Jesus. Therefore "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4.16). Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Q27 Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist? Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time. Day 28 - The Lord's Day Q: Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation? A: Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. Day 29 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Exodus 20:1-3 Message Alan Burke Most of us at Sunday school learnt about the The ‘Ten Commandments’ or rather “Ten Words” of the covenant. The Anchor boys were working their way through them here in Lissara before ‘Lockdown’ but do we really still need them, the simple answer is a resounding YES! God gave these expressions of his eternal law that should give order in society and they transcend the Old and New Testaments, the teaching of Jesus and the NT letters the law is set forth (a few examples Mk. 10:17-22, Rom. 13:8-9, 1 Tim 1:8-10, Matt 22:37-40). The first four deal with how we relate to God the remainder then how we relate to one another in response. Look though to whom they come from (1), they come from God. Their source is God, they are for a purpose and their content is governed by the nature of God Himself. Then He reminds His people that He is Yahweh, (personal name of God denoted in Capital letters) the covenant keeping God, reminding them how He has redeemed them from Egypt. This is how the Ten Words of the LORD, the covenant keeping God begin, all to stress the gravity of what He now speaks to them and how they should live accordingly. To start (3) no other God’s. Sounds simple enough no other God’s before the one who calls us to obedience and devotion, no other God before the one and only God. And for us, after all we worship the God of the bible don’t we, so this is pretty easy. Think again, what does it mean that we are to have no other God’s before our God it means, that we are to know and acknowledge God to be the only living and true God, to be our God, to worship and glorify Him accordingly, by thinking, mediating, remember Him, holding Him highly, honouring Him, adoring Him, choosing Him, Loving Him, desiring Him, fearing Him, believing Him, trusting Him, hoping in Him, delighting in Him, rejoicing in Him, being zealous for Him, calling upon Him, giving all praise and thanks to Him, giving all obedience and submission to Him with our entire being, doing all that we can do, in all things to please him and sorrowful when in any thing we offend Him and finally walk humbly with Him (proof texts at the bottom of the post). Nothing should rule our lives or become the centre of our attention other than our Creator, our marriages, work life, home life, our shopping, our free time, our money, that romantic interest, that football game (not like they will be happening for a while), the list goes on and on. Hands up who thinks it’s simple now? We can’t do this, yet we have a saviour who has done it for us, (Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:6, 11, 10:3), we have right sanding with God because of the righteousness of Christ that is imputed to us, so that when God looks at us He doesn’t see our sin but the perfect righteousness of Christ. We should as a result desire as adopted heirs to live (Rom. 8:12-17) in a way that is befitting to our status as His child (Jn. 1:14). In the midst of lockdown, when life goes back to a kinda normal we should seek to live with no other God’s before our Great God! Proof texts: I Chr. 28:9; Deut 26:17; Isa. 43:10; Jer. 14:22, Psa. 29:2; 95:6-7; Matt. 4:10, Mal. 3:16, Psa. 63:6, Eccl. 12:1, Psa. 71:19, Mal. 1:6, Isa. 45:23, Josh. 24:15, 22, Deut. 6:5, Psa. 73:25, Isa. 8:13, Exod. 14:31, Isa. 26:4, Psa. 130:7, Psa. 37:4, Psa. 32:11, Rom. 12:11; Num. 25:11, Phil. 4:6, Jer. 7:28; James 4:7, I John 3:22, Jer. 31:18; Psa. 119:136, Micah 6:8 Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 29 How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ? We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us, (John 1:11–12) by his Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5–6) Day 30 Pray (AC-ts) Read — Psalm 1 Message Alan Burke What category do you fall into? The way of the righteous or the way of the wicked? After all this psalm is all about two different ways to live, isn’t it? So compare yourself to the words of this psalm. I’ll start; Blessed am I, I do not walk in the council of the wicked, stand in the way of sinners, sit in the seat of scoffers (1). Well I reckon I don’t take council from the wicked, gather with sinners, hang out with scoffers. Do I delight (2) in the law or instruction of the Lord? Kinda, don’t get me wrong I love God’s word, it’s what He has given to direct me how to glorify and enjoy Him (Ps 119:105), but there are bits that mean sacrifice and teaching that goes against what our culture believes, so maybe not delight. What’s next, meditate on God’s word day and night? Alright this ain’t me, I like my sleep, sometimes I meditate on His law. And finally, am I like a fruit producing tree (3), prospering? Mmm, I wish it were the case but that’s just not how life is for me. I really must be doing something wrong, I mustn’t be trying hard enough, I need to do a better job that’s it, of avoiding the wicked, sinners, scoffers, I need to sleep less, read God’s word more and maybe then I’ll be like that tree and everything I do will prosper. In truth no matter what I do I’m never going to be the Blessed man of this Psalm, if this is about two ways to live then I’m on a hiding to nothing, maybe it’s time for a career change. The truth is no matter how hard any of us try, we will be unable to do what this Psalm calls for, thanks to all those people who taught us this was two ways to live and just made us feel like a wretch. If we are not the righteous of this Psalm then there is only one other option, we must be the wicked. For we are sinners who fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). Who is this Psalm about then, as it contrasts the righteous and the wicked. Well look to Psalm 2 where we see war between the righteous King and the wicked. What we need to understand is that the man of Psalm 1, is in fact none other than the righteous King of Psalm two. So the man of Psalm 1 is the anointed one, literally the Messiah and what are we told in Psalm 2:12 is ‘Blessed are all who take refuge in Him!’ If we take refuge in Him through faith, then His righteousness is imputed to us and we join in the congregation of the righteous (5) but the wicked who have not sought refuge in Him will perish (6). Let us know that through faith, taking refuge in this righteous man of Psalm 1 we will escape the wrath of God, we will not perish but have eternal life (Jn. 3:16) Pray (ac-TS) Sing Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 30 How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ? The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, (Eph. 1:13–14, John 6:37–39, Eph. 2:8) and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. (Eph. 3:17, 1 Cor. 1:9)
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