Day's 211-219

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


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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).


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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?




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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.  


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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.


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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.     






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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. 


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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.


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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.