3rd April 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (Ex 7:14-25 focus v14-21) Message (Alan Burke) We know that there is only One God, the Egyptians though believed in the plethora of gods and the Lord God was making it known to the people of Egypt that all their gods were but idols and he the Lord is God. Here we are told that Moses was to go to Pharaoh early in the morning to ask for the release of the Israelites, he was to wait on the bank of th nile to meet him. We don’t know for sure why Pharaoh was going out to the water, it might have been as simple as he liked the water and was heading out for a wee dander on its banks. But the Nile is important throughout the narrative, we’ll think of that more in the coming weeks but for now what we need to know is that for Egypt the Nile ran and in a sense still runs like an artery through the land. If it wasn’t for the Nile most of Egypt would be a desert, but surrounding the Nile there is life, abundance of life and they worshiped the god of the Nile. When I say god, just like all gods small g of the nations they are but idols, there is but one living and true God which Pharaoh and Egypt were going to discover. Anyway there were three gods associated with the Nile, Osiris, Nu and Hapi. I don’t expect you to know any of them but I want to draw your attention to Hapi. Hapi was a fertility god, the Egyptians called the Nile by the name of this god, Hapi. You can do a wee internet search if you don’t believe me. This god was a bearded man who was pregnant and with breasts. Hapi was the one who gave brith to Egypt and nursed its strength, nourished the entire nation with the water from the Nile. There were songs and prayers to the Nile. The Lord was going to turn this river to blood, Moses with the staff in his hand was to strike the water and it would be changed to blood, the fish in the Nile would die, the river would stink and not be able to drink it’s water. All so that they would know that the Lord is God. For all of Egypt, this would have been unmistakable, their God, their water of life, their most precious natural resource was turned to blood. Can you imagine the response of Pharaoh and the officials never mind the people of the land of Egypt as they saw the Nile before their eyes, the life water of the nation turn to blood? It would have been a living nightmare, it wouldn’t take you long in a hot humid country to think, I need a drink, no like I really need a drink but by water source has turn to blood, what do you do? Hapi their god, the one who gave brith to Egypt and nursed its strength, nourished the entire nation with the water from the Nile was and now as it changed to blood it set of a chain reaction, the water turned to blood, all the fish that were in it died, they begin to decompose and the water that was drinkable, then blood, then the fish begin to putrefy, floating on the blood, the smell of the blood, like a coppery, iron smell, then with the dying fish, it would have been a feast for the nostrils. The fact that the water turned to blood, that the Nile was changed shows God’s sovereignty over all of creation. He is not only able to do miracles he sees and knows what is going to happen before it happens. That should be of comfort to us in our own lives that the Lord is sovereignly at work, he knows and he is able to do what he has promised. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q3 What do the scriptures principally teach? The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. (2 Tim. 1:13, 2 Tim. 3:16)
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2nd April 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (Ecclesiastes 9v13-18) Message (Scott Woodburn) There was once a small city which had seen better days. It had at one time been an important centre for trade but it had fallen on hard times and now very few people lived within its walls. Nevertheless, one day a great king came against the city. The king had a great army at his command and he soon set about besieging the city (v14). Humanly speaking all looked lost. How would such a small city stand against a mighty king? It wasn’t by might or power but by the wisdom of a poor wise man (v15). When all others panicked, the wise man kept his head and gave advice that saved the city from the mighty king’s clutches. You’d think that his fellow inhabitants would have made the wise man rich - at the very least they should have made a statue of their hero. But, alas! The wise man was quickly forgotten and life returned to normal (v15b). What conclusions did Solomon draw from this parable? There are three. Firstly, even though the poor man was forgotten along with his wise words, Solomon was convinced that wisdom was better than might (v16) and better than weapons of war (v18). Brothers and sisters, you do not need to meet fire with fire. You do not need to beat your enemy at his own game. Entrust yourself to the Lord and follow his ways even if the whole world doesn’t notice. Secondly, although it is often the case that the loudest voices are heard and the squeaky wheel gets the oil, quiet wisdom is better than foolish shouting. Brothers and sisters, do not despise that gentle voice of wisdom. Appreciate those who love you enough to gently guide you rather than loudly praise you. Finally, a good work of many years can be destroyed by the actions of one sinner (v18). Brothers and sisters, never underestimate sinners and their sin. You may think that “his” gossip is harmless or “her” actions are just a bit of fun but congregations have been destroyed by less. Give the enemy no room to move in your fellowship - close the windows to him and bar the door, for the work of the Gospel is too precious to allow it to be trampled by fools. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q2 What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him? The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him. 1st April 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (Ex 7:14-25 focus v14-18) Message (Alan Burke) In the main there is an assumption in this culture that seems to think science either knows everything or that it can know everything if we only ask the right questions and willing to fund the research accordingly. It is a belief system that is sometimes daubed as Scientism and is an excessive belief in the power of scientific knowledge and techniques. Partly because of this there have been many who have came to the plagues in Egypt and dismissed outright that they are miracles or have sought to explain them from a scientific point of view but there was nothing natural about the plagues, they were supernatural, a miraculous accordance at the Lord’s command. We still find ourselves trying to explain God and his word by our own finite nature and our finite understanding of the universe. We think that the creator God is somehow subject to the same limitations that we ourselves experience, the laws of nature are not chains which the divine legislator has laid upon himself, instead they are threads which he holds in his hand and which he shortens or lengthens at will, he has power over all. Here the Lord speaks once more to Moses. We don’t know where, when or how but the Lord spoke to Moses and gives him instructions to go meet Pharaoh. Here we are told that Pharaoh heart was unyielding, the ESV and the KJV says hardened. Why? Well the Lord had hardened Pharaoh’s heart in judgement against him for refusing to listen. Back when Moses and Aaron had first went to Pharaoh, and he mocked them, in derision asking ‘Who is the Lord’ (5:2). The Lord in his judgment had hardened the heart of Pharaoh further for he had suppressed the truth in unrighteousness, he had been given opportunity but would not hear or listen now he was by the work of the Lord know, indeed all of Egypt would know who the Lord is. What God was about to do and in each one of these miracles, would be an invitation for the Egyptians to believe in the LORD the God of the Israelites. The Lord would make himself known to them, the miraculous events were for that purpose, (7:5; 8:10, 22; 9:14, 16, 29; 14:4, 18) and through them God would bring his people out about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children as well as many other people who went up with them (Ex 12:37-38). The Lord God was going to make his power and glory known and bring out his people, the children of Israel. So that they could serve him, that they could worship him. The Lord was redeeming his people to serve and to worship him. You could ask what is the chief end of the Israelites, to glorify God and enjoy him forever, as they serve and worship him. Pharaoh though refused to listen to the request, he was warned of the consequences if he did not let them go. The Lord was going to turn this river to blood, Moses with the staff in his hand was to strike the water and it would be changed to blood, the fish in the Nile would die, the river would stink and not be able to drink it’s water. All so that they would know that the Lord is God. For all of Egypt, this would have been unmistakable, their god, their water of life, their most precious natural resource was turned to blood. The Lord was turning water to blood, he was bringing judgement upon the Egyptians so that they would know that the Lord is God. This was only the beginning, they could try to ignore it, they could try to explain it away but the Lord is the one who is God alone. All people on this earth are without excuse because God has revealed himself to all people, the Egyptians may have had the plagues, we all see it as the heavens themselves declare God’s glory, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse (Ro 1:19–20). Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q1 What is the chief end of man? Man’ s chief end is to glorify God, (1 Cor. 10:31, Rom. 11:36) and to enjoy him for ever. (Ps. 73:25–28) 30th March 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (Ecclesiastes 9v11-12) Message (Scott Woodburn) Imagine the peace of mind we would have if we could honestly and accurately predict the future? We would be able to plan for the certain events of 15th March 2047 just as we would be able to prepare for the difficulties of 3rd October 2030. Nevertheless, it is not within our remit to predict anything with certainty. Solomon looked and saw life’s unpredictability. The race was not won by the swift (v11a), the battle wasn’t won by the strong (v11b), the wise person didn’t always have bread (v11c), the intelligent didn’t always enjoy riches (v11d) and the one with knowledge wasn’t always blessed with favour (v11e). None of this seems to make sense and we would much prefer it if life worked simply. In what way? A good person does good things and gets good rewards while a bad person does bad things and gets bad consequences. But we know all too well that this is not how things work. Indeed, life is full of events which come come by “time and chance” (v11f) or in other words, the moments that trouble us come unexpectedly and out of the blue. Both death and trouble come at a time we do not expect (v12). We are like a fish happily swimming along before being caught in a net (v12b) or a bird hunting for worms before having our leg caught in a snare (v12c). The human experience is as Frank Sinatra once sang “riding high in April, shot down in May”. In response we should flee from all arrogance. James would once say “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James 4v13-14). It is good for us to consider our frailty. Our lives aren’t forever and soon we like vanish like a morning mist. Years before Solomon took his throne, Moses pondered some of the same issues and came to the conclusion that the Lord should teach us to number our days so that we might be wise (Psalm 90v12). That remains an important prayer. What have you been putting off until tomorrow? From whom have you withheld forgiveness? Have you settled accounts with the Lord? Take time right now to consider those questions and to remind yourself that you may not have the next fifty years or even the next fifty days. The reality of life has been accurately summarised by a billboard in Portrush “Life is short, death is sure, sin the cause, Christ the cure.” Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q107 What doth the conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer teach us? The conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer, which is, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen,” teacheth us to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power, and glory to him; and in testimony of our desire and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen. 29th March 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (John 20:1-18 focus v12) Message (Alan Burke) The emotion of all that is playing out here is intense, the pain of loss mixed with the body of Jesus haven for all that Mary knows been taken by grave robbers. There she stood, weeping, looking into the tomb. Anyone near would have heard the sound of Mary with the pain of grief. Looking into the tomb she saw two angels where the body of Jesus had bene laid. In our haste to get to the resurrection of Jesus we often miss the wonder of what is being shown to us in the empty tomb with the angels where Jesus’ body had laid. We are told that one at the head and the other at the foot (12), only in John’s gospel are we told this detail of the angels sitting where Jesus’ body was laid with one at the head and the other at the foot. John wants us to see something, he wants something to register with us, of who Jesus was and is, of what he had done for us, otherwise there is no need to tell us so clearly the position of the angels in the tomb. What we have here is a profound truth that is being conveyed to us that we can just passover without giving much thought to. After the fall God placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life. (Gen 3:22–24). The Cherubim there were set to guard the way to the tree of life, they were placed there to protect God’s holiness, to prohibit sinners to access the Lord. Later God when giving the instructions of how to approach Him in worship in the book of Exodus make it clear that he is to be worshiped not by the imaginations of man but as he reveals in his word. In chapter 25 the Lord gives details for how the tabernacle is to be constructed and how his people are to approach him. In the most holy place was to be placed the ark of the covenant, it was a box that that was overlaid with gold, atop of the ark was a gold slab which was known on the mercy seat, on that mercy seat there were two cherubim of hammered gold, one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other (Ex 25:19). It was here between the cherubim that the Lord met his people, he declared to them, There I will meet you (Ex 25:22) Surrounding the most holy place was a curtain that separated the presence of God from the people of God. Once a year on Yom Kippur, known as the day of atonement, the high priest entered the Most Holy place. Blood was spilt to make an atonement for the sin of the people and blood would be sprinkled on the ark of the covenant on the mercy seat between the cherubim to atone for the sins of the people. What John wants us to see that we often miss in our haste is that Jesus has atoned for our sin, for the angels sitting where Jesus’ body was laid with one at the head and the other at the foot that Mary saw before her as she wept pointed to how Jesus had provided the atonement for sin. He was the true propitiation for our sins, the sacrifice of bulls and goats on the day of atonement needed to be reacted every year but the blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross atoned for sin, he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world (1 Jn 2:2). Though the death of Jesus Christ came victory. Only a true man could make atonement for the sins of man. The Old Testament sacrificial system shows us this. The animals could not satisfy completely for the sins of men. Only a man, a man who was without sin, could satisfy God's justice. But man is not without sin, and therefore could have no hope in making atonement for himself. So God would, if he were to redeem man and uphold the covenant of grace, have to provide a way for a true man to make atonement for the sins of God's elect. And he did. Christ is our propitiation, he is the one who made amends for all our sin. This is the wonder of the resurrection, though this atonement we have access to God through faith because of Jesus and his atonement for us. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q106 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) 28th March 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (Ecclesiastes 9v7-10) Message (Scott Woodburn) Simon the Stylite was born in the year 390 and lived over half of his life on a small platform at the top of a column. He chose this path in order to devote himself to an austere yet God-centred life. He had essentials passed up the column regularly but he was so committed to his simple life that he refused to see his mother. Instead he told her that if they were worthy they would see each other in the next life. Some might see Simon as a true Christian man who took seriously a life devoted to God whilst others might consider him an extremist. I’m not going to mock Simon nor will I condemn him. The evidence suggests he was a man utterly committed to Christ and many were deeply challenged by his devotion. But is Simon’s example one that we should follow? I don’t think so. What does the Christian life ordinarily look like? May I describe it as extraordinarily ordinary? What do I mean? Solomon painted a wonderful yet ordinary picture of a joyous life. He urges us to eat and drink with joy and a merry heart (v7). We are to wear white garments with oil upon our heads which symbolise one’s happiness (v8). We are to delight in our husband or wife (v9) and we are to work as hard as we possibly can (v10). He makes no mention of austerity or life on top of a column. But my description of the Christian life was that it is “extraordinarily ordinary” There’s nothing desperately extraordinary about eating our dinner with joy and working hard. So perhaps a Christian’s deeds should be extraordinary? Should we travel the earth preaching the Gospel? Should we swap our homes for a column in the wilderness? Maybe but not usually. The Christian life is extraordinary because it is a life that has been transformed by Christ. Jesus has taken us from spiritual death to life. He has caused us to be born again and with new hearts we freely and willingly choose Christ. Jesus no longer counts our sins against us and His righteousness has been credited to our account. Furthermore, He has given us a place in His church where we experience the extraordinary yet ordinary means of grace. As the Word is preached, as God’s people pray and as we enjoy the sacraments - we grow. The Christian life is extraordinarily ordinary. Brothers and sisters, rejoice in the magnitude of the glorious Gospel of Jesus and in response eat your dinner with joy, love your partner and work as hard as you can. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q105 What do we pray for in the fifth petition? In the fifth petition, which is, And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we pray, that God, for Christ’s sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are the rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others. 27th March 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (John 20:1-18 focus v1-9) Message (Alan Burke) Many of us have known the grief that comes with loss first hand, death comes to all and we have stood at the grave side of those whom we have known and loved all too often. As we are introduced to Mary Magdalene here in John’s gospel she was on her way to the tomb early on that first Lord’s day morning while we are told it was still dark, she was in the midst of the grief that we all know too well. She knew sins curse acutely that day, the punishment of sin that befell on the human race in the fall it overshadowed her in a very real way as she made her way to the tomb, little did she know that that grief would soon be dispelled to joy. We read these words and they are familiar to us, we know them well, in a sense they have lost their wonder but for Mary that first Lord’s day what greeted her was totally unexpected. Nothing is mentioned of the soldiers who had been appointed to guard the tomb, why had the stone been moved, had the tomb been robbed, had someone taken the body of Jesus. The last thing on her mind would have been that Jesus had been raised from the dead. While John doesn’t tell us if Mary looked or entered the tomb, Luke does (24:2). We know that Mary entered and did not find the body of Jesus. In response she ran to find someone who could come, to do what though? The first thought of Mary was that someone had taken the body of Jesus, the body of Jesus had been stolen. In this the emotion of those involved is clear, the grief, the distress, anguish, after hearing what Mary had said Peter and the disciple Jesus loved, John ran to the tomb. Both men found the same thing, the body of Jesus has gone, all that was left were his grave cloths, nothing is told to us except that they believed but they did not understand from the scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead (9). Their expectation and grief had blinded them to the reality of what was occurring before their very eyes. John in this account gives great detail to the grave cloths, almost unnecessarily so, why would John focus on the grave cloths in such a way if they were not significant. But they are significant for they testify to how that although the body of Jesus was gone that his body had not been stolen. No grave robber would have stolen the body and left the linen strips that the body had been wrapped in there. Look at what we are told as Peter who was playing catchup went in ahead of John who was stooping down (v5) looking into the tomb, seeing the grave cloths. We are told Peter v6 that Peter; …he saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. But then as John went inside we are told he saw and believed. Believed what? For we are told in v9 that they still did not understand from scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead, so what did believe, what had changed in the midst of this all, it was that now the penny was starting to drop, for what they had seen in the tomb was proof that Jesus body had not been stolen, no grave robber would leave the linen strips that wrapped the body of Jesus, and we are told that the face cloth that had been around Jesus head was folded up was separate from the linen. Even the way that the grave cloths were laid were a sign to the followers of the truth that he had risen, that he was alive. While hey did not understand fully at this stage they would, but in the mean time they return home, unable to make sense of it all, still to an extent filled with grief and loss. But in what had unfolded they were being exposed to the truth of the resurrection for themselves, in time they would begin to piece together all that Jesus had taught them and what the scriptures had been teaching. The grave cloves were helping to open the door of understanding that would give them a grasp of all that had taken place so that they could articulate their faith fully. Jesus had risen, he on the cross faced the full weight of sins curse and the wrath of God for sin so that we who are sinners might be forgiven. Jesus has done all that was required for us. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q104 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) 26th March 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (Ecclesiastes 9v1-6) Message (Scott Woodburn) There are currently around eight billion people on this planet and all of them are unique. Did you know that there is no one in this world with the same fingerprints as you? Humans come in all shapes and sizes with a wonderful diversity but nevertheless, humans are united by the fact that they will all know death. There is a famous phrase that says in life only death and taxes are guaranteed but that’s not strictly true. Some people never pay taxes and others do their very best to avoid them. This isn’t the case when it comes to death. Every human is guaranteed to die. We can do all we can to avoid death but we will never outrun it. Solomon understood this completely. Every person’s life is in the hand of God (v1) and regardless of how they live, each one of them will die. Humans walk a multitude of roads. They choose love or hate, righteousness or wickedness whilst some worship while others don’t (v2). But each one will experience the same event of death (v3). It has been this way since the first man and woman rebelled against God and it will be this way until Christ’s return. Indeed what makes death even worse is it’s finality. Solomon declared that the dead know nothing and soon they are remembered no more (v5). It doesn’t matter how they lived, death brings an end to their love, hate and envy with the dead playing no further part to life under the sun (v6). What a bleak picture! No wonder we find Ecclesiastes a difficult read! Yet even in the grim shadow of death there is hope. As far as the wise King was concerned a living dog was in a better position than a dead lion (v4). In Solomon’s day dogs were vermin and nothing like your modern precious pooch. The lion on the other hand was a fearsome beast who rightly earned the title “King of the jungle” Even so, a living dog has more hope than a dead lion or in human terms even the most wretched person has more hope than a dead king. How so? Because while there is breath in a body, there is room to call upon the Lord. Ecclesiastes can be a tough and uncompromising read but while we often prefer “fluff”, Solomon gives us meat. Death cannot be avoided but the wise person prepares for their inevitable demise by doing business with the Lord. The one who repents of their sin and puts their faith in Christ will not perish but have everlasting life. Tragically whilst all will die, not all will believe the Gospel. Ensure that you are not on the wrong side of the Lord. Remember you will die and in turn, remember Jesus. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q103 What do we pray for in the third petition? In the third petition, which is, Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven,” we pray, that God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven. 25th March 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (John 20:1-18) Message (Alan Burke) What happens in the past defines us more than we often care to think, that is our past as individuals as well as this nations past and while it is waining for the society we live in, the impacts of what happened on Calvary’s hill near two thousand years defines the believer and is their hope in this sin cursed world. This coming Lord’s day, one of fifty two which celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ we turn to the account of the Resurrection in John’s gospel that reminds us that although we were brought forth in iniquity, in sin did our mothers conceive us (Ps 51:5), we are by our nature sinners each and every one that we have been reconciled to God through a meditator, his only begotten Son the Lord Jesus Christ who being both God and man in one person made an atonement that was acceptable to God for us. In this first encounter with the risen Lord Jesus in our haste we often just want to get to the wonder that Jesus had risen but this week we are going to slow down a little and draw some truths out that we can easily miss with a passage we have heard a hundred times or more. Strikingly as John beings his account of the resurrection there is nothing mentioned of the intervening days, from when Jesus was laid in the tomb. There is nothing mentioned of the reality that the family and followers of Jesus had found themselves in, nothing of their sorrow, their despair. The Jewish Sabbath that had come would have exacerbated their sense of loss, of sorrow, of despair, there was nothing to distract from the painful reality that everything they had hoped and believed about Jesus in those hours was left in shatters, the in-between time that the scriptures are silent on would have no doubt been a time of great grief. Those emotions, of loss, sorrow and despair are ones that all of us can relate to at least to some extent, the loss of someone we love, the grief that comes, the pain of deaths sting. What makes the death of Jesus different is that he had come to deliver all those through fear of death were subjects to life long slavery (Heb 2:15). He came to deliver us from that fear that is natural to all, for through Adam’s sin all of us are condemned to death. For the family and followers of Jesus, his death would have been a painful reminder to them all that this life was far from how we would want it or desire it to be. They simply did not understand at this stage that the death of Jesus was a necessary part in God’s plan of salvation that was first announced in the garden as the Lord preached the gospel to the devil of one who would come to crush the head of the serpent, who is Satan, the Devil himself (Gen 3:15, Rev 12:9). That very first Lord’s day as every Lord’s day since declares to the world that Jesus the Christ is risen. From the beginning of the world to this day, the resurrection of Christ God had appointed the seventh day but ever since it is the first day of the week, and will continue to the end of the world (WLC 116 paraphrased). From a cultural perspective, a human point of view, for Mary to have be the first eyewitness undermines this account. In the culture at the time she was a woman with no standing in society or a court of law who in a state of distress, her testimony would have been unreliable, unbelievable, but Mary was the one. She was the one who was the first eyewitness of his resurrection, John if he was trying to convince his first readers of the reality of the resurrection then he would have not had Mary, he would have had Peter, John but it wasn’t, Peter or John it was Mary. John isn’t trying to convince us, he wants us to know the reality of what took place. And while there were others with Mary he wants us to focus on Mary and her encounter with the risen Lord Jesus. How are we made right with God? It is only through the Lord Jesus Christ. If you know him then know he has done for you everything required to reconcile you to God so that you have a sure and steadfast hope of eternal life with him. Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q102 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) 23rd March 2024
Pray (ACts) Read (Ecclesiastes 8v16-17) Message (Scott Woodburn) It doesn't matter how long you live or how many books you read - you will never be able to figure out the ways of God. Solomon applied his heart to know wisdom and even denied himself sleep (v16) but he was convinced that "finding out" God could not be done (v17). The Lord cannot be found out (v17b) and if a wise man ever pretends to have mastered God he should be rejected, for God cannot be found out (v17c). It is a good thing for the Christian to consider that God is both knowable yet incomprehensible. He is knowable because He has revealed Himself in both nature (Romans 1v20) and the Bible. We differentiate between these by speaking of general and special revelation. The stars in the sky proclaim that a God exists and this is a message to all people everywhere - this is general revelation. However while the Word of God can be read by everyone it is opened to a much smaller number as the Holy Spirit works - this is special revelation. Even so, despite the testimony of both nature and Scripture, God is incomprehensible or in simple terms, we can never know Him fully. The Apostle Paul once wrote "Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 'For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?' 'Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?'" (Romans 11v33-35) The Lord has never needed advice from anyone and He doesn't owe you or I a single thing. We can know Him but we'll never master Him. Brothers and sisters, I trust that these words will perhaps still your heart and settle your worries. You don't need to figure everything out and you don't need to be on a fruitless quest for illegitimate religious certainty. You have come to know God by faith in Christ and your future is secure. May your restlessness be replaced by rest in Christ. "But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him." (Habakkuk 2v20) Pray (acTS) Sing WSC Q101 What do we pray for in the first petition? In the first petition, which is, Hallowed be thy name,” we pray, that God would enable us, and others, to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known, and that he would dispose all things to his own glory. |
Alan
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