9th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 4v11-12)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


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


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


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


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


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


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


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




Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


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


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:19-24 focus v24)


Message (Alan Burke)


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


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


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


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


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.
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7th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 4v8-10)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


There is something very wonderful about returning home. You may have had a wonderful holiday but opening the front door of your own place and climbing into your own bed is a very special gift indeed. Even so, no matter how much I love my earthly home, the Christian’s permanent address is heaven which has been won for us by Jesus Christ our Lord.


It is a privilege to bear the name “Christian” and to understand the extraordinary access Christ’s sacrifice gives to each child of God. What do I mean by access? Paul would say that through Christ, Christians have access to the Father (Ephesians 2v18) and we can come before the Lord with boldness and confidence (Ephesians 3v12). Have you ever considered these things? The Lord does not hold his nose when His children approach Him nor does He groan when someone calls upon Him in prayer. James would say that when we draw near to God, He draws near to us (v8). Isn’t that awesome? The Lord fills the universe with His immensity - there is not one inch of creation where He is absent and yet, when His people draw near in worship, He willingly draws near to them.


But how should we approach the Lord? With confidence and boldness - the blood of Christ has covered all our sins! But also in humble reverence. James calls upon us to approach the Lord with clean hands and pure hearts (v8b). By the blood of Christ we can approach the Lord freely knowing that He welcomes us as we draw near. Yet brothers and sisters, may we never fall into the trap of treating God like a lucky charm or mute wooden idol. It is good to remember that the One we approach is the Lord of all.


Therefore in response, may the Spirit cultivate in us a humble heart (v10). Furthermore, learning the language of lament is something that modern Christians should attend to. Lament? Yes. Just as the exiles wept as they remembered their homeland (Psalm 137v1) it is a positive thing when the Christian walks through a season of lament. I ask you as I ask myself, when was the last time you were grieved by your sin? When did you last weep over the darkness of your heart? James calls us to mourn and weep turning our joy to gloom (v9).


The Lord’s brother was not some puritanical tyrant who wanted Christians to spend life with a permeant scowl. Rather, James reminds us of our privileges before God and the Lord’s majesty. The humble servant understands that we draw near to God in reverence and awe which will in turn see the Lord drawing near to us. He will exalt us and help us and bless us with abundant grace.


My friends, are you weak and sore and struggling? In repentance, lamentation and awe, draw near to God and He will draw near to you.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q29 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 by his Holy Spirit.

6th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:19-24 focus v22-23)


Message (Alan Burke)


Our eyes are really important, I know to some degree the effect that poor eyesight has but I can live my life relatively unhindered with a pair of glasses on and it suits because I like the face furniture so does Scott it seems. There are those though for whom they have experienced failing eyesight, conditions that mean that there is nothing but shadows, eyes are important to us, it is through them that we see, they give light to the bodies. Here Jesus uses our eyes to make a point, in effect they are the lens, the lamp, the window of the body and they can either impact it for good or bad. We all know what a metaphor is, don't we? a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. 


Well here Jesus uses a metaphor, of one's eyes. This metaphor would've been easily understood by those who were hearing this in Jesus day the reason is that it was commonly understood in rabbinical teaching and the eyes are the organ that makes sight possible but more than that they are the lens in which we see the world though. So Jesus takes this metaphor and makes the point how the eye are effectively the lamp, another way of putting it is a window even 


With a good eye your whole body will be filled with light a bad eye your whole body will be filled with darkness. Paul in 2 Corinthians asks; For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?  (2 Co 6:14). Therefore, light can be seen with the righteousness of Christ darkness well darkness is lawlessness, moral evil. In this Jesus saying, you cant have righteousness and evil together, and if you think back to what Jesus had earlier taught in the sermon on the mount in chapter 5:16 Jesus told his disciples to let their light shine. True light dispels the darkness, if we are those who are in Christ Jesus then darkness will be dispelled, In Ephesians Paul teach us that …you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (Eph 5:8). There are many examples in the the gospel of John that uses darkness and light for spiritual health (John 3:19-21; 8:12; 11:9-10; 12:35-36, also Luke 16:8. 


The eyes are the conduit to the heart, to the inner reality of who we are, and the more that we focus on it the more that evil fills the inner person. Think to context what is Jesus teaching here, he is teaching us about storing a treasures and have them versus treasure on earth, what is our focus in this life, treasures on earth or treasures in heaven, what is our eyes focus, what is in our minds eyes either fills us with light or darkness. 


Look how Jesus concludes this he said “if then the light with you is darkness how great is the darkness?” if not which is coming into us as in reality darkness that's what we're looking at at the lamp of our eye is only darkness then what is within us is truly dark, there is not the light of God the love of God the pursuit for the kingdom of God we are not learning by kingdom principles we are not living as disciples of Jesus. If you are putting darkness before you, by what you look at, what you consume, the constant desire for more treasure here on earth and not in heaven then you need to address that, repent of your sin and look to the light of Jesus Christ and be filled with that light.


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q 28. 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.
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5th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 4v1-7)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


Sadly there is nothing new about churches fighting and arguing amongst themselves. Why is this so often the case? I think James would answer “when earthly wisdom is given higher regard than heavenly wisdom.” Why do Christians sometimes fight and quarrel? It is because their earthly sinful passions war within them (v1). Christians are not perfect but can be described as “simul justus et peccator”. What does this latin phrase mean? We are at the same time justified and sinful. 


In practice when the sinful nature has its way there is no “harvest of righteousness” (James 3v18) but instead a “harvest of sin” The desire to have more possessions can lead to murder (v2). We covet goods but do not obtain them and so we fight and quarrel (v2b). When we have needs, we do not ask God but plot and scheme to satisfy our passions (v2c-3). No wonder James declared “you adulterous people!” (v4a).


The church of Christ should not look like the world around it and yet we could tell countless stories of fellowships acting in an entirely earthly fashion. James is blunt in his assessment of such churches. The one who is friends with the world is at war with God and has made himself an enemy of the Lord (v4).


It is good to remember that the Christian is a child of God - we belong to the Lord! To prove this very point James quotes Scripture saying “Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, ‘He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us’” (v5) If you are wondering where you can find such a verse, well, you can’t. We’re not quite sure where James pulled this quote from but while we can’t quote “chapter and verse” it certainly summarises an important thrust of Scripture - the Lord is a jealous God. Please understand that when we describe God as “jealous” we are not calling Him sinful or petty. I might be sinfully jealous when my neighbour has a better car than me, but when we say that God is jealous we mean that God demands our loyalty. We are those for whom Christ died and so we have not been saved to keep one foot in the world. The Lord is jealous for His people.


What are we to do in light of the world’s temptations and our own sinfulness? Brothers and sisters, war against your sin and submit yourself to the Lord (v7a). We do not battle alone but the God of grace gives us more grace (v6a). He equips us for the fight and promises His help. The proud will find themselves opposed by the Lord but the humble will receive grace upon grace (v6b & Proverbs 3v34). But isn’t our enemy the devil incredibly fierce? He is but if we resist him then he will flee from us (v7b).  


Brothers and sisters, I’m always mindful of Samuel Rutherford’s quote about the Christian life. He said “Christ is now moving in this land and the wind is in His face. Therefore those with Him cannot expect the sunny or the sheltered side of the hill.” Life is hard and we are sinful, temptations will come and compromise is so seductive. Thankfully Jesus is a great Saviour of sinners and God calls us to obedience. Heed this call for you this world is not your home. You belong to the Lord!


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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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.

4th November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Matthew 6:19-24 focus v19-21)


Message (Alan Burke) 


Some of you may remember at time when things were much more frugal, that people just didn’t have the same money, that when you moved out of the family home to student digs or begin married life you were reliant on what you could beg borrow and steal. Family members would offer you the old table that was lying in the shed, you’d have miss matched chairs that you gathered up although I believe now that is trendy, in the main though what you had wasn’t new and you’d make do with it until you saved up a bit of money and were able to finally get your own stuff and then you no doubt passed on what you had to someone else. Things don’t seem to work that way anymore, with easy credit people can get their new house completely kitted out and pay it off in instalments, in fact our economy couldn’t cope with the shock if we went back to the old way, it is reliant on us spending money and buying things that we don’t actually need. Most of us aren’t content with what we have and it is very easy to live in the here and now, storing up treasures here on earth. 


Let’s think about what Jesus says here as he tells us “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal”. Treasure here primarily in the context speaks of money, things, what we have, material wealth as such. Jesus gives us three reasons for why we should store up for ourselves treasures on earth. First the moth. Moths, can destroy clothes overnight, it doesn’t matter if was something that we spent a few quid on or a few hundred, moths can destroy clothing. The word that is translated here as moth can also be used for a bookworm. Books were expensive and bookworms could turn an expensive book into something worthless, they can destroy manuscripts, deeds of property that bring ownership and the question, even something small as a moth or a book worm can cause major damage it can cause us to lose earthly treasures that we value and we are helpless to prevent. 


Jesus is also uses rust to make the same point, but there's more being conveyed to us than what happens to iron that slowly is ate away by the rust. The word that is used here speaks more of corrosion. James 5 speaks of gold and silver being corroded, things of value (James 5:3). The word also conveys the destructive effects of rats and mildew and the like, for they like rust devour, destroy. Thieves  can also break in and steal. The word that is used here breaking in is not too much smashing the window that we would do today, or breaking and entering through the door, rather speaking of a thief digging through the mud brick walls of the homes that there would've been in Jesus day. 


Jesus isn’t telling us that it is foolish to put something away for a rainy day, there is a degree of sense in having put something aside for whenever the washing machine breaks or the car needs serviced. The point Jesus is making is don’t store up for ourselves treasure here because it won’t last, we are in danger of loosing it. Even if what we have isn't destroyed by moths or isn't destroyed by the rust, or hasn't been stolen from us, even if the ravages of time haven’t taken its value, then the treasure we have will either be taken by the residential or care home fees or we will end up leaving it behind and someone else will enjoy it, none of us can take any of it with us.


In contrast the storing up for ourselves treasures here on earth Jesus tells us to store for ourselves treasures in heaven. Having treasure in the wrong place means it's too often were filled with anxiety, we worry, the stuff that we have spent a lifetime working for and trying to accumulate belongs to the world that is passing away. The things we have do not offer us security when we are old and frail, they will give us nothing whenever we meet the Lord Jesus Christ. The more that we have accumulated in this life the more effort it is to maintain it and to look after it. If we do love the Lord then it will be seen in how we are delivered from loving wealth delivered from loving what this world loves. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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Q 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.
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2nd November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 3v17-18)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If earthly wisdom shows itself in jealousy, selfish ambition and arrogant boasting, then the wisdom from God “is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.” (v17). The difference is night and day! God’s wisdom is pure, innocent and blameless. It is wisdom that seeks peace in a local fellowship - this does not mean that we should seek peace at all costs. If a preacher proclaims many paths of salvation or he denies the divinity of Christ, then peace is not possible. However, in the majority of disputes and petty disagreements we should strive for peace.


Furthermore, the wisdom from above is gentle and open to reason. In other words, the wise Christian is not like a “bull in a china shop” but he or she considers others and is prepared to listen to wisdom and engage in discussion. God’s wisdom which He imparts to His children is full of mercy - it understands that God has not treated us as we deserve but instead visits us with grace. In turn we are merciful to those who wrong us and who the world believes don’t deserve our kindness.


Good fruit will abound in the wise individual - they will grow in sanctification and the fruits of the spirit will be increasingly evident. What are those fruits? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 4v22-23). God’s wisdom also stresses impartiality - we will not seek to divide the fellowship based on money or race or prestige and God’s wisdom is entirely sincere. Sincere? Yes. It is genuine, honest, trustworthy with not one inch of deceit.


If you are wondering what a fellowship filled with God’s wisdom looks like then wonder no more. James says “a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” (v18). Just as the farmer sows the seed and later reaps a good harvest, so too wise peaceable Christians sow the good seed of God’s Word. They hear and do what God says and a harvest of righteous deeds is the result.


I suspect you would not appreciate being considered the biggest fool in Ballynahinch…thankfully, you need not worry. The Gospel of Jesus has transformed us, the Lord continues to work righteous deeds in us and we are thankful recipients of the wisdom from above. May this wisdom be more and more evident in our lives and churches - for Christ’s sake and for the sake of His bride the Church. 


Pray (acTS)


Sing


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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.
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1st November 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Hebrews 1:1-3)


Message (Alan Burke)


Today we are thinking of one aspect of the munus triplex. That’s the Latin for the threefold office of Christ for he is our Prophet, Priest and King. If you are wondering about those things then you really need to start reading the Westminster Shorter Catechism (WSC) bit at the bottom as well as the devotion for it is one of the best discipleship tools available for you to grow in your knowledge and love of the Lord and Scott and I agree on that and in the WSC it deals with the threefold office, how Jesus is our Prophet, Priest and King. Today we are thinking of how Christ is our Prophet. Well the term “prophet” means one who speaks on behalf of another, one who declares, announces (nabû) on behalf of another. Prophets were expected to act and speak on the behalf of the one who sent them as if the king or ruler was there observing, watching and listening to all they said and in agreement with it. Speaking on behalf of the one who sent them that was based on what he already knew to be sure, what he already had knowledge off. 


When we hear of the prophets of God, it was not them speaking their own views, desires, wishes, they weren’t making new decrees, new laws, changing policies that were already settled positions, for they were there speaking as God’s representatives. Scripture makes it clear that …prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit is the source of prophecy, enabling the prophets to speak and write as God’s representatives and deliver His infallible, inerrant Word (2 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet. 1:10–12). No biblical prophecy was ever produced merely because a man wanted to prophesy (by the will of man). The prophecy in Scripture was given only by God through men, who “spoke” as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 


How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet? He does so “in revealing to us by his Word and Spirit, the will of God.” (WSC24)  The list of Scriptures provided gives witness to the written and living Word used in tandem with the ministry of the Holy Spirit to communicate the mind and will of God. Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophetic ministry of the Old Testament. He declared judgment and salvation, and for it, he was rejected, too. The difference, of course, is that the prophets who came before him spoke of another, while Jesus speaks of himself. There is thus a finality in Christ’s ministry as the prophet who cannot now be surpassed. In the past God spoke through the prophets, and but now he has spoken through his Son (Heb 1:1–2). 


There will not be greater prophets than Jesus, and since Jesus’ prophetic ministry is definitive and clear, no further prophetic ministry can add to his ministry. For if anyone seeks a prophet after Christ, it is to answer Jesus’s words “It is finished” with “No, I don’t think so Jesus.” And we do not wish to be wiser than God. It is because of this that the author of Hebrews would write, "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high..." (Heb 1:1-2)


This passage from the book of Hebrews confronts us with how the Lord God throughout human history has been active and involved, he had spoken in many times and many ways, revealing himself with his sovereign word throughout the ages. He did not reveal all about himself at one time, he didn’t simply hand Adam and Eve his autobiography, or a guide book, with all that they needed to know, instead the revelation of himself was progressive, revealing more of himself in stages, throughout the history of his people and that is now done for Jesus has come. There have been people though who claim to have a new revelation of God, who are new prophets, there are those who claim that God speaks directly to them, but Jesus Christ is the final word. Who would ever dare try to add to such a divine, such a complete, such a beautiful revelation of God, only a fool, or a servant of the devil!?


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
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31st October 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 3v14-16)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


If it is true that good works give evidence to the reality of a person’s faith, then it is also true that wickedness marks the individual whose faith is false. Imagine the make believe church of 3rd Ballygobackwards. No one there really wants to deal with the problem but everyone agrees that Sam’s attitude towards Bob is not right. What is Sam’s problem? The root issue is that Sam believes he should have been elected as an elder. Sam is filled with jealousy which shows itself in bitterness to new elder Bob.


3rd Ballygobackwards has other problems too. Joan is so confident in her own ability that she volunteers for every position going. Isn’t this a good thing? Sometimes, but in Joan’s case it isn’t about Christ but letting the world see her own greatness. Joan is filled with selfish ambition which is not for the good of the Gospel or the church. Finally, there is Tommy. The running joke in 3rd Ballygobackwards is that if you want to know how great Tommy is you just have to ask him. Tommy thinks he is pretty special and loves nothing more than to tell anyone who will listen about his accomplishments.


There is no such place as 3rd Ballygobackwards and Sam, Joan and Tommy are figments of my imagination but maybe, just maybe you have met similar individuals. James says jealousy, selfish ambition and boasting does not come from God but is earthly, unspiritual and demonic (v14-15). Wow! James just stated that boasting bears Satan’s fingerprints. Is that too harsh? By no means! The church that happily tolerates jealousy and selfish ambition will soon see disorder and every vile practice (v16) - the door is left open to the enemy.


Let me give you another example to prove this point. From now to Christmas, if you left every door of your house open, you would start the new year with some potentially serious issues. Admittedly your house would still be standing but it would certainly be a colder, damper and less secure place. Indeed, if left long enough, your home would fall into the ground. In the same manner, the church that opens its door to “earthly, unspiritual, demonic” behaviour might stand for a while but it will surely fall.


What is to be done? Leave no room for rotten attributes to fester in your fellowship. Challenge the jealous brother. Speak to your sister’s selfish ambition. Address the boasting that flows from your friend. But guard your own heart too. The easiest thing in the world is to say “I have none of these issues. If only people could be more like me.” Brothers and sisters, be careful lest you too fall into the wisdom of this world. Hear the voice of Paul “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2v3-8)


Pray (acTS)


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Q23 What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? 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.
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30th October 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (Luke 1:26-38)


Message (Alan Burke)


If you read Monday’s devotion you already know the craic, if not go read it and catch up. Today we are thinking of the incarnation ie how the Son of God became man and why it was necessary that the Son of God became man. Now this is a key moment in the covenant of grace being fulfilled (again see Monday’s devotion) as the one God promised would come through the incarnation so that we could be saved for God saves sinners by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. It was the hope that we see in Adam and Eve with the birth of Cain that is expressed in the words of Eve, “with the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man” (Genesis 4:1). Adam and Eve understood that the promise of God was reliant on an incarnation. There hope was evidently in Cain, for they believed he was the one who would undo what had been done, who would be the serpent crusher. 


You can trace this hope right throughout the scriptures, we haven’t got time for that today but God had been pointing his people to the terminal point of his promises, Jesus Christ and the entirety of the scriptures, all sixty-six books are focused on him. How did it all happen, well in a small village, a place of no real significance God would send this child, his Son and the means that God would use was a virgin, Mary who was no older than 13 or 14. Mary asked how could this all be and we are told in v35 as the angel answered her; “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.”


The creator God who created all things can create life within her, and his creative work in Mary will result in a child. The creator God who brought life out of nothing in the very beginning and created humans from the dust would create life in her womb. As God’s glorious presence through the Spirit overshadows Mary. This child will be Holy, the Son of God. He is the only man created by God’s direct involvement since Adam, his birth is a new beginning, for the second Adam has come, the true Adam who did what the first could not do. Though Jesus was a genuine human being, he did not inherit a sinful nature and disposition from Mary as she was part of Adam’s sinful race and was a sinner like you and I. Christ took a human nature from Mary, and did it in such a way that Mary’s own sinfulness was not taken with it. His human origins are grounded in God’s creative activity, it is a supernatural origin for the Son of the Most High.


This virgin birth, by the work of God, as the Holy sprit overshadowed Mary, this miracle of God that Jesus Christ could be born with a true human nature and without sin, as the virgin birth is the means by which God became flesh. It is the vehicle of the incarnation. It shows us that Jesus Christ was a true man. a "real son of a real mother." He didn't simply resemble man, he was man. And yet, he was conceived by God the Holy Spirit. His birth comes directly from God himself. Because of this, he can be fully man and fully God. He can stand in solidarity with sinners, and yet he can be the sinless sin-bearer. Conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the virgin Mary, and conceived in the mind of God in eternity past. Take away the virgin birth, and you take away our once-for-all-time perfect sacrifice. You take away our hope. You take away our atonement for sin. You take away the idea of God being both the judge and the justifier.


This was all necessary since as Hebrews 2:14 reminds us; “14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—“. Since children, ie human beings have flesh and blood, he too speaking of Jesus, shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death. This description of the incarnation reveals the purpose of Christ becoming a flesh and blood man was to enable him to die, that is the startling claim of scripture all so that we could be saved from our sin..


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC
Q 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
A. Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.
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