Midweek Meeting January 26 2022

It was very encouraging to have so many praying at out meeting last Wednesday. There was a real fervour about it, in a way that doesn't always happen. We began looking at Psalm 34, another psalm that I have not preached before, according to my records. It starts so inauspiciously with the reference to David escaping Gath by pretending to be mad but really blossoms into something.

Taste and see

In Psalm 34:8 David calls on us to Taste and see that the LORD is good; and he assures us blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. So here is the invitation. Taste and see that the LORD is good.

There's a lot of advertising at the moment for MacDonald's new vegan burger, McPlant. I am not a vegan (or a vegetarian) but I thought I'd like to try one and see if they taste as good as they claim. So yesterday I went along and bought one for my lunch. I can assure you, it's very tasty. I've tasted it and so I can say it is good.

Now David urges us here to give ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord and then we will know by experience how very good he is. A person who takes refuge in the Lord will be blessed indeed. David can say that because he's experienced it and I can say it too to some extent for the same reason. You'll never regret turning to Christ for refuge.

There is a Scottish expression - Better felt than telt. It is not easy to describe how good God is, how wonderful all his ways, but when you experience it - then you'll know.

See more on my sermon illustrations blog

Day Off Week 4 2022

 

I had thought of going to the cinema on my day off but that wasn't convenient so we went the previous evening to see Belfast, the new Kenneth Branagh. That's our second recent trip to the cinema as we saw Westside Story the other Saturday. The Branagh film was fine. It's a tiny slice rather than a grand epic but fine, nevertheless. The use of a Van Morrison sound track was a smart move, casting Judy Dench as an Ulster grandmother nit so much. On the day itself, my main project was reading one of my Christmas books - the one on Cromwell's formative years. I am enjoying it as it is well written but Mr Hutton's interests are not the same as mine. Picking up tips about how to write history - useful as I hope to be contributing ti a history book this year. Something else I did, apart from a bit of TV and an important phone call I had to make early in the day, was to have lunch in MacDonalds. I 'm not veggie or vegan but I enjoyed their new McPlant. It tasted good.

Lord's Day January 23 2022

 

We carried on with our series on the last Lord's Day. Numbers were a little better but we were quite few in the evening. At 6 pm we had communion, a little later than usual this month. The morning sermon was a strange one in that it spent the first half explaining Herod Antipas's background and was then very evangelistic. People seemed happy, however. In the morning we welcomed in three new deacons. We now have five deacons, the most we have had in my time. It probably won't last, however.

Two Days Off Week 3 2022

Following the general policy of trying to take a double day off once a month, last Friday and Saturday were designated days off. Friday was difficult in that there were things to get finished for Sunday so it wasn't a breeze but I did get out and about and at least was off mentally. In the evening we took the familiar road to South Wales and spent most of Saturday with the family. Not everyone could be there but there was a good number. We enjoyed walking and talking and eating and exchanging the remaining presents. Santa kindly gave me books on Paton and Tyndale (tipped off by my sister-in-law). We are thankful to God for the family. Some are not believers, so we pray for them but most are for which we are very thankful.

10 headings that reveal the circumstances in which David wrote certain psalms

1. 3 A psalm of David. When he fled from his son Absalom. (2 Samuel 15)
2. 34 Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left. (1 Samuel 21)
3. 51 For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. (2 Samuel 11)
4. 52 For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”(1 Samuel 21, 22)
5. 54 For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. When the Ziphites had gone to Saul and said, “Is not David hiding among us?” (1 Samuel 23:19-25)
6. 56 For the director of music. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” Of David. A miktam When the Philistines had seized him in Gath. (1 Samuel 21:10-15)
7. 57 For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave. (1 Samuel 22:1)
8. 59 For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When Saul had sent men to watch David’s house in order to kill him. (1 Samuel 19)
9. 60 For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. (2 Samuel 8)
10. 142 A maskil of David. When he was in the cave. A prayer. (1 Samuel 22:1)

(See also - 7 A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite.; 18 For the director of music. Of David the servant of the LORD. He sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul; 63 A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.)

Midweek Meeting January 19 2022

Last week it was the next psalm, Psalm 33. Another great place to look. A good time of prayer too, We had a members meeting the next night so we finished remarkably early (not long over the hour). Perhaps I should have left more time for prayer.

Good News and Bad News from Banner of Truth

The February Banner Magazine is now out, at least in electronic format. From my point of view, it is good to see there an article on four sermons on Lot's wife. I hope people find it interesting. But then I turn to the book reviews and what do I find? A rather mean spirited review of Pastorals for Pastors that will do nothing to increase sales. It would have been better if they had sent me the review and I could have asked them not to run it. The reviewer knows I paid for it myself but instead of cutting me some slack, he wants to make sure I end up out of pocket. Cruel man.

Lord's Day January 16 2022

We were down in numbers on the Lord's Day for various reasons. I came not over hopeful but out my faith in the Lord and hopefully we made some progress. It was good beginning a new series from Amos. It is a long time since I went there.

Begg on Lloyd-Jones

Some of you may be interested in this link here

Midweek Meeting January 12 2022

For our midweek meeting last week (still on zoom) we looked at Psalm 32. What a wonderful psalm on forgiveness it is. We had a good time of prayer too with a decent number.

Day Off Week 2 2022

After all the holiday, we are trying to get back into some sort of routine, so last Tuesday it was my first day off of the year. I did a lot of work on various books I have written or am writing. Someone kindly sent me a festchrift that has been written for Bob Penhearow of Carey Outreach Ministries, which I have had some small connection with. I love that format and there were lots of good things on there. More details here. I went for a walk and a coffee and bumped into Lord and lady Childs Hill who I rarely see together. They told me they are celebrating their sixtieth wedding anniversary this year. I also watched a bit of TV. Nice day.

(The book I should add features Bible Studies, theology, church history and pastoralia. I enjoyed the church history best. I'd never heard of Chang and Chu of Shanxi - brilliant story [inevitably the solitary typo I spotted comes where Pastor Hsi is called His] or of Charles Tupper and I though Dr Haykin did an excellent piece on Machen. I also found Carl Muller on butn out interesting - it reminded me of the importance of the day off!)

Lord's Day January 9 2022

 

It was good to be preaching again on the last Lord's Day. We began with communion, held over from the previous week. I then preached on those wonderful words in Isaiah 40:30, 31. We were around twenty i guess with others listening in on zoom. In the evening we were again in Isaiah and tackling a classic text - Isaiah 60:1,2. Numbers were much less in the evening. It was good to meet a new man who first came the week before. I hope he sticks with us.

Great Obscure Track Joachim Kühn's Mushroom

 

Joachim Kuhn, Philip Catherine, John Lee, Gerald Brown 1976

Midweek Meeting January 5 2022

Our midweek meetings are still on zoom so there was no problem leading the midweek meeting. We finished off  a series on John 1:1-18, looking at verses 14-18. You'd think we'd be all christmassed out but not at all. We had a decent number too - eventually! Some still struggling to get back into it after the break last week. Good prayer time as well.

10 OT verses sometimes called the OT version of a NT verse

In commentaries you will sometimes come across the suggestion that a certain OT verse is the OT version one found in the NT. Here are some examples.

1. Genesis 50:20 - Romans 8:28 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives./And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
2. Leviticus 19:2 - Matthew 5:48 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy./Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
3. Psalm 1:1 - Romans 12:2 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,/Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.
4. Psalm 34:9 - Matthew 6:33 Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing./But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
5. Psalm 91:9-11 - Romans 8:35-37 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;/Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
6. Psalm 119:164 - 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws./Pray continually
7. Psalm 138:8 - Philippians 1:6 The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of your hands./ being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
8. Proverbs 10:16 - Romans 6:23 The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death./For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
9. Proverbs 28:13 - 1 John 1:8-10 Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy./If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
10. Ecclesiastes 11:5 - John 3:8 As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things./The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

10 Differences between justification and sanctification

1. Justification is binary, Sanctification is progressive
2. Justification is legal, Sanctification is moral
3. Justification is free, Sanctification is costly
4. Justification is instantaneous, Sanctification is life-long
5. Justification is perfect, Sanctification is always imperfect in this life
6. Justification is by faith, Sanctification is by faithfulness
7. Justification is not of works, Sanctification is of works
8. Justification concerns Christ’s righteousness, Sanctification concerns my righteousness
9. Justification involves my position in Christ, Sanctification involves my practice
10. Justification considers what God has done, Sanctification considers what I am doing

Lord's Day January 2 2022

Last Lord's Day was one of the stranger ones in my life. The previous week I tested positive for covid (as several family members also have) and although I have not been too bad with it I have had to isolate, including last Lord's Day. Thankfully, one of my deacons had family staying and his son and son-in-law were able to stand in for me. So in the morning James Howlett preached from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and in the evening Pieter de Jong from Titus 2. They both preached well. We listened online along with a few others. I don't how many were there in person, although I hear there was at least one new person. Frustrating not to be there but seeking to accept it in the Lord.

10 excuses for not coming to Christ highlighted by Benjamin Beddome

In a sermon on Luke 14:18 They all with one consent began to make excuse Benjamin Beddome lists eight excuses people give. We have stretched his sub points under the third excuse - pre-engagement  -to make it 10.

1. Some men will say they have no need to come to Christ

2. Others imagine they are already come to Christ; and the act being performed, they have no need to repeat it.

3. Pre-engagement is another excuse which sinners make for not coming to Christ - a hurry of business

    4. Pre-engagement - the necessary occupations of life, and consequently a want of time

    5. Pre-engagement - feasting, dressing, unedifying visits and unnecessary recreations, etc

6. Some say they have tried but cannot come to Christ

7. Others who are deeply bowed down in spirit, do not so much plead their inability, as their unfitness and unworthiness

8. Some stumble at the austerities of religion, and the dangers to which it will expose them.

9. It is the fear of some that if they do come to Christ, they shall either be rejected, or dishonour him.

10. Many who do not come to Christ now, purpose to do so hereafter