Flight time

With my oldest two we spent an enjoyable couple of hours having a flight in a microlight over the Herts-Beds border. We could see various farmers hard at work harvesting, or preparing the ground or sowing for next years harvest.
We were reminded that this work goes on in the church throughout the year.  we also remember that despite all the hard work they and we are dependant upon our benevolent Heavenly Father.

Your Fathers good pleasure

On Sunday Morning I preached from Luke 12 v 32. Fear Not little Flock-it is the fathers good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
This verse comes in an exhortation not to be anxious about the supply of our earthly needs. - your father knoweth you have need of these things (v30). Rather we are encouraged to get our priority right and seek the kingdom of God. It is to encourage in our seeking further that Jesus reassures us that God will give us the kingdom.More than this it is our heavenly fathers pleasure to do so.There is no grudging no necessity just his holy pleasure - a good pleasure. As an aged preacher commented recently God wants you in heaven infinitely more than you want to be there And if he gives us this ultimate gift so willingly and lovingly so he will do with lesser gifts. What a wounderful God we have.

Psalm  115:3  But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased

Providence Bible study - Suffering

Last Sunday afternoon we had our 3rd study on Providence. In this study I wanted to look at Gods purpose and providing in suffering. Suffering, disasters, wars etc are often citied as reason to be atheist. I tried to show that these are all in Gods purposes.After looking at the subject generally, we went on more specifically to look at the man born blind in John 9 and the death and resurrection of Lazarus in John 11. The man was born blind so that the works of God night be manifest in Him, and Lazarus to glorify the Son. What lives of purpose.

Good Friday

Good Friday is an interesting description to give to this day of particular remembrance of the crucifixion.Let us remember what happened. A truly  innocent man suffered a cruel death. Not the first and not the last time this would happen. Yet this punishment to death was just.
Let us never forget that Jesus suffered for sin. Let us never forget what sin is, and what the righteous punishment of it is. Let us never forget it was our sins that Jesus suffered for, as they were laid upon him.
The events of this day show the seriousness of offending God. On this day he forsook his only begotten Son, so that we might never be forsaken.
A good day - Jesus did all that was necessary for our salvation, leaving nothing for us to do. A good day - the righteousness of God completely satisfied, that we might have fellowship with him. A Good day and this is the message we should proclaim - seeking to know nothing among else, but Jesus Christ and him crucified.
The ultimate fulfillment of the Abraham's prophecy "God,himself, shall provide a lamb for the sacrifice".

Providence Bible Study No 1

This afternoon I started the first in the series of Bible Studies on Providence. It is quite a large subject, and covering a lot of issues. To help us give definition to the subject, we had a brief look at what confession,s catechisms, and theologians say about providence.
John Flavel says in his book -  The Mystery of Providence.

In nothing does providence shine forth more gloriously in this world than in ordering the occasions, instruments and means of conversion of the people of God… this O this is the most excellent benefit you ever receive from his hand.

It is a mistake to see any divorcing between providence and grace. We looked at Genesis 22 to highlight the central point of Providence as God Himself providing  the Lamb for the sacrifice, foreshaddowing Jesus

I hope it wasn't too heavy for a Sunday afternoon. Next time we hope to have a brief overview of the book of Esther to highlight Gods Hand at work.