Previous Service
Welcome
A very Happy and Blessed New Year to everyone
“If we immerse ourselves in His Word, He will make us into His Son’s likeness, shining polished jewels, and as we stay close, the Holy Spirit will give us stability, balance and guard us on our way.”
Stella
Worship
Word
Please read: Psalm 119
How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to Your word.
Ps 119:9
How we finish one year can be an indication of what’s coming in the next year and this text is very relevant in a day when lawyers representing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) just recently stated that some verses in the Bible are ‘no longer appropriate to modern society.’ We may ask the question: “Who are they to decide such issues?” The case concerned a street preacher, John Dunn, who was arrested after being accused of homophobia and hate speech because he publicly stated these words: “the Bible says that homosexuals will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Tim Dieppe, head of public policy at Christian Concern, who are supporting John Dunn, stated: “This is an extraordinary thing for CPS to state because they are saying that it should be illegal to quote certain parts of the Bible in public! … This is an incredible position for them to take. The Bible’s got a very long history in our law and our Constitution … The Bible was presented to the Queen with these words: ‘To keep Your Majesty ever mindful of the law and the gospel of God as the rule for the whole of life …”
There is such an approach to Bible Study that’s known as eisegesis – simply put, it means, making a text say what we want it to say. The correct approach, exegesis, allows the text to say what the text originally said which is what God originally wanted it to say. If we really believe that …
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Tim. 3:16
And
Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 1:20-21
then, we will leave well alone, any attempt to put forward ourselves as some authority on what the Bible should or shouldn’t say. Interestingly, the very last words in the Bible are these,
I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: if anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll. He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.
Revelation 22:18-21
Apparently, the Wessex Area of the CPS has undertaken a post-case review and now acknowledges that the statement they made was inappropriate. This was also the Government’s conclusion on the matter. We are moving towards the time when not less of the Bible will be acknowledged and lived by but more and more and more:
For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea!
Habakkuk 2:14
So let’s all get on board, and not be moulded by secular society but God’s Word, more and more, in these days, (cf. Rom. 12:2) Amen!
Quote of the week
“The best interpreter of a book is generally the person who wrote it. The Holy Spirit wrote the Scriptures. Go to Him to get their meaning … We shall not adjust our Bible to the age; but before we have done with it, by God’s grace, we shall adjust the age to the Bible … Study the Word, that your faith may not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God …”
C. H. Spurgeon
Verse of the week
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”.
Psalm 110:1
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, let not 2023 be like we have just finished off 2022 with such proud statements being made about Your Word, but Lord let there be a great turning back to You, and a deep hunger and longing for Your Word; Come Holy Spirit, through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen!