30 April 2023: Sitting in God’s presence

Bethel Baptist Church
Worship Service @ Home

30 April 2023

Welcome

”Roses have a lovely fragrance. Likewise, we His people have the aroma of Christ, His love and holiness, which attracts the unbeliever to Jesus.”

Stella

Worship

Word

Mary … sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said.

Luke 10:39

The Shorter Westminster Catechism is a summary of Christian Doctrine and starts by asking the question,

“What is the chief end of man?”

and answers it with these words:

“Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him for ever.”

Man being a generic term to refer to humans, both men and women.

Of the 107 questions asked and answered, question 39 asks:

“What is the duty which God requires of man?”

The answer:

“The duty which God requires of man, is obedience to His revealed will”

and quotes 4 verses, Deuteronomy 29:29; Micah 6:8; and 1 John 5:2-3.

There is no better way to enjoy God than to sit at His feet; to wait in His Presence; to worship and glorify His name; and to listen to what He has to say and then put it into practice! The Scriptures from start to finish tell us what God has spoken; what He has revealed about Himself. By being in His Presence, listening to Him we can hear Him speak words that are very personal to ourselves. E.g., a group of the Lord’s disciples waited in His Presence, and listened to what He told them, and heard words that would totally change their lives, and all the lives of those to whom they were sent, even rippling out to this present day and our own blessing of hearing the gospel as these and other words the Lord spoke to them, eventually resulted in the Gospel going into Europe.

Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers …While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said“Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit…

Acts 13:1-4

This was the first of three missionary journeys that Paul was involved with. Look at the results,

From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:26-27

And it all started when they sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His words spoken by the Holy Spirit, Amen.

Quote of the week

“It is difficult in a crowd to see Christ: a certain solitude is necessary for our mind; it is by a certain solitude of contemplation that God is seen.”

Augustine

Verse of the week

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Jer 33:3

Let’s Pray

Heavenly Father, we call to You, and as we listen, pray speak words of comfort, healing, and guidance. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit to do that which you ask of us. May Your Church flourish in these coming days and bring much glory, praise and honour to Your Name in and through Jesus Christ, Amen!