According to God’s righteous judgement
we deserve punishment
both now and in eternity:
how then can we escape this punishment
and return to God’s favour?
A.God requires that his justice be satisfied.
Therefore the claims of this justice
must be paid in full,
either by ourselves or by another.
At a recent online training session, evangelist Paul Hinton gave an interesting 30 minutes on how churches can be more evangelistic. He described a church which produced a roll of wallpaper during each prayer meeting, upon which were written the names of unsaved folk for whom they were praying. The idea was greeted with some enthusiasm. Our own prayer meetings are less practical, but we certainly pray for those not converted that they might find pardon for sin. Along these lines, a certain Christian website counsels:
From ev’ry stormy wind that blows,
From ev’ry swelling tide of woes,
There is a calm, a sure retreat;
‘Tis found beneath the mercy-seat.
There is a place where Jesus sheds
The oil of gladness on our heads –
A place than all beside more sweet,
It is the blood-stained mercy-seat.
There was a young moorhen on the millpond the other day. When they are first hatched, they are tiny yellow-brown balls of fluff, not looking at all like their parents. But this one was quite a bit bigger, still keeping close to its parent for safety, and beginning to look much more like a moorhen.
I’ve found a Friend who is all to me,
His love is ever true;
I love to tell how He lifted me,
And what His grace can do for you.
Saved by His pow’r divine!
Saved to new life sublime!
Life is now sweet and my joy is complete,
For I’m saved, saved, saved!
He saves me from every sin and harm,
Secures my soul each day;
I’m leaning strong on His mighty arm;
I know He’ll guide me all the way.
This pleasant old building in the fair Lancashire village of Chipping in the old school house. Built by ‘John Brabin, gentleman’ in 1684, it is now a dwelling place, with Brabin’s Endowed School located close by in rather more extensive premises. His motto, or his school’s chosen ethos, is carved into the sandstone:
Why should I fear the darkest hour?
Or tremble at the tempter’s power?
Jesus vouchsafes to be my Tower;
Jesus vouchsafes to be my Tower.
Though hot the fight, why quit the field?
Why must I either flee or yield?
Since Jesus is my mighty Shield?
Since Jesus is my mighty Shield?
The sands of time are sinking,
The dawn of heaven breaks;
The summer morn I’ve sigh’d for,
The fair sweet morn awakes;
Dark, dark, hath been the midnight,
But day spring is at hand,
And glory, glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.
01282 540 562
pastor @ martintop. org .uk
Salem Chapel, Martin Top
near Rimington, Clitheroe BB7 4EG
Salem Congregational Chapel is a registered charity No. 252401 (England & Wales)
Sunday Worship 10.45am & 6pm