The name of the LORD is a strong tower!
(Ralph Erskine, 1685-1752)
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” Proverbs 18:10
Jesus has a name suiting every want, every need.
Do you need wonders to be wrought for you? His name is Wonderful; look to Him so to do, for His name's sake.
Do you need counsel and direction? His name is the Counselor; cast yourself on Him and His mighty name for this.
Have you mighty enemies to engage? His name is the Mighty God; seek that He may exert His power for His name's sake.
Do you need His fatherly pity? His name is the everlasting Father; as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear him. Plead His pity, for His name's sake.
Do you need peace--external, internal, or eternal? His name is the Prince of Peace; seek for His name's sake, that He may create peace.
O sirs, His name is Jehovah-Rophi, the Lord, the healer and physician; seek, for His name's sake, that He may heal all your soul diseases.
Do you need pardon? His name is Jehovah-Tsidkenu, the Lord our righteousness; seek for His name's sake, that He may be merciful to your unrighteousness.
Do you need defence and protection? His name is Jehovah-Nissi, the Lord your banner; seek, for His name's sake, that His banner of love and grace may be spread over you.
Do you need provision in extreme want? His name is Jehovah-Jireh, in the mount to the Lord it shall be seen, the Lord will provide.
Do you need His presence? His name is Jehovah-Shammah, the Lord is there; Immanuel, God with us; look to Him to be with you, for His name's sake.
Do you need an audience of prayer? His name is the Hearer of Prayer.
Do you need strength? His name is the Strength of Israel.
Do you need comfort? His name is the Consolation of Israel.
Sit down and ponder your wants and needs--and you will find He has a name suitable for your supply; He has . . .
all wisdom to guide you,
all power to keep you,
all mercy to pity you,
all holiness to sanctify you,
all righteousness to justify you,
all grace to adorn you,
and all glory to crown you!
Sunday 22 February 2015
New Christian Worship Hymn Book
We give thanks to The lord for all that has been achieved by the Christian Worship, Publishing Trust. God called this committee together 10 years ago for the express purpose of producing a hymn book that would seek to preserve reverential, reformed and traditional worship in the church. Dismayed by the concessions to new style charismatic worship in the New Christian Hymns Hymn book the committee set to their task to revise the old Christian Hymns in the right direction. The result is over 1,000 traditional hymns and a complete psalter available for churches to sing. The tenth anniversary also coincides with the reprint which substantially reduces the book making it streamlined and easier to handle. The Trust also organise a conference in Birmingham in March and camps in the summer.
From left to right - Pastors John Thackway, Roland Burrows, Dewi Higham, Vernon Higham, Neil Pfeiffer, Stephen Ford and David Kay.
From left to right - Pastors John Thackway, Roland Burrows, Dewi Higham, Vernon Higham, Neil Pfeiffer, Stephen Ford and David Kay.
Tuesday 17 February 2015
Appointment of church officers
Appointment of church officers
'We give thanks to God for the appointment to the office of elder, of Mr Brian Jones and Mr Howell Green and to the office of deacon of Mr Malcolm Coulson. The elders were nominated late spring (2014) and unanimously elected in the summer, the church perceiving that The Lord had duly equipped them for this work.
Mr Jones comes from Swansea and is married with two grown up children, one of which, is a member in the church . Mr Green comes from Neath and is married also with two grown up children. He has a hymn included in the hymn book Christian Worship. Mr Coulson was also unanimously elected to office in the Autumn. He lives in Cilffriw, near Neath with his wife. He has three grown up children one of which is a member of the church.
We acknowledge The Lord's Hand in this provision and call upon The Lord's people to uphold them in prayer.
From left to right - Mr Howell Green (Elder), Rev Neil Pfeiffer (Minister), Mr Brian Jones (Elder), Mr Malcolm Coulson (Deacon)
From left to right - Mr Howell Green (Elder), Rev Neil Pfeiffer (Minister), Mr Brian Jones (Elder), Mr Malcolm Coulson (Deacon)
Sunday 15 February 2015
The grand secret of daily comfort in Christianity!
The grand secret of daily comfort in Christianity!
(J.C. Ryle, "Do You Have a Priest?")
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." Hebrews 4:14
Christ, the great High Priest in Heaven, is ever doing the work of a Friend, a Protector, a Counsellor, and an Advocate, on behalf of His redeemed people. He is ever watching over the interests of His people, and providing a continual supply of all that they need. To . . .
sympathize with them in all their troubles,
guide them in their perplexities,
strengthen them for their duties,
preserve them in their temptations —
all this is part of Christ's present priestly office.
Note His tenderness and sympathy — so that He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Note His forbearance and patience — so that He can bear with our weaknesses and pity our mistakes. Note His wisdom, His faithfulness, His readiness to aid — who can describe or number up these things?
Christ, as our great High Priest, is ever interceding for us in Heaven. It is written, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25.) It is asked by Paul, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:34.) Jesus is carrying believers safely from grace to glory, by His almighty intercession!
Reader, let us thank God daily that Christ is doing the work of a Priest for us in Heaven. Let us be thankful for the "precious blood" of Christ — but let us not be less thankful for His precious intercession.
Christ's continual Priesthood is the grand secret of a saint's perseverance to the end. Left to ourselves, there would be little likelihood of our getting safely home to Heaven. We might begin well — and end ill.
So weak are our hearts,
so busy is the devil,
so many and ensnaring are the temptations of the world
— that nothing could prevent our making shipwreck!
But, thanks be to God, the Priesthood of Christ secures our safety. He who never slumbers and never sleeps is continually watching over our interests, and providing for our needs. While Satan pours water on the fire of grace, and strives to quench it — Christ pours on oil, and makes it burn more brightly.
Christ's continual Priesthood is the grand secret of daily comfort in Christianity. Oh, what an unspeakable comfort it is to remember that we have a great High Priest in Heaven, who never forgets us night or day, and is continually interceding for us, and providing for our safety! Christian, that great High Priest who died for you and intercedes for you — will never forget His people, or allow one lamb of His flock to perish! The merciful and faithful High Priest who began a work for you on the cross, will bring that work to a triumphant conclusion.
Reader, think of Jesus Christ as a loving Friend, to whom you may go morning, noon, and night, and receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. Of all the offices that Christ exercises on behalf of His people, none will repay thought and study so richly, as that of His present priesthood.
(J.C. Ryle, "Do You Have a Priest?")
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." Hebrews 4:14
Christ, the great High Priest in Heaven, is ever doing the work of a Friend, a Protector, a Counsellor, and an Advocate, on behalf of His redeemed people. He is ever watching over the interests of His people, and providing a continual supply of all that they need. To . . .
sympathize with them in all their troubles,
guide them in their perplexities,
strengthen them for their duties,
preserve them in their temptations —
all this is part of Christ's present priestly office.
Note His tenderness and sympathy — so that He can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities. Note His forbearance and patience — so that He can bear with our weaknesses and pity our mistakes. Note His wisdom, His faithfulness, His readiness to aid — who can describe or number up these things?
Christ, as our great High Priest, is ever interceding for us in Heaven. It is written, "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25.) It is asked by Paul, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." (Romans 8:34.) Jesus is carrying believers safely from grace to glory, by His almighty intercession!
Reader, let us thank God daily that Christ is doing the work of a Priest for us in Heaven. Let us be thankful for the "precious blood" of Christ — but let us not be less thankful for His precious intercession.
Christ's continual Priesthood is the grand secret of a saint's perseverance to the end. Left to ourselves, there would be little likelihood of our getting safely home to Heaven. We might begin well — and end ill.
So weak are our hearts,
so busy is the devil,
so many and ensnaring are the temptations of the world
— that nothing could prevent our making shipwreck!
But, thanks be to God, the Priesthood of Christ secures our safety. He who never slumbers and never sleeps is continually watching over our interests, and providing for our needs. While Satan pours water on the fire of grace, and strives to quench it — Christ pours on oil, and makes it burn more brightly.
Christ's continual Priesthood is the grand secret of daily comfort in Christianity. Oh, what an unspeakable comfort it is to remember that we have a great High Priest in Heaven, who never forgets us night or day, and is continually interceding for us, and providing for our safety! Christian, that great High Priest who died for you and intercedes for you — will never forget His people, or allow one lamb of His flock to perish! The merciful and faithful High Priest who began a work for you on the cross, will bring that work to a triumphant conclusion.
Reader, think of Jesus Christ as a loving Friend, to whom you may go morning, noon, and night, and receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need. Of all the offices that Christ exercises on behalf of His people, none will repay thought and study so richly, as that of His present priesthood.
Sunday 8 February 2015
One reason why the church has so little influence over the world
One reason why the church has so little influence over the world
(Charles Spurgeon)
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Romans 12:2
I believe that one reason why the church has so little influence over the world — is because the world has so much influence over the church!
It is overwhelming to see the growing worldliness of the visible church. Many professed Christians — the Lord alone knows whether they are true believers or not — give us grave cause for apprehension. We see them tolerating practices which would not have been endured by their fathers; my blood chills when I think of how far some fashionable professors go astray!
When the Church descends to the world's level, her spiritual power is gone. Jesus said, "Preach the gospel to every creature!" But men are getting tired of the divine plan; they are going to be saved by the music, or by the theatricals, or by the amusements! Well, they may try these things as long as ever they like; but nothing can ever come of the whole thing, but utter disappointment and confusion:
God is dishonoured,
the gospel is travestied,
hypocrites are manufactured by thousands, and
the church is dragged down to the level of the world!
"The world has absorbed the Church, and the church was content that it should be so!" (Horatius Bonar)
"Conformity to the world, in all ages, has proved the ruin of the church!" (Rowland Hill)
(Charles Spurgeon)
"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Romans 12:2
I believe that one reason why the church has so little influence over the world — is because the world has so much influence over the church!
It is overwhelming to see the growing worldliness of the visible church. Many professed Christians — the Lord alone knows whether they are true believers or not — give us grave cause for apprehension. We see them tolerating practices which would not have been endured by their fathers; my blood chills when I think of how far some fashionable professors go astray!
When the Church descends to the world's level, her spiritual power is gone. Jesus said, "Preach the gospel to every creature!" But men are getting tired of the divine plan; they are going to be saved by the music, or by the theatricals, or by the amusements! Well, they may try these things as long as ever they like; but nothing can ever come of the whole thing, but utter disappointment and confusion:
God is dishonoured,
the gospel is travestied,
hypocrites are manufactured by thousands, and
the church is dragged down to the level of the world!
"The world has absorbed the Church, and the church was content that it should be so!" (Horatius Bonar)
"Conformity to the world, in all ages, has proved the ruin of the church!" (Rowland Hill)
Sunday 1 February 2015
If every man was compelled to speak all that he thinks
If every man was compelled to speak all that he thinks
John Newton
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart, with all its deceitful and wicked workings—is incessantly under Divine inspection and examination! The Lord searches the heart—He traces and investigates, the inmost principles of our souls and their motives, with the utmost exactness!
To form a more just idea of this scrutiny, let us ask ourselves how we could bear to be compelled to declare aloud, in full company—every thought, wish and desire which pass through our minds—with no exception! People, if they were brought to this trial, would rather choose to die than comply with it!
If every man was compelled to speak all that he thinks—there would be an end of human society; and man would no more venture to dwell with man, than with tigers and bears!
We know what mischief one ungoverned tongue may sometimes occasion. But the tongue can do no evil, any farther than as it is an instrument of disclosing the hidden things of the heart—yet it is but a small part of these, that the worst tongue is capable of disclosing! What then would be the case, if all our hearts were open—and all our evil thoughts, motives and desires known to one another! What a mixture of confusion, defiance, shame, rage, fear, and contempt—would overspread every countenance!
And yet, we are thus exposed to the searching eye of a pure and holy God! The Lord knows the thoughts of man's heart, that they are vain. He long ago declared the result of His examination, "God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth; and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually!" Thus, we see how vile and hateful our hearts must appear—in the sight of a heart-searching God!
And consider that the Lord does not observe the heart of man with the indifference of a mere spectator—but as an impartial and inflexible Judge! "I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve!" Alas! Is it not sufficient to fill our souls with dread—that He sits as Judge, not only upon outward actions, but He examines the very thoughts and intents of the heart! Can any of us stand under such a trial?
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." Hebrews 4:13
This is a most uncomfortable doctrine indeed—were there no remedy provided! "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" 1 John 1:7
John Newton
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart, with all its deceitful and wicked workings—is incessantly under Divine inspection and examination! The Lord searches the heart—He traces and investigates, the inmost principles of our souls and their motives, with the utmost exactness!
To form a more just idea of this scrutiny, let us ask ourselves how we could bear to be compelled to declare aloud, in full company—every thought, wish and desire which pass through our minds—with no exception! People, if they were brought to this trial, would rather choose to die than comply with it!
If every man was compelled to speak all that he thinks—there would be an end of human society; and man would no more venture to dwell with man, than with tigers and bears!
We know what mischief one ungoverned tongue may sometimes occasion. But the tongue can do no evil, any farther than as it is an instrument of disclosing the hidden things of the heart—yet it is but a small part of these, that the worst tongue is capable of disclosing! What then would be the case, if all our hearts were open—and all our evil thoughts, motives and desires known to one another! What a mixture of confusion, defiance, shame, rage, fear, and contempt—would overspread every countenance!
And yet, we are thus exposed to the searching eye of a pure and holy God! The Lord knows the thoughts of man's heart, that they are vain. He long ago declared the result of His examination, "God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth; and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually!" Thus, we see how vile and hateful our hearts must appear—in the sight of a heart-searching God!
And consider that the Lord does not observe the heart of man with the indifference of a mere spectator—but as an impartial and inflexible Judge! "I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve!" Alas! Is it not sufficient to fill our souls with dread—that He sits as Judge, not only upon outward actions, but He examines the very thoughts and intents of the heart! Can any of us stand under such a trial?
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do." Hebrews 4:13
This is a most uncomfortable doctrine indeed—were there no remedy provided! "...the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin" 1 John 1:7
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