God is Light: Brighter Than the Sun

 

Outline of Service 28^th September 2025

God Is Light:  Brighter Than The Sun

… but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

Isaiah 60:19

 Hymn 123: A Fountain of Light

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 Psalm 119:105-112 – God’s Word is Light

 Bible Readings:

·       Lamps, Lights, and Lighthouses:  Isaiah 60:1-5, 19-22

·       Light of Seven Perfect Days: Isaiah 30:18-26

·       Light Obscures Darkness:  John 1:1-18, 29-34

·       God Is The Light: Revelation 1:20, 4:5, 21:22-27

Summary of Readings

§   The Sun is the brightest object in our sky, but there are brighter objects in the Universe – just as God’s understanding is infinitely greater than we can imagine

§   The Moon gives off a bright light at night, but it is a reflection of light from the Sun – it does not have its own source of energy

§   A lamp shows us the way for our feet, a light shows us the way ahead, and a lighthouse shows us where to head towards – or where not to go – but If up close the light from the Lighthouse would blind us, we could not “comprehend” it!

§   Just as light puts out darkness, so evil cannot exist in God’s Presence; so whilst we can approach God spiritually in our present state, we would not be able to exist physically in His Presence

§   The light of the Moon is like salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, Christ’s righteousness is reflected in us , but the light of the Sun is like true obedience to God

§   Those within whom God physically removes the evil will be able to receive the light of life - full preservation of spirit and soul and body – and be able to stand physically as well as spiritually in God’s Presence, when Jesus Christ returns.

Hymn 9 – Tune 6:  The Plan, and Coming Changes

Message

Hymn 81:  A Light in the Darkness

Doxology

Lesser Known Places: The Lord's Vineyard

 

The Lord’s Vineyard

For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel. Isaiah 5:7

 Hymn 104: God Is Our Refuge

 The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 Psalm 1:1-6 – A Fruitful Plant

 Bible Readings:

·       The Lord’s Vineyard:  Isaiah 5:1-10

·       The Ravaged Vineyard: Psalm 80:8-19

·       The Restored Vineyard:  Isaiah 27:1-6

·       A Parable About The Lord’s Vineyard: Luke 20:9-19

·       The Hired Labourers:  Matthew 20:1-16

Summary of Readings

§   The Bible contains an analogy about Israel being God’s Vineyard, which is recorded in Isaiah chapter 5

§   The Psalmist describes in Psalm 80 how Israel has disregarded God, and the Vineyard has been ruined

§   Jesus tells a parable about how the Jews had disregarded the words of the Prophets about the Vineyard, and now want to kill the Owner’s Son

§   Jesus also told another parable about how all the workers in the vineyard will get the same wages --the salvation of their soul in the resurrection - no matter when or how long they had worked

§   God has promised to restore His Vineyard, and to bring forth good fruit in the lives of those who trust in Him, the 144,000 who will sit with the Lamb on Mount Zion, when Jesus Christ returns.-

Hymn 26:  All Things Made Anew

Message

Hymn 96:  Great Shepherd – Lead Us!

Doxology

Lesser Known Bible Places: Shiloh

 

Shiloh

and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. Genesis 49:10

 Hymn 123: The Old Prophetic Fire

 The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

 Psalm 119:129-136: God Provides and Cares  

 Bible Readings:

·       The Tabernacle at Shiloh:  1 Samuel 1:1-11, 24

·       The Ark Taken from the Tabernacle: 1 Samuel 4:1-11; Jer 7:12

·       David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem: 2 Samuel 6:12-17

·       Jeroboam Moves Worship to Bethel: 1 Kings 11:34-6; 12:19-20, 25-33

·       Judah’s Blessing:  Genesis 49:8-12

·       The Tabernacle Returns:  Revelation 21:1-5

Summary of Readings

§   At the end of the journey through the Wilderness, Israel erected the Tabernacle at a place called Shiloh – today we are not sure where that actually was

§   The Tabernacle was where God met with His people, and the Ark of the Covenant was kept there; people came there to meet with God

§   After a defeat by the Philistines, the Israelites decided to take the Ark to war with them, as they thought that would give them God’s Power in their battles

§   Subsequently the Ark never returned to the Tabernacle, and historically we understand that later the city Shiloh was destroyed

§   When Jeroboam came to power as King over Israel – the Ten Tribe Kingdom – he chose to set up false gods at Bethel – not at Shiloh - for the people to worship

§   We read in Revelation that “the Tabernacle of God” will come down from Heaven at the time of the end, a figure of a “return to Shiloh”

§   As God’s name was put on Jerusalem (Galatians 4:26), so too we believe God’s Name is associated with Shiloh – the fulness of His Power that will be given to Israel

§   Israel (the people) will be gathered by “Shiloh”, and Shiloh will work a work of obedience in the 144,00, and they will be changed from mortal to immortal beings, and will enter God’s Kingdom without going through physical death.    

Hymn 66:  Here Is Shiloh – Long Expected  

Message

Hymn 83: The Redeemer Shall Come

Doxology

Ebed-melech

 

Outline of Service 27^th July 2025

Ebed-Melech

I will deliver thee in that day, saith the Lord. Jeremiah 39:17

 Hymn 105: Let us Thank and Praise God Together

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Psalm 40:1-5:  Praise, Trust and Wait

 Bible Readings:

·       Ebed-Melech Saves Jeremiah:  Jeremiah 38:7-28; 39:15-18

·       Peter Delivered by an Angel:  Acts 12:1-10

·       Unwitting Helpers:  Matthew 25:31-46

 Summary of Readings

§   Jeremiah proclaimed God’s Word, but the Nobles of the Land did not like it, so they put him in a pit with “miry clay” at the bottom

§   Ebed-Melech was a “foreigner”, working in the King’s Court, who went to the King and pleaded for justice on Jeremiah’s behalf and was allowed to deliver Jeremiah out of the pit

§   God rewarded Ebed-Melech for his courage, faith and commitment to justice

§   Similarly, an Angel was sent by God to deliver Peter out of prison under exceptional circumstances

§   We today are in a pit designed by Satan to draw us away from God, but we seek to God to “deliver us from evil” and set our feet on the Rock (Christ)  

§   Jesus Christ will return to this earth and those who have been “released from the pit” will enter into God’s Kingdom with either a resurrected spiritual body, or through being preserved wholly in spirit and soul and body

§   Let us Praise God for the Promises He has made for those that obey Him.

 Hymn 115:  Trust in God’s Deliverance  

 Message

Hymn 51: Liberty Through Truth in Christ Jesus

Doxology

Elisha and the Loaves

 

Outline of Service 22^nd June 2025

Elisha and the Loaves

Give us day by day our daily bread. Luke 11:3

 

Hymn 119: Let Us Join Together, and Bless His Sacred Name

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Isa. 55:1-3, 6-11: Buy food without money – hear and your soul shall live  

 Bible Readings:

·       Bread From Heaven:  Exodus 16:1-10

·       Satisfying Our Hunger:  2 Kings 4:42-44

·       Jesus Feeds the Hungry:  Mark 6:30-44

·       Bread from Heaven: John 6:25-27, 41-51

 Summary of Readings

§   God fed Israel in the wilderness for 40 years by providing daily manna

§   Elisha fed 100 people with 20 loaves, and had more than was needed

§   Jesus fed 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fishes, and had 12 baskets full left over

§   God will provide for, and protect, His people, both with earthly needs and spiritual understanding, if they seek Him with all their heart (Jer 29:13)

§   Jesus Christ explained that He is the bread which came down from heaven, and eating of this bread is believing and following Him

§   We believe that we are living in the time when Jesus Christ will return, and those who eat of this true bread will be changed wholly in spirit and soul and body, and be changed from mortal to immortal beings. 

 Hymn 68:  Living Food from God

 

Message

 

Hymn 100: Nourished by Living Bread

Doxology

Leviathan - The Untamable Monster

 

Outline of Service 25^th May 2025

Wisdom:  God’s Answer to Job

Leviathan – The Untameable Monster 

… and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea.  Isa 27:1

 Hymn 122: Overcoming Through Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4)

Isaiah 12:1-6 – Jehovah is my Strength and Song  

 Bible Readings:

·       God’s Words to Job:  Job 40:6-8, 41:1-9, 18-34

·       A Promise of Release:  Isaiah 27:1-9

·       The Continuing Struggle: Romans 7:14-25, 8:6-11 

·       The Sea of Glass:  Revelation 15:1-4

·       The Final Victory: John 4:10-15

 Summary of Readings

§   God’s Wisdom is outlined in the response He gave to Job, in Job chapters 38-41, showing that His Ways are higher than our ways, so why should we expect to be able to understand them

§   Since the Fall in the Graden of Eden, the serpent (“the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan” Rev 20:2), has had power to attract each of us and cause us to sin against God

§   God showed that the greatest challenge for us is the untameable monster, Leviathan, “the dragon that is in the sea”

§   Throughout the Scriptures there is an analogy of the sea being the life of blood – blood being the source of life in this present world (Lev 17:14)

§   In Romans Paul explains about “sin” that dwells within us, in our physical being, which Satan attracts and causes us to transgress God’s Law

§   Revelation talks abut the sea of glass – analogous to when the evil is removed from the life of blood, and there is nothing Satan can attract

§   The final victory comes when the life of blood is swallowed up by the indwelling Power of the Spirit of God, and mankind is redeemed in spirit and soul and body (Jno 4:14); then Leviathan will be tamed!

 Hymn 71:  A Greater Power Can Overthrow

Message

 

Hymn 125: Freed From Evil

Doxology