January 11th, 2008, Lord's Day Order of Worship (PDF)

---

Morning Verse Synopsis

"Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him" (I Corinthians 2:9).

How often do you think about what God has prepared for you? Do you consider that your failure to focus upon all that God has prepared for those who love Him causes you to forfeit opportunities to be yourself prepared for God's preparations for you? Every difficulty coming your way is but a preparation and a sculpting of you so that you might be fitted for your Lord's predestined preparations for you.

Hearts shackled to meager expectations disable grand confidences in God's unfathomable riches for His beloved. Do you know that you are the inheritance of the Lord? Do you appreciate His labors on your behalf and are you constantly thanking Him "for His indescribable gift?" (II Cor. 9:15).

What has God prepared for you? Joseph of Arimathea was "waiting for the kingdom of God" (Mk. 15:14). God has prepared for you a kingdom. What do you know about this kingdom? Perhaps the insight of Mr. Thomas Boston (1676-1732) will assist:

As to the nature of the kingdom of heaven, our knowledge of it is very imperfect...

As by familiar resemblances parents instruct their little children concerning things of which otherwise they can have no tolerable notion, so our gracious God, in consideration of our weakness, is pleased to represent to us heaven's happiness under similitudes taken from earthly things glorious in the eyes of men; since discoveries of the heavenly glory, divested of earthly resemblances, would be too bright for our weak eyes and we would but lose ourselves in them. Wherefore now we can but speak as children of these things which the day will fully discover.

The saints shall have kingly power and authority given them. Our Lord gives not empty titles to His favourites; He makes them kings indeed. The dominion of the saints will be a dominion far exceeding that of the greatest monarch who ever was on earth. They will be absolute masters over sin.... They will have a complete rule over their own spirits; an entire management of all their affections and     inclinations.... They shall have power over the nations, the ungodly of all nations, 'and shall rule them with a rod of iron' (Rev. 2:26, 27). The whole world of the wicked shall be broken before them: 'Satan shall be bruised under their feet' (Ro. 16:20). He shall never be able to fasten a temptation on them any more, but he will be judged by them, and, in their sight, cast with the reprobate crew into the lake of fire and brimstone. So shall they rule over their oppressors. Having fought the good fight and got the victory, Christ will entertain them as Joshua did his captains, causing them to 'come near, and put their feet on the necks of kings' (Josh. 10:24).

As you look toward the Lord's eternal preparations for you, be greatly heartened and emboldened to take new territory for the Lord and His beloved. Be ever mindful that God commanded Joshua to go to a place where he would be hated, feared, battled by those outside the camp and opposed by those within the church. Nonetheless, remaining on the east side of the Jordan River was not an option. Your Joshua became as a thunderbolt of righteousness invading a land of godlessness because he would engage a fallen world as though "seeing Him who is unseen" (Heb. 11:27).

As you capture the Lord's preparations in this world for you, stretch your mind in thanksgiving for all He is going to bestow. He is already where you are going to be. God is your most effective encourager. "Contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints" (Jude 4).

SOLI  DEO  GLORIA!

(Evening Verse Synopsis)

---

"Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8).