BEWARE OF DRIFTING!

Two men out fishing on a river just above a low dam became so engrossed in the activity that they did not notice that their boat was drifting ever near to its edge. Suddenly they became all too aware of the danger as the current increased and they could hear the water pounding on the rocks below. In a panic, they struggled to turn the boat around and row away from the dam… but without success. Their bodies were recovered from the rocks some hours later.

Just as there is a real danger in drifting in a boat near a dam, so it is perilous to drift spiritually away from the Lord! What are the signs? Is my desire to study God’s word and pray diminishing? Is my desire to be with God’s people not what it has been in the past? Have I lost my desire to save those who are lost? Am I too much enamoured by the things of the world?

What are the remedies against drifting? First, keep rowing – working for the Lord and seeking to serve others, especially those in need. Watch out for the undercurrents of temptation. “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul”. (1 Peter 2:11) Expect to go against the tide – current  thinking and  trends and  to be unpopular with family, friends and neighbours who do not know the Lord. We must have a strong anchor.“As you, therefore, have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Col 2: 6-7. 

If in any way we must confess that we are drifting, then may we encourage one another to give careful attention to the warning of the writer of Hebrews:“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.  For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him..”  Hebrews 2: 1-3. 

Our salvation in Christ is simply too great for us to neglect!

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Speakers for Sundays in September:

1st:   a.m.   Mr Chris Parker-Jones        

       p.m.   Rev. Colin Lewis

8th:   a.m.   Mr Bob Yule

        p.m.   Mr Paul Daniels

15th:  a.m.   Rev. Peter Cho

         p.m.   Mr Eric Palethorpe

22nd:   a.m.   Rev. Stuart Ryce-Davies

          p.m.   Rev. Peter Cho

29th:   a.m.   Rev. Peter Cho    (Harvest Services)

          p.m.   Rev. Brian Morris

 

Diary Dates for September:

Wednesday 4th:      Deacons’ Meeting

Saturday 7th:          2.00 p.m.  Joint BBQ at Scouts Field

Tuesday 10th:         7.00 p.m.  Church Business Meeting

Wednesday 11th:     7.00 p.m. Joint Deacons’ Meeting

Saturday 14th:         2.30 p.m. Induction Service at Bethesda

Monday 16th:         7.00 p.m.  Men’s Fellowship

Thursday 19th:       7.00 p.m.  Joint Prayer Meeting                                          

                                             at Beulah

Wednesday 25th:    2.00 p.m.   Islwyn Forum

      “     “       “    7.00 p.m.   Joint Evangelism Meeting at              

                                             Tabernacle

Thursday 26th:      12.30 p.m.  Luncheon Club