From the Pastor
I tell you that story by way of welcoming you to our quarterly magazine, because I feel that many Christians never burst into full “bloom!” I have no reason to question their salvation, nor would I doubt that a genuine work of God’s grace has taken place, but they always seem to lack that joy of sins forgiven, that thrill of being delivered from the bondage and judgement of sin.
As you read our magazine, my prayer is that if you are not a Christian that God will use this publication to cause you to think of eternity, of your spiritual condition in sin and point you to the only answer The Lord Jesus Christ. If you are a Christian, may these pages help fill your life with the peace and joy of Christ to bring you to full bloom!
I must apologize to all who attend Ballee Baptist on Sunday mornings, for we are presently doing a character study on the life of Moses.. and Moses is my theme now for the magazine as well, how’s that for variety!
Heb 11: 23-27 “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw that he was a proper child, and they were not afraid of the Kings commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt:
for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the King: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible.”
We live in a age of choices, indeed they are so common and numerous that we make choices without a second thought. First thing in the morning it’s suit or casual wear?, cereal or toast? coffee or tea?, fry or waistline? None ofthose will dramatically affect your lifestyle or your goals in life, but this passage in Hebrews 11 gives us three life - changing, momentous choices that we can learn from today:
1. The Choice of Parental Courage v 23. “They were not afraid of the King’s commandment.” It was a very unfriendly world that the little baby
opened his eyes to . He belonged to an alien race, to an
oppressed race under the yoke and bondage of Egypt, and was born at a time of unusual trouble. Pharoah’s edict that every male infant had to be killed by casting them into the River Nile was atrociously barbaric and inhuman, but praise be to God he was the child of believing parents, Amram and Jochebed., and while anxiety, distress and fear were no doubt, the lot of many Jewish homes, it was not the condition of Moses’s home.... “They were not afraid of the king’s commandment.”
We badly need Godly Christian homes in the day in which we live, but even more necessary is Christian homes where there is no fear of the world and its dictates. Dear parent, how’s your home? How would it compare to Moses’s home? Too often spiritual things are not discussed or even mentioned from Monday to Saturday, and then we wonder why our children have little interest on a Sunday. I make a call for some to make the choice of parental courage.
2. The Choice of Personal Conviction v 24 - 27. This was a big choice, and it is one that every young person faces, even today. Moses had his Egyptian education (Acts 7 : 22), his training both as a statesman and as a soldier (“mighty in words” (statesman) “and in deeds” (soldier) Acts 7 : 22) - but he still had to decide if he would believe in the God of his parents. Notice he made that decision in the full maturity of manhood who had seen all this world has to offer. He made that decision when the pleasures of sin seemed most fascinating, and yet when the fortunes of the Children of Israel were at their lowest ebb, but he made the decision to trust God, to follow God, to serve God decisively with conviction. I possibly am speaking to a young person, brought up through Sunday School, Good News Club / Children’s Meetings. To you the world seen alluring and inviting, before you fall for it’s toy tinsel and fleeting fun can I ask you to take a fresh look at the Lord Jesus Christ. Examine his life, his teaching, his miracles, his death, his resurrection, his love for sinners, his provision for sin.
I trust you will make a choice of personal conviction to renounce friends, wealth, reputation, success, whatever may hinder you in order to know Christ as your Personal Saviour.
3. The Choice of Persevering Continuance v 27. “He endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” Was it the end, once Moses sided with the Children of Israel? No There was sacrifice “Choosing rather to suffer affliction” There was shame “Esteming the reproach of Christ….”
There was strength “He endured, as seeing him who is invisible”
Salvation is never the finale but the introit, it’s the beginning of a new relationship, the birth of a new life, the adoption into a new family. Whatever the metaphor or picture used, there must be a moving on, a development and growth in spiritual things. The spiritual baby must reach maturity. The spiritual seed must produce fruit etc.
persevering continuance, which will require sacrifice for Christ, bearing the shame of Christ, but praise God there is a divine supernatural strength available. Thank you for making the “choice” to read this article, but the harder choice comes now as you consider the implications of: The choice of parental courage, The choice of personal conviction, and The choice of persevering continuance.
Now another choice Do I read the rest of the magazine? — “Go on, enjoy it “
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Psalm
130
I would like to share with you a Psalm the Pastor read one Sunday morning before the service. This is something the Pastor doesn’t normally do and I don’t think ever did before that I can recall of; yet a Psalm that meant so much to me at a time in my life when things just seemed to be going wrong. That morning the Pastor read this Psalm, it was such an encouragement to me spiritually and is still a tower of strength’ to me whenever I get down and all hope seems lost.
So if someone out there reading this is feeling spiritually low, as I sometimes feel, and you think all hope is gone, well take heart again dear soul and turn to God’s word and rest upon it as I did because there you will find a source of strength, help and encouragement to go forward.
Sometimes when we think all is going well in our lives the devil can use so much to turn our whole life upside down, but God knows our hearts best.
I just thank God for His mercy and His forgiveness because without it we would have no hope
Psalm 130:
Out
of the depths have I cried unto thee, 0 Lord.
Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, 0 Lord, who shall stand?
But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.
My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning:
I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
And He shall redeem Israel from all his inquities
Verses 3 & 4 mean so much to me, personally.
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If you do not feel as close to God as you once did — it was not God
who moved!.
THE WORK WAS DONE
His finished work at Calvary,
Accepted now I am in thee.
For me He suffered, bled and died
He freed my soul when crucified.
He loved me ‘ere I ever knew,
And
my dear friend He loves you too.
He suffered once for all to see.
He won the victory upon that tree.
The darkness of hell it descended,
Upon His sorrowing soul,
But perfectly in victory,
He came forth as gold.
In glory now He sits, He waits,
For you to open your hearts gates.
Friend open up and let Him in,
He’ll break the shackles of your sin.
He did all this, in love, by choice,
He beckons now with His sweet voice
Rebel no more lay arms to rest,
His everlasting arms are best.
MY BEST FRIEND
Whatever may happen
I know He is there,
Lovingly holding my soul,
In His care.
Watching and waiting
My needs to impart
Before even I speak,
Or open my heart.
He is my loving Saviour
Who’s always on my side.
No matter what befall me,
In life’s mast stormy tide.
He’s shaping my life, each day,
To give me blessing.
My soul is in the safest place,
When with My Lord it’s resting.
Elaine Elder
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NEWS
FORM PORTSTEWART.
Yours in His Royal Service
The Old Story
To-Morrow,
He promised his conscience; to - morrow
I mean to believe..; To-Morrow I’ll think as I ought to; to - morrow
my Saviour receive; To -
Morrow I’ll
conquer the habits that hold one from heaven away. But ever his conscience
repeated one word, and one only, “today.”
To-morrow
- to
- morrow,
to - morrow
- thus
day after day it went on
To -
Morrow, to -
morrow, to -
morrow -
till youth like a
vision was gone;
Till
age and its passions had written the message “too late” on his brow;
And
forth from the shadows came death, with the pitiless syllable, “Now!”
“What
will you do with Jesus?” the call comes low and clear.
The
solemn words are sounding, now in your listening ear;
Immortal
life’s in the question and joy through eternity.
Then
what will you do with Jesus, WHAT WILL YOUR ANSWER BE?
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“For unto us was the gospel preached as well as
unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, being mixed with faith in
them that heard it” (Hebrews ch4 v2)
Thats a look at the “THEM” of the verse, now what about the “US” of the verse. I refer also to V 1 “Let us, therefore, fear lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of should seem to come short of it”
We have seen that in the forty years of compromise, unbelief and disobedience the children of Israel had forgotten what God had wanted to do for them and the writer now proceeds to warn his readers of a possible failure on their pan of entering into all the fullness of God’s provision. He is fearful lest any should come short.
of entry into this rest, “For we who have believed do enter into rest.” The writer says that entering into this rest is a fact which characterizes every believer. Belief is the way in. Unbelief is the barrier. Ch 3 V 11 and V 19. The meaning is that we who have believed have entered in according to God’s word, faith being the condition of entry.
We need to remind ourselves that the Lord Jesus Christ not only died for us but that we died with Him and now He lives by His spirit within us. We are the partakers of Christ now, as the children of Israel should have been partakers of the land then
(HER3V14).
It is such a sad thing when a child of God does not seem to enjoy all the fullness of God’s provision:
He died to save us from hell and one day get us to heaven but in the time between He is with us to live His life through us: Paul said to the Galatians, “0 foolish Galatians who hath betwitched you.” We should not allow the strain and stress of this age to push us into a wilderness experience but enjoy our freedom and victory in the fullness of Christ.
Oh give me, Lord, thy love for souls, for lost and wandering sheep,
That I may see the multitudes, and weep as thou dids’t weep.
Help me to see the tragic plight of souls far off in sin,
Help me to love, to pray, and go, and bring the wandering in.
David Mitchell.
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GOOD
NEWS CLUB REPORT MARCH 1997.
When
we started back in January this year we had other special guests, this time is
was Billy and Agnes Jones. We had a great time as Billy brought lessons from the
Mr. Men series and Agnes done the quiz for us. Recently we have been learning
all about our Bible, where it came from, how God has preserved it and how it
affects each one of us. Our most recent guest to visit us was Tommy Wright from
Glenarm, the children love his enthusiastic and interesting approach to the
Bible lesson.
Calling all Boys and Girls & Willing Helpers To Ballee Baptist Holiday Bible Club
From Monday 30th June until Friday 4th July 1997
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THE WRIGHT
BROTHERS.
It was Saturday December 15th 1903 when two brothers Wilbur aged 36 and Orville aged 32 after four years of painstaking work stood by their prototype aircraft. They were planning to make aviation history by making the first powered flight of an aeroplane. The next day was the Lord’s Day and even though conditions were ideal in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina for a maiden flight, in obedience to the Lord’s command they rested, believing that they could not ask the Lord’s blessing on their venture while they broke his holy law. On Monday December 17 first Orville flew their machine about 37 metres, staying up for about 12 seconds and then later Wilbur flew about 260 metres staying up for about 59 seconds. Both of these men believed the word of God to be paramount in their lives and every new discovery they made in their pursuit of flying they attributed to the wisdom which God had given them. Especially they had spent hours watching birds in flight noticing the proportions which God had given them to fly perfectly. In this sense the Wright brothers only sought to copy the wisdom given by God to birds and to harness their knowledge for man’s benefit. Not only were these two brothers ‘Sabbath Keepers’, neither did they drink, smoke or gamble, believing that such activities often led young men in particular to abuse and to forget their Creator, Further the fame which their success eventually brought them did not fill them with pride. They were noted for their humility. Their achievements bear eloquent testimony to the truth,
THE
LOVE OF CHRIST WHICH PASSETH KNOWLEDGE
(EPH.
CH3V19)
In the heart of Jesus
There is love for you,
Love most pure and tender,
Love most deep and true;
Why should you be lonely,
Why for friendship sigh,
When the heart of Jesus
Has a full supply?
In the mind of Jesus
There is thought for you,
Warm as summer sunshine,
Sweet as morning dew;
Why should you be fearful,
Why take anxious thought,
Since the mind of Jesus
Cares for those he bought?
In the field of Jesus
There is work for you;
Such as even angels
Might rejoice to do;
Why stand idly sighing
For some life - work grand,
While the field of Jesus
Seeks you reaping hand?
In the home of Jesus
There’s a place for you;
Glorious, bright, and joyous,
Calm and peaceful too;
Why then, like a wanderer,
Roam with weary pace
If the home of Jesus
Holds for you a place.
If
you are a Christian full of love, joy and peace —then it will show not only in
your manner of life but in the expression on your face.
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YOUNG
PEOPLE’S FELLOWSHIP REPORT.
Sunday
5 January 1997, saw the start of a new seasons meeting for the YPF. This meeting
was taken by Sammy Moore who took the ‘Breaking of Bread Service’ as his
subject.
Our
next meeting on the 19 January, was taken by our very own member, John McCaughey,
who put us into discussion groups to discuss the importance of studying the
Bible something each of us as Christians should be doing every day.
Sunday
2 February took the form of a video on the New Tribes Mission, where we heard
from a missionary who told of his time in captivity by the Guerillas, and how he
was released. Our thanks go to Tom McGrath for lending us this video.
On
the 16 February, we had a visit from the Young People of Ballyclare Baptist and
an enjoyable evening was had by all as we learned of how we should be living as
Christians in this day and age. Auldwyn Calderwood paid us his yearly visit on
the 2 March. The topic under the spotlight was ‘prayer’ and we were
challenged as to what prayer is and the importance of having consistent prayer
times especially for us as young people.
At
the time of writing, our annual weekend on April 11 -
13 is fast approaching and we look forward to having a great time of
blessing and fellowship together.
Please
continue to pray for the Young People of Ballee and if you are Secondary/
Grammar School age and over, here is you personal invitation to come and join us
at the YPF, we would be glad to see you.
Gillian
Moore
JOHN
HARPER’S LAST CONVERT.
Many are looking for signs of Christ’s coming when they should be looking for souls. The disciples of Acts 1:11 were “gazing” when they should have been going.
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A WORD OF TESTIMONY
From we were children we went to The Faith Mission Conference in Bangor at Easter every year. In 1987 at the morning meeting after listening to a very convicting message there was an appeal made. The tears dropped down my cheeks as I realised how far short my Christian life was. I pushed passed everybody in the row and as I walked to the front I just couldn’t believe it, the Lord was really with me for I couldn’t have done that on my own. I recommitted my life to the Lord that day and haven’t looked back. I love the Lord, he has blessed, he has brought me through trials and is my Friend in every day life. I pray that you will find Him too.
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HAVE
YOU TAKEN IT TO JESUS?
Have you left your burden there?
Does He tenderly support you?
Have you rolled on Him your care?
0, the sweet unfailing refuge
Of the Everlasting Arms,
In their loving clasp enfolded
Nothing worries or alarms.
-
Have you taken it to Jesus,
All
the longings, hopes and fears,
All the many disappointments,
All the sorrow, grief and tears?
Does He lovingly sustain you,
Guard, and guide, and cheer, and bless?
Are you living in the sunshine
Of His grace and righteousness?
-
Have you taken it to Jesus,
Just the thing that’s pressing now?
Are you trusting Him completely
With
the when, and where and how?
Oh! the joy of full surrender
Of our life, our plans, our all;
Proving, far above our asking
That God answers when we call.
-
Have you taken it to Jesus?
‘Tis the only place to go
If you want the burden lifted
And
a solace for your woe;
Oh! the blessedness to nestle Like a child upon His breast,
Finding ever, as He promised, Perfect comfort, peace and rest.
****************************************************************************
A Little Child
The
nature of a little child,
I
simple could not see
How
such a nature ever could
Become
a part of me.
-
The
pride of years would never let
My
Saviour on the throne,
But
crowned ME king and
kept ME where
I
reigned, just I alone.
-
This
pride, oh, what a horrid thing!
Kept
me from bending low,
So,
through the Kingdom’s door, you see,
I
simply could not go.
-
So,
large with what I thought I was,
I
stood outside for years;
I
cried, I groaned, I prayed and yet
Would
glory in my tears.
-
Thus
all the beauty of His realm
Was
on the other side.
Oh,
what I missed, Oh, what I lacked,
Because
of my old pride!
-
Then,
oh the wonder of that day!
I
saw what I should do.
I
said, “Lord Jesus, I step down
And give the throne to You.”
-
And
so when I by faith obeyed,
A
miracle of grace,
Within
this haughty heart of mine,
That
moment did take place.
-
For
all at once I knew, I felt
Humble
and meek and mild,
And
saw that God had given me
The
nature of a child.
-
Now
would I, dare I, could I try
Once
more the Kingdom’s door?
I
longed to, yet it looked so low,
So
near unto the floor,
-
But,
beckoned by the pierced Hand
Which
had removed my sin,
Upon
my knees, now weak and small,
A
child, I entered in,
-
I
entered in, oh bless the day!
I
entered through that door,
And
all his Kingdom lay ahead
For
Children to explore.
-
And
so, diminished as I am,
Stripped
of all else but grace,
I
live, a trusting little child,
And look upon his face.
-
And now there is but One supreme
Who rules and wears the crown,
And this great miracle began
The moment I stepped down.
Submitted by M.Linton
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In
your busy day to day life do you ever stop to think of eternity? Most of us plod
on day after day without giving it a thought. Just thing, you and I and
everyone we know will live forever in either heaven or hell. That is an awesome
thought.
“Enter
ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that
leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
The
Lord says that the road to heaven is narrow and there are few
people who find it.
We
are concerned for you and pray that you will come to know the Lord. Don’t
deceive yourself into thinking you are all right when you are not.
J Bissett. Submitted by Jean Craig.
WHY?
‘When
I’m lost on the mountain, He is there to guide me.
When
I’m down in the valley, He is always there.
When
evil fries to harm me, and troubles all surround me,
Jesus
guards me and keeps me, He’s a Friend of mine.
He’s
the God of the mountain; Shepherd of the valley;
He’s
the King of the kingdom; He’s a Friend of mine.’
He
was a Christian and he prayed
He
asked for strength to do greater things,
But
he was given infirmity that he might do better things!
He
asked for power that he might have the praise of men,
But
he was given weakness that he might feel his need of God.
Ladies Fellowship.
We
have almost come to the end of our programme for the season, with only two
missionary meetings to come.
On
the 8 January we had a visit from the ladies of Lantara Baptist Church, who
shared with us in testimony and song what God is doing in their lives. Mrs.
Lowrie brought a message from God’s word on the ‘Garments~ mentioned in the
Bible a ‘fitting’ subject for us women.
Sandy
Clarke and her friends from Torch Trust came to take our meeting on the 12
February. Sandy told us of the work of Torch Trust, how it began, and how she
became involved in it. She shared her testimony and brought us a very
challenging message from God’s word. Sandy and her two friends, David and
Trevor, ministered in song. Altogether we were richly blessed by their visit.
At
the time of writing this report we are looking forward to the 12 March when
Trevor and Christine Morrow, missionaries with Baptist Missions in Peru, will be
with us.
Our
prayer meeting continues on the last Wednesday night of each month throughout
the year, and we have some blessed times together.
We
are greatly encouraged by the increase in numbers at our meetings, but there is
still room for you. Our annual outing this year is planned for the 10 May, more
details will be available later.
THE
NEED FOR ZEAL.
Two words need
consideration here. Their faith. I know that men are saved by their own personal
faith in Jesus Christ and that you cannot be saved by my believing, and yet it
is true as well that men and women are being lost because of our lack of faith.
It is equally true that men do find Jesus through the faith of others. It was
through the faith of a Paul who dared to trust God that the gospel came to
Europe, and you and I are saved because of Paul’s faith. It is true that David
Livingstone had faith enough to trust God and blaze a gospel trail into the
heart of Africa that thousands were saved.
Men are perishing
because we have not faith. There are some whom God wants on the foreign field,
but you have not enough faith to go, and in consequence men and women will go to
hell forever. There are some of you readers who have enough of this worlds goods
to support a half dozen missionaries, but because you dare not trust God with
what belongs to Him, thousands will slip into eternity without Christ.
Ina Livingstone
First talk to God about your children - Then talk to your children about God.
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REVIVAL
OF RELIGION.
OPEN
- AIR MEETINGS AT CULLYBACKEY, ANTRIM.
t is impossible to
invite personally all ministers of the gospel, but their presence and
co-operation will be cordially welcomed.
Rev. Dr. Wilson,
Limerick
Mr Reginald Radcliffe,
Liverpool
Rev. C.W. Thwaites,
Salisbury
Maj. Gen. Sir R. Phayre,
London
Rev. Dr. Stuart, Deny
Rev. H.M. Williamson,
Belfast
Mr. J. Barton, Dundalk
Rev. W. Park, Belfast
Rev. W.F. Stubbs,
Rector of St. Columba, Liverpool
Rev. J. McNeill,
Edinburgh
Lord Radstock, London
Rev. Jas. Cargin, Derry
Major - General Rice,
Kingstown
Rev. J. Hudson Taylor,
China Inland Mission
Rev. J M ‘Ilveen,
Belfast
Rev. J Harper, Belfast
Mr. B.D. Wise, Belfast
Mr S. G. Montgomery,
Bangor
Rev. W.J. Paton,
Dromara
Rev. G. Hanson, Dublin
Rev. C. Davey,
Ballymena
Rev. H. Montgomery,
Belfast
Mr. R. Montgomery,
Belfast
ARRANGEMENTS
ETC.
PLACE
The Meetings will be held in the grounds of Fenaghy, the residence of William
Young, Esq. Fenaghy is about 15 minutes walk from Cullybackey Railway Station,
on N.C. Railway. HOURS OF MEETING Meetings will probably be held each day
as follows 10-1 1, meeting for prayer in Tent; 11-1 General Meeting in open air
for preaching the gospel; 1-2.30, interval for refreshments, etc. 2.30-4,
Sectional Meetings in Tents (1) for Addresses and Conference on Missions, (2)
for Conversation with, or Addresses to inquirers, (3) for Addresses to
Christians; 4-5.30, General Meeting in open air for preaching the gospel.
REFRESHMENTS
A refreshment Tent will be on the grounds, where visitors can have luncheon,
tea, coffee, etc. at moderate rates.
SPECIAL TRAINS
will be run on Northern Counties Railway.
STABLING
will be provided at Fenaghy for 36 horses; in the village of Cullybackey
additional accommodation can also be had.
A STALL for
the sale of Bibles, Testaments, and cheap religious literature will be on the
grounds. Books containing the Psalms and hymns to be used at the Meetings will
be on sale, price ld.
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Prayer
of an Ageing Woman.
Anonymous.
A DOOR:
Into opportunity for service.
Into the most useful life.
Into the best of life’s experiences.
Into the most hopeful future
AN
ARMORY To get power to fight evil.
To get inspiration to keep walking right.
To get encouragement to keep faithful to the cause.
To learn how to use spiritual weapons.
To discern the enemy strategy.
To get a vision of Christ.
AN
ANCHOR: To steady me in the storm.
To hold me lest I drift.
To strengthen me in the hour of temptation.
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Guest Singers
April
6
Billy Weatherall
13
Patrica Storey
20
Beacon Choir
27
Ken Maxwell
May
4
Jean Wilson
11
Paula Francey
18
Woodvale Singers
25
Testimoney Meeting
June
I
Ballee Youth Fellowship Choir
8
Andrew Polston (Glasgow)
15
Gilbert Anderson
22
Mervyn Black
29
Youth Sunday
New Members.
The following believers were brought into fellowship.
Darrell McDowell 16\3 \97
Sam &Grace McGaughey 23\3 97.
Congratulations
Clare
Kathleen Dorothy to Geoffrey and Gillian McGrath 3 l\1\97.