Berean Reformed Baptist Church- Chililabombwe

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21/03/2026

Restoring Our Relationship

R.C. SPROUL EPHESIANS 2:12

Unregenerate man is consistently described as being in a state of alienation and enmity. This is the condition that makes reconciliation necessary. Reconciliation is necessary only when a state of estrangement exists between two or more parties.

Estrangement is the natural fallen state of our relationship to God.

How are we enemies of God? Jonathan Edwards provides an insightful summary of the problem. He lists several points of tension between God and man:

1. By nature, we have a low esteem of God. We count Him unworthy of our love or fear.

2. We prefer to keep a distance from God. We have no natural inclination to seek His presence in prayer.

3. Our wills are opposed to the law of God. We are not loyal subjects of His sovereign rule.

4. We are enemies against God in our affections. Our souls have a seed of malice against God. We are quick to blaspheme and to rage against Him.

5. We are enemies in practice. We walk in a way that is contrary to Him.

Coram Deo
Examine your spiritual condition in light of Edwards's five points of tension between God and man.

19/03/2026

AVOIDING A HARDENED CONSCIENCE

R.C. SPROUL

JAMES 1:13-15

We are warned not to allow ourselves to become hardened, because if we look at the whole concept of hardening in its biblical perspective, we see that something happens to us through repeated sins. Our consciences become seared. The more we commit a particular sin, the less remorse we feel from it. Our hearts are recalcitrant through repeated disobedience.

When God hardens the heart, all He does is step away and stop striving with us. For example, the first time I commit a particular sin, my conscience bothers me. In His grace, God is convicting me of that evil. God is intruding into my life, trying to persuade me to stop this wickedness. If He wants to harden me, all He has to do is to stop rebuking me, stop nudging me, and just give me enough rope to hang myself.

We see in Scripture that when God hardens hearts, He does not force people to sin; rather, He gives them their freedom to exercise the evil of their own desires (James 1:13-15).

Coram Deo

Pray this prayer with the psalmist David: "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Ps. 139:23-24).

16/03/2026

Eliminating Unrealistic Expectations

R.C. SPROUL

PSALM 102:17-18

Sometimes we all feel as if our prayers lack the power to pe*****te our ceilings. It seems as though our petitions fall on deaf ears and God remains unmoved or unconcerned about our passionate pleading. Why do these feelings haunt us?

There are several reasons why we are sometimes frustrated in prayer. One is that our expectations are unrealistic. This, perhaps more than any other factor, leads to a frustration in prayer. We make the common mistake of taking statements of Jesus in isolation from other biblical aspects of teaching in prayer, and we blow these few statements out of proportion.

We hear Jesus say that if two Christians agree on anything and ask, it shall be given to them. Jesus made that statement to men who had been deeply trained in the art of prayer, men who already knew the qualifications of this generalization. Yet in a simplistic way we interpret the statement absolutely. We assume the promise covers every conceivable petition without reservation or qualification. Think of it. Would it be difficult to find two Christians who would agree that to end all wars and human conflict would be a good idea? Obviously not. Yet if two Christians agreed to pray for the cessation of war and conflict, would God grant their petition? Not unless He planned to revise the New Testament and its teaching about the future of human conflict.

Prayer is not magic. God is not a celestial bellhop at our beck and call to satisfy our every whim. In some cases, our prayers must involve the travail of the soul and agony of heart, such as Jesus experienced in the Garden of Gethsemane. Sometimes young Christians have been bitterly disappointed in "unanswered" prayers, not because God failed to keep His promises, but because well-meaning Christians made promises "for" God that God never authorized.

Coram Deo

Do you have unrealistic expectations that account for seemingly unanswered prayers? Are you treating God like a celestial bellhop?

25/07/2025

TODAY'S DEVOTIONAL by IN TOUCH MINISTRIES

Psalm 31:19-24

Because the goodness of God is perfect, He alone can accurately determine what is best for each person. His kindness is expressed in more ways than simply the provision of wealth, health, and relationships. Some divine gifts are experiences we would never choose, but the Lord knows we need them in order to grow in faith, obedience, and perseverance.

Consider these expressions of God's goodness toward us:

• Loving Discipline. Since God's love is unfailing, He corrects us when we need it. The process is painful, but the result is "the peaceful fruit of righteousness" (Heb. 12:11).

• Wise Limitations. With His perfect insight, the Lord lovingly withholds things that would be detrimental to us spiritually.

• Useful Suffering. God knows which refining experiences we need in order to become fruitful in His kingdom. What appears to us as a valley of hardship is His place of preparation for godliness and service.

It can be tempting to interpret God's character on the basis of our circumstances. But when evidence compels us to doubt His goodness, it's important to remember this: His gifts may come in a variety of shapes and sizes but are always beneficial. As Psalm 34:8 says, "O taste and see that the Lord is good."

31/05/2025

Esther 3:13; Esther 4:4-16

Knowing that we have a calling from God is one thing, but living it out is another. Esther reached a point in her life when fulfilling God's plan became risky. The Lord had placed her in a position of influence, but using that power could cost her life.

Few are called to be rulers, but we have all been given places of influence to one degree or another. The Lord has placed you in your family, community, and church to fulfill His purposes for your life in this generation (Ps. 139:15-17). As long as you are breathing, He is still working out His will for you.

How should you respond to His calling? There are only two options: Cooperate by submitting to His plan, or resist Him. Eventually, every Christian is going to encounter a situation that tests his or her willingness to obey God. When that time comes, remember the lesson from Esther. Maybe you have been placed in a difficult situation "for such a time as this" (Est. 4:14)-to be an influence for Christ in our dark world.

Living in God's calling may not be easy, but it is always worth the risk. Each step will reveal the faithfulness of our Lord, encouraging us to trust Him in the next opportunity He provides. As our faith grows, His perfect timing will become evident, and we'll look with joy and expectation for what awaits us.
IN TOUCH MINISTRIES

13/05/2025

Psalm 37:1-5

When people speak about their desires, they often cite Psalm 37:4 enthusiastically. We love the idea that the Father will give us what we desperately long for. But unfortunately, when we focus only on receiving good things, we miss the psalm's context, which is a divine promise with human obligations.

God's greatest interest is not to indulge us, but rather to give us more of Himself. Self-focused prayers overlook the first requirement for the promise's fulfillment: delighting in the Lord. We are to take pleasure in time spent communing with and serving Him. As we read God's Word and pray, we'll experience His work in our life, and our faith in Him will deepen.

Over time, our growing trust means we're beginning to learn God's ways of thinking. He'll remold our heart's desires to match His (Ezek. 36:25-27), but even so, what He provides may appear very different from what we request. Instead of giving us what we think we want, He bestows the perfect answer to our prayer.

God enjoys granting our requests, but His great joy is to hear us express a longing to know Him better. Receiving our heart's desires is a byproduct of delighting in God and committing to His way. Our primary reward is a relationship with the loving God who offers to share Himself with humanity.
IN TOUCH MINISTRIES

09/05/2025

Genesis 39:1-23

As believers, we all will falter occasionally in our faith. When that happens, how can we keep doubts to a minimum? The key is to remain focused on the Father so that we can move forward in His will for our life.

Consider Joseph, who trusted in God during all the harrowing events of his early years. Faith sustained him through betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment. Resting on his confidence in the heavenly Father, Joseph didn't let his circumstances, environment, or the opinions of others divert him from acting in accordance with God's will. He decided to do his work with excellence. His duties in Potiphar's house were probably menial, but he performed them as if working for the Lord (Col. 3:23-24). This kind of commitment earned Joseph the attention and respect of his master, and the Hebrew slave was rewarded with greater responsibility. Genesis 39:23 says, "And whatever he did, the Lord made to prosper."

As he moved through one hardship after another, Joseph stayed focused on the Lord, who'd revealed intentions to raise him to a position of leadership (Gen. 37:10). Joseph had a practical approach to the downward turn in his fortunes: He kept thinking about God and serving Him instead of dwelling on his trials.

IN TOUCH MINISTRIES

04/05/2025

In Touch Ministries.

Luke 10:25-37

Do you realize that for believers, many needs can and should be met within the church? To make this possible, however, Christians must give of themselves on behalf of others (2 Cor. 9:10-12).

For example, a man determines to offer support and pray alongside a hurting brother. Or a woman makes herself available to answer a new Christian's questions about the weekly sermon-the two ladies search the Bible and fill their minds with Scripture. And there are countless other ways to serve, such as driving an elderly member to the service, teaching a Sunday school class, or delivering a meal and spending time with someone.

Before you become overwhelmed by what a variety of needs there are, remember that loving one another is a body-wide effort; one person cannot offer help for all situations. But suppose you commit to serving a few folks whom God brings into your sphere of influence. As you surrender to the Lord, He will bless you with joy and profound contentment.

To put others before yourself is to practice authentic Christianity. And if believers commit to meeting as many needs as the Lord brings to their attention, a church can be transformed, becoming a true body of believers who function together for the glory of God.

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