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Home / Publications / Free Presbyterian Magazine / 1998 to 2003 / February 2002 / Offering up Our Desires to God

Offering up Our Desires to God

The light of nature itself teaches us that prayer is a universal duty. It is practised, more or less, wherever a divine being is acknowledged. But all too often it is practised in a purely mechanical fashion, as if the mere utterance of words were enough to please God. The truth is, as Christ taught while He tabernacled among us, that “God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24). Prayer, as an element in the worship of God, must be a spiritual exercise. In the words of the Shorter Catechism, summarising the teaching of Scripture, “prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to His will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of His mercies”.

Prayer, if sincere, will be the expression before God of our actual desires, not merely the uttering of words. “There may be much speaking”, explains A S Paterson, “where there are no desires; and the words of the mouth, without the desires of the heart, are but empty sounds in the ears of a prayer-hearing God.” (1) Formal prayers, which do not express our sincere desires, cannot truly be called prayers; they cannot be classed as spiritual worship.

If our desires are to be accepted in heaven, they must be God-honouring desires; they must therefore be agreeable to God’s will. We dare not ask for anything that is sinful, anything that is contrary to God’s holy law. What then if we do not know that it is His will to grant what we desire? May we ask for what may not be according to God’s secret purpose? Indeed we may, provided we submit to that will. Paul could not have been sure that it would be God’s purpose to remove the thorn in his flesh, which was such a great affliction to him. But nonetheless he asked to have it taken away. And how wonderfully submissive he was when his request was refused! “Most gladly therefore”, he declared, “will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor 12:9). But though Paul’s request was refused, the Lord granted him something better: the assurance of continual blessing: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness”. His prayer did indeed receive a gracious answer.

We too are to be altogether submissive to the Lord’s will. We do well to qualify our petitions with the words: “If it be Thy will”. Yet who can enter completely into the spirit of the Saviour: “Not My will, but Thine, be done”? In this life the graces of believers are imperfect, but it is a mercy to have at least the beginnings of true, gracious submission. In another world, God’s children will see more clearly that He did all things well. Their duty here is to trust in God’s goodness to them – to believe that, in all His dealings towards them, He is acting according to His wisdom, not only for His glory but for their good, especially for the good of their souls.

Our prayers should reflect this. In our desires, eternity is to loom larger than time, the things of the soul larger than the things of the body. So the Saviour directed: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”. He had spoken of what in themselves are necessary questions: “What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?” Yet such matters must not have first place in our desires. But Christ’s promise to those who do seek the blessings of the kingdom of God before everything else is that “all these things shall be added unto you” – what we shall eat and drink and what we shall be clothed with. We are not forbidden to pray for things that are purely temporal; “in everything“, we are told, “let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil 4:6). But our prayers – and the desires they express – are to be focused much more on the things of the kingdom.

Yet our prayers are clearly not a means of informing God about our needs, for we must confess, “There is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, Thou knowest it altogether” (Ps 139:4). It is not, says Paterson, “that we may alter His mind concerning us, or incline Him to anything which He was formerly unwilling to grant, for with Him there is no ‘variableness or shadow of turning’, but we must pray to Him because He commands and entreats and encourages us to do so” (p 389f). Prayer is the means He has appointed for us to obtain the blessings we ask for. It cannot be a method of applying pressure to God to bring Him to give us what we want.

An American pastor, concerned for two of his flock who had been arrested in Afghanistan on charges of spreading Christianity, thought of the early Christians pleading for Peter’s release from prison. He declared, “Our hope is . . . in gathering enough prayer so that what happened in the Book of Acts can be realised”. Thankfully, the prisoners were released in the providence of a gracious God but, as we come before Him in prayer we must recognise His sovereignty, His right to do “according to His will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him, What doest Thou?” (Dan 4:35). No matter how many people may come before the Lord pleading for a particular outcome to some situation, and no matter how earnestly they may plead, we must recognise that He may see it best not to grant their request. In any case, He knows everything better than we do; He sees the end from the beginning; He looks at every situation with infinite wisdom; He understands perfectly what is ultimately for His glory and for our good. And we must be willing to submit to His holy will as it is revealed in providence.

Our prayers must be presented in the name of Christ. To quote Paterson again, “this is not merely to mention the name of Christ in the conclusion or in any other part of our prayer, but it is to mention His name by faith, depending on Him alone for access to God, and for acceptance and a gracious answer to our prayers” (p 390). How can we approach the great and holy God except through the Mediator He has appointed? And how can we pray in a God-honouring way unless grace is in exercise in our hearts? What a mercy then that the Holy Spirit is revealed as the Spirit of prayer – the One who gives grace to sinners so that they present living petitions at the throne of grace, even the “groanings which cannot be uttered”.

We are sinful creatures, unworthy of the least of God’s mercies, and we are to confess this in prayer. “We do not present our supplications before Thee for our righteousnesses,” said Daniel in making intercession for his people; he knew that neither he nor his people had any righteousness of their own. The foundation for his petitions was: “Thy great mercies”. So it must be with us also, for we have no righteousness of our own; we must make the merits of Christ the foundation for the blessings we plead for.

Finally, prayer must, in Paul’s words, be “with thanksgiving”; we must acknowledge God’s goodness to us in very many ways. Paterson gives three reasons why “thanksgiving to God for His mercies is absolutely necessary”. They are: “(1.) We cannot expect a blessing to accompany them while we have not a heart to acknowledge them. (2.) It is a debt we owe to God. (3.) If there is no acknowledgement of mercies received, it is a highway to prevent us receiving more” (p 393).

Let us then consider prayer as a duty which we must all engage in continually as God’s creatures who are under obligation to worship Him. Let us bear in mind our duty to pray, not only as individuals, but also, where possible, as families and as part of a congregation united in public worship. Let us not rest satisfied if the duty has been carried out in a formal, outward fashion, but let us seek to engage in it as a spiritual activity, in dependence on the merits of Christ and in the exercise of grace wrought in us by the Holy Spirit. And as we do so, let us look up expecting an answer.

Endnotes:
1. A Concise System of Theology, (often referred to as Paterson on the Shorter Catechism), p 389, 1841 edition. All quotations in this article are from this valuable volume.

Return to Table of Contents for The Free Presbyterian Magazine – February 2002

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      • October 2003
        • A View from the Outer Hebrides
        • The Untiring Travellers – Part 2
        • Sanctification – Part 2
        • The Ten Virgins
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        • A Pastor’s Concern
        • Seeking Great Things
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 2003
        • A Kingdom Where Order Reigns
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        • The Untiring Travellers – Part 1
        • Sanctification – part 1
        • The Achreny Mission – 2. 1815 to 1843
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – part 4
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2003
        • Church Information
        • A Prayer-Hearing God – Part 1
        • The Achreny Mission – Part 3 – After the Disruption
        • Meditation – Its Blessedness
        • Obituary – John Beaton, Raasay
        • African Missions Update
        • Growing Vatican Sovereignty
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Christ as Prophet
      • March 2003
        • What We Make It?
        • King Solomon’s Chariot
        • Samuel Rutherford – St Andrews and Westminster
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 4
        • The Parable of the Talents
        • The Kinsman
        • Scottish Church Initiative for Union
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 2003
        • A Powerful Voice
        • Notes and Comments
        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 2
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Religion of the Bible
        • The Prodigal Son
        • The Study of Providence
        • Poor and Needy
        • John Piper and His Doctrine
        • African Missions
        • Protestant View
      • June 2003
        • No Sense of Need
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Call of Matthew
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – The Christian Doctrine of God
        • The Sower
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 1
        • Meditation Sanctifies
        • Mbuma Zending Meeting – 2003
        • Zimbabwe Ordinations and Inductions
        • Book Reviews
      • July 2003
        • Acceptable Worship
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Grace Glorified in Election
        • Christianity – an Exclusive Religion – Some Further Doctrines
        • The Pharisee and the Publican
        • Rabbi Duncan
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 2
        • A Plea for Prayer
        • Continuing Repentance
        • Book Review: Christmas Evans, The Life and Times of the One-Eyed Preacher of Wales
      • January 2003
        • Thankfulness
        • The Lord God of Elijah
        • Samuel Rutherford – Fair Anwoth by the Solway – 1627 – 1636
        • Manna
        • All of Grace
        • Obituary – Mr Edward Arthur Christensen, Auckland
        • Obituary – Miss Isabel Murray, North Tolsta
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • February 2003
        • Christ’s Infinite Riches
        • Protestant View
        • Church Information
        • The Lord God of Elijah – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – His King’s Palace in Aberdeen
        • The Privilege of Prayer
        • In Possession of the Promises
        • The Rich Man and Lazarus
        • Humiliation and Prayer
        • Book Reviews
        • Notes and Comments
        • Book Review – Sidelights on Bible Characters
        • Book Review – Authentic Christianity: Sermons on the Acts of the Apostles
      • December 2003
        • Nineteenth-Century Drift
        • A Prayer-Hearing God – Part 2
        • The Achreny Mission – 4. After the Disruption – Part 2
        • Meditation – Its Consequences
        • Visit to the Ukraine
        • Book Review – Letters from the South Seas, Margaret Paton
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • April 2003
        • The Promised Land
        • Church Information
        • “Ye Shall Ask What Ye Will”- Part 1
        • Samuel Rutherford – The Last Years
        • The Pearl of Great Price
        • Repentance
        • A Private Among the Padres
        • Damaging Doubts
        • The Prince – Defender of all Faiths
        • Protestant View
      • August 2003
        • What Kind of Faith?
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Head Stone of the Corner
        • The Vineyard
        • Mary and the Spiritual Mind
        • The Achreny Mission – 1. 1760 to 1815
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Evidences of Saving Faith – Part 3
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
        • Book Review – God’s Hymnbook for the Christian Church
      • September 2002
        • The Shepherd’s Reward
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Jubilee
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conflict
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – Part 2
        • The Beliver’s Sanctification
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Update
        • The New Archbishop of Canterbury
        • Book Reviews
        • Protestant View
      • October 2002
        • “My Counsel Shall Stand”
        • Church Information
        • The Way to the City
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Consolidation
        • “Your Mercy”and the Jews’ Future
        • Springing Up After Many Days
        • Book Reviews
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Protestant View
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      • November 2002
        • Christ’s Spiritual Conquests
        • Church Information
        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2 (1) A Sermon by William Nixon Revelation 22:17. And the spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
        • The Right Way (1) Rev J S Sinclair
        • Obituary Mr Murdo Macleod, Elder, Stornoway
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        • Divine Compassion
        • Book Review – The Antichrist
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        • A Master in Israel
        • The Cleansing of the Leper
        • The Christian’s Life
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        • Advice on Preaching
        • The Great Draught of Fishes
        • Book Review – Church and State
      • March 2002
        • “Hear the Word of the Lord”
        • The Blessing of Asher
        • Thomas Cranmer – That God Might Be Truly Worshipped
        • Psalms or Hymns in Public Worship
        • Obituary – Reverend Donald Nicolson
        • Is Britain Being Protected?
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        • Protestant View
      • June 2002
        • “Another King, One Jesus”
        • Church Information
        • Pray Without Ceasing
        • The Puritans on Prayer – Part 2
        • Inventing Religion
        • Princeton and Pelagianism
        • Among the Children
        • Hopes of Future Usefulness – A Letter of John Love
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      • January 2002
        • “Religion in its Purity”
        • Notes and Comments
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • The Meat Offering
        • The Strength of Faith
        • Thomas Cranmer – Moving Towards a Reformation
        • The Extent of the Atonement
        • Rev John MacDonald (1925-2000) – Obituary
        • Book Review – God and Cosmos
        • Protestant View – Queen Invites Cardinal to Sandringham
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        • The Need for Opened Eyes
        • God’s Wrath Against Sin
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        • Revival in Arran
        • Man’s Righteousness and God’s
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
      • February 2002
        • Offering up Our Desires to God
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Look unto Me and Be Ye Saved
        • Thomas Cranmer – The Man of Extreme Caution
        • The Power of the Gospel
        • The Goodness of God in Redemption
        • Obituary – Mrs Isabella Turner
        • Book Review – Galatians
        • Book Notices
        • Protestant View
      • December 2002
        • “A Zealous, Godly Preacher”
        • The Call to the Water of Life – Part 2
        • Samuel Rutherford – From Birth to New Birth
        • Those Who Have Fled for Refuge – part 3
        • Obituary – Mrs Annie MacIver, North Tolsta
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      • April 2002
        • “I am the Resurrection and the Life”
        • Coming to Christ – Part 1
        • Thomas Cranmer – On to the Fire
        • The Plague of Leprosy
        • Divided Allegiance
        • Obituary – Miss Margaret Sutherland
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      • August 2002
        • Everything Devoted to God’s Service
        • Unity Among the Brethren
        • Those Who Have Feld for Refuge
        • The Early Christian Church – The Era of Conquest
        • Symptoms of Spiritual Death
        • Book Review – The King’s Daughters
        • African Mission News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • September 2001
        • Knowing God
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Path of the Just
        • Obituary – The late Miss Jean Nicolson
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Lexie MacLeod
        • Raasay Congregation – a Brief History
        • The Knowledge of Sin
        • Induction at Sengera
        • Book Review: The Source of the IRA/Sinn Fein
        • Protestant View
      • October 2001
        • Tragedy
        • “God Gave the Increase”
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness for the Church
        • Desires for Glory
        • Calling a Minister
        • The Vatican Archives
        • A Visit to Singapore
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2001
        • Scotland’s Preachers
        • Recent Inductions
        • The Rose of Sharon
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – It’s Usefulness on the Personal Level – Intellectually
        • “Be Strong and of a Good Courage”
        • God’s Wonderful Goodness
        • “Withhold not Correction”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Obituary – The late Mr Donald Beaton, Elder, Auckland
      • May 2001
        • Sinking in Capernaum’s Doom
        • Book Review – Irish Worthies
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • The Goodwill of God
        • Keeping the Heart in Temptation
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 2
        • The Garden of Nuts
        • The Son of Man Lifted up
        • Obituary – The late John Angus MacLeod
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Kenya
        • Book Review – Faith and Justification
      • March 2001
        • “Just with God”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Priest
        • W S Plumer- Part 2
        • Obituary – The late Rev Alexander McPherson, Perth
        • Pastoral Letter – Rev Alexander McPherson
        • Joseph MacKay
        • Book Review – Forerunner of the Great Awakening
      • June 2001
        • Blessedness
        • Church Information
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 1
        • Who Belong to the Visible Church?
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 3
        • Religion in the Highlands After 1688 – Part 3
        • Raising Questions Against Darwinism
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • July 2001
        • Cry Aloud Spare Not
        • Christ Coming for His people’s Help – Part 2
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • Our African Missions – an Update
        • Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Spring Visit to Ukraine
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • January 2001
        • Looking Forward
        • Book Review – The Government of the Church
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Faith, Its Nature, Origin and Effects
        • Thomas Halyburton and How God May Be Known
        • The Divinity of Christ
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 1
        • Keep a good conscience
        • God’s True Family
        • What is the Object of Faith?
        • Communion in Singapore
      • February 2001
        • Calling the Sabbath a Delight
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Set up from Everlasting
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ – Christ as Prophet
        • Religion in the Highlands after 1688 – Part 2
        • Book Review – Daily Prayer and Praise by Henry Law
        • Psalm 122 – Henry Law
        • The enemies of the Christian
        • African Mission News
        • Protestant View
      • December 2001
        • Protestant View
        • African Mission News
        • Eastern Europe News
        • Book Review – Tell it to the Generation Following
        • The Westminster Confession of Faith – Usefulness on the Personal Level
        • The Impossibility of Neutrality
        • “Christian”Entertainment
        • Attaining a Knowledge of Our Sins
        • Church Information
        • Notes and Comments
        • A View From Zimbabwe
      • August 2001
        • “There They Preached the Gospel”
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • “He Will Bless Us”
        • Stevenson on the Offices of Christ
        • “He Delighteth in Mercy”
        • “The Voice of Christianity in Scotland”
        • Obituary – The late Mr Ian M MacLeod, Elder, Dingwall
        • Obituary – The late Mrs Catherine MacKenzie, Stornoway
        • Book Review – Southern Presbyterian Leaders 1683-1911
        • Book Review – The Westminster Confession of Faith, Milestone, Millstone or Manifesto?
      • April 2001
        • Sowing the Seed
        • The Duty of Nations to the Church
        • The Establishment Principle – Part 1
        • “The Finger of God”
        • Obituary – The late Miss Peggy Nicolson, Inverness
        • A Deputy’s Visit to Africa – Zimbabwe
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • September 2000
        • The Resurrection of Christ
        • Church Information
        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably
        • The believer is to put those sins… into the hands of Christ
        • The Puritans and the Ministry
        • Christ Glorifying God
        • Blessed Are They That Mourn
        • The Nature of Vital Piety (2)
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • October 2000
        • The Fear of God
        • Church Information
        • Reading the Scriptures Profitably (2)
        • He indeed is rich in grace whose graces are not hindered by his riches
        • The Puritans and the Ministry (2)
        • James Stewart
        • Christ Healing a Leper
        • Visits To Eastern Europe
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 2000
        • “What Are They Among so Many?”
        • Vain Religion
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • The Desired Haven
        • God may bear long with the wicked, but…
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • James Stewart (2)
        • The Temptation of Christ
        • Book Review
      • May 2000
        • The Church of God From Age to Age
        • Jesus of Nazareth passeth by
        • Rev Lachlan MacLeod (1918-1998) – Obituary
        • “So let him give”
        • The Solemn League and Covenant
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • African Mission News
        • Church Information
      • June 2000
        • The Example of the Church in Smyrna
        • Eastern Europe – Spring 2000 Report
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        • The Nature of the New Birth
        • This is Indeed the Christ
        • Obituary The late Mr Alasdair Gillies, M.A., Elder, Dingwall
        • Report of Mbuma Zending Meeting – 29th April 2000
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Ma Donsa One of the Pilgrims at Ingwenya
        • African Mission News
      • March 2000
        • Two Free Churches
        • Sermon The Gracious Invitation of Christ
        • The Rev John Sinclair of Bruan (1801-43)
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Regeneration Regulating the Affections
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
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      • July 2000
        • The Church of Scotland General Assembly
        • Church Information
        • Lift up a Standard for the People
        • At the Westminster Assembly
        • The Earth Corrupt before God
        • The Trinitarian Bible Society Report
        • Obituary – The late Mr Kenneth Gillies, Elder, Raasay
        • The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland Synod
        • Protestant View
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      • February 2000
        • The Rev. Christopher Munro (1817-85)
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        • Joy and Peace in Believing
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • Negotiations in London
        • Obituary
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Scottish Day Conference
        • Protestant View
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      • January 2000
        • Another Millennium
        • Notes of a Sermon The Earth Filled with His Glory
        • The Second Coming of Christ – Three Main Views
        • The Latter Day Glory
        • Building up the Church of God
        • Princeton Seminary – The Majestic Testimony by David Calhoun.
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • December 2000
        • The Divine Saviour
        • A Sermon by John Kennedy
        • Thomas Halyburton
        • The Late Roderick Macleod,
        • The Aberdeen Church
        • Book Reviews
        • Book Reviews
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      • August 2000
        • Where Are We Now?
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
        • Christ Given in His Fulness
        • Alexander Henderson
        • I cannot always come to Christ
        • Obedience to Christ
        • The Nature of Vital Piety
        • The Puritans for Today
        • Protestant View
      • April 2000
        • The Family Under Attack
        • Sermon
        • Princeton Theology – the Scottish Connection
        • The King in Scotland
        • Comments on Psalm 51
        • Unsettling the Settlement
        • The pope’s visit to the Holy Land
        • Notes and Comments
        • Church Information
      • October 1999
        • Declaring All the Counsel of God
        • Church Information
        • God so Loved the World
        • The Rev. James S. Sinclair
        • The Glasgow Assembly
        • Calvin’s View of the Millennium
        • Book Review
        • Trinitarian Bible Society Annual General Meeting
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • September 1999
        • Old Testament Types
        • Church Information
        • Christ Seeing of the Travail of His Soul
        • Alexander Stewart of Cromarty
        • The Intercession of Christ
        • Resolved to Abolish Episcopacy
        • “And the sun was darkened”
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • November 1999
        • Morality and Politics
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        • Sermon
        • Rev Alexander Morrison (1925-1999) – Obituary
        • The Charismatic Movement – The Gifts have Ceased
        • Casting down the Walls of Jericho
        • A Visit to Singapore
        • Book Review
        • Protestant View
        • Notes and Comments
      • May 1999
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        • Rev Angus Mackay
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        • Signs of Religious Declension
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      • March 1999
        • Heaven-provoking Legislation
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        • The Drawing Power of the Cross
        • The Alpha Course Examined
        • Teaching Christianity in Scottish Schools
        • The late Mrs Margaret Tallach, Glasgow
        • Letter by John Love, D.D.
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      • June 1999
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        • How May Sanctification Be Attained?
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        • Address to Mbuma Zending Meeting
        • Spiritual Pride in Man
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        • Preaching the Unsearchable Riches of Christ
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        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
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        • The Pre-eminence of Christ
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      • February 1999
        • The Purposes of the Lord’s Supper
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        • The End of a Millennium
        • African Mission News
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        • Until the Day Break
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        • The Rev. Donald Macfarlane of Dingwall
        • The Pagan Origin of Christmas A Reminder
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        • The Marks of a Time of Revival, and the Means of Bringing it About
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      • September 1998
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        • Weighed in the Balances
        • Christ, the Way
        • Praying as Beggars
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        • Patrick Mzamo – A sketch of an African elder and lay-preacher
      • October 1998
        • The Westminster Assembly and Romanism
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        • Christ Liveth in me *
        • God’s Way of Bringing Sinners to Christ
        • The Effects of Television Violence
        • Sin and Sanctification
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        • Philemon Ndebele
      • November 1998
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        • The Best Security in Evil Times
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        • The Religion of the Highlands – The Persecution of a Highland Laird
        • Book Review
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      • May 1998
        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
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        • A Vessel Meet for the Master’s Use
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        • The Story of Mamlotshwa
      • March 1998
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        • Godliness With Contentment
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        • Truth and Life
        • The Free Church, Psalms and Hymns
      • June 1998
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        • Ma Ngwenya – Mother of the late Rev. B. B. Dube
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        • The Lord is Risen Indeed
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        • Mbuma-Zending Meeting – 1998
        • Three Characteristics of True Faith
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      • July 1998
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      • January 1998
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        • MaHlabangana
        • Winter Visit to Eastern Europe
        • THE NEW YEAR
        • The Church Built and Kept by the Lord
        • Outlines of Lectures on the Bible
        • The Fruits of the Declaratory Act In the Free Church of Scotland
        • Redeeming the Time
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      • February 1998
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        • A Mission Day of Prayer
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        • Brought Home to Heaven
        • Observing the Sabbath
        • Church Deputy’s Visit to North America
        • African Mission News
        • A Faithful Ambassador is Health
      • December 1998
        • When the Enemy Shall Come in Like a Flood
        • “My grace is sufficient for thee”
        • The People of the Great Faith
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        • A Good Soldier of Jesus Christ
        • “Give ye them to eat”
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      • August 1998
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        • Sermon – The House of Many Mansions
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        • Notes and Comments
        • Paul Magaya – Lay Preacher in Shangani
        • Church Information
      • April 1998
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        • The Mode of Baptism – A Defence
        • Notes and Comments
        • Protestant View
        • The Manner of Coming to Christ
        • Book Notice
        • A Lily from the Ukraine
        • Eastern Europe Mission
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        • Called of God
        • Threats to our Religious Liberties
        • Mazwabo’s Amazing Transformation
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