Rivers Baptist Church - Christ alone - and Him crucified

Have you ever had your car in for a service and then had that dreaded call from the mechanic? “I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news”, he says which means it’s good news for the auto shop. “Yeah”, you say cautiously knowing it couldn’t be the water pump or the radiator — that was last service’s bad news! Anyway, it turns out it was the whole muffler system. Completely rusted out. Have you ever grabbed your favourite going-out dress — the one you last wore two years ago before you had a baby, only to find it had been moth-munched? Or maybe you left your car at a railway station overnight only to get it the next day and find it gone, or, like me, someone had smashed the front and rear windscreens. Not exactly thieves but a similar result — someone else’s gain and your loss. I’m sure we’ve all had something stolen at some time in our lives, or will do.

2 Chronicles 1:7-12
That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, ‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’

Solomon answered God, ‘You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?’

God said to Solomon, ‘Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honour, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honour, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.’

See Attached

Dear Brothers and Sisters

At our last meeting I presented a financial report that showed a grim picture based on facts. There is a companion message that is somewhat more encouraging and it is based on faith. We read in Exodus:
Exodus 36:2-7
Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, "The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done."