LEIGH BAPTIST CHURCH “MESSENGER” MAY 2025
VERNON ST / CHURCH ST . LEIGH. WN7 1BH
Website : www.leighbaptistchurch.org.uk Contact: admin@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk
Pastoral Leader – Val Hulme ( Days Off Tues and Fridays)
email : pastoral.leader@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk TEL 07817142192
Check LBC website for updates and info also LBC FACEBOOK page
The Problem of Deceitfulness
Ever since the serpent tricked Eve into thinking that it was alright to eat the fruit from the tree in the centre of The Garden of Eden, despite the Lord God having forbidden it, people have been telling lies to deceive other people.
The Bible has numerous examples. Genesis 27 tells of Jacob, helped by his mother Rebekah, deceiving his father into giving him the blessing which should have gone to the older son, Esau. Jacob had to flee and went to work for his mother’s brother, Laban. He wanted to marry Rachel, the younger daughter, but on the wedding night discovered that he had been tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah. He then had to work another seven years before he could marry Rachel. Jacob’s ten older sons were jealous of the two younger sons, especially Joseph. In Genesis 37 we read that they sold him to some Ishmaelites who were on there way to Egypt with spices and resins. They then dipped his multi coloured robe in the blood of a goat and took it to their father, saying they had found it. Jacob assumed that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. In Egypt Joseph was unfairly punished because Potipher’s wife told lies about him. But God had plans for him and eventually he was put in charge of all the harvest in Egypt because God had revealed to him that there would be seven years of plenty, then seven years of famine. When the famine came in the whole of that area there was plenty of food in Egypt and people from the surrounding countries went there to buy grain. Joseph’s brothers were among them and this eventually led to Joseph being reconciled to his brothers, and then to Jacob and his family settling in Egypt. That family’s lives had been full of deceit.
Jesus was put to death on the cross because of false accusations, although God used them to fulfil His purpose of defeating sin and death by His Son Jesus taking that horrible punishment to pay for our sins. In John 10 Jesus told how He was the Good Shepherd who cared for his sheep, but the one who was only hired to look after them, did not care for them in the same way, so would run away when there was danger and leave the sheep unprotected.
Throughout history lies and deceits have taken various forms because, as 1Peter 5:8 says, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” That is as true today as it ever was. In the GNB that same verse tells us that we need to be alert. With so much being posted on social media and so many people being interviewed on television, plus many discussion shows, lies can come as accusations. Cold calls and scams can at the least worry people, but also trick people into giving vital information, especially about finance. We need to be alert so that we are not taken in. How do we know the difference between truth and lies? We hear of lies and deceits all over the world, especially making it difficult when voting for leaders. The Church is not immune. False prophets have been known to lead people astray. In John 8:44 Jesus says that the devil is the father of lies and the truth is not in him, and in v31-32, “If you abide in my word, you are My disciples, and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”
The world’s riches, fame, attractions have led people into false feelings of security, away from God’s ways of security and peace. I have found security in Psalm 18:1: “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; --- my rock in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Also, Isaiah 26:3 tells of the peace we can have when we trust in God, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
We need to know what is in the Word of God. That helps us to keep in touch with our Lord and with His loving ways. 1John 4:8 says, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Let us therefore ‘trust in the lord’ to guide us through the problems of this life and not to be led astray or deceived in any way.
“Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:11 KW
Dates for your Diary:
Sun May 4th 10.45am Worship service Rev. Neil Brighton
Sun May 11th 10.45am Open Service followed by Church and Congregation Meeting
Sun May 18th 10.45am Church Anniversary Songs of Praise Service Val Hulme Followed by a Bring and Share lunch
Sun May 25th10.45am Communion Service Val Hulme
Wednesdays 7th, 14th and 21st 10-11am Prayer Meeting (drinks from 9.45am)
Thurs May 8th 4:00pm: Deacons' Meeting on Zoom
Thurs May 15th 1:00pm: Strategy Group Meeting
Saturday 10th May 10:00 - 12:00: Weeding around the church
Other users of the building:
Wednesdays 7th, 14th and 21st May 7:30 pm: All Singers Great and Small Community Choir
Thursdays throughout May 10:00 - 12:00: Atherton and Leigh Foodbank
Church and Congregation Meeting: Sunday 11th May following a shorter Open Service.
Church Anniversary Songs of Praise Service: Sunday 18th May. Add your favourite hymn/Worship Song to the list, with either a link to a YouTube video
which we can download, or the hymn number, if it is in Mission Praise or Baptist Praise and Worship. Please say whether you are willing to share why you have chosen it, or not.
This service will be followed by a Bring and Share lunch. Please invite family and friends to come along to both.
Weeding Morning: It would be good to tidy up the outside of church by clearing the weeds surrounding it, especially with a special service coming up.
We will be opening the church on Saturday 1Oth May, 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, for those who are able to help with this.
Our Pastoral Leader will be on Annual Leave from Monday 26th May to Sunday June 1st, inclusive.