IN THIS WORLD, there often arises temporary situations and unique circumstances.  People necessarily leave their Homes and move into Care Facilities.  Others are confined to their Homes.  For more than twenty years, Dr. Spence has served as a Personal, Domestic, and Care Facility Chaplain meeting the spiritual needs of many of these people.  James 1.27 says: "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."  If you have questions or comments, or if you are interested in Dr. Spence's services, please contact us using the form provided. Dr. Spence seeks to answer calls here in Southwestern Pennsylvania. However, he tries to go wherever he is requested.       

AUGUST 20th; LORD'S DAY (Sunday); 2017.
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE. John 1.18. “The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”
THIS WEEK'S HYMN. “Jesus! What A Friend For Sinners!” by Rev. Mr. Wilbur Chapman (1859-1918). What a beautiful Hymn! How full it is of the New Testament! This Hymn is well able to lead precious souls to JESUS.
THIS WEEK'S THANKSGIVING. This week there are many Answers to Prayer. Thanks be to GOD, Who has heard us! 1. A Gentleman attended the Meeting. This doesn't sound like much. But it is. Several of us have been praying, encouraging, and inviting this Gentleman to the Church Service for about a year. How surprised and glad his Wife was when he came to the Meeting! Let's pray that GOD will do this Gentleman's soul good. He was thankful for the Sermon. 2. Another Gentleman who was fighting a severe cold is now better. 3. A Lady who fell is greatly improving. 4. The Lady who went through surgery is completely well. The surgery was a success. 5. A Care Facility Aide's wrist has healed. 6. The Gentleman with swollen feet is mending. The swelling is clearing up. 7. A Gentleman who asked us to pray for him had a good eye appointment. 8. Two people returned from the Hospital. They have returned to good health. 9. Thanks to all who financially support Chaplain Spence Services. Last week, Dr. Spence heard from a Family whose Mother once resided in one of the Care Facilities. They generously gave $145.  For all these things, we give Thee thanks, LORD!
THIS WEEK'S PRAYER REQUESTS. These people have specifically asked for Prayer. 1. Several are sick. 2. The stomach-bug is going around. 3. A Lady will be having an important surgery on the 23rd. Let's pray it will go well. 4. Those who are in the Hospital. 5. Those who have recently had deaths in their Families. 6. A Care Facility Aide who is having surgery on the 21st. 7. A Lady who is having serious trouble in her Family. 8. A Lady who fell last week. 9. Those who live in intense pain. 10. A Lady asks Prayer for her Family. 11. A Lady's Son who is on drugs. 12. A Gentleman who is going to court because of a crime he committed. 13. Two Ladies who have a number of special requests. 14. A Gentleman and his Wife. The Gentleman is battling the stomach-bug. The Wife also is not well. 15. A Gentleman's Mother who is in the Hospital. She fell last week. *In the Thanksgiving and Prayer Requests sections, the identities of the people have been withheld to protect their privacy. Nevertheless, the Thanksgivings and Prayer Requests are real and actual.
THIS WEEK'S COLPORTAGE REPORT. 1. Last week, 3 Printed Sermons were distributed in Pittsburgh and Claysville. 2. Pray for an Extraordinary Colportage Day that is planned for one day this week. On this day, we are planning to specially distribute the Printed Sermons. O that some lasting spiritual good will come from these endeavors!
REFLECTIONS ON THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE. John 1.18. “The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.” Three things are in the Words. I. The Glorious Person Who is mentioned. “The only begotten Son.” In the New Testament, True Christians are called “sons of God.” But the Only Person who is ever called “the only begotten Son” is JESUS. JESUS only is “the only begotten Son” of GOD. This places JESUS in the unparalleled position of GOD. The Jews who heard JESUS understood this well. See John 5.18. II. The Glorious Position in which JESUS lives. “In the bosom of the Father.” The Puritan Dr. Poole says of the phrase: “He Who is the only begotten and beloved Son hath such an intimate communion with God in his nature and such a free communication of all his counsels, as it may be said, he is continually in His bosom.” This incomparable relationship has existed forever. Proverbs 8.30 shows it existed before JESUS was born. The entire Gospel of John shows it existed when JESUS was here. JESUS' sitting at the right hand of GOD today declares this relationship is entirely unshakable. III. The Glorious Service JESUS has done for us. There are many things JESUS has done for us. In the material, it is JESUS Who gives us everything we have. In the spiritual, JESUS died for our sins. When it comes to our obligation to obedience, JESUS has served us tremendously in this capacity as well. JESUS being “the only begotten Son of God” and living “in the bosom of the Father”—having all this inexpressible Light and Knowledge—He used His position for our good. JESUS “declared” THE FATHER. What a declaration it is! There were no faults in this declaration. Here is bright shining Day. Furthermore, after JESUS left this world, this glorious declaration has been preserved in the Scripture. Psalm 119.89 shows the Scripture will live into eternity. Question. How deeply do these things live in you? The three points observed relating to This Week's Scripture are Essentials of the Christian Faith. Historically, they have been unanimously acknowledged by all True Christians. But a good question to ask is how deeply do these things live in you? It is one thing to consent to these things with the mind. It is something else indeed when these things sovereignly influence your life and practice. In his admirable Exposition of Hebrews, the celebrated Independent Dr. John Owen says: “It is a hard and rare thing to have the minds of men kept upright with God in the observation of the institutions of divine worship. Adam lost himself and us by this failure. The Old Testament Church seldom attained to it.” Then the learned man says: “And at this day there are very few in this world who judge a diligent observation of divine institutions to be a thing of any great importance.” Was JESUS, truly, “the only begotten Son?” Did He come from, and did He live in, “the bosom of the Father?” Was it this illustrious Person Who “declared” THE FATHER? Then, surely, if we truly love Him, we will come often before Him—yet not according to our own wisdom or the prevailing notions of the generation; but according to the institutions He Himself appointed in the Scripture.

Chaplain Paul Spence, DD

An Independent Chaplain Serving Care Facilities In Southwestern Pennsylvania For More Than 21 Years

ON THIS THIRD LORD'S DAY of August 2017 here at our Online Chapel, Dr. Spence continues a Series of Sermons from Hebrews 7.27.  "This He did once, when He offered up Himself."  In this Sermon, Dr. Spence begins the consideration of the Word "once."  We hope this Sermon will be a Blessing. Thank you for attending. Please come back next week.