All messages from 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 have been videoed and can be seen on youtube under Idle salvation army or Billy Cowgill
Message 1 November 2020 also available on Youtube https://youtu.be/tDx4jaZ5qrU
Last week we looked at what I believe is the kind of Church that God wants us to be like today, that’s a people who 'live the word' not just preach it, and 'show' the man in the street, the power of God. We need to mirror His Glory and be a fellowship of people who are ready and eager to reflect and share the values of the Kingdom
We looked at the Beatitudes and I said then, how I believe that they are not a list of alternatives to be picked and chosen at random, but rather a whole set of standards for the Christian to take abide by and 'live'. What Jesus said, contrasted the worlds values with Kingdom values, the 'superficial' faith of the 'religious' with the practical love and compassion of Jesus. The need to be rooted in the love of God and share that love with one another. We are called to Live for God and in so doing, Love for God.
Living the Word is expressed in the way we love the world as God does - God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ When scripture tells us that God loved the World - it’s talking not about what man has turned it into but the world that God created and intended it to be - a world of love.
That’s why as scripture tells us He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’. Jesus - the son of God - lived the Word - in fact Jesus was the Word of God in action and that’s what God wants His church - you and I to be.
We looked at what Jesus replied when asked by a teacher of the Law what He regarded as the most important of the Commandments - Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to Love the Lord Your God with all your heart mind and soul and then added Leviticus 19;18 and Love One another then adding as I have loved you.
Jesus lived the Word, and that's what He wants His church - you and me - to do. To reach out to Him, allow Him to fill us with himself and start to reflect His love - the Holiness of God. To have the love and compassion that Jesus had - to have the same attitude as Jesus had and live our lives to the Glory of God.
We closed by looking at what Jesus said we would be - if we lived in obedience to His word and adopted the positive ‘Be‘- attitudes that He talked about
Matthew 5; 13 tells us that not only are we called to be the salt of the earth. But also the light of the world. And just as a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Words echoed by Paul when he wrote his letter to the church at Ephesus, in ch 5 v8 he tells them - you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as Children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth - and find out what pleases the Lord
Pauls advice was to Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Lets look at chapter 5 of Ephesians 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
What a lovely world it would be if everyone lived in obedience to the Word.
That’s the joy that awaits those that love the Lord and seek to live in obedience to His word. That’s what Heaven will be like - that’s what God intended His creation to be from the start but then the devil stepped in and lured man into sin.
That’s why God eventually sent Jesus to live the Word and show mankind how to live the way God wanted man to live - loving God and one another - John 1;14 the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us wrote John - and he knew that because he saw Jesus for himself - we have seen His glory the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father full of Grace and truth
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. In other editions of the NIV Be imitators of God is re-worded to say Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.
It’s lovely for parents when they see how the good lives they are trying to live are then mirrored in their own children - it’s so rewarding when children having felt the love and seen the good in their parents, start to reflect that love in their own lives.
In the same way, when we learn about the life of Jesus as outlined in the gospels who reflected the goodness of the Father and showed compassion for others then our desire should be to do the same and as Gods children start reflect the love of Father God in our own lives and by so doing let others see the Joy their is in loving God .
2 Live a life of love - real love - sacrificial love for God, for one another and for those around us, just like Jesus did. They say don’t they ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of Flattery - I would think that God our Heavenly Father will be pleased with us His children if we strive to follow His example and live a life of love as seen in Christ.
Paul then hits hard at the wrong things that were prevalent in Ephesus at that time
3-7 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them
The world then and more so today has a wrong concept of the word LOVE which is predominated by sexual attraction and lust. We see it exploited on TV , in books - on the news etc computer - even in schools, wrong concepts of sex are being taught to young children - very young children. When I was young ( in the 40’s and early 50’s these things were never talked about - our interest in the opposite sex didn’t occur until we were well into our teenage years. The love that Christ wants us to share is AGAPE love that’s way above sexuality - real love that is expressed between people who care about one another- an unselfish burning desire within to see the best in others and do all we can to help them. To thank God for their love and friendship.
The kind of pure love that was seen in Jesus and that was reflected in the way He lived His life for others even to the point of giving His life for them. All this is reflected in what Paul wrote next;
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
WOW As we know from John 8;12 Jesus declared Himself to be the Light of the world when He said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
As we read last week, when Jesus shared the Beatitudes He followed them by sharing what the benefits are for those who live their lives in obedience to Him by declaring ‘You are light of the world‘. Matthew 5;14 that just what Paul meant when he told the fellowship of believers at Ephesus -For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
This week we heard the sad news that the terrible Covid 19 virus had taken the life of the well known comedian Bobby Ball who was 76.
When you look at the life of Bobby you can se a great testimony of how God rescued him from a life of Darkness - adiction to sex, drugs, drink - the things that Paul talks about to the church at Ephesus - and set him free from all that after an encounter with theatre Chaplain Max Wigley when he visited Bobby who was starring in the Christmas pantomime at the Bradford Alhambra in 1986. They talked about Jesus, and Bobby came to see there was more to life, and God was real.
Following that first encounter with Max, Bobby decided he wanted to become a Christian and went to see Max one day, where he read a copy of ‘Journey into Life’, and then prayed and gave his life to Jesus.
In Bobbys biography he describes the way before his encounter with Jesus he thought ‘had everything, and yet had nothing’. Even during the early 1980’s at the height of their fame he knew something was missing, and began to feel empty inside. By this time he had started to drink heavily, was womanizing and getting into fights. “At the height of our career, I could have anything I wanted, but it was never enough. Eventually, I was drinking a bottle of whisky a day, seeing as many women as I could and getting into fights as often as possible. I was not a nice man to be with, in fact I felt dirty and knew I needed forgiveness.”
The change was noticeable immediately, even though most people at first thought it was just a phase. However, two months later his wife Yvonne, whose health had collapsed while trying to cope with his frequent absences and wild behaviour, also found God
Six years later in 1992 Tommy and Bobby were working in South Wales. Bobbys daughter Joanne (by now a Christian herself) was arranging to have her son dedicated to God one Sunday, and Bobby asked his colleague Tommy Cannon and his wife Hazel if they would like their daughter dedicating at the same time. They said no at first refused, but a few days later changed their minds. During the service that Sunday service Tommy and his wife became Christians themselves.
Wow the truth of the scripture we have just read For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light became the testimony of both Bobby and Tommy and together since then, Cannon and Ball have written and spoken about their faith. They have performed in their own popular Gospel Show, and spend a number of evenings each year giving their testimony in An Evening with Cannon and Ball and An Evening With Bobby Ball in churches around the country
Bobby came to speak to us at an officers retreat in 1988 at Bridlington -gave his testimony and Beryl bought his book that told the whole story - a book that has inspired many to turn from their lives of sin and accept Jesus as their Saviour. I pray that Bobby will now be at home safe in the arms of the Lord He loved and served.
His was a testimony of one who knew his past sins had been forgiven and who wanted to share that with others.
In his book ‘My Life’ Bobby includes a prayer he wrote for himself.
In this world of ever-changing faces,
help me to stay on the straight line I was destined to be on.
Help me to try and put right my faults, but to realise that my strengths are gifts.
Help me to be patient with others who are as impatient as myself.
Help me to learn the value of each minute of each day that I have on this earth,
that I can bring love and happiness into someone elses life and not just my own.
Teach me to be honest with myself because if I am not honest with myself first,
then it is impossible to be honest with others.
Make me slow to speak but quick to listen because others have a point of view too.
Help me gain a little wisdom as each day goes by
because the smallest grain of wisdom is worth all the riches on earth.
Grant me peace and serenity that I may enjoy the days that I have left on earth.
Help me to see the good in others before the bad.
And last of all, help me to be honest in all that I do, because in spite of all our insecurities and faults we are the children of God and He gave us life.
So I shall try each day to become a better human being and,
when my time comes to leave this wonderful world,
I can go to God in the knowledge that at least I tried. Amen.
Last week I put a video of what is one of my favourite Bill Gaither songs
Init we can see the same things that Bobby’s shared in his prayer and I trust that it will be the desire and prayer of each one of us this morning who know the truth of what we have been looking at this morning.
It’s also my prayer for those who are watching this message who have not yet given their lives to Jesus or have failed to live up to the demands of a truly spirit filled Christian life that you will ask God to forgive you and enter into the awesome life changing experience that God has made so freely available for us all. This then will then become your joyful aim
I then shall live as one who's been forgiven.
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child and I am not afraid.
So, greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother;
The law of love I gladly will obey.
In other words Live as Children of light, as one who's been forgiven - that should put a smile on your face and Walk with Joy knowing you’ve been set free from the penalty of sin - live as a child of God - adopted by a loving Father and learn to forgive others - as the Lords prayer says - father forgive me my sins as I forgive those who sin against me - Live a life of love as God commanded.
I then shall live as one who's learned compassion.
I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I'll dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.
Live as one who's learned compassion and love others without prejudice be commited to loving and caring for others - and in so doing reflecting the love of God.
It’s so true the way John expressed the life of Jesus as the word made flesh. The love that Jesus showed to everyone was real - heartfelt unselfish and full of compassion - He was the living word - He put flesh on the word of God and I believe that that’s how God wants us to live our lives - as I keep saying, a picture speaks more than a thousand words
8 Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said “ “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Billy Cotton always started his band programme on radio by shouting ‘Wakey Wakey’ and that’s what Paul is saying to the church at Ephesus - Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, - and WOW! Christ will shine on you.” And then the final verses of Ephesians 5
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
Live your lives like people who know that their sins have been forgiven and that they have been given a fresh chance - a new life in Christ that as they seek Him in His Word and through the privilage of prayer will become more and more like Him.
Do that and people around will be able to see the difference that acknowledging God as Lord and Jesus as Saviour is making in your own life and seek to know Him for themselves.
16 Make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Don’t waste your time on worldy things but use your time wisely - seeking a deeper understanding of Gods word and experiencing the awesomness of His presence in your everyday life. We are not alone God is always with us - my life would be intolerable living as I do alone after enjoying and sharing my life with my lovely wife Beryl and all my family as they grew up - thankfull I know that God is with me and will see me through.
17 Therefore do not be foolish but Understand what the Lord’s will is. For both the future of our church and your own life
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Growing up in the Salvation Army and signing the pledge as a young 14 year old and promising not to drink intoxicating liquor, Gamble or smoke tobacco, I never had a problem with this. The problem was when I started work as a young 15 year old at Harry B Berry’s printers in Thackley Old Road on my first week the other workers there told me they had a weekly draw where they all paid a small part of their wages and gambled. I didn’t dare tell them I didn’t gamble and joined in. To their joy and my surprise the very first time I joined we won and that happened again the following week - they couldn’t believe it - I daren’t tell my mum where the extra cash came from and I realised that that was Gods way of showing me it was wrong so I said sorry to God and to the shock of the other workers, stopped straight away and have never gambled since.
Years later I moved to Watmoughs and at 39 became Sales Manager. On one occasion I had to go see a client in London and explain an additional expence on his account and hopefully he would agree to the extra cost. He took me out for lunch and ordered two glasses of wine.
I explained to him that I didn’t drink but he assured me that a couple of sips wouldn’t make any difference. After he had left I went out of the restaurant and started to go back to my hotel. I went into a shop but felt a strange pressure in my head and I couldn’t get out quick enough and go back to my hotel.
When I got home the next day, my boss asked me if I’d managed to get my client to agree to the additional cost - I had to admit to him that I wasnt sure - I didn’t tell him that I had been influenced by the small drink I’d had. That was the first and last time I fell foul of my promise to not drink. Thankfully - we did get the money.
Paul didn’t say don’t drink what he is saying is don’t drink to excess and get drunk -
Instead - Paul adds 19 be filled with the Spirit, speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and Spiritual songs. Can’t wait to get back to church and do that.
In other words - Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, I really miss that
To be with one another and sing the wonderful songs and hymns that express in a wonderful way our love for God and one another. 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Submit to one another - respect one another - encourage one another out of reverence to what Jesus is teaching us every week And then as The last verse of Bill Gaithers song says;
Your Kingdom come around and through and in me;
Your power and glory, let them shine through me.
Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honour,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honour,
And may You feed a hungry world through me. Amen
I pray that we will take note to what God is saying through His word this morning and seek to be filled with the Spirit that will enable us to become more like Jesus.
You are light in the Lord. Live as Children of light, Live as one who's been forgiven - and share your light - the things that God has shown you with those around - our family, friends and neighbours. Be filled with the Holy Spirit
Just when I’d finished writing the message for this week I received another of Harry Reads wonderful poems headed the Timeless Resource which says;
There are no limits to the Spirit’s power to teach;
Did not the Christ say He would teach all things?
All that we need is, therefore, within reach,
Because when he draws near, all things He brings.
If we need power, then power is near at hand;
If we need peace, then peace is there to take;
Security? Safe in His grace we stand;
Adventure? He is ready to command.
Do we need wisdom? None as wise as He;
And does He not give power to endure?
He meets our needs so very easily
Because His hold on everything is sure.
So generous His love – so vast His store,
Whatever we may need, He offers more.
John 14: 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you..”
Also watch the video of Bobby Ball https://youtu.be/r7p1_9qJizI
Last week we looked at what I believe is the kind of Church that God wants us to be like today, that’s a people who 'live the word' not just preach it, and 'show' the man in the street, the power of God. We need to mirror His Glory and be a fellowship of people who are ready and eager to reflect and share the values of the Kingdom
We looked at the Beatitudes and I said then, how I believe that they are not a list of alternatives to be picked and chosen at random, but rather a whole set of standards for the Christian to take abide by and 'live'. What Jesus said, contrasted the worlds values with Kingdom values, the 'superficial' faith of the 'religious' with the practical love and compassion of Jesus. The need to be rooted in the love of God and share that love with one another. We are called to Live for God and in so doing, Love for God.
Living the Word is expressed in the way we love the world as God does - God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’ When scripture tells us that God loved the World - it’s talking not about what man has turned it into but the world that God created and intended it to be - a world of love.
That’s why as scripture tells us He gave His only begotten son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’. Jesus - the son of God - lived the Word - in fact Jesus was the Word of God in action and that’s what God wants His church - you and I to be.
We looked at what Jesus replied when asked by a teacher of the Law what He regarded as the most important of the Commandments - Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to Love the Lord Your God with all your heart mind and soul and then added Leviticus 19;18 and Love One another then adding as I have loved you.
Jesus lived the Word, and that's what He wants His church - you and me - to do. To reach out to Him, allow Him to fill us with himself and start to reflect His love - the Holiness of God. To have the love and compassion that Jesus had - to have the same attitude as Jesus had and live our lives to the Glory of God.
We closed by looking at what Jesus said we would be - if we lived in obedience to His word and adopted the positive ‘Be‘- attitudes that He talked about
Matthew 5; 13 tells us that not only are we called to be the salt of the earth. But also the light of the world. And just as a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Words echoed by Paul when he wrote his letter to the church at Ephesus, in ch 5 v8 he tells them - you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as Children of light, for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth - and find out what pleases the Lord
Pauls advice was to Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Lets look at chapter 5 of Ephesians 1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
What a lovely world it would be if everyone lived in obedience to the Word.
That’s the joy that awaits those that love the Lord and seek to live in obedience to His word. That’s what Heaven will be like - that’s what God intended His creation to be from the start but then the devil stepped in and lured man into sin.
That’s why God eventually sent Jesus to live the Word and show mankind how to live the way God wanted man to live - loving God and one another - John 1;14 the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us wrote John - and he knew that because he saw Jesus for himself - we have seen His glory the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father full of Grace and truth
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. In other editions of the NIV Be imitators of God is re-worded to say Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children.
It’s lovely for parents when they see how the good lives they are trying to live are then mirrored in their own children - it’s so rewarding when children having felt the love and seen the good in their parents, start to reflect that love in their own lives.
In the same way, when we learn about the life of Jesus as outlined in the gospels who reflected the goodness of the Father and showed compassion for others then our desire should be to do the same and as Gods children start reflect the love of Father God in our own lives and by so doing let others see the Joy their is in loving God .
2 Live a life of love - real love - sacrificial love for God, for one another and for those around us, just like Jesus did. They say don’t they ‘Imitation is the sincerest form of Flattery - I would think that God our Heavenly Father will be pleased with us His children if we strive to follow His example and live a life of love as seen in Christ. Paul then hits hard at the wrong things that were prevalent in Ephesus at that time
3-7 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them
The world then and more so today has a wrong concept of the word LOVE which is predominated by sexual attraction and lust. We see it exploited on TV , in books - on the news etc computer - even in schools, wrong concepts of sex are being taught to young children - very young children. When I was young ( in the 40’s and early 50’s these things were never talked about - our interest in the opposite sex didn’t occur until we were well into our teenage years. The love that Christ wants us to share is AGAPE love that’s way above sexuality - real love that is expressed between people who care about one another- an unselfish burning desire within to see the best in others and do all we can to help them. To thank God for their love and friendship.
The kind of pure love that was seen in Jesus and that was reflected in the way He lived His life for others even to the point of giving His life for them. All this is reflected in what Paul wrote next;
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
WOW As we know from John 8;12 Jesus declared Himself to be the Light of the world when He said “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
As we read last week, when Jesus shared the Beatitudes He followed them by sharing what the benefits are for those who live their lives in obedience to Him by declaring ‘You are light of the world‘. Matthew 5;14 that just what Paul meant when he told the fellowship of believers at Ephesus -For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light
This week we heard the sad news that the terrible Covid 19 virus had taken the life of the well known comedian Bobby Ball who was 76.
When you look at the life of Bobby you can see a great testimony of how God rescued him from a life of Darkness - adiction to sex, drugs, drink - the things that Paul talks about to the church at Ephesus - and set him free from all that after an encounter with theatre Chaplain Max Wigley when he visited Bobby who was starring in the Christmas pantomime at the Bradford Alhambra in 1986. They talked about Jesus, and Bobby came to see there was more to life, and God was real.
Following that first encounter with Max, Bobby decided he wanted to become a Christian and went to see Max one day, where he read a copy of ‘Journey into Life’, and then prayed and gave his life to Jesus.
In Bobbys biography he describes the way before his encounter with Jesus he thought ‘had everything, and yet had nothing’. Even during the early 1980’s at the height of their fame he knew something was missing, and began to feel empty inside. By this time he had started to drink heavily, was womanizing and getting into fights. “At the height of our career, I could have anything I wanted, but it was never enough. Eventually, I was drinking a bottle of whisky a day, seeing as many women as I could and getting into fights as often as possible. I was not a nice man to be with, in fact I felt dirty and knew I needed forgiveness.”
The change was noticeable immediately, even though most people at first thought it was just a phase. However, two months later his wife Yvonne, whose health had collapsed while trying to cope with his frequent absences and wild behaviour, also found God
Six years later in 1992 Tommy and Bobby were working in South Wales. Bobbys daughter Joanne (by now a Christian herself) was arranging to have her son dedicated to God one Sunday, and Bobby asked his colleague Tommy Cannon and his wife Hazel if they would like their daughter dedicating at the same time. They said no at first refused, but a few days later changed their minds. During the service that Sunday service Tommy and his wife became Christians themselves.
Wow the truth of the scripture we have just read For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light became the testimony of both Bobby and Tommy and together since then, Cannon and Ball have written and spoken about their faith. They have performed in their own popular Gospel Show, and spend a number of evenings each year giving their testimony in An Evening with Cannon and Ball and An Evening With Bobby Ball in churches around the country
Bobby came to speak to us at an officers retreat in 1988 at Bridlington -gave his testimony and Beryl bought his book that told the whole story - a book that has inspired many to turn from their lives of sin and accept Jesus as their Saviour. I pray that Bobby will now be at home safe in the arms of the Lord He loved and served.
His was a testimony of one who knew his past sins had been forgiven and who wanted to share that with others.
In his book ‘My Life’ Bobby includes a prayer he wrote for himself.
In this world of ever-changing faces, help me to stay on the straight line I was destined to be on.
Help me to try and put right my faults, but to realise that my strengths are gifts.
Help me to be patient with others who are as impatient as myself.
Help me to learn the value of each minute of each day that I have on this earth,
that I can bring love and happiness into someone elses life and not just my own.
Teach me to be honest with myself because if I am not honest with myself first,
then it is impossible to be honest with others.
Make me slow to speak but quick to listen because others have a point of view too.
Help me gain a little wisdom as each day goes by
because the smallest grain of wisdom is worth all the riches on earth.
Grant me peace and serenity that I may enjoy the days that I have left on earth.
Help me to see the good in others before the bad.
And last of all, help me to be honest in all that I do, because in spite of all our insecurities and faults
we are the children of God and He gave us life.
So I shall try each day to become a better human being and,when my time comes to leave this wonderful world,
I can go to God in the knowledge that at least I tried. Amen.
Last week I put a video of what is one of my favourite Bill Gaither songs. In it we can see the same things that Bobby’s shared in his prayer and I trust that it will be the desire and prayer of each one of us this morning who know the truth of what we have been looking at this morning. It’s also my prayer for those who are watching this message who have not yet given their lives to Jesus or have failed to live up to the demands of a truly spirit filled Christian life that you will ask God to forgive you and enter into the awesome life changing experience that God has made so freely available for us all. This then will then become your joyful aim
I then shall live as one who's been forgiven.
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child and I am not afraid.
So, greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother;
The law of love I gladly will obey.
In other words Live as Children of light, as one who's been forgiven - that should put a smile on your face and Walk with Joy knowing you’ve been set free from the penalty of sin - live as a child of God - adopted by a loving Father and learn to forgive others - as the Lords prayer says - father forgive me my sins as I forgive those who sin against me - Live a life of love as God commanded.
I then shall live as one who's learned compassion.
I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I'll dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.
Live as one who's learned compassion and love others without prejudice be commited to loving and caring for others - and in so doing reflecting the love of God.
It’s so true the way John expressed the life of Jesus as the word made flesh. The love that Jesus showed to everyone was real - heartfelt unselfish and full of compassion - He was the living word - He put flesh on the word of God and I believe that that’s how God wants us to live our lives - as I keep saying, a picture speaks more than a thousand words
8 Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said “ “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Billy Cotton always started his band programme on radio by shouting ‘Wakey Wakey’ and that’s what Paul is saying to the church at Ephesus - Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, - and WOW! Christ will shine on you.” And then the final verses of Ephesians 5
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,
Live your lives like people who know that their sins have been forgiven and that they have been given a fresh chance - a new life in Christ that as they seek Him in His Word and through the privilage of prayer will become more and more like Him.
Do that and people around will be able to see the difference that acknowledging God as Lord and Jesus as Saviour is making in your own life and seek to know Him for themselves.
16 Make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Don’t waste your time on worldy things but use your time wisely - seeking a deeper understanding of Gods word and experiencing the awesomness of His presence in your everyday life. We are not alone God is always with us - my life would be intolerable living as I do alone after enjoying and sharing my life with my lovely wife Beryl and all my family as they grew up - thankfull I know that God is with me and will see me through.
17 Therefore do not be foolish but Understand what the Lord’s will is. For both the future of our church and your own life
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Growing up in the Salvation Army and signing the pledge as a young 14 year old and promising not to drink intoxicating liquor, Gamble or smoke tobacco, I never had a problem with this. The problem was when I started work as a young 15 year old at Harry B Berry’s printers in Thackley Old Road on my first week the other workers there told me they had a weekly draw where they all paid a small part of their wages and gambled. I didn’t dare tell them I didn’t gamble and joined in. To their joy and my surprise the very first time I joined we won and that happened again the following week - they couldn’t believe it - I daren’t tell my mum where the extra cash came from and I realised that that was Gods way of showing me it was wrong so I said sorry to God and to the shock of the other workers, stopped straight away and have never gambled since.
Years later I moved to Watmoughs and at 39 became Sales Manager. On one occasion I had to go see a client in London and explain an additional expence on his account and hopefully he would agree to the extra cost. He took me out for lunch and ordered two glasses of wine.
I explained to him that I didn’t drink but he assured me that a couple of sips wouldn’t make any difference. After he had left I went out of the restaurant and started to go back to my hotel. I went into a shop but felt a strange pressure in my head and I couldn’t get out quick enough and go back to my hotel.
When I got home the next day, my boss asked me if I’d managed to get my client to agree to the additional cost - I had to admit to him that I wasnt sure - I didn’t tell him that I had been influenced by the small drink I’d had. That was the first and last time I fell foul of my promise to not drink. Thankfully - we did get the money.
Paul didn’t say don’t drink what he is saying is don’t drink to excess and get drunk - Instead - Paul adds 19 be filled with the Spirit, speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and Spiritual songs. Can’t wait to get back to church and do that. In other words - Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, I really miss that
To be with one another and sing the wonderful songs and hymns that express in a wonderful way our love for God and one another. 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Submit to one another - respect one another - encourage one another out of reverence to what Jesus is teaching us every week And then as The last verse of Bill Gaithers song says;
Your Kingdom come around and through and in me;
Your power and glory, let them shine through me.
Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honour,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honour,
And may You feed a hungry world through me. Amen
I pray that we will take note to what God is saying through His word this morning and seek to be filled with the Spirit that will enable us to become more like Jesus.
You are light in the Lord. Live as Children of light, Live as one who's been forgiven - and share your light - the things that God has shown you with those around - our family, friends and neighbours. Be filled with the Holy Spirit
Just when I’d finished writing the message for this week I received another of Harry Reads wonderful poems headed the Timeless Resource which says;
There are no limits to the Spirit’s power to teach;
Did not the Christ say He would teach all things?
All that we need is, therefore, within reach,
Because when he draws near, all things He brings.
If we need power, then power is near at hand;
If we need peace, then peace is there to take;
Security? Safe in His grace we stand;
Adventure? He is ready to command.
Do we need wisdom? None as wise as He;
And does He not give power to endure?
He meets our needs so very easily
Because His hold on everything is sure.
So generous His love – so vast His store,
Whatever we may need, He offers more.
John 14: 26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you..”
God bless
Also watch the video of Bobby Ball https://youtu.be/r7p1_9qJizI
Message for 25 October 2020 Can also be viewed on Youtube
Last week we looked at the words of Paul to the believers at Thessalonica where he addresses how we as Christians should be living our lives knowing that Jesus is our saviour by dying on the cross to pay for our sins and give us a new life and a fresh start and is coming again one day
1 Thessalonians 5; 16-17; Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19-22 ; Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
I believe that v 23 is a prayer that is important for us all today. V 23; May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
Sanctify - that’s means - set apart - consecrate - make Holy May your whole Spirit, Body and soul that’s you and me in all our completeness May you be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord
Paul in all his letters talks a lot about the positive attitudes we should have about living lives that are pleasing to God and not get caught up in the foolish ways of the world - you only have to look at the headings for the chapters in his letters to see that.
Romans 6 we should be Dead to sin alive in Christ -
Galatians 6 Do good to everyone
Ephesians 5;17 Live as children of light
Philippians Imitate Christs Humility and 3;12 Press on towards the goal
Colossians 3 Rules for Holy living
1 Thessalonians 4 how we should be Living to please God
2 Thessalonians 2 Stand Firm and in v3 gives a Warnings about Idlesness
2 Timothy 1;v3 Encouragement to be faithful
Titus 3 Do what is good
Hebrews 10 A call to Persevere
The other New testament writers like James the brother of Jesus talks about ;
James ch1;19 the need to listen and do - listen to Gods word and act upon it -
Ch 3 of taming the tongue
Ch 4 submit yourselves to God
1 Peter1;13 Be Holy
Ch 4 Living for God
2 Peter Make your calling an election sure.
1 John Walk in the Light, v15 Don’t love the world -but as ch 3;11 says love one another
Jude 1;17 A call to persevere
We have a lot of advice there - ways to grow and become Christlike
2 Peter 3;9 assures us that God is patient with us in not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. As the end times get nearer he asks the question v 11 what kind of people ought you to be? and the answer? you aught to be people who live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God - so v 14 make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him - Good advice -but it’s not easy is it?
Especially today where the attractions of the world take more and more of our time from us. The TV - the Computer, mobile phones. Have you seen the speed the younger ones have in tapping out messages on their mobiles - the art of conversation is dying - At first it was the younger ones who spent more of their time on their mobile phones - now it’s the older generation as well. It’s so easy to fill your time watching other people live their lives by watching the soaps on TV that people have less time to live their own lives. These are but a few of the things that we need to be aware of and be careful about. It’s not easy is it ?
On Friday I received a message that one of my friends on Facebook, Commissioner Clive Adams who said that he had just been reading 2 Timothy 14 where Paul advises his listenners to - avoid Idle talk - steer clear of unchristian babbling and especially false teaching. He used a J B Phillips translation.
He then told how it reminded him of a speaker that they had at one of the SA Conferences who when speaking about this same verse said that he had noticed how the Salvationist there were very talkative especially at the meal tables and talked a lot about everything under the sun but nothing about spiritual things especially Jesus. Clive realised afterwards that the speaker was quite right in his observations and closed his face book message by quoting the hymn ’ take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee and that we should as Gods word says ’ let my speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt’.
Last week we read 2 Thessalonians 3;6 where Paul warns about being idle and not living according to the world but living according to the Word.
2 Peter 1;3 assures us that if that’s our aim that God will make that possible for us all when he said; God’s divine power has given us everything we need to live that godly life and then v 5 make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to knowledge; self-control; , perseverance; godliness; mutual affection; and love. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I’m sure, you like me desire to do just that and live in obedience to Gods word - and to let that Word become flesh - live it just like Jesus did.
Peter got it right and so did Paul when he addressed the church at Philippi advising them to have the mindset of Christ
Philippians 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
v 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 Peter 4; Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
WOW as Peter says - it’s all about attitude -with that in mind, lets look at what Jesus says about the attitudes that we as Christians should have
Matthew 4; 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralysed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Chapter 5 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus spent His life caring for people like you and me, continually giving out, ministering to the needs of others. He not only taught in the synagogues, sat with the learned scribes and argued for the truth, but He also preached the Word with a prophetic utterance that must have astounded His congregation, as he unfolded to them the good news of the Kingdom, that God is with us and He cares for us.
When He wasn't doing that, He was out on the streets lending a listening ear to the people and befriending the outcast. He was friend to the friendless, giving - as the song by Marilyn Baker say's 'hope for the hopeless, strength for the weary, and healing the wounds of the broken hearted. He didn’t just preach the Word! He lived the Word! He was the Word!
People tried to get close to Him, they pressed Him on every side, and if they couldn't get close, they reached out to touch the hem of His clothes. So concerned was He for them, that they wearied Him. He took upon Himself their pain, their suffering, their anguish, and ultimately their sins and gave His life for them. Jesus had great compassion for people, He was concerned about them, Jesus cared.
They saw Jesus as a great healer, which He was. Jesus knew that in order to get the people to listen and accept His good news, then He would need to gain their confidence, and this He did as He healed the most impossible illnesses, every disease, Matthew reminds us, even those who were demon possessed, He healed them all.
So successful was He in His ministry, that large crowds clamoured to see and to meet Him, and hopefully to be ministered to by Him. They came from far and wide, from Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea and around the Jordan area. They also came from the ten cities that formed the 'Decapolis' a league of Gentile nations that traded together, a forerunner of the Common market.
I guess His heart was heavy when He saw the crowds. He went up the mountainside and sat down, His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them. What attracted the crowds to Jesus was that in Him they saw 'God in action' the power of the gospel. Jesus showed them that 'God is for real', and cares about His creation
The church today, and that includes us, could do nothing better than realise this truth for ourselves. To make sure that we don't substitute our 'programme' to attract others, whilst neglecting to let them 'see the power of God' in action. 'Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power'. Projecting a 'social club programme', seeking to pacify mans need to be entertained rather than challenged by the word. Instead of showing him a new lifestyle, the church seeks to mirror the world, when it should be reflecting a better way, God's way.
The kind of Church that God wants, is a fellowship of people who are eager to reflect the values of the Kingdom rather than being just a poor copy of all that the world has to offer, which is transient and short lived. What the church needs to do, is 'live the word' not just preach it, and 'show' the man in the street, the power of God. We need to mirror His Glory
Jesus cares about each and everyone of us. He hurts when we are hurting, and as we give out to others, He is there, filling us with His love. He gives us the strength that we need to keep on, when we feel like giving in.
He is also a great encourager. Here He was, after a busy day, ministering to the needs of the crowds, teaching His disciples in order that they would be equipped and ready to encourage others. He knew that as His associates, they would themselves feel the pressures that 'giving out' all the time bring, and so He prepares them with the comforting truths that we find in the first twelve verses of Chapter 5.
He assures them that He will comfort those who mourn, fill to overflowing those who hunger and thirst after the truth, the merciful will receive mercy, the pure in heart will see God, the peacemakers will be called sons of God, and those who suffer and are persecuted for His sake, will be welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven. That all who show His concern for others and for the Kingdom, are blessed of God and will find strength in Him.
Although He addressed these words first to His followers, His message would speak to the crowds, the hearts of the oppressed to lift the spirits of these who were downcast. His is a message of hope to a hopeless world, that God cares!
He taught that Wealth, Position and Authority which dominate mans mind today are of little importance in terms of the Kingdom, what matters is Faithfulness and Obedience. Jesus reminded the people that Heartfelt Obedience is more important to God than mere legalistic observance.
What Jesus says, contrasts the worlds values with Kingdom values, the 'superficial' faith of the 'religious' with the practical love and compassion of Jesus. The Beatitudes are not a list of alternatives to be picked and chosen at random, but rather a whole set of standards for the Christian to take to heart and 'live'. All rooted in love for God and one another. We are called to Live for God and in so doing, Love for God
As I said a few weeks ago - to LIVE for God we need to removed the I which is self and replace it with O for Others so that our Living for God becomes Loving for God
As Jesus said - the greatest of the commandments is Love the Lord Your God with all your heart mind and soul and then added Leviticus 19;18 and Love One another then adding as I have loved you. Jesus lived the Word, and that's all He wants us to do. To reach out to Him, and allow Him to fill us with himself. To reflect the Holiness of God, to have the love and compassion that Jesus had - to have the same attitude as Jesus had and live your life to the Glory of God.
In closing lets go back to what Jesus said we will be if we live in obedience to His word and adopt the positive attitudes He talked about
Matthew 5; 13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
One of my favourite songs is Bill Gaithers song is ‘I then shall live’
I then shall live as one who's been forgiven.
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child and I am not afraid.
So, greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother;
The law of love I gladly will obey.
I then shall live as one who's learned compassion.
I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I'll dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.
Your Kingdom come around and through and in me;
Your power and glory, let them shine through me.
Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honor,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honour,
And may You feed a hungry world through me.
Amen, Amen, Amen
Last week we looked at the words of Paul to the believers at Thessalonica where he addresses how we as Christians should be living our lives knowing that Jesus is our saviour by dying on the cross to pay for our sins and give us a new life and a fresh start and is coming again one day
1 Thessalonians 5; 16-17; Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19-22 ; Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
I believe that v 23 is a prayer that is important for us all today. V 23; May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
Sanctify - that’s means - set apart - consecrate - make Holy May your whole Spirit, Body and soul that’s you and me in all our completeness May you be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord
Paul in all his letters talks a lot about the positive attitudes we should have about living lives that are pleasing to God and not get caught up in the foolish ways of the world - you only have to look at the headings for the chapters in his letters to see that.
Romans 6 we should be Dead to sin alive in Christ -
Galatians 6 Do good to everyone
Ephesians 5;17 Live as children of light
Philippians Imitate Christs Humility and 3;12 Press on towards the goal
Colossians 3 Rules for Holy living
1 Thessalonians 4 how we should be Living to please God
2 Thessalonians 2 Stand Firm and in v3 gives a Warnings about Idlesness
2 Timothy 1;v3 Encouragement to be faithful
Titus 3 Do what is good
Hebrews 10 A call to Persevere
The other New testament writers like James the brother of Jesus talks about ;
James ch1;19 the need to listen and do - listen to Gods word and act upon it -
Ch 3 of taming the tongue
Ch 4 submit yourselves to God
1 Peter1;13 Be Holy
Ch 4 Living for God
2 Peter Make your calling an election sure.
1 John Walk in the Light, v15 Don’t love the world -but as ch 3;11 says love one another
Jude 1;17 A call to persevere
We have a lot of advice there - ways to grow and become Christlike
2 Peter 3;9 assures us that God is patient with us in not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. As the end times get nearer he asks the question v 11 what kind of people ought you to be? and the answer? you aught to be people who live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God - so v 14 make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him - Good advice -but it’s not easy is it?
Especially today where the attractions of the world take more and more of our time from us. The TV - the Computer, mobile phones. Have you seen the speed the younger ones have in tapping out messages on their mobiles - the art of conversation is dying - At first it was the younger ones who spent more of their time on their mobile phones - now it’s the older generation as well. It’s so easy to fill your time watching other people live their lives by watching the soaps on TV that people have less time to live their own lives. These are but a few of the things that we need to be aware of and be careful about. It’s not easy is it ?
On Friday I received a message that one of my friends on Facebook, Commissioner Clive Adams who said that he had just been reading 2 Timothy 14 where Paul advises his listenners to - avoid Idle talk - steer clear of unchristian babbling and especially false teaching. He used a J B Phillips translation.
He then told how it reminded him of a speaker that they had at one of the SA Conferences who when speaking about this same verse said that he had noticed how the Salvationist there were very talkative especially at the meal tables and talked a lot about everything under the sun but nothing about spiritual things especially Jesus. Clive realised afterwards that the speaker was quite right in his observations and closed his face book message by quoting the hymn ’ take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee and that we should as Gods word says ’ let my speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt’.
Last week we read 2 Thessalonians 3;6 where Paul warns about being idle and not living according to the world but living according to the Word.
2 Peter 1;3 assures us that if that’s our aim that God will make that possible for us all when he said; God’s divine power has given us everything we need to live that godly life and then v 5 make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to knowledge; self-control; , perseverance; godliness; mutual affection; and love. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
I’m sure, you like me desire to do just that and live in obedience to Gods word - and to let that Word become flesh - live it just like Jesus did.
Peter got it right and so did Paul when he addressed the church at Philippi advising them to have the mindset of Christ
Philippians 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
v 5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; rather, He made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
1 Peter 4; Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
WOW as Peter says - it’s all about attitude -with that in mind, lets look at what Jesus says about the attitudes that we as Christians should have
Matthew 4; 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralysed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Chapter 5 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Jesus spent His life caring for people like you and me, continually giving out, ministering to the needs of others. He not only taught in the synagogues, sat with the learned scribes and argued for the truth, but He also preached the Word with a prophetic utterance that must have astounded His congregation, as he unfolded to them the good news of the Kingdom, that God is with us and He cares for us.
When He wasn't doing that, He was out on the streets lending a listening ear to the people and befriending the outcast. He was friend to the friendless, giving - as the song by Marilyn Baker say's 'hope for the hopeless, strength for the weary, and healing the wounds of the broken hearted. He didn’t just preach the Word! He lived the Word! He was the Word!
People tried to get close to Him, they pressed Him on every side, and if they couldn't get close, they reached out to touch the hem of His clothes. So concerned was He for them, that they wearied Him. He took upon Himself their pain, their suffering, their anguish, and ultimately their sins and gave His life for them. Jesus had great compassion for people, He was concerned about them, Jesus cared.
They saw Jesus as a great healer, which He was. Jesus knew that in order to get the people to listen and accept His good news, then He would need to gain their confidence, and this He did as He healed the most impossible illnesses, every disease, Matthew reminds us, even those who were demon possessed, He healed them all.
So successful was He in His ministry, that large crowds clamoured to see and to meet Him, and hopefully to be ministered to by Him. They came from far and wide, from Galilee, Jerusalem, Judea and around the Jordan area. They also came from the ten cities that formed the 'Decapolis' a league of Gentile nations that traded together, a forerunner of the Common market.
I guess His heart was heavy when He saw the crowds. He went up the mountainside and sat down, His disciples came to Him, and He began to teach them. What attracted the crowds to Jesus was that in Him they saw 'God in action' the power of the gospel. Jesus showed them that 'God is for real', and cares about His creation
The church today, and that includes us, could do nothing better than realise this truth for ourselves. To make sure that we don't substitute our 'programme' to attract others, whilst neglecting to let them 'see the power of God' in action. 'Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power'. Projecting a 'social club programme', seeking to pacify mans need to be entertained rather than challenged by the word. Instead of showing him a new lifestyle, the church seeks to mirror the world, when it should be reflecting a better way, God's way.
The kind of Church that God wants, is a fellowship of people who are eager to reflect the values of the Kingdom rather than being just a poor copy of all that the world has to offer, which is transient and short lived. What the church needs to do, is 'live the word' not just preach it, and 'show' the man in the street, the power of God. We need to mirror His Glory
Jesus cares about each and everyone of us. He hurts when we are hurting, and as we give out to others, He is there, filling us with His love. He gives us the strength that we need to keep on, when we feel like giving in.
He is also a great encourager. Here He was, after a busy day, ministering to the needs of the crowds, teaching His disciples in order that they would be equipped and ready to encourage others. He knew that as His associates, they would themselves feel the pressures that 'giving out' all the time bring, and so He prepares them with the comforting truths that we find in the first twelve verses of Chapter 5.
He assures them that He will comfort those who mourn, fill to overflowing those who hunger and thirst after the truth, the merciful will receive mercy, the pure in heart will see God, the peacemakers will be called sons of God, and those who suffer and are persecuted for His sake, will be welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven. That all who show His concern for others and for the Kingdom, are blessed of God and will find strength in Him.
Although He addressed these words first to His followers, His message would speak to the crowds, the hearts of the oppressed to lift the spirits of these who were downcast. His is a message of hope to a hopeless world, that God cares!
He taught that Wealth, Position and Authority which dominate mans mind today are of little importance in terms of the Kingdom, what matters is Faithfulness and Obedience. Jesus reminded the people that Heartfelt Obedience is more important to God than mere legalistic observance.
What Jesus says, contrasts the worlds values with Kingdom values, the 'superficial' faith of the 'religious' with the practical love and compassion of Jesus. The Beatitudes are not a list of alternatives to be picked and chosen at random, but rather a whole set of standards for the Christian to take to heart and 'live'. All rooted in love for God and one another. We are called to Live for God and in so doing, Love for God
As I said a few weeks ago - to LIVE for God we need to removed the I which is self and replace it with O for Others so that our Living for God becomes Loving for God
As Jesus said - the greatest of the commandments is Love the Lord Your God with all your heart mind and soul and then added Leviticus 19;18 and Love One another then adding as I have loved you. Jesus lived the Word, and that's all He wants us to do. To reach out to Him, and allow Him to fill us with himself. To reflect the Holiness of God, to have the love and compassion that Jesus had - to have the same attitude as Jesus had and live your life to the Glory of God.
In closing lets go back to what Jesus said we will be if we live in obedience to His word and adopt the positive attitudes He talked about
Matthew 5; 13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
One of my favourite songs is Bill Gaithers song is ‘I then shall live’
I then shall live as one who's been forgiven.
I'll walk with joy to know my debts are paid.
I know my name is clear before my Father;
I am His child and I am not afraid.
So, greatly pardoned, I'll forgive my brother;
The law of love I gladly will obey.
I then shall live as one who's learned compassion.
I've been so loved, that I'll risk loving too.
I know how fear builds walls instead of bridges;
I'll dare to see another's point of view.
And when relationships demand commitment,
Then I'll be there to care and follow through.
Your Kingdom come around and through and in me;
Your power and glory, let them shine through me.
Your Hallowed Name, O may I bear with honor,
And may Your living Kingdom come in me.
The Bread of Life, O may I share with honour,
And may You feed a hungry world through me.
Amen, Amen, Amen
Message for 18 October 2020 can also be seen on Youtube
Last week we did a resume of some of the last 9 weeks messages that we have shared since lockdown began 8 months - that 32 Sundays ago. I remarked how I thought these were the things that I believe God is telling the whole Church in His quest to get the church - His people -back on track. My purpose was to ask the question - has what we have been sharing made any difference to the way we see Church, our own relationship with God and one another. Has what we’ve been sharing made us re-think our own commitment - our goal - our objectives and helped us to look forward with open minds and hearts to be better equipped and eager to serve the Lord when we get through this pandemic. What difference has all this made to you and me and to the way that we will see Church in if and when things get back to normal..
We started with what Peter described as Gods patience with us in not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. As the end times get nearer he asks the question what kind of people ought you to be? and the answer? - people who live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God - make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him - Good advice
We looked at how Peter reminded us that if that’s our aim that God will make that possible for us all when he said; God’s divine power has given us everything we need to live that godly life so - make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to knowledge; self-control; , perseverance; godliness; mutual affection; and love. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We looked how Really knowing Jesus is important and that this is made possible through Prayer and Bible reading and then acting upon what God says to us in our prayer time and through His word by showing real love to God, one another and others around us, family friends, neighbours.
We looked at what Gods word says about being firmly rooted in the soil of Gods marvellous love and how that will help us to persevere in our faith and our quest to share the truth of His word with those around us.
All this sparked the question has what we have been sharing made a difference to our understanding of what Church should be like and how we should react to what I believe God is saying to His church in these days?
Last week we looked at Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians where in the fourth chapter of his first letter he speaks about the need to live lives that are pleasing to God in readiness for the Lord’s return . We then read the second letter where Paul thanks God for the response and continued faithfulness of the Church at Thessalonica
Paul stresses the importance of living the Word and by so doing - others around us will see how we cope with whatever the world throws at us because we have this wonderful relationship with a loving God who cares and understands us and will see us through whatever.
We are called to live the word and let the truth be lived out in our daily lives 1 Thessalonians 4;7 Live a holy life In other words ‘Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness I said then that Worship is better expressed by the way in which we live our lives outside the walls of the Church which is just a building.
We closed by looking at the way in which many churches today reflect the activities of the world more than let the world see the activities of God. I said then that I am shocked at the way many churches that used to be actively engaged in doing the Lords work are churches no longer now and are being used as stores for trading companies. Turned into restaurants, sporting venues and even becoming other places of worship for people of other faiths.
I know God was bringing this to our attention for when I watched the morning service from Sunbridge Road Mission last Sunday morning - which was three days after I had recorded my last weeks message - the pastor Matthew Pilkington said exactly the same thing about the church buildings around us. Conformation once again that what we are looking at is from God and shows His concern for the Church and each one of us.
We closed last week by looking at how Peter reminded us that the Church is not a building it’s the people and that we are being built into a living Temple to be indwelt by the Living God. 1 Peter 2;4 As you come to him, the living Stone—( Jesus) rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. we are being built into the |Temple of the Living God
Our bible reading last week was Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 4;9 says Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Paul then went on to remind the Thessalonians that Jesus is coming again and how those who have died who loved and served the Lord will rise and then those who are still alive who love and have served the Lord will rise to be with them and together we will all meet the Lord in the air and be welcomed into the Kingdom.
Chapter 4 and 5 Paul speaks about the end time - and I closed last week by saying that we may look at ch 5 this week. It’s interesting to note that Ch 5 was written 6 months after the first letter after Paul found how they had responded to it.
So lets read 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
As Paul rightly says - no one knows with real certainty when the Lord will return again - we know by the signs of the times that are backed up by the prophesies in Gods word -that we are indeed living in the last days - but how long that will take is beyond our understanding and entirely up to God. But the signs are all there.
The things that have been happening in the world in our lifetime - what is happening in The Holy Land, the persecution of the Christians all over the world. The catastrophic things that are destroying the earth - Earthquakes, Fires caused by global warming, Land Erosion that has brought mountains crumbling into the sea, Flooding where whole towns were destroyed and people lost their homes.
Add to all that the way the world s leaders have joined forces to form a One World power that is dominated by a quest for wealth and control of a few. The invasion of the church by false teachers who have gained popularity by changing what Gods word says and by introducing things like the prosperity gospel have and still are attracting hundreds to fill large churches all around America - California and spreading to other countries including Grt Britain.
Add to that the spread of pandemics like the one we are experiencing today that has brought lockdown - everything to a standstill - all over the world. The evil one is really showing his ugly face. As Paul says; v3; While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Thank God Paul then goes on to say; v4; But you, brothers and sisters, that includes me and you today- are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. and with that truth in mind Paul goes on to say; v6; So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober - v8; putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
Waken up to what’s happening and seek protection clothed with the armour that God has made available to us all - the breastplate of faith and love ( righteousness) and the helmet of Salvation.
Here Paul is repeating his letter to the church at Ephesus - Ephesians 6 ;10 Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Wow He’s got it right then and what is happenning in the world today - including the church where the ways of the devil have been creeping in - as Paul puts it take your stand - against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms Church?
In Ephesians Paul then goes on to explain what is the only way to combat this evil.
13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Here Paul emphasises the very things that we have been talking about over the last few months - the importance of the Word ( the sword of the Spirit) and Prayer 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Wow not just part of the armour - Gods protection against the arrows of the evil one but the whole armour The belt of truth, the breastplate of Righteousness - the shoes of Peace that enable us to take the truth to others, the shield of Faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the very Word of God. Gods full protection to enable us to share our faith with others.
Back to 1 Thessalonians 1 5;9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Build each other up - We all need encouragement - and Gods word certainly gives us that - but it’s also important that we encourage one another in our togetherness in Christ.
I’ve shared how much I have been blessed in the awesome way I believe God has been with me over these last few months helping me to do the things around the house that have been neglected over the last few years for reasons you all know - awesome things, like the appearance of the key that had been missing for over 7 years meaning that I couldn’t use the back door again.
Then after sharing how I felt the awesome presence of God in all this in my message three weeks ago I believe that this caused the evil one to step in and attempt to bring me down and curb my enthusiasm by filling my days and mind with some real serious problems that started to really press heavily on my mind, causing sleepless nights and waking up -with all the problems still on my mind.
As I’ve shared this with many of you on my facebook page I have been encouraged by your concern and prayers that I know are helping me in my determination to not give in to the devils taunts. as Paul says v11 encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Because of this there is no way I will give in - I see this as the trials that come upon us when the evil one doesn’t like what we are saying against him. And so as I continue to pray for Gods intervention - believing He is helping me through this time - I also thank you for your encouragement . He’s an awesome God who is concerned about each and every one of us in a personal way and I thank you for your prayers and concerns regarding all this.
We need each other - to know that we are not alone in our quest to spread the good news to others. As the CO I thank you all for your concerns and prayers for me in doing what Paul says in v 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
And then his advice for us all Live in peace with each other. which I believe we are. And encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone and always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Yes! I do believe that we are in the last days and that God is calling His people to stop - take a deep look at themselves and their relationship with Him - and if needs be to reaffirm our commitments and that’s why I believe that God is drawing the churches attention to the things that we and many others have been sharing.
The best way to Worship the Lord is by reflecting His love in the way we live our lives and I believe that the Apostle Paul, like many others in his day - is reminding the church and that’s us - as to how we should respond. It’s all there in Pauls letters and especially the ones to the believers in Ephesus and Thessalonica .
I love these last commands; 16-17; Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19-22 ; Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
I believe that v 23 is a prayer that is important for us all today. V 23; May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
Sanctify - that’s means - set apart - consecrate - make Holy May your whole Spirit, Body and soul thats you and me in all our completeness May you be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord
When we first came to Jesus, and said we were sorry for the way we were living our lives and accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour we were forgiven by Jesus who paid for our forgiveness by giving His life on the cross - that was the first step. We then promised to get to really know Him through Prayer and Bible study that would change us - transform us - into the people He intended us to be. What’s happened since then? Have we grown? I hope so. Do we try to live Holy Lives in obedience to His word and give the Glory to God for His great love.
Paul’s prayer is that if that is our aim - that when Jesus comes again He will see us as blameless in our commitment to Him and His word. I pray that that will be our intention, our goal, to live up to what God is saying to His people in these days and stand firm to our promises and commitment.
Jesus is coming again and when He does those who have gone before us who loved the Lord, people of our own families and church will rise to join Him and those of us who are still here will be taken up to join them in the air and all of us - together -will be transported to the heavenly realms with Christ Jesus our Lord.
What a joyful thought - I pray that we will live our lives in obedience to the word of God so that your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will be with us to strengthen and see us through the problems of life and one day come and take us to be with Him in Glory. For the truth is that as v24 says The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
Thank You Jesus
Lets pray Father God we thank you for your love for each one of us and for the precious promise you have given to us all. Forgiveness - time and time again - all through the precious blood of Jesus. We praise You Lord that he rose from the grave and lives on in our hearts helping us day to day to cope with life.
We praise You Lord for Your word that brings direction and purpose to our daily lives and power to stand firm in our commitment to live out lives in obedience to Your Word.
I thank You Lord for the encouragement that I get from my friends who are praying with me just now and pray that I too Father will be able to encourage and help them to be the people you want us all to be - Your loving faithful servants.
Lord help us to take note of what you have been reminding us of through Your Word
and live lives of obedience so that as we read our whole spirit, soul and body will be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord we thank You for that assurance and that as You have called us to be Your witnesses in the world today - that you will empower us to do all that You desire us to - by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
What an awesome truth Paul shared when He closed his letter to the Thessalonians by saying The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
Thank You Lord for Your love and Your presence in our everyday lives and may we live to honourable lives to Your praise and Your Glory - in Jesus name Amen
Last week we did a resume of some of the last 9 weeks messages that we have shared since lockdown began 8 months - that 32 Sundays ago. I remarked how I thought these were the things that I believe God is telling the whole Church in His quest to get the church - His people -back on track. My purpose was to ask the question - has what we have been sharing made any difference to the way we see Church, our own relationship with God and one another. Has what we’ve been sharing made us re-think our own commitment - our goal - our objectives and helped us to look forward with open minds and hearts to be better equipped and eager to serve the Lord when we get through this pandemic. What difference has all this made to you and me and to the way that we will see Church in if and when things get back to normal..
We started with what Peter described as Gods patience with us in not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. As the end times get nearer he asks the question what kind of people ought you to be? and the answer? - people who live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God - make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him - Good advice
We looked at how Peter reminded us that if that’s our aim that God will make that possible for us all when he said; God’s divine power has given us everything we need to live that godly life so - make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to knowledge; self-control; , perseverance; godliness; mutual affection; and love. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We looked how Really knowing Jesus is important and that this is made possible through Prayer and Bible reading and then acting upon what God says to us in our prayer time and through His word by showing real love to God, one another and others around us, family friends, neighbours.
We looked at what Gods word says about being firmly rooted in the soil of Gods marvellous love and how that will help us to persevere in our faith and our quest to share the truth of His word with those around us.
All this sparked the question has what we have been sharing made a difference to our understanding of what Church should be like and how we should react to what I believe God is saying to His church in these days?
Last week we looked at Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians where in the fourth chapter of his first letter he speaks about the need to live lives that are pleasing to God in readiness for the Lord’s return . We then read the second letter where Paul thanks God for the response and continued faithfulness of the Church at Thessalonica
Paul stresses the importance of living the Word and by so doing - others around us will see how we cope with whatever the world throws at us because we have this wonderful relationship with a loving God who cares and understands us and will see us through whatever.
We are called to live the word and let the truth be lived out in our daily lives 1 Thessalonians 4;7 Live a holy life In other words ‘Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness I said then that Worship is better expressed by the way in which we live our lives outside the walls of the Church which is just a building.
We closed by looking at the way in which many churches today reflect the activities of the world more than let the world see the activities of God. I said then that I am shocked at the way many churches that used to be actively engaged in doing the Lords work are churches no longer now and are being used as stores for trading companies. Turned into restaurants, sporting venues and even becoming other places of worship for people of other faiths.
I know God was bringing this to our attention for when I watched the morning service from Sunbridge Road Mission last Sunday morning - which was three days after I had recorded my last weeks message - the pastor Matthew Pilkington said exactly the same thing about the church buildings around us. Conformation once again that what we are looking at is from God and shows His concern for the Church and each one of us.
We closed last week by looking at how Peter reminded us that the Church is not a building it’s the people and that we are being built into a living Temple to be indwelt by the Living God. 1 Peter 2;4 As you come to him, the living Stone—( Jesus) rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. we are being built into the |Temple of the Living God
Our bible reading last week was Paul’s letter to the church at Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 4;9 says Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Paul then went on to remind the Thessalonians that Jesus is coming again and how those who have died who loved and served the Lord will rise and then those who are still alive who love and have served the Lord will rise to be with them and together we will all meet the Lord in the air and be welcomed into the Kingdom.
Chapter 4 and 5 Paul speaks about the end time - and I closed last week by saying that we may look at ch 5 this week. It’s interesting to note that Ch 5 was written 6 months after the first letter after Paul found how they had responded to it.
So lets read 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
As Paul rightly says - no one knows with real certainty when the Lord will return again - we know by the signs of the times that are backed up by the prophesies in Gods word -that we are indeed living in the last days - but how long that will take is beyond our understanding and entirely up to God. But the signs are all there.
The things that have been happening in the world in our lifetime - what is happening in The Holy Land, the persecution of the Christians all over the world. The catastrophic things that are destroying the earth - Earthquakes, Fires caused by global warming, Land Erosion that has brought mountains crumbling into the sea, Flooding where whole towns were destroyed and people lost their homes.
Add to all that the way the world s leaders have joined forces to form a One World power that is dominated by a quest for wealth and control of a few. The invasion of the church by false teachers who have gained popularity by changing what Gods word says and by introducing things like the prosperity gospel have and still are attracting hundreds to fill large churches all around America - California and spreading to other countries including Grt Britain.
Add to that the spread of pandemics like the one we are experiencing today that has brought lockdown - everything to a standstill - all over the world. The evil one is really showing his ugly face. As Paul says; v3; While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labour pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Thank God Paul then goes on to say; v4; But you, brothers and sisters, that includes me and you today- are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. and with that truth in mind Paul goes on to say; v6; So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober - v8; putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
Waken up to what’s happening and seek protection clothed with the armour that God has made available to us all - the breastplate of faith and love ( righteousness) and the helmet of Salvation.
Here Paul is repeating his letter to the church at Ephesus - Ephesians 6 ;10 Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Wow He’s got it right then and what is happenning in the world today - including the church where the ways of the devil have been creeping in - as Paul puts it take your stand - against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms Church?
In Ephesians Paul then goes on to explain what is the only way to combat this evil.
13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Here Paul emphasises the very things that we have been talking about over the last few months - the importance of the Word ( the sword of the Spirit) and Prayer 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Wow not just part of the armour - Gods protection against the arrows of the evil one but the whole armour The belt of truth, the breastplate of Righteousness - the shoes of Peace that enable us to take the truth to others, the shield of Faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the very Word of God. Gods full protection to enable us to share our faith with others.
Back to 1 Thessalonians 1 5;9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Build each other up - We all need encouragement - and Gods word certainly gives us that - but it’s also important that we encourage one another in our togetherness in Christ.
I’ve shared how much I have been blessed in the awesome way I believe God has been with me over these last few months helping me to do the things around the house that have been neglected over the last few years for reasons you all know - awesome things, like the appearance of the key that had been missing for over 7 years meaning that I couldn’t use the back door again.
Then after sharing how I felt the awesome presence of God in all this in my message three weeks ago I believe that this caused the evil one to step in and attempt to bring me down and curb my enthusiasm by filling my days and mind with some real serious problems that started to really press heavily on my mind, causing sleepless nights and waking up -with all the problems still on my mind.
As I’ve shared this with many of you on my facebook page I have been encouraged by your concern and prayers that I know are helping me in my determination to not give in to the devils taunts. as Paul says v11 encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Because of this there is no way I will give in - I see this as the trials that come upon us when the evil one doesn’t like what we are saying against him. And so as I continue to pray for Gods intervention - believing He is helping me through this time - I also thank you for your encouragement . He’s an awesome God who is concerned about each and every one of us in a personal way and I thank you for your prayers and concerns regarding all this.
We need each other - to know that we are not alone in our quest to spread the good news to others. As the CO I thank you all for your concerns and prayers for me in doing what Paul says in v 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
And then his advice for us all Live in peace with each other. which I believe we are. And encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone and always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. Yes! I do believe that we are in the last days and that God is calling His people to stop - take a deep look at themselves and their relationship with Him - and if needs be to reaffirm our commitments and that’s why I believe that God is drawing the churches attention to the things that we and many others have been sharing.
The best way to Worship the Lord is by reflecting His love in the way we live our lives and I believe that the Apostle Paul, like many others in his day - is reminding the church and that’s us - as to how we should respond. It’s all there in Pauls letters and especially the ones to the believers in Ephesus and Thessalonica .
I love these last commands; 16-17; Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19-22 ; Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
I believe that v 23 is a prayer that is important for us all today. V 23; May God Himself, the God of Peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
Sanctify - that’s means - set apart - consecrate - make Holy May your whole Spirit, Body and soul thats you and me in all our completeness May you be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord
When we first came to Jesus, and said we were sorry for the way we were living our lives and accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour we were forgiven by Jesus who paid for our forgiveness by giving His life on the cross - that was the first step. We then promised to get to really know Him through Prayer and Bible study that would change us - transform us - into the people He intended us to be. What’s happened since then? Have we grown? I hope so. Do we try to live Holy Lives in obedience to His word and give the Glory to God for His great love.
Paul’s prayer is that if that is our aim - that when Jesus comes again He will see us as blameless in our commitment to Him and His word. I pray that that will be our intention, our goal, to live up to what God is saying to His people in these days and stand firm to our promises and commitment.
Jesus is coming again and when He does those who have gone before us who loved the Lord, people of our own families and church will rise to join Him and those of us who are still here will be taken up to join them in the air and all of us - together -will be transported to the heavenly realms with Christ Jesus our Lord.
What a joyful thought - I pray that we will live our lives in obedience to the word of God so that your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will be with us to strengthen and see us through the problems of life and one day come and take us to be with Him in Glory. For the truth is that as v24 says The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
Thank You Jesus
Lets pray Father God we thank you for your love for each one of us and for the precious promise you have given to us all. Forgiveness - time and time again - all through the precious blood of Jesus. We praise You Lord that he rose from the grave and lives on in our hearts helping us day to day to cope with life.
We praise You Lord for Your word that brings direction and purpose to our daily lives and power to stand firm in our commitment to live out lives in obedience to Your Word.
I thank You Lord for the encouragement that I get from my friends who are praying with me just now and pray that I too Father will be able to encourage and help them to be the people you want us all to be - Your loving faithful servants.
Lord help us to take note of what you have been reminding us of through Your Word
and live lives of obedience so that as we read our whole spirit, soul and body will be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Lord we thank You for that assurance and that as You have called us to be Your witnesses in the world today - that you will empower us to do all that You desire us to - by the power of Your Holy Spirit.
What an awesome truth Paul shared when He closed his letter to the Thessalonians by saying The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.
Thank You Lord for Your love and Your presence in our everyday lives and may we live to honourable lives to Your praise and Your Glory - in Jesus name Amen
Message for 11 October 2020 this can also be views on Youtube
Over the last few weeks we have been looking at how I feel God is calling His people back to being the church that He intended us to be as seen in Acts 2 and to change wherever we need to - promising to put the past behind us. To make sure that we are not allowing false teaching to creep in to our churches persuading us to soften our approach to the sinfulness of the world and become more worldy and instead to become more Christlike in our daily living and share the good news with others.
Thinking about this week and what I believe God is wanting me to share - the thought came to me - what difference - if any - has the last few months and the things that I said I believe God has been saying to His church - His people - you and me - what difference has it all made to our thinking - our attitudes - our lives. Has what we’ve shared made us re-think our commitment - our purpose in life - our goal - our objective and helped us to look forward with open eyes and hearts to what will happen when we get through this pandemic. What difference has all this made to you and me and to the way that we will see Church in the coming months. A quick resume of the last 9 weeks;
9 August we looked at 2 Peter where he talks about the end times in the last chapter of His second letter when he says that scoffers will come who will challenge us by saying ‘where is this coming Jesus promised’ - life goes on as it has always done - nothing changes - to which v 9 says; The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. He then goes on to warn about the end times when Jesus will come again to judge But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Then comes the question - Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? and the answer! You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God - make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him
16 August 2 Peter 1;1-15 Gods help for you and me to live holy and Godly lives. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
23 August Philippians 3;10 Paul shares his own personal need I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Really knowing Jesus is important and possible for us all
30 August Philippians 4 Pauls practicaladvice to the church at Phillipi Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I said then, that God loves you and me and will see us through these difficult times. The devil will his best to spoil our relationship but will fail if we place our trust and confidence in the Lord . I’ve had and still going through a terrible week not being able to sleep through the whole night due to the problems with my cellar - I see this as opposition to all that I’m sharing and pray that as Paul says the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus -
6 September we looked at the important things that we as Gods people should make a priority in our daily lives. To help us in our quest to be like Jesus The first being Prayer we read John 17 that records the full prayer of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane where He prayed firstly for Himself and what He was facing. Secondly for the disciples that they would continue the work when He had gone. Thirdly for you and me - the ones who would believe through the testimony of His disciples.
13 September we looked at the importance of Love and how as Matthew 17; 36 tells us what Jesus replied to the teacher of the law when asked what was the greatest commandment "Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." And John 15; 9 where Jesus said "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. And also 1 John 4;7-21 where John wrote to the church Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love - does not know God, because God is love.
So important that in Colosse ch 3;12-17 Paul wrote; Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
20 September we looked at how hungering after and living by the Word of God, seeking to know Him better through prayer and living a life of love for Him and one another - will help us to be transformed - by the renewing of our mind. Romans 12;1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
27 September we read what the brother of Jesus -Jude said about persevering in our faith and living lives that are pleasing to God 17 dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Building yourselves up in your most holy faith - the firm foundation which is the Word that became flesh in Christ
4 October Last week we looked at the importance of being fertile soil for Gods Word by reading and putting it into practice in our daily lives . The need today for Gods people to live the Word of God and share it with others.- We looked at the sower who planted the seed on various types of soil and the need ourselves to be fertile soil that will produce good fruit and in turn will bear good seed within ourselves that we can share with others.
We looked at how Ephesians 3; 14-21 tells us to be firmly rooted in Gods love and to share that love with others. Paul wrote; When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth— that out of His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him.
May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself. (from the Living Bible)
That’s what we’ve been looking at during this time of lockdown. Lets go back to asking the same question I began with - How different is our understanding of what Church should be like and how will we react to what I believe God is saying to His church in these days? With that in mind, this week I was led to read Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians where in the fourth chapter of his first letter he speaks about the need to live lives that are pleasing to God in readiness for His return which then leads into the second letter where he thanks God for their continued faithfulness.
1 Thessalonians 4 Living to Please Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Paul stresses the importance of living the Word and by so doing it will make a good impression on others around us who will see how we can cope with whatever the world throws at us because we have a loving God who cares and understands us and will see us through whatever. As we all know ‘A picture speaks more than a thousand words’ and that’s why John tells us that the Word - became flesh in Jesus who then lived in obedience to His father. The word - Gods word that the Jews would have in the Old Testament was lived out in Jesus. Today we have the extended word of God in the New testament that needs to be actioned in our own lives today. so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders
Verse 7 says - Live a holy life Again a reminder of the words from Psalm 96;9 that we used to have on the wall of our church in Idle that says ‘Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness’ in other words worship is not jus about going to church, singing hymns, its more about what we do outside the church - how we are seen at work, in our daily living, our response to our neighbours -
Worship is expressed in its truest form in the way we live our lives - that’s what the Psalmist says - Worship the Lord in better expressed by the way in which you live your lives outside the walls of the building. Holiness - the way we live out the Word of God in our everyday lives.
Church is not a building it’s the people - you and I
We’ve got some beautiful majestic ornate churches in our country - just as they had in Jesus’s day - Gods word tells us that Jesus wasn’t very happy in what was happening in the Gentile temples of His day - Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us that at the end of His ministry went in to the temple and overturned the tables of the money lenders and other traders accusing them of turning His Fathers House into a den of thieves. John puts the incident at the beginning of Jesus’s ministry.
Luke 21 tells us of an incident following the overturning of the money lenders when the disciples went in to the Temple and commented on the beautiful décor of the Temple - its beautiful stones etc Jesus showed His further disgust at what the temples had become and told them ‘the time will come when not one stone will be left on another - everyone of them will be thrown down’.
I think that God is not too pleased at what some of His churches are turning themselves into in these days. As I ride around the different towns and villages I am shocked at the way many churches that used to be actively engaged in doing the Lords work are churches no longer now and are being used as stores for trading companies.
One church that I saw only this week on a TV programme about the way in which this pandemic is causing concern about the closing of public Houses and restaurants -the camera’s went into a beautiful church that has been turned into a nightclub - a Church! It still has the stained glass windows, the font, the pulpit and pews but not for the worship of God but where people today come to be entertained by nightclub singers.
It’s happening locally. The Sion Jubilee Chapel - Bradford, a Baptist church built in 1873 is now a Gudwara Sikh Temple. The Bradford Temple Salvation Army in Westgate, which, when I was a lad used to be the headquarters for the West Yorkshire Division and had weekly united divisional Holiness meetings that were packed to the door. My mum went regularly - it’s is now an Islamic shop. A sign of the end times?
Thankfully as we have said - the Church is not a building it’s the people and we are being built into a living Temple to be indwelt by the Living God. We, you and I - are the temple of the living God. WOW! that’s awesome - that’s a real responsibility.
Peter says it in 1 Peter 2;4 As you come to him, the living Stone—( Jesus) rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. we are being built into the |Temple of the Living God
The awesome truth is that you and I are the temple of the living God indwelt by God and as such need to show His love to Him and one another.
1 Thessalonians 4;9 says Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
What he’s saying here is - Love One Another and the response hopefully will be that your Love Won Another - with a big Capital W. As he goes on, it sounds like a real old Yorkshire man talking when he says; and lead a quiet life: and mind your own business Do that and your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.
Paul then reminds people about the second coming of Jesus and how those who have died who loved and served the Lord will rise and then those who are still alive who loved and served the Lord will rise to be with them and together we will meet the Lord in the air and be welcomed into the Kingdom.
Chapter 5 continues to speak about the end time - we may look at that next week but today lets close by looking at the final instructions of Paul in chapter 5 reading from v 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
Some good advice there for us all in our quest to live to please God. We are enduring difficult times - but stand fast - God knows and understands how you feel and what your’e going through - He will see us through.
His prayer; May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Lets Pray Father God we thank You for Your love for each one of us and Your patience with us. Thank You for Your faithfulness in being with us and helping us through these difficult times - we really do appreciate all that You are doing and reminding us of how much You love us and sharing how You want us to live our lives in obedience to Your Word.
We really are grateful for Your patience and Your concern that when Jesus comes again to gather His chosen ones that we will be found faithful and be amongst the redeemed that will come to live with You in Glory
Father forgive us if we have fallen short of what You have been telling us over the last few months - we really want to live lives that will please You and help to further your Kingdom.
As we have been reminded of the things we believe You have been sharing with Your people over the last few months I pray that we will re-affirm our commitment to You and live in obedience to Your Word.
We pray the prayer that Paul gave for the Thessalonians; that You Lord - God of peace, will sanctify us through and through and that our whole spirit, soul and body will be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you for the reassurance that Your Word gives us that You are faithful, and You will do it
We pray that You will keep us strong and faithful in preparation for the time when we can come together as a united body of Christians to begin again the work that You have called us to do in these last days of sharing the truth with others.
We pray this in Jesus name Amen
Over the last few weeks we have been looking at how I feel God is calling His people back to being the church that He intended us to be as seen in Acts 2 and to change wherever we need to - promising to put the past behind us. To make sure that we are not allowing false teaching to creep in to our churches persuading us to soften our approach to the sinfulness of the world and become more worldy and instead to become more Christlike in our daily living and share the good news with others.
Thinking about this week and what I believe God is wanting me to share - the thought came to me - what difference - if any - has the last few months and the things that I said I believe God has been saying to His church - His people - you and me - what difference has it all made to our thinking - our attitudes - our lives. Has what we’ve shared made us re-think our commitment - our purpose in life - our goal - our objective and helped us to look forward with open eyes and hearts to what will happen when we get through this pandemic. What difference has all this made to you and me and to the way that we will see Church in the coming months. A quick resume of the last 9 weeks;
9 August we looked at 2 Peter where he talks about the end times in the last chapter of His second letter when he says that scoffers will come who will challenge us by saying ‘where is this coming Jesus promised’ - life goes on as it has always done - nothing changes - to which v 9 says; The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. He then goes on to warn about the end times when Jesus will come again to judge But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Then comes the question - Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? and the answer! You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God - make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him
16 August 2 Peter 1;1-15 Gods help for you and me to live holy and Godly lives. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
23 August Philippians 3;10 Paul shares his own personal need I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Really knowing Jesus is important and possible for us all
30 August Philippians 4 Pauls practicaladvice to the church at Phillipi Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I said then, that God loves you and me and will see us through these difficult times. The devil will his best to spoil our relationship but will fail if we place our trust and confidence in the Lord . I’ve had and still going through a terrible week not being able to sleep through the whole night due to the problems with my cellar - I see this as opposition to all that I’m sharing and pray that as Paul says the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus -
6 September we looked at the important things that we as Gods people should make a priority in our daily lives. To help us in our quest to be like Jesus The first being Prayer we read John 17 that records the full prayer of Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane where He prayed firstly for Himself and what He was facing. Secondly for the disciples that they would continue the work when He had gone. Thirdly for you and me - the ones who would believe through the testimony of His disciples.
13 September we looked at the importance of Love and how as Matthew 17; 36 tells us what Jesus replied to the teacher of the law when asked what was the greatest commandment "Jesus replied: "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." And John 15; 9 where Jesus said "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. And also 1 John 4;7-21 where John wrote to the church Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love - does not know God, because God is love.
So important that in Colosse ch 3;12-17 Paul wrote; Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
20 September we looked at how hungering after and living by the Word of God, seeking to know Him better through prayer and living a life of love for Him and one another - will help us to be transformed - by the renewing of our mind. Romans 12;1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
27 September we read what the brother of Jesus -Jude said about persevering in our faith and living lives that are pleasing to God 17 dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Building yourselves up in your most holy faith - the firm foundation which is the Word that became flesh in Christ
4 October Last week we looked at the importance of being fertile soil for Gods Word by reading and putting it into practice in our daily lives . The need today for Gods people to live the Word of God and share it with others.- We looked at the sower who planted the seed on various types of soil and the need ourselves to be fertile soil that will produce good fruit and in turn will bear good seed within ourselves that we can share with others.
We looked at how Ephesians 3; 14-21 tells us to be firmly rooted in Gods love and to share that love with others. Paul wrote; When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth— that out of His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him.
May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself. (from the Living Bible)
That’s what we’ve been looking at during this time of lockdown. Lets go back to asking the same question I began with - How different is our understanding of what Church should be like and how will we react to what I believe God is saying to His church in these days? With that in mind, this week I was led to read Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians where in the fourth chapter of his first letter he speaks about the need to live lives that are pleasing to God in readiness for His return which then leads into the second letter where he thanks God for their continued faithfulness.
1 Thessalonians 4 Living to Please Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Paul stresses the importance of living the Word and by so doing it will make a good impression on others around us who will see how we can cope with whatever the world throws at us because we have a loving God who cares and understands us and will see us through whatever. As we all know ‘A picture speaks more than a thousand words’ and that’s why John tells us that the Word - became flesh in Jesus who then lived in obedience to His father. The word - Gods word that the Jews would have in the Old Testament was lived out in Jesus. Today we have the extended word of God in the New testament that needs to be actioned in our own lives today. so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders
Verse 7 says - Live a holy life Again a reminder of the words from Psalm 96;9 that we used to have on the wall of our church in Idle that says ‘Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness’ in other words worship is not jus about going to church, singing hymns, its more about what we do outside the church - how we are seen at work, in our daily living, our response to our neighbours -
Worship is expressed in its truest form in the way we live our lives - that’s what the Psalmist says - Worship the Lord in better expressed by the way in which you live your lives outside the walls of the building. Holiness - the way we live out the Word of God in our everyday lives.
Church is not a building it’s the people - you and I
We’ve got some beautiful majestic ornate churches in our country - just as they had in Jesus’s day - Gods word tells us that Jesus wasn’t very happy in what was happening in the Gentile temples of His day - Matthew, Mark and Luke tell us that at the end of His ministry went in to the temple and overturned the tables of the money lenders and other traders accusing them of turning His Fathers House into a den of thieves. John puts the incident at the beginning of Jesus’s ministry.
Luke 21 tells us of an incident following the overturning of the money lenders when the disciples went in to the Temple and commented on the beautiful décor of the Temple - its beautiful stones etc Jesus showed His further disgust at what the temples had become and told them ‘the time will come when not one stone will be left on another - everyone of them will be thrown down’.
I think that God is not too pleased at what some of His churches are turning themselves into in these days. As I ride around the different towns and villages I am shocked at the way many churches that used to be actively engaged in doing the Lords work are churches no longer now and are being used as stores for trading companies.
One church that I saw only this week on a TV programme about the way in which this pandemic is causing concern about the closing of public Houses and restaurants -the camera’s went into a beautiful church that has been turned into a nightclub - a Church! It still has the stained glass windows, the font, the pulpit and pews but not for the worship of God but where people today come to be entertained by nightclub singers.
It’s happening locally. The Sion Jubilee Chapel - Bradford, a Baptist church built in 1873 is now a Gudwara Sikh Temple. The Bradford Temple Salvation Army in Westgate, which, when I was a lad used to be the headquarters for the West Yorkshire Division and had weekly united divisional Holiness meetings that were packed to the door. My mum went regularly - it’s is now an Islamic shop. A sign of the end times?
Thankfully as we have said - the Church is not a building it’s the people and we are being built into a living Temple to be indwelt by the Living God. We, you and I - are the temple of the living God. WOW! that’s awesome - that’s a real responsibility.
Peter says it in 1 Peter 2;4 As you come to him, the living Stone—( Jesus) rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. we are being built into the |Temple of the Living God
The awesome truth is that you and I are the temple of the living God indwelt by God and as such need to show His love to Him and one another.
1 Thessalonians 4;9 says Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
What he’s saying here is - Love One Another and the response hopefully will be that your Love Won Another - with a big Capital W. As he goes on, it sounds like a real old Yorkshire man talking when he says; and lead a quiet life: and mind your own business Do that and your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.
Paul then reminds people about the second coming of Jesus and how those who have died who loved and served the Lord will rise and then those who are still alive who loved and served the Lord will rise to be with them and together we will meet the Lord in the air and be welcomed into the Kingdom.
Chapter 5 continues to speak about the end time - we may look at that next week but today lets close by looking at the final instructions of Paul in chapter 5 reading from v 12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work.
Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.
Some good advice there for us all in our quest to live to please God. We are enduring difficult times - but stand fast - God knows and understands how you feel and what your’e going through - He will see us through.
His prayer; May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Lets Pray Father God we thank You for Your love for each one of us and Your patience with us. Thank You for Your faithfulness in being with us and helping us through these difficult times - we really do appreciate all that You are doing and reminding us of how much You love us and sharing how You want us to live our lives in obedience to Your Word.
We really are grateful for Your patience and Your concern that when Jesus comes again to gather His chosen ones that we will be found faithful and be amongst the redeemed that will come to live with You in Glory
Father forgive us if we have fallen short of what You have been telling us over the last few months - we really want to live lives that will please You and help to further your Kingdom.
As we have been reminded of the things we believe You have been sharing with Your people over the last few months I pray that we will re-affirm our commitment to You and live in obedience to Your Word.
We pray the prayer that Paul gave for the Thessalonians; that You Lord - God of peace, will sanctify us through and through and that our whole spirit, soul and body will be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you for the reassurance that Your Word gives us that You are faithful, and You will do it
We pray that You will keep us strong and faithful in preparation for the time when we can come together as a united body of Christians to begin again the work that You have called us to do in these last days of sharing the truth with others.
We pray this in Jesus name Amen
Message for 4 October 2020 can be viewed on Youtube
Last week we looked at how the world is experiencing lots of problems caused by the pandemic Covid - I paralleled it with the problems that we faced in the 1940’s during the war years and how, like today, thousands were dying all over the world, Families were separated as Fathers went off to fight - we had to wear Gas masks for protection, and were advised to stay at home wherever possible.
I suggested that during this present time of Pandemic that God is using it to get us to look at ourselves, the depth of our relationship with Him and one another as His children and if needs be - get back to being the church, the people, that we were when we first came to know and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour’
Over the last few weeks we have been looking at how I feel God is calling His people to get back to reading His word, praying for His direction and get back to being the church that He intended us to be as seen in Acts 2. To change wherever we need to - and promise to put the past behind us and as Gods word encourages us to do - to repent and sin no more. To make sure that we are not allowing false teaching to creep in to our churches persuading us to soften our approach to the sinfulness of the world and become more worldy and become like Christ in our daily living and share the good news with others.
We looked at how this message was given to the church at Ephesus and how at first they did this by rejecting the false teachings of the Nicolatians who were trying to bring pagan influence into their church. At first, the church at Ephesus succeeded but then over the years that followed for some reason fell back and lost sight of their first love - Jesus. The message in Revelation was to ‘repent and get back to their first love.
We looked at what Jude the brother of Jesus says about this as he closes his letter in the New Testament which is the last book before Revelation.
Jude 17-25 A call to persevere 17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Building yourselves up in your most holy faith - the firm foundation which is the Word that became flesh in Christ
And praying in the Holy Spirit, A Hunger for Gods Word and a need to Pray.
To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen. WOW!
Putting our faith in and Trusting the one who is able and keen to keep us from stumbling so that one day we will stand in His glorious presence - another WOW!
We then looked at what Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus; Ephesians3; 14-21 in the Living Bible which says; When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth— that out of His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him.
Strengthened within by the Holy Spirit to become Christlike as Jesus lives within us - WOW! And to make this possible Paul adds; May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.
May your roots - you and me - go down deep into the soil of Gods marvellous love - WOW!
Here we are in October which would have been the time when we would be planning to celebrate the harvest and singing those good old harvest songs that speak of the wonderful fruit that we enjoy as a result of the seeds being firmly rooted in the soil of His marvellous love.
I just stand in awe of God who loves us so much that He cares about us and doesn’t want to lose us but rather wants to fill us with Himself and use us as channels for His love to reach out to the unsaved. That’s why I believe God has been saying to us these last few weeks- His church -before His return - that we need to get back firmly into His word, to pray and realise His awesome presence in our daily lives as we come to Him in prayer.
To change and get back to be reunited with our first love - Jesus - as the angel said to the church at Ephesus - Remember the height from which you have fallen and then advised them to Repent and get back to doing the things you did before you fell.
Today we are going to look at what our Saviour Jesus said about the need to make sure that we - His people - are available - ready - good fertile soil for His word and what I believe He is going to plant and grow in the lives of His church in readiness for when this pandemic is over and the church gets back to being the powerful influence it was in the beginning.
With that in mind lets look at the parable of the sower that Jesus told .
Luke 8 1-10 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
The parable of the sower explains why some seed ( the Word of God) produces fruit whilst other fail. It’s not the fault of the seed - it’s the same kind of seed that falls on the good ground - it depends of the ground it falls on - is it ready to receive the seed - is it eager and fertile enough to let the seed grow within it and in doing, produce fruit that blossoms and reveals the beauty of Gods Word.
The disciples didn’t understand what the parable was supposed to convey and so asked Jesus to explain. Lets read Luke 8 v11-15 This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Jesus shares the parable to shown the kind of harvest that God requires of those who have availed themselves to take the seed, the word of God - to read it and let it blossom into life within them. To be good soil - where the word of God can be firmly rooted and grow to be seen in all its glory in our lives. The seed - the word God - needs to be rooted firmly in each one of us and as a result is able to bear fruit.
The parable of the sower reveals the problems that come when the ground is too shallow and the seed cannot take root, or when the ground is full of rocks and contain no moisture and the plant withers, the third place the ground was full of thorns which as the plant grew choked it - thankfully the fourth place Jesus said the seed landed on was good fertile soil which yielded a crop a hundred times more than what was sown.
That’s what we need to be - fertile soil where His seed - the Word - can take root and grow and blossom in our lives for all to see - then we need to make sure that when we are called to spread the seed - the word of God - as the sower did - that we plant it on fertile ground where it won’t be wasted and will begin to take root in the lives of the people around us that we share His word with.
That doesn’t mean we have to ignore the people who like the soil are so shallow in their faith because of the teachings of the false teachers was causing them to miss out on the wonderful truth - or like the thorny soil are people so attracted by the ways of the evil world that the truth of the word of God is stifled. The sad truth is that this also applies to those who think they are so rock solid in what they believe, that nothing will move them, and so the true seed, - the word of God - cannot penetrate deeply into them to enable them to accept the truth and grow in it.
Obviously the best approach is to let those around us, who are open to hear what we share with them - see the way in which obedience to Gods word has made a difference in our lives that they too will want to know what it is that we have that they don’t. Those in our families who are on the edge, maybe friends of ours who don’t profess any faith or neighbours - people around us who are not a part of any fellowship - this is the fertile soil that is ready to receive the seed, the living Word of God.
A good seed , well planted in fertile ground will produce good fruit that will itself produce more seed that can be planted in other grounds and begin a cycle of rebirth that will move throughout the world in a state of continual regrowth. In other words, the Word of God will take root in our lives and as our lives are changed by that fruit we will be ourselves become bearers of that word, enabled to share that word with others. Just as in Christ the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, so too, the Word -Jesus- will become flesh in us that we can share with others
Being firmly rooted in the soil of Gods marvellous love - the Word they recieve - will enable them to experience, to feel and to know - as all Gods children should - how wide, deep and high His love really is - even though they will not understand it.
I have so many books at home - all around me - that are testimonies from those whom Gods word has taken root and has changed their lives in awesome ways. Not just the old warriors like Billy Bray, the Booths, Gypsy Smith, Smith Wigglesworth from Bradford, Brengle, Richard Wurmbrand and Billy Graham but also people today like, David Hathaway, Angus Buchan and David Ring - so many who’s lives have been transformed and whom God is using today to share the truth with others.
One of my favourites is the young man Nick Vujicic who was born limbless and dependant on others to live life like you and me - no arms or legs and for whom it would have seemed there was no hope or future. But God took a hold of Nick and planting His seed in him, transformed him into one of todays great evangelists and winner of hundreds of souls for God.
Nick was born 4 December 1982 the son of a pastor and his wife in Australia. They were shocked when they saw him following his birth - no arms, no legs and his mum was so scared she couldn’t even pick him up and hold him - it was only after 4 months of seeking God through prayer that she was able to hold him and give him the love and support that he desperately needed.
Through his childhood and especially at school where he was bullied and laughed at he kept asking God why - why have I been born like this. It played upon his mind so much that when he was just ten years old - he became so desperate that whilst he was lying in the bath he decided to drown himself. As he lay God turned Nicks mind towards his parents and to how they would feel if he did this - he knew they loved him so much and that it would be devastating for them - so he relented.
Difficult as his life was he kept asking God ‘why’ until one day his mum told him that when he grew up, God would use his disability to show His love to others and through it all become a witness to His power and presence - even become an evangelist for Him. He read the words of Jesus to his disciples when a blind man came to Him.
John 9 As Jesus went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
We saw this a couple of weeks ago when we read 1 Peter 1;7 and he repeats the answer that Jesus had given regarding the blind man that for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials that these have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed
And that’s what happened, as he grew that despite his infirmity - people would be able to see the living Word of God manifest in him and he became a great evangelist and witness to the awesome ways of God.
Whilst he had felt trapped within himself the words of Jesus come to him “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8 and Isaiah 40;31 those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Soar on wings like eagles - and him without arms run and not grow weary and him without legs.
He thought there would be no way he could find a wife to love and cherish yet God presented him with a loving wife who thinks the world of him and today they have four lovely children.
Through Gods word, God told him that he is a miracle of Gods love. He started speaking to local youth clubs and schools challenging their thoughts on bullying . He then started to talk to groups and eventually prisons and today at the age of just 38 has preached in over 24 Countries and seen millions turn to Jesus and become Christians - millions! And that’s all over the world.
No arms, no legs, yet no worries - awesome - as the seed, the word of God took root in Nick and all the others I have mentioned. Gods word has spread and changed the lives of millions.
I believe that today, God is transforming lives in readiness for when this pandemic is over so that the church will be stronger and completely at the behest of God will move forward to share the truth of the word - the seed of God - by planting it the fertile soil of our hearts in then as we grow and produce more seed - plant it in the lives of those around us in a final attempt to bring the lost to seek forgiveness and be ready for when Jesus comes again to take the ransomed, the redeemed to live with Him in the safety and beauty of Heaven.
I know and believe that God is not just with us- but I believe wants to live within us
I’ve been amazed at the way in which I have experienced his presence these last few months and particularly these last few days. To be able to just talk to God and feel His presence in your everyday activities is Awesome.
On Tuesday after repairing and painting the outside of the house that really needed attention after being neglected for so many years whilst I cared for Beryl - I started to try and clear some of the rubbish like the old wood and debris that had accumulated around the house as I ripped the old worn wood out repaired it. There’s still lots more to clear away.
I ended up with three large bags, a couple of bins and other rubbish and decided to take it all to the tip on canal road. I suddenly realised that time was running out and it was about 4.15 when I set off. I thought that the tip would probably close at 5 and set off down Leeds road towards the Carnegie where I would turn up to Bradford Road.
As I rode slowly down the road due to heavy traffic in front of me - I started to panic as after being on that short road for nearly half-an hour - the time was getting late. I started to pray and ask God to keep the tip open - then realising what I was asking, I apologised to God for asking Him to change something that had probably already happened and the gates would have been closed - maybe even at half-past four.
It was about 4.50 when I arrived at Carnegie and turned left up the road to take a sharp turn right to join the Bradford road - again a slow traffic filled area. I was panicking and even though I thought highly unlikely, didn’t stop asking God to keep the tip open.
As I approached the tip it was after 5 and I found the entry gates to the tip closed and locked. The way out of the tip was still open to let the cars of the staff out. I parked my car and went through the gates and down to a worker who was doing a final clear and heading up the path to the departure gate. I asked him what time the tip had closed and that I had four bags of wood that I urgently needed to leave there. Amazingly he smiled - went to the car with me and helped me to lift the bags out and place them just inside the gates saying he would deal with them the following morning. I was flabbergasted - he was so helpful - and definate answer to prayer.
It may not sound like a miracle - but I believe that it was certainly shows the way God is with us in every situation - whatever difficulties your going through now - God cares - His word tells us this - God cares and is always there to answer our prayers.
God is with me - I have experienced His presence - in so many ways helping me over the last few weeks to do the things that needed doing in my house - the re-building of the gate at the side of my house and after re- building it finding the key to it that I had not used for over seven years. The same happened with the back door that I talked about last week which, having lost the key seven years ago, I had not been able to open it. During those seven years I had searched the whole house. Then, last week, after praying about it again to find it lying there on the floor in front of me - after searching that area before I had left the house - was to me a miracle.
To know the presence of Almighty God in every situation through every day is an amazing thing. I can’t get over it - Our God is truly amazing - true to His word - that whatever we face in this life - He is with us - and we need to share that with one another and those around us.
We need to let the seed of His word take root in our hearts and as it blossoms and produces more fruit and seeds to plant them in the lives of others around us. I pray that we will grasp the awesomness of His concern and love for us and the lost and become bearers of the Word and seek to plant it in the fertile ground of the lives of those around us that God wants to bring into Kingdom life
I really believe that God is speaking to His people, the church today through the situation we find ourselves in and pray that we may heed His word and become the people He desires us to be. In closing let me share how I believe God confirmed this to me again this week.
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A few days after putting last weeks message on video I received a message from my dear friend Commissioner Harry Read that in many ways was again confirmation of what I believe God has been telling us in the last few months.
It was one of his poems based on Ephesians 2: 8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
This is what he wrote;
Come now, my soul, reach out to God And find in Him your rest,
The world itself has naught of worth Except you give Him best.
Reach out with open hands to Him Who promised all in Christ;
He will not anything withhold Since Christ He sacrificed.
Look past His plans; observe His grace And read His loving heart.
Let Him observe His love in you; Your love His counterpart.
Reach out my soul and hold Him close, He will your hopes enthral.
Make all He is - your sacred goal – Make Him - your all-in-all.
Let God see that His love is active in your life - and when He is - others will experience that love too. Feel Him close to you - experience the awesome reality of the presence of the living God with you - and make Him your sacred goal in life - make Him your all in all.
My prayer every morning since this pandemic started in March this year has been; 'God fill my heart with Your love and may Your love be seen in my life, in my actions, my response to others that they may see your love in me and feel it in their hearts too.
My prayer for all of you in these days and in the days to come is that you will be fertile ground in which the word of God will be able to take root and grow and the fruit it bears will provide more seed for you to plant in the fertile ground around you
Lets pray
Last week we looked at how the world is experiencing lots of problems caused by the pandemic Covid - I paralleled it with the problems that we faced in the 1940’s during the war years and how, like today, thousands were dying all over the world, Families were separated as Fathers went off to fight - we had to wear Gas masks for protection, and were advised to stay at home wherever possible.
I suggested that during this present time of Pandemic that God is using it to get us to look at ourselves, the depth of our relationship with Him and one another as His children and if needs be - get back to being the church, the people, that we were when we first came to know and accept Him as our Lord and Saviour’
Over the last few weeks we have been looking at how I feel God is calling His people to get back to reading His word, praying for His direction and get back to being the church that He intended us to be as seen in Acts 2. To change wherever we need to - and promise to put the past behind us and as Gods word encourages us to do - to repent and sin no more. To make sure that we are not allowing false teaching to creep in to our churches persuading us to soften our approach to the sinfulness of the world and become more worldy and become like Christ in our daily living and share the good news with others.
We looked at how this message was given to the church at Ephesus and how at first they did this by rejecting the false teachings of the Nicolatians who were trying to bring pagan influence into their church. At first, the church at Ephesus succeeded but then over the years that followed for some reason fell back and lost sight of their first love - Jesus. The message in Revelation was to ‘repent and get back to their first love.
We looked at what Jude the brother of Jesus says about this as he closes his letter in the New Testament which is the last book before Revelation.
Jude 17-25 A call to persevere 17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Building yourselves up in your most holy faith - the firm foundation which is the Word that became flesh in Christ
And praying in the Holy Spirit, A Hunger for Gods Word and a need to Pray.
To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen. WOW!
Putting our faith in and Trusting the one who is able and keen to keep us from stumbling so that one day we will stand in His glorious presence - another WOW!
We then looked at what Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus; Ephesians3; 14-21 in the Living Bible which says; When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth— that out of His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him.
Strengthened within by the Holy Spirit to become Christlike as Jesus lives within us - WOW! And to make this possible Paul adds; May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.
May your roots - you and me - go down deep into the soil of Gods marvellous love - WOW!
Here we are in October which would have been the time when we would be planning to celebrate the harvest and singing those good old harvest songs that speak of the wonderful fruit that we enjoy as a result of the seeds being firmly rooted in the soil of His marvellous love.
I just stand in awe of God who loves us so much that He cares about us and doesn’t want to lose us but rather wants to fill us with Himself and use us as channels for His love to reach out to the unsaved. That’s why I believe God has been saying to us these last few weeks- His church -before His return - that we need to get back firmly into His word, to pray and realise His awesome presence in our daily lives as we come to Him in prayer.
To change and get back to be reunited with our first love - Jesus - as the angel said to the church at Ephesus - Remember the height from which you have fallen and then advised them to Repent and get back to doing the things you did before you fell.
Today we are going to look at what our Saviour Jesus said about the need to make sure that we - His people - are available - ready - good fertile soil for His word and what I believe He is going to plant and grow in the lives of His church in readiness for when this pandemic is over and the church gets back to being the powerful influence it was in the beginning.
With that in mind lets look at the parable of the sower that Jesus told .
Luke 8 1-10 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out; Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.
While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told this parable: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
The parable of the sower explains why some seed ( the Word of God) produces fruit whilst other fail. It’s not the fault of the seed - it’s the same kind of seed that falls on the good ground - it depends of the ground it falls on - is it ready to receive the seed - is it eager and fertile enough to let the seed grow within it and in doing, produce fruit that blossoms and reveals the beauty of Gods Word.
The disciples didn’t understand what the parable was supposed to convey and so asked Jesus to explain. Lets read Luke 8 v11-15 This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
Jesus shares the parable to shown the kind of harvest that God requires of those who have availed themselves to take the seed, the word of God - to read it and let it blossom into life within them. To be good soil - where the word of God can be firmly rooted and grow to be seen in all its glory in our lives. The seed - the word God - needs to be rooted firmly in each one of us and as a result is able to bear fruit.
The parable of the sower reveals the problems that come when the ground is too shallow and the seed cannot take root, or when the ground is full of rocks and contain no moisture and the plant withers, the third place the ground was full of thorns which as the plant grew choked it - thankfully the fourth place Jesus said the seed landed on was good fertile soil which yielded a crop a hundred times more than what was sown.
That’s what we need to be - fertile soil where His seed - the Word - can take root and grow and blossom in our lives for all to see - then we need to make sure that when we are called to spread the seed - the word of God - as the sower did - that we plant it on fertile ground where it won’t be wasted and will begin to take root in the lives of the people around us that we share His word with.
That doesn’t mean we have to ignore the people who like the soil are so shallow in their faith because of the teachings of the false teachers was causing them to miss out on the wonderful truth - or like the thorny soil are people so attracted by the ways of the evil world that the truth of the word of God is stifled. The sad truth is that this also applies to those who think they are so rock solid in what they believe, that nothing will move them, and so the true seed, - the word of God - cannot penetrate deeply into them to enable them to accept the truth and grow in it.
Obviously the best approach is to let those around us, who are open to hear what we share with them - see the way in which obedience to Gods word has made a difference in our lives that they too will want to know what it is that we have that they don’t. Those in our families who are on the edge, maybe friends of ours who don’t profess any faith or neighbours - people around us who are not a part of any fellowship - this is the fertile soil that is ready to receive the seed, the living Word of God.
A good seed , well planted in fertile ground will produce good fruit that will itself produce more seed that can be planted in other grounds and begin a cycle of rebirth that will move throughout the world in a state of continual regrowth. In other words, the Word of God will take root in our lives and as our lives are changed by that fruit we will be ourselves become bearers of that word, enabled to share that word with others. Just as in Christ the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, so too, the Word -Jesus- will become flesh in us that we can share with others
Being firmly rooted in the soil of Gods marvellous love - the Word they recieve - will enable them to experience, to feel and to know - as all Gods children should - how wide, deep and high His love really is - even though they will not understand it.
I have so many books at home - all around me - that are testimonies from those whom Gods word has taken root and has changed their lives in awesome ways. Not just the old warriors like Billy Bray, the Booths, Gypsy Smith, Smith Wigglesworth from Bradford, Brengle, Richard Wurmbrand and Billy Graham but also people today like, David Hathaway, Angus Buchan and David Ring - so many who’s lives have been transformed and whom God is using today to share the truth with others.
One of my favourites is the young man Nick Vujicic who was born limbless and dependant on others to live life like you and me - no arms or legs and for whom it would have seemed there was no hope or future. But God took a hold of Nick and planting His seed in him, transformed him into one of todays great evangelists and winner of hundreds of souls for God.
Nick was born 4 December 1982 the son of a pastor and his wife in Australia. They were shocked when they saw him following his birth - no arms, no legs and his mum was so scared she couldn’t even pick him up and hold him - it was only after 4 months of seeking God through prayer that she was able to hold him and give him the love and support that he desperately needed.
Through his childhood and especially at school where he was bullied and laughed at he kept asking God why - why have I been born like this. It played upon his mind so much that when he was just ten years old - he became so desperate that whilst he was lying in the bath he decided to drown himself. As he lay God turned Nicks mind towards his parents and to how they would feel if he did this - he knew they loved him so much and that it would be devastating for them - so he relented.
Difficult as his life was he kept asking God ‘why’ until one day his mum told him that when he grew up, God would use his disability to show His love to others and through it all become a witness to His power and presence - even become an evangelist for Him. He read the words of Jesus to his disciples when a blind man came to Him.
John 9 As Jesus went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
We saw this a couple of weeks ago when we read 1 Peter 1;7 and he repeats the answer that Jesus had given regarding the blind man that for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials that these have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed
And that’s what happened, as he grew that despite his infirmity - people would be able to see the living Word of God manifest in him and he became a great evangelist and witness to the awesome ways of God.
Whilst he had felt trapped within himself the words of Jesus come to him “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8 and Isaiah 40;31 those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Soar on wings like eagles - and him without arms run and not grow weary and him without legs.
He thought there would be no way he could find a wife to love and cherish yet God presented him with a loving wife who thinks the world of him and today they have four lovely children.
Through Gods word, God told him that he is a miracle of Gods love. He started speaking to local youth clubs and schools challenging their thoughts on bullying . He then started to talk to groups and eventually prisons and today at the age of just 38 has preached in over 24 Countries and seen millions turn to Jesus and become Christians - millions! And that’s all over the world.
No arms, no legs, yet no worries - awesome - as the seed, the word of God took root in Nick and all the others I have mentioned. Gods word has spread and changed the lives of millions.
I believe that today, God is transforming lives in readiness for when this pandemic is over so that the church will be stronger and completely at the behest of God will move forward to share the truth of the word - the seed of God - by planting it the fertile soil of our hearts in then as we grow and produce more seed - plant it in the lives of those around us in a final attempt to bring the lost to seek forgiveness and be ready for when Jesus comes again to take the ransomed, the redeemed to live with Him in the safety and beauty of Heaven.
I know and believe that God is not just with us- but I believe wants to live within us
I’ve been amazed at the way in which I have experienced his presence these last few months and particularly these last few days. To be able to just talk to God and feel His presence in your everyday activities is Awesome.
On Tuesday after repairing and painting the outside of the house that really needed attention after being neglected for so many years whilst I cared for Beryl - I started to try and clear some of the rubbish like the old wood and debris that had accumulated around the house as I ripped the old worn wood out repaired it. There’s still lots more to clear away.
I ended up with three large bags, a couple of bins and other rubbish and decided to take it all to the tip on canal road. I suddenly realised that time was running out and it was about 4.15 when I set off. I thought that the tip would probably close at 5 and set off down Leeds road towards the Carnegie where I would turn up to Bradford Road.
As I rode slowly down the road due to heavy traffic in front of me - I started to panic as after being on that short road for nearly half-an hour - the time was getting late. I started to pray and ask God to keep the tip open - then realising what I was asking, I apologised to God for asking Him to change something that had probably already happened and the gates would have been closed - maybe even at half-past four.
It was about 4.50 when I arrived at Carnegie and turned left up the road to take a sharp turn right to join the Bradford road - again a slow traffic filled area. I was panicking and even though I thought highly unlikely, didn’t stop asking God to keep the tip open.
As I approached the tip it was after 5 and I found the entry gates to the tip closed and locked. The way out of the tip was still open to let the cars of the staff out. I parked my car and went through the gates and down to a worker who was doing a final clear and heading up the path to the departure gate. I asked him what time the tip had closed and that I had four bags of wood that I urgently needed to leave there. Amazingly he smiled - went to the car with me and helped me to lift the bags out and place them just inside the gates saying he would deal with them the following morning. I was flabbergasted - he was so helpful - and definate answer to prayer.
It may not sound like a miracle - but I believe that it was certainly shows the way God is with us in every situation - whatever difficulties your going through now - God cares - His word tells us this - God cares and is always there to answer our prayers.
God is with me - I have experienced His presence - in so many ways helping me over the last few weeks to do the things that needed doing in my house - the re-building of the gate at the side of my house and after re- building it finding the key to it that I had not used for over seven years. The same happened with the back door that I talked about last week which, having lost the key seven years ago, I had not been able to open it. During those seven years I had searched the whole house. Then, last week, after praying about it again to find it lying there on the floor in front of me - after searching that area before I had left the house - was to me a miracle.
To know the presence of Almighty God in every situation through every day is an amazing thing. I can’t get over it - Our God is truly amazing - true to His word - that whatever we face in this life - He is with us - and we need to share that with one another and those around us.
We need to let the seed of His word take root in our hearts and as it blossoms and produces more fruit and seeds to plant them in the lives of others around us. I pray that we will grasp the awesomness of His concern and love for us and the lost and become bearers of the Word and seek to plant it in the fertile ground of the lives of those around us that God wants to bring into Kingdom life
I really believe that God is speaking to His people, the church today through the situation we find ourselves in and pray that we may heed His word and become the people He desires us to be. In closing let me share how I believe God confirmed this to me again this week.
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A few days after putting last weeks message on video I received a message from my dear friend Commissioner Harry Read that in many ways was again confirmation of what I believe God has been telling us in the last few months.
It was one of his poems based on Ephesians 2: 8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
This is what he wrote;
Come now, my soul, reach out to God And find in Him your rest,
The world itself has naught of worth Except you give Him best.
Reach out with open hands to Him Who promised all in Christ;
He will not anything withhold Since Christ He sacrificed.
Look past His plans; observe His grace And read His loving heart.
Let Him observe His love in you; Your love His counterpart.
Reach out my soul and hold Him close, He will your hopes enthral.
Make all He is - your sacred goal – Make Him - your all-in-all.
Let God see that His love is active in your life - and when He is - others will experience that love too. Feel Him close to you - experience the awesome reality of the presence of the living God with you - and make Him your sacred goal in life - make Him your all in all.
My prayer every morning since this pandemic started in March this year has been; 'God fill my heart with Your love and may Your love be seen in my life, in my actions, my response to others that they may see your love in me and feel it in their hearts too.
My prayer for all of you in these days and in the days to come is that you will be fertile ground in which the word of God will be able to take root and grow and the fruit it bears will provide more seed for you to plant in the fertile ground around you
Lets pray
Message for 27 September 2020 also on video on youtube Billy Cowgill
Last week we looked at Change - changes that probably we need to make in our own lives and the churches we worship in. Sparked off I guess by the changes that have come because of the Covid pandemic that have changed the lives that we are living today - and WOW how different our lives have become.
And following the Governments latest restrictions this week - life is becoming more difficult and we are told will continue on into the next year. As I thought about this I was reminded about how it was when I was a lad in the early 40’s. I was born in1940 when this country was in the throes of the 2nd World War.
Here we are again today - facing difficult times and the need to be caring people, concerned for the well being of one another. We came through the war a different people - a caring people - which I believe will be the same outcome again .
The war made a big difference to our lives then and I believe we learned from it and began to conduct ourselves in a more Christlike way. Following the war, most people went to church - churches were full. People realised how much they needed the Lord and desired to live Godly lives.
I believe that through all the difficulties that we are all going through in these days, that if we respond to the things that I believe God is bringing to our attention as a church and individually as Gods people - if we respond in the way He wants us to by being obedient to His word and changing where necessary to become once again His Word inspired followers - then we will come through it all a stronger people able to cope with whatever lies ahead for each one of us and our churches.
As we’ve been reminded over the last few weeks, we need to seek God though His word and develop our relationship with Him through the privilage of prayer and in that way change to become more Christlike in our attitude to life, to one another and to our Father God.
As we said last week - we need to realise that we have been given the privilages of having our past forgiven, of being re-born by the Spirit and as a new creation, been adopted as Children by God our Heavenly Father into His family. WOW!
We looked at the need for Gods Church - you and me - to change and get back to what God intended us to be - A body of believers who through prayer and bible study desired to become like Jesus by being filled with His presence by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sadly the New Testament church had started to move away from the original birth of the Church in Acts - as false teachers had started to infiltrate it and introduce different pagan practices. Which as prophesied in Gods word, is happening again today.
In the same way that Paul wrote letters to challenge these false teachings then - I believe that God is today challenging His followers to make sure they are not changing their standards and programmes and adapting the church to be more attractive to the world by becoming more like the world instead of the other way round - attracting the world to become more like the church and accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour.
We are warned that this will happen all through the New Testament and as we said last week - if needs be - we need to get back to being the Church and the people that God intended us to be - which is to become more like Christ by persevering in our endevour to live according to the word of God.
The church today I believe has regressed to be like the Churches that Paul is addressing in his letters - warning them to change and get back to being the church God intended it to be. Lets look at what Jude the brother of Jesus says about this as he closes his letter in the New Testament which is the last book before Revelation.
Jude 17-25 A call to persevere 17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
How true today - there is a great divide in todays churches between the people who are really trying to persevere and stick to Gods ways and the False teachers - who are turning people away from the truth by peddling their lies - disguised as truth. Jude tells us what we need to do to counteract the falsehoods - 20; But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Grow in your faith - I believe we do that today by listening to what God says by reading His word and spending more time in prayer - communing with God through the power of prayer and realising the presence of His Holy Spirit in our lives that will affect the way we live and act. Feel the Love of God in your heart and in your daily living - and share the love of God with one another as you look forward to the day when we will experience the Joy of being gathered up by Jesus to share eternity with Him and all those who have lived in union with Him.
Gods done His part in making all that possible through the giving of His son Jesus and in His great love desires to see us all live in obedience to His word so that He can welcome us all into the home He has prepared for us in heaven
Jude then continues by telling us what we must do to help those who are falling under the trap of the deceivers - 22; Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
All this would be impossible to achieve without the help of God which God has shown He wants to give us - this is how Jude closes his letter 24 To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen.
The prayer that has become the churches doxology; addressed to God - the only God - our Heavenly Father - Yahweh. Make no mistake there is only one God and Father - To Him be given Glory - Majesty - Power and Authority - through Jesus Christ our Lord who was there in the beginning - is with us now - and will continue to be with us in Glory. God made all this possible through His Son Jesus.
One of my favourite bible passages is Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. I was introduced to this shortly after my first healing when God answered the prayer of my friend David Murden during the night before I was due to go down to the operating theatre for a second operation on my Kidney. As most of you know - I believe that God used that occasion to show me that up to that point I had been what I termed a veneer Christian. On the outside I must have looked the part - even fooled myself - but when you got deep into my heart - I realised it was all show. When Beryl asked had I prayed for healing I said - ‘yes, I’ve prayed but no-ones listening to me’
What I came to realise through all that was that God wanted me to really get to know Him. You see God cares about us all and doesn’t want anyone to perish as the bible tells us.
I went home and when I was well enough sought the Lord in prayer at the mercy seat at the hall saying ‘I want to know You Lord - like David - like the prayer of Saul when God intervened inhis life and showed Him that he too didn’t know the true God.
I started reading the bible and for some reason I started with the Living Bible - a paraphrased bible that Kenneth wrote to help his children understand in a simple way the complexities of the Bible - it became an eye openner to me.
This is what it says. Ephesians 3; 14-21 in the Living Bible
When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth— that out of His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him.
May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.
WOW! I love this version of Pauls letter - it gave me a hunger for reading Gods word and eventually moved me on to look at the more adult versions such as the NIV and Authorised
The wisdom and scope of Gods plan was so awesome that Paul was brought to his knees to pray to His Father God in thanks for what He had done in bringing the truth and reality of God to Him. This was Saul the devout lover of God but who was missing out on the truth of Jesus as being the Messiah and so God stopped him in his tracks of trying to get rid of the new followers and beliefs of the early Christians and showed him that he really didn’t know the true God - just like God did to me.
The prayer of Saul to God became my prayer too when he cried ’ I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3;10,11 And so I started to read Gods word and my life began to change.
There is a real need for Gods people today to get back on track with God - rebuke the false teachers who are letting the evil one take over the church for his own ends which is to turn Gods people away from God and lose their salvation.
Pauls prayer to God for the church at Ephesus is that out of His glorious, unlimited resources that God will give them the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. Wow - that was my prayer when I knelt at the mercy seat - and WOW! When I stood up - I knew that God had filled me with His Holy Spirit and I danced all the way home. The Holy Spirit who was given at Pentecost to empower the New Testament Church from its birth.
Paul then prays that being filled with the Spirit - that Christ will be more and more at home in their hearts, living within them as they trust in Him.
Paul goes further when he says to them - May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; Firmly Rooted in Christ so that they can grow and begin to bear fruit - the fruit of the Spirit that we talked about last week which is to be Christlike
The fruit of the Spirit that will blossom and help you to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and not just to know about the awesomness of His love but to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. The boundless love of God that is beyond our wildest dreams or imagination. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.
That’s real change in the life of Gods children. Spending more time with your Heavenly Father we will , as His children, become more like Him - filled to all fulness with God our Heavenly father to become Christlike - a true son of God.
Paul warned the Ephesians to reject the false teachers and it would appear that as Revelation 2 tells us, they did that - they rejected the heresies of the Nicolatians a sect that had come within the church that was bringing compromise with the pagan society - yes they had succeded in curbing that but for some reason they had forsaken their first love - the love that Paul had said was higher, wider, deeper than they could ever dream of - that’s why the angel in Revelation says ’ remember the height from which you have fallen - repent - and do the things you did at first - or else.
All this week I have been painting the outside of the hall that over the years, especially when I was looking after Beryl 24/7, had fallen into neglect and was badly in need of painting. It’s been a long struggle having to make sure that I put enough paint onto seal the and correct the exposed areas of the wood. I lavished it with paint.
This reminds me of the story I told you a few years ago of the painter who was canvassing his business around the district by offering a cheaper price that the competition to paint peoples houses. He got the job at one house and what he didn’t tell them was that in order to keep his costs down - he had thinned the paint.
When the householder saw the finished result he was disappointed and told the Painter that before he would pay him he had to ‘repaint and thin no more’. That’s what Gods word tells us to do - to repent - put the past behind you , leave your life of sin and start to live obedience to God.
That’s what we all did when we came to know Jesus and accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour - we repented our past and to sin no more
Many of the early New Testament churches of which Ephesus was a part had repented and changed their beliefs and lifestyles but sadly over the years began to be influenced more by the world and the false teachers and backtracked to loosing sight of their newly found - first love- Jesus. Because of that in Revelation the church at Ephesus is told to repent and get back to living the life they did when Jesus became real to them. Rev 2; 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen and then advised them to Repent and get back to doing the things you did before you fell. Get back to be the church that God intended you to be. The same message we’ve been getting over the last few months. The advice the angel gives to the Ephesians is He who has an ear let him hear what the spirit is saying to the Churches
Lets read Judes call to persevere again 17-25 dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
And the benediction To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen.
We sing a great song written by Fanny Crosby that is all about the things we have been sharing - the things that we need to remember and share with others.
To God be the Glory great things He hath done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
Who yielded His life and atonement for sin
And opened the life gates that al may go in
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood
To every believer the promise of God
The vilest offender who truly believes
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our rapture when Jesus we see.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord Let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son
and give Him the glory great things He has done
Major Charles Coller who retired in 1928 was in charge of the Salvation Army Music department and wrote over 200 hymns also wrote one with the same openning line as Fanny Crosby’s hymn
To God be the glory, a Saviour is mine,
Whose power is almighty, whose grace is divine;
My heart he hath cleansed, he is dwelling within,
So wondrously saving from sinning and sin.
O wonder of wonders, to God be the praise,
I joy in his will, I delight in his ways!
And through every conflict, without and within,
He saves me and keeps me from sinning and sin.
No longer in bondage, my freedom I’ll use
My Master to serve in the way he shall choose;
To work or to witness, to go or remain,
His smile of approval my infinite gain.
Earth’s pleasures and treasures no longer allure,
My spirit aspires to the things which endure;
To walk with my Saviour in garments of white,
My highest ambition, my constant delight.
The world overcoming by limitless grace,
I worship the Lord in the light of his face;
So with him communing, like him I shall grow,
And life everlasting enjoy here below.
My prayer is that when all this trouble that we are experiencing in the world today ends that we as Gods people can get back to being the people we became when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour - which, like the Ephesians is not necessaraly the people we had become over the years. We need to get back to being the people, the Church that God wants us to be - a people who love God and one another to the point of praying for those who as yet don’t know Him - the ones for whom Jesus gave His life
God bless you all
Last week we looked at Change - changes that probably we need to make in our own lives and the churches we worship in. Sparked off I guess by the changes that have come because of the Covid pandemic that have changed the lives that we are living today - and WOW how different our lives have become.
- Thousands dying all over the world
- Families being separated and needing to ‘bubble’ into small groups.
- The need to wear Face masks outside.
- Being advised to stay at home wherever possible.
- The need to look out for our older neighbours.
- Not being able to worship together
- Keeping numbers down to small gathering
And following the Governments latest restrictions this week - life is becoming more difficult and we are told will continue on into the next year. As I thought about this I was reminded about how it was when I was a lad in the early 40’s. I was born in1940 when this country was in the throes of the 2nd World War.
- Again, thousands were dying on the battlefields
- Families were seperated as dads and older brothers went to fight in different countries leaving the mums and children to fend for themselves.
- The need to wear gas masks when the Germans were bombing Bradford
- Being warned to stay at home wherever possible
- The way in which we looked after our neighbours - even after the war - we continued to do that . I remember that we even swapped ration book coupons to enable us to purchase the things we needed that our neighbours didn’t use.
Here we are again today - facing difficult times and the need to be caring people, concerned for the well being of one another. We came through the war a different people - a caring people - which I believe will be the same outcome again .
The war made a big difference to our lives then and I believe we learned from it and began to conduct ourselves in a more Christlike way. Following the war, most people went to church - churches were full. People realised how much they needed the Lord and desired to live Godly lives.
I believe that through all the difficulties that we are all going through in these days, that if we respond to the things that I believe God is bringing to our attention as a church and individually as Gods people - if we respond in the way He wants us to by being obedient to His word and changing where necessary to become once again His Word inspired followers - then we will come through it all a stronger people able to cope with whatever lies ahead for each one of us and our churches.
As we’ve been reminded over the last few weeks, we need to seek God though His word and develop our relationship with Him through the privilage of prayer and in that way change to become more Christlike in our attitude to life, to one another and to our Father God.
As we said last week - we need to realise that we have been given the privilages of having our past forgiven, of being re-born by the Spirit and as a new creation, been adopted as Children by God our Heavenly Father into His family. WOW!
We looked at the need for Gods Church - you and me - to change and get back to what God intended us to be - A body of believers who through prayer and bible study desired to become like Jesus by being filled with His presence by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Sadly the New Testament church had started to move away from the original birth of the Church in Acts - as false teachers had started to infiltrate it and introduce different pagan practices. Which as prophesied in Gods word, is happening again today.
In the same way that Paul wrote letters to challenge these false teachings then - I believe that God is today challenging His followers to make sure they are not changing their standards and programmes and adapting the church to be more attractive to the world by becoming more like the world instead of the other way round - attracting the world to become more like the church and accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour.
We are warned that this will happen all through the New Testament and as we said last week - if needs be - we need to get back to being the Church and the people that God intended us to be - which is to become more like Christ by persevering in our endevour to live according to the word of God.
The church today I believe has regressed to be like the Churches that Paul is addressing in his letters - warning them to change and get back to being the church God intended it to be. Lets look at what Jude the brother of Jesus says about this as he closes his letter in the New Testament which is the last book before Revelation.
Jude 17-25 A call to persevere 17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
How true today - there is a great divide in todays churches between the people who are really trying to persevere and stick to Gods ways and the False teachers - who are turning people away from the truth by peddling their lies - disguised as truth. Jude tells us what we need to do to counteract the falsehoods - 20; But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Grow in your faith - I believe we do that today by listening to what God says by reading His word and spending more time in prayer - communing with God through the power of prayer and realising the presence of His Holy Spirit in our lives that will affect the way we live and act. Feel the Love of God in your heart and in your daily living - and share the love of God with one another as you look forward to the day when we will experience the Joy of being gathered up by Jesus to share eternity with Him and all those who have lived in union with Him.
Gods done His part in making all that possible through the giving of His son Jesus and in His great love desires to see us all live in obedience to His word so that He can welcome us all into the home He has prepared for us in heaven
Jude then continues by telling us what we must do to help those who are falling under the trap of the deceivers - 22; Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
All this would be impossible to achieve without the help of God which God has shown He wants to give us - this is how Jude closes his letter 24 To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen.
The prayer that has become the churches doxology; addressed to God - the only God - our Heavenly Father - Yahweh. Make no mistake there is only one God and Father - To Him be given Glory - Majesty - Power and Authority - through Jesus Christ our Lord who was there in the beginning - is with us now - and will continue to be with us in Glory. God made all this possible through His Son Jesus.
One of my favourite bible passages is Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus. I was introduced to this shortly after my first healing when God answered the prayer of my friend David Murden during the night before I was due to go down to the operating theatre for a second operation on my Kidney. As most of you know - I believe that God used that occasion to show me that up to that point I had been what I termed a veneer Christian. On the outside I must have looked the part - even fooled myself - but when you got deep into my heart - I realised it was all show. When Beryl asked had I prayed for healing I said - ‘yes, I’ve prayed but no-ones listening to me’
What I came to realise through all that was that God wanted me to really get to know Him. You see God cares about us all and doesn’t want anyone to perish as the bible tells us.
I went home and when I was well enough sought the Lord in prayer at the mercy seat at the hall saying ‘I want to know You Lord - like David - like the prayer of Saul when God intervened inhis life and showed Him that he too didn’t know the true God.
I started reading the bible and for some reason I started with the Living Bible - a paraphrased bible that Kenneth wrote to help his children understand in a simple way the complexities of the Bible - it became an eye openner to me.
This is what it says. Ephesians 3; 14-21 in the Living Bible
When I think of the wisdom and scope of His plan, I fall down on my knees and pray to the Father of all the great family of God—some of them already in heaven and some down here on earth— that out of His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts, living within you as you trust in Him.
May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; and may you be able to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.
WOW! I love this version of Pauls letter - it gave me a hunger for reading Gods word and eventually moved me on to look at the more adult versions such as the NIV and Authorised
The wisdom and scope of Gods plan was so awesome that Paul was brought to his knees to pray to His Father God in thanks for what He had done in bringing the truth and reality of God to Him. This was Saul the devout lover of God but who was missing out on the truth of Jesus as being the Messiah and so God stopped him in his tracks of trying to get rid of the new followers and beliefs of the early Christians and showed him that he really didn’t know the true God - just like God did to me.
The prayer of Saul to God became my prayer too when he cried ’ I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Philippians 3;10,11 And so I started to read Gods word and my life began to change.
There is a real need for Gods people today to get back on track with God - rebuke the false teachers who are letting the evil one take over the church for his own ends which is to turn Gods people away from God and lose their salvation.
Pauls prayer to God for the church at Ephesus is that out of His glorious, unlimited resources that God will give them the mighty inner strengthening of His Holy Spirit. Wow - that was my prayer when I knelt at the mercy seat - and WOW! When I stood up - I knew that God had filled me with His Holy Spirit and I danced all the way home. The Holy Spirit who was given at Pentecost to empower the New Testament Church from its birth.
Paul then prays that being filled with the Spirit - that Christ will be more and more at home in their hearts, living within them as they trust in Him.
Paul goes further when he says to them - May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love; Firmly Rooted in Christ so that they can grow and begin to bear fruit - the fruit of the Spirit that we talked about last week which is to be Christlike
The fruit of the Spirit that will blossom and help you to feel and understand, as all God’s children should, how long, how wide, how deep, and how high His love really is; and not just to know about the awesomness of His love but to experience this love for yourselves, though it is so great that you will never see the end of it or fully know or understand it. The boundless love of God that is beyond our wildest dreams or imagination. And so at last you will be filled up with God himself.
That’s real change in the life of Gods children. Spending more time with your Heavenly Father we will , as His children, become more like Him - filled to all fulness with God our Heavenly father to become Christlike - a true son of God.
Paul warned the Ephesians to reject the false teachers and it would appear that as Revelation 2 tells us, they did that - they rejected the heresies of the Nicolatians a sect that had come within the church that was bringing compromise with the pagan society - yes they had succeded in curbing that but for some reason they had forsaken their first love - the love that Paul had said was higher, wider, deeper than they could ever dream of - that’s why the angel in Revelation says ’ remember the height from which you have fallen - repent - and do the things you did at first - or else.
All this week I have been painting the outside of the hall that over the years, especially when I was looking after Beryl 24/7, had fallen into neglect and was badly in need of painting. It’s been a long struggle having to make sure that I put enough paint onto seal the and correct the exposed areas of the wood. I lavished it with paint.
This reminds me of the story I told you a few years ago of the painter who was canvassing his business around the district by offering a cheaper price that the competition to paint peoples houses. He got the job at one house and what he didn’t tell them was that in order to keep his costs down - he had thinned the paint.
When the householder saw the finished result he was disappointed and told the Painter that before he would pay him he had to ‘repaint and thin no more’. That’s what Gods word tells us to do - to repent - put the past behind you , leave your life of sin and start to live obedience to God.
That’s what we all did when we came to know Jesus and accepted Him as our Lord and Saviour - we repented our past and to sin no more
Many of the early New Testament churches of which Ephesus was a part had repented and changed their beliefs and lifestyles but sadly over the years began to be influenced more by the world and the false teachers and backtracked to loosing sight of their newly found - first love- Jesus. Because of that in Revelation the church at Ephesus is told to repent and get back to living the life they did when Jesus became real to them. Rev 2; 5 Remember the height from which you have fallen and then advised them to Repent and get back to doing the things you did before you fell. Get back to be the church that God intended you to be. The same message we’ve been getting over the last few months. The advice the angel gives to the Ephesians is He who has an ear let him hear what the spirit is saying to the Churches
Lets read Judes call to persevere again 17-25 dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, ‘In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.’ These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear – hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
And the benediction To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy - to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore! Amen.
We sing a great song written by Fanny Crosby that is all about the things we have been sharing - the things that we need to remember and share with others.
To God be the Glory great things He hath done
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son
Who yielded His life and atonement for sin
And opened the life gates that al may go in
O perfect redemption, the purchase of blood
To every believer the promise of God
The vilest offender who truly believes
That moment from Jesus a pardon receives
Great things He hath taught us, great things He hath done
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our wonder, our rapture when Jesus we see.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord Let the earth hear His voice
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Let the people rejoice
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son
and give Him the glory great things He has done
Major Charles Coller who retired in 1928 was in charge of the Salvation Army Music department and wrote over 200 hymns also wrote one with the same openning line as Fanny Crosby’s hymn
To God be the glory, a Saviour is mine,
Whose power is almighty, whose grace is divine;
My heart he hath cleansed, he is dwelling within,
So wondrously saving from sinning and sin.
O wonder of wonders, to God be the praise,
I joy in his will, I delight in his ways!
And through every conflict, without and within,
He saves me and keeps me from sinning and sin.
No longer in bondage, my freedom I’ll use
My Master to serve in the way he shall choose;
To work or to witness, to go or remain,
His smile of approval my infinite gain.
Earth’s pleasures and treasures no longer allure,
My spirit aspires to the things which endure;
To walk with my Saviour in garments of white,
My highest ambition, my constant delight.
The world overcoming by limitless grace,
I worship the Lord in the light of his face;
So with him communing, like him I shall grow,
And life everlasting enjoy here below.
My prayer is that when all this trouble that we are experiencing in the world today ends that we as Gods people can get back to being the people we became when we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour - which, like the Ephesians is not necessaraly the people we had become over the years. We need to get back to being the people, the Church that God wants us to be - a people who love God and one another to the point of praying for those who as yet don’t know Him - the ones for whom Jesus gave His life
God bless you all
Message for Sunday 20 September 2020 also on video at Youtube Billy
Two weeks ago we looked at the importance of staying in touch with God through the privilage of prayer.
Before I start this weeks message I must put right a mistake I made then when I said that when Jesus took James, John and Peter to pray in the garden of Gethsemane that they were also the ones who wrote the last three gospels of the new testament before Jude and Revelation. That was wrong and in fact, the writer of James in the New Testament was in fact James the brother of Jesus.
It can get confusing when you consider that some names were very popular and we have lots of Johns, James, Judas’s.
Last week we looked at the privilage of being loved by God. Johns relationship with Jesus was so special and probably the reason that John when refering to himself in his writings calls himself ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. Only in the Gospel of John do we see this expression being used. That’s not to say that Jesus loved John more than any of the other disciples - what I believe it tells us is that John accepted and delighted in the love that he and Jesus shared.
I said then that that love was seen when in John 19:26 at the crucifixion John says this "When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son no wonder cousin John felt special and loved
To know he was loved by Jesus was special to John and I believe that by using this phrase John wants to draw out attention to how special that felt . Of course that privilage is ours today which is to be loved by Jesus.
We are all loved by God and He wants to fill us with His love so that through us He can love others. We are called not just to know His love but to show His love to one another and especially to those who don’t know Him. As I said a few weeks ago - we need to take the I ( self) out of the word live and replace it with O - live for others.
John 3;16 says God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’.
We closed with the words from Pauls letter to the church at Colosse ch 3;12-17 when he said; Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Love - genuine - real heartfelt love for the fellowship and for those outside our fellowship who need to see that love in action.
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, we have the privilage of coming into the presence of Almighty God through the vehicle of prayer and being blessed by feeling the closeness and awesome love of God in your heart
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. The same qualities that we see in Jesus
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. The very prayer that Jesus taught His disciples - forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
I wonder what a difference if any what we are sharing together has made in your life this past week and indeed your determination to move forward in His love.
Wow! in coming together each week as we have done since March I believe that God has been bringing to the attention of His church - you and me - to look at the special privilages that we as His people can share with one another and with those around us to change us- and transform us - to become the fellowship of believers that God wants us to be. People who experience the things that Paul says to the church at Colosse Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Members of the one body - the living body of Christ which is the Church
And be thankful. Wow - Our praise goes to Almighty God who has made all this possible through His Son Jesus - and because of this; Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Wow! I said last week that I can’t wait and am looking forward to the time when we can get back to share fellowship and worship together again.
As I’ve been saying - I believe that through all this pendemic of Covid that God has been drawing His people - His church - back to Himself and where necessary to get His people to look at themselves in all honesty and see if they have slipped away from being the Church He wants them to be as seen in Acts 2.
With that in mind I have been drawn to look at the need for change. Lets look at what Jesus says as recorded in Matthew 18 1-4
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
What Jesus is saying here is that just as Children learn to live in obedience to their Father - so too we - as His children need to live in obedience to our father .
John in his letter 1 John 3 says this; See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.
Children of God - WOW! As Jesus said to Nicodemus a member of the Jewish ruling Council; No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again - you must be born again. New birth -a Spiritual re-birth that makes us Children of God. As His obedient children we become more like our Father .
In the old Testament book of Jeremiah we read how he was told to go and stand at the door of the Lords house and speak to the ones who gathered there to worship the Lord and tell them to reform their ways and their actions. Jeremiah 7;5
It would seem that like many churches today they had become a fellowship of believers who had started to go the way of the world and move away from what Gods intention for them was. There’s was a false worship. They had to change. The sad thing is that it’s happening again and Gods people need to beware of false teachers who are deceiving the flock.
The message here from the Old Testament is reform - Change get back to being the people God intended us to be all along.
We find this in 1 Samuel 10;6 when Samuel tells Saul the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power - and you will be changed into a different person and the same message is here in the New testament Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven Matthew 18;3
Paul to the Church at Rome says this; Romans 12;1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
I believe that in the world today there is a real need for change. Men have become lovers of self in more ways than one - Lovers of money - only this week it was reported on the news how a young footballer Neymar de Silva is paid an enormous salary simply for playing football. Can you believe it - he is paid £600,000 - not a year - even that would be unbelievable - but hear this - he gets £600,000 a week!
It saddens me that today in some of the most popular preachers in America are asking people to donate vast amounts saying that if they do God will answer their prayers. They live in mansions and have private jets to get them around - unbelievable. I believe that this even overshadows the church in Jeremiah’s day.
When I think of how Jesus - Gods Son - was born in a humble borrowed stable, rode a borrowed donkey into Jerusalem and was buried in a borrowed tomb - it puts the false teachers, the ones who call themselves Gods prophets to shame and ultimately under the judgement of God
It would seem that people have moved away from the commands to love God and one another and share what they have with one another and those around them who are in need.
Gods word shows us how change for the better is necessary. We see it in the lives of the disciples from Fishermen to Fishers of men, from people like Saul the persecutor of the church who was chosen by God and transformed to become Paul the evangelist. The whole Bible shows the need for Gods people to change their ways and get back to being children who live in obedience to their Father God. Change - born again.
We’ve seen how much the world we live in has change - especially over the last 7 months - we have become prisoners in our own homes, unable to meet with our friends and family. Not being able to go out to meet with our friends - and especially if you live alone as I do - you’ve seen an awesome change to your lifestyles.
The world is seeing signs of the end times - This pandemic that has swept throughout the whole world killing millions- and then yesterday on the news I was appalled to see what Global change is affecting the world and causing fires to spread and destroy the homes and lives of thousands. It’s even warmer in our own country in these days
What we really need to see is a change in the lives of Gods people
Paul writing to the church in Rome says this Romans 12;1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. To give ourselves completely over to God and seek to live according to His word That’s what Pauls says is ‘True and proper worship.
Its more than singing hymns, raising your arms in praise it’s about living it putting faith into action for as we know, actions speak louder than words.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The best way to renew our minds is to read the word of God and act upon it - Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
That’s what Psalm 96;9 is saying ‘Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness’
Personally I’ve learned more about myself and Gods will over the last 7 months. It’s not been easy but I must admit it’s been a revelation in more ways than one - - I’ve got out into Gods world on my walks - I’ve had more time to read my bible and realise the awesome presence of God in my everyday life.
Gods been awesome - and I believe I’ve grown closer to Him than ever before. My life has changed in many ways for the better as I’ve learned to rely on and trust Him more and more.
So change - how’s your life changed - how has your vision, understanding and relationship with God grown - I hope for the better and if that’s so then I know that whatever lies ahead that God will be with you and see you through it. It will also mean that others will be able to see the difference really knowing God and not just about Him has made in your life and become a witness to them as to how their lives could change if they put their faith in Him.
Lets pray about that Thank you Father for your love and the vastness of it when as seen when You sent your son Jesus to pay the price for our sins by giving His life on the cross - O Lord to know that you see us as being worthy of such a sacrifice shows us the extent of your love for us.
Lord forgive us for the times when we let you down and put other things before You we are truly sorry and pray that You will help us to be better people - to change where necessary to become people who will please You and live in obedience to Your word
Father God we thank You that we can be born again and be given a fresh start to get to really know You and live as your obedient children should and learn from You how to be good.
And so Lord we give ourselves to You Lord and pray that you will live within us and transform us from within. I pray that we will hunger after your word and become Christlike and pleasing to You - which as your word says is the true and proper way to worship You.
We thank You father that as You change us from within to be the people You desire us to be that we will come under Your direction and live in obedience to Your good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives.
Thank You Lord for our families, friends and fellowship and I pray that we will all know Your presence and leading in our lives
To You we give all the glory and Praise In Jesus name Amen
Before I go I feel I must share what’s happened today just before I started to record this message - the postman came - I went downstairs and found that he had delivered this weeks Salvationist - the front cover showed a picture headed Love in Action - the very thing we talked about two weeks ago - then on the first page the editor had headed his column Living with change - wow - conformation again that this is what God is saying to his church today -
Two weeks ago we looked at the importance of staying in touch with God through the privilage of prayer.
Before I start this weeks message I must put right a mistake I made then when I said that when Jesus took James, John and Peter to pray in the garden of Gethsemane that they were also the ones who wrote the last three gospels of the new testament before Jude and Revelation. That was wrong and in fact, the writer of James in the New Testament was in fact James the brother of Jesus.
It can get confusing when you consider that some names were very popular and we have lots of Johns, James, Judas’s.
Last week we looked at the privilage of being loved by God. Johns relationship with Jesus was so special and probably the reason that John when refering to himself in his writings calls himself ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. Only in the Gospel of John do we see this expression being used. That’s not to say that Jesus loved John more than any of the other disciples - what I believe it tells us is that John accepted and delighted in the love that he and Jesus shared.
I said then that that love was seen when in John 19:26 at the crucifixion John says this "When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son no wonder cousin John felt special and loved
To know he was loved by Jesus was special to John and I believe that by using this phrase John wants to draw out attention to how special that felt . Of course that privilage is ours today which is to be loved by Jesus.
We are all loved by God and He wants to fill us with His love so that through us He can love others. We are called not just to know His love but to show His love to one another and especially to those who don’t know Him. As I said a few weeks ago - we need to take the I ( self) out of the word live and replace it with O - live for others.
John 3;16 says God so loved the World that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life’.
We closed with the words from Pauls letter to the church at Colosse ch 3;12-17 when he said; Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Love - genuine - real heartfelt love for the fellowship and for those outside our fellowship who need to see that love in action.
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, we have the privilage of coming into the presence of Almighty God through the vehicle of prayer and being blessed by feeling the closeness and awesome love of God in your heart
Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. The same qualities that we see in Jesus
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. The very prayer that Jesus taught His disciples - forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
I wonder what a difference if any what we are sharing together has made in your life this past week and indeed your determination to move forward in His love.
Wow! in coming together each week as we have done since March I believe that God has been bringing to the attention of His church - you and me - to look at the special privilages that we as His people can share with one another and with those around us to change us- and transform us - to become the fellowship of believers that God wants us to be. People who experience the things that Paul says to the church at Colosse Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.
Members of the one body - the living body of Christ which is the Church
And be thankful. Wow - Our praise goes to Almighty God who has made all this possible through His Son Jesus - and because of this; Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Wow! I said last week that I can’t wait and am looking forward to the time when we can get back to share fellowship and worship together again.
As I’ve been saying - I believe that through all this pendemic of Covid that God has been drawing His people - His church - back to Himself and where necessary to get His people to look at themselves in all honesty and see if they have slipped away from being the Church He wants them to be as seen in Acts 2.
With that in mind I have been drawn to look at the need for change. Lets look at what Jesus says as recorded in Matthew 18 1-4
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me.
What Jesus is saying here is that just as Children learn to live in obedience to their Father - so too we - as His children need to live in obedience to our father .
John in his letter 1 John 3 says this; See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.
Children of God - WOW! As Jesus said to Nicodemus a member of the Jewish ruling Council; No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again - you must be born again. New birth -a Spiritual re-birth that makes us Children of God. As His obedient children we become more like our Father .
In the old Testament book of Jeremiah we read how he was told to go and stand at the door of the Lords house and speak to the ones who gathered there to worship the Lord and tell them to reform their ways and their actions. Jeremiah 7;5
It would seem that like many churches today they had become a fellowship of believers who had started to go the way of the world and move away from what Gods intention for them was. There’s was a false worship. They had to change. The sad thing is that it’s happening again and Gods people need to beware of false teachers who are deceiving the flock.
The message here from the Old Testament is reform - Change get back to being the people God intended us to be all along.
We find this in 1 Samuel 10;6 when Samuel tells Saul the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you in power - and you will be changed into a different person and the same message is here in the New testament Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven Matthew 18;3
Paul to the Church at Rome says this; Romans 12;1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
I believe that in the world today there is a real need for change. Men have become lovers of self in more ways than one - Lovers of money - only this week it was reported on the news how a young footballer Neymar de Silva is paid an enormous salary simply for playing football. Can you believe it - he is paid £600,000 - not a year - even that would be unbelievable - but hear this - he gets £600,000 a week!
It saddens me that today in some of the most popular preachers in America are asking people to donate vast amounts saying that if they do God will answer their prayers. They live in mansions and have private jets to get them around - unbelievable. I believe that this even overshadows the church in Jeremiah’s day.
When I think of how Jesus - Gods Son - was born in a humble borrowed stable, rode a borrowed donkey into Jerusalem and was buried in a borrowed tomb - it puts the false teachers, the ones who call themselves Gods prophets to shame and ultimately under the judgement of God
It would seem that people have moved away from the commands to love God and one another and share what they have with one another and those around them who are in need.
Gods word shows us how change for the better is necessary. We see it in the lives of the disciples from Fishermen to Fishers of men, from people like Saul the persecutor of the church who was chosen by God and transformed to become Paul the evangelist. The whole Bible shows the need for Gods people to change their ways and get back to being children who live in obedience to their Father God. Change - born again.
We’ve seen how much the world we live in has change - especially over the last 7 months - we have become prisoners in our own homes, unable to meet with our friends and family. Not being able to go out to meet with our friends - and especially if you live alone as I do - you’ve seen an awesome change to your lifestyles.
The world is seeing signs of the end times - This pandemic that has swept throughout the whole world killing millions- and then yesterday on the news I was appalled to see what Global change is affecting the world and causing fires to spread and destroy the homes and lives of thousands. It’s even warmer in our own country in these days
What we really need to see is a change in the lives of Gods people
Paul writing to the church in Rome says this Romans 12;1-2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. To give ourselves completely over to God and seek to live according to His word That’s what Pauls says is ‘True and proper worship.
Its more than singing hymns, raising your arms in praise it’s about living it putting faith into action for as we know, actions speak louder than words.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. The best way to renew our minds is to read the word of God and act upon it - Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
That’s what Psalm 96;9 is saying ‘Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness’
Personally I’ve learned more about myself and Gods will over the last 7 months. It’s not been easy but I must admit it’s been a revelation in more ways than one - - I’ve got out into Gods world on my walks - I’ve had more time to read my bible and realise the awesome presence of God in my everyday life.
Gods been awesome - and I believe I’ve grown closer to Him than ever before. My life has changed in many ways for the better as I’ve learned to rely on and trust Him more and more.
So change - how’s your life changed - how has your vision, understanding and relationship with God grown - I hope for the better and if that’s so then I know that whatever lies ahead that God will be with you and see you through it. It will also mean that others will be able to see the difference really knowing God and not just about Him has made in your life and become a witness to them as to how their lives could change if they put their faith in Him.
Lets pray about that Thank you Father for your love and the vastness of it when as seen when You sent your son Jesus to pay the price for our sins by giving His life on the cross - O Lord to know that you see us as being worthy of such a sacrifice shows us the extent of your love for us.
Lord forgive us for the times when we let you down and put other things before You we are truly sorry and pray that You will help us to be better people - to change where necessary to become people who will please You and live in obedience to Your word
Father God we thank You that we can be born again and be given a fresh start to get to really know You and live as your obedient children should and learn from You how to be good.
And so Lord we give ourselves to You Lord and pray that you will live within us and transform us from within. I pray that we will hunger after your word and become Christlike and pleasing to You - which as your word says is the true and proper way to worship You.
We thank You father that as You change us from within to be the people You desire us to be that we will come under Your direction and live in obedience to Your good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives.
Thank You Lord for our families, friends and fellowship and I pray that we will all know Your presence and leading in our lives
To You we give all the glory and Praise In Jesus name Amen
Before I go I feel I must share what’s happened today just before I started to record this message - the postman came - I went downstairs and found that he had delivered this weeks Salvationist - the front cover showed a picture headed Love in Action - the very thing we talked about two weeks ago - then on the first page the editor had headed his column Living with change - wow - conformation again that this is what God is saying to his church today -
Message for 13 September 2020 this is also on Youtube
Last week we looked at the importance of prayer - We looked at how one of the last things Jesus did before He was arrested and taken away - was to pray - firstly for Himself, secondly for His disciples and thirdly for you and me
We read how the three disciples who were privileged to be chosen to share that final prayer time with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane - were James, Peter and John, the authors of the last three letters in the New Testament that preceed the book of Jude and Revelation. They were also the three that we are told in Matthew 17 that Jesus took with Him to experience His transfiguration. - What special, privileged people.
We closed with the words of 1 John 5; 14,15 which says; This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.
We looked at how important it is to be in daily contact with God, - of knowing His presence and sharing His love with one another.
I said then that I can’t wait to see the outcome of these last months when I believe God has been sending the same message to us and many other churches that of taking an honest look at themselves, their purpose which is to be more Christlike in order to live the life that God wants us all to live and shine in the darkness of this world to help others who as yet don‘t know Him to seek Him for themselves , their commitment, Which is to live in obedience to His word, their direction which is to bring others onboard to know and live the love of God in a selfish ungodly world in preperation for the second coming of Christ when He will take His people to live with Him in Glory.
As Gods people today we need to take a good look at ourselves and if needs be get back to be the Church God started in the first place and get our ACT2gether.
Iv’e been amazed at the confirmations I have had that what we’ve been sharing has been under the direction of God as I have heard and seen other churches looking at the same bible readings that we have - being led under the divine direction of God.
Following last weeks message Brian Lofthouse put a video on face book of a service from the a Church in Belfast where the message was the same as ours about the power of prayer. Make no mistake - God is speaking to us all in these last days and I can’t wait to see the difference God will have made to the churches. Including our church - when we get back together. I believe that if we and the other churches have responded to Gods word that we will be a stronger more determined, purposed and directed Fellowship, empowered and enabled to do the will of God - whatever that will be in the days that lie ahead in preparation for the return of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
I don’t believe God wants to lose anyone - that why He’s giving His creation this last chance to get right with Him and one another in preperation for eternity with Him. A place where love reigns - love for God and love for one another
God IS Love - This week I feel I was directed to look at what John - one of the three disciples that we read about last week who was privileged along with Pater and James to be with Jesus when He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane - to what John says about the love of God and how much God loves His creation - you and me - and the people that I believe He is calling us to share His love with.
John and James were both sons of Zebedee and Salome who was the sister of Mary, Jesus' mother, so their sons John the Apostle and James were Jesus's cousins.
Johns relationship with Jesus was so special and probably the reason that John when refering to himself in his writings calls himself ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. Only in the Gospel of John do we see this expression being used. That’s not to say that Jesus loved John more than any of the other disciples - what I believe it tells us is that John accepted and delighted in the love that he and Jesus shared.
That love was seen when in John 19:26 he declares that at the crucifixion "When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son WOW Jesus is going and realises the grief and pain that His mother will feel after His death and so He chooses John to take His place - That’s how special John was.
John uses this expression in his letter and in the gospel of John such as in John 21:7 where he says, “Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’
To John - Jesus was special - just like He was to the others - he knew he was loved by Jesus that why he uses this term many times like the time. To be loved by Jesus was special to John and I believe that by using this phrase John wants to draw out attention to the special privilage that is ours also which is to be loved by Jesus.
Last week we looked at the importance of Prayer to the believer and this week we look at the importance of Love - true love - Agape love for God and one another and how precious that love is for the people of God - His church - in the world today.
Lets look first at what Jesus says about the importance of love when challenged by a Pharisse, a teacher of the law Matthew 17; 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
When stressing the extent and depth of this love Jesus said in John 15; 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
Lets look at what John has to say in his first letter to the believer - 1 John 4;7-21 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love - does not know God, because God is love.
WOW God is love - if we don’t love one another how can we say we know God. When you look at the terrible things that are going on in the world today - the terrible things man is doing to others - the wickedness, the brutality, the selfishness, the way men are prepared to do whatever it takes to get on in the world at the expence of their fellow men such as human trafficking - we can see the evil ways of the devil where real love has lost it’s importance and the love of money, power and authority has taken over. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Love God and love one another was the command Jesus stressed to the Pharisee. And as John tells us -9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
John 15; 13 reveals the depth of true love as expressed by Jesus Himself when He said Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do whatsoever I command you. Jesus not only said it but He did it when He went to the cross - gave His own life for the sake of you and me.
We hear a lot these days about the selfish actions of some young people. In contrast you may remember how 4 years ago I shared how a brave young man from Thorpe Edge, Dylan Graves suffered two broken vertebrae, a fractured pelvis and a bruised lung when he was hit by a car and trapped between that car and a fence.
He was just 12 years old when he pushed his friend James Yeadon to safety and bore the impact of the Vauxhall Vectra himself, as it rolled down a hill in Rowantree Avenue, Thorpe Edge, just a few hundred metres from the family home. His bravery left him seriously injured, and for his heroics he was named the Child/Teenager of Courage at the 2016 Pride of Britain Awards.
This week he was featured in the T&A which reports that he is moving one step closer to realising his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He risked his own life for the sake of his friend and so this week on facebook in response to a report from his mother I commended his bravery and said that the love he showed for his friend was great and that it would be great if we could see others in the world today responding with such love. I also reminded her of how Jesus did exactly that in giving His own life for the same of you and me today.
1 John 4;10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
John had said this earlier in chapter 3; 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Laying down your life for others doesn’t just mean putting your own life at risk its about putting others first above your own needs and John then goes on to illustrate this in more practical ways when he says If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Love is more than a feeling we show our love by putting it into action - many of our Corps show our love to the underprivileged children in Africa be giving financialy on a monthly basis to provide education, food and a home to the children who have been orphaned through the AIDS. It’s really heart-warming to hear the good news of their progress of how through our help they are growing to become young adults.
Love in action is so important and so needed in the world today. We are privileged to know and feel His love and are required to show that love - the love of God - to others.He has made this possible by filling those who love Him and desire to live in harmony and obedience to His word by filling them with His Holy Spirit John testifies to that truth when he shares how Jesus gave His Holy Spirit at Pentecost;
13; We know that we live in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us - God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
Paul said it to the Galatians 5;22 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Notice it says fruit not fruits - the qualities highlighted here all stem from the one which is LOVE True love brings Joy, Peace, helps us to think more highly of others, show Kindness, be Good, be faithful to God and our fellow men by being Gentle and in full control of ourselves - that LOVE.
And so John goes on to say 17; In this way love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19; We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. That’s real love - Gods love - that’s what the world today lacks - love - Gods love.
Mankind today has developed a different ungodly - selfish idea of love. John warns us of this in chapter 2 when he says this; 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives for ever.
I don’t believe that John is saying hate the world - I love the world that God made and enjoy it every day on my walks along the canal, through the countryside, Ilkley Moor, Gods opened my eyes and my heart to a lovely world over the last 7 months during lockdown - I love my walks. The wonder of Gods world.
John’s not saying hate the world or why else should the bible say that God so loved the world - that He gave His beloved Son Jesus to die on the cross that whosoever believeth in Him should have eternal life. What John is saying is don’t love mans idea of what he would say is the perfect world which is fuelled with greed - lust -the love of money, wealth at any cost - a world where power and dominance is sought after - a world where true love has lost it’s meaning and identity. A world that has been taken over by the evil one who seeks to corrupt and deny the word of God. A world that is fuelled by greed and power hunters.
A world where the true meaning of love has been corrupted to be unscriptural - a world where even some churches have allowed the world to dominate their thinking and are allowing marriage between people of the same sex. A world where the value of new life is threatened by abortion, a world where children in schools are being taught that same sex relationships are acceptable. A world where even TV supports and glories in opening their programmes, soaps etc to accept the evil values of the world.
A world where speaking up for God is denied - free speech is being criminalized. Only this week Newquay Town Councilor the labour politician Stephen Hicks is calling for Pastor Williamson of Newquay Baptist Church, Cornwall to be deported as a hate preacher because he spoke up against a march organised by PRIDE. It appears that all he did was share the true Word of God.
Another threat against free speech is when you try and look at the report put on face book by Christian Concern and you’ll find it has been taken off the internet - That’s the way the world is being influenced by the evil one and the kind of world that the bible talks about when it says ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world’ for if you do, then the love of God our Father is not in them. God is our Father and we are His children,. God loves us, and through us, wants to show His love to the world.
The whole of Johns letter is based on Love The Love God has for us and the love that we should have for God and for one another. Unselfish compassionate love of God.
I thank God that I belong to a fellowship of people who love one another and I pray that that love will grow and reach out to those of our families, friends and neighbours. True love that is seen in the way we respond to the needs of others, True love that shows the extent of our love for God and how His presence and love for us dominates the way we live and can be seen by others around us..
I love the way John describes himself as the disciple whom Jesus loves - that shows us that he really feels and knows the true love of Jesus in his everyday life and experience and shares that love with others.
O how we need to let the world around us see the love that we share as a church as there are so many churches who have become bad examples of what the bible teaches as the evil one has crept in and corrupted the very word of God.
Finally look at what Paul writes to the church at Colosse ch 3;12-17 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Love - genuine - real heartfelt love for the fellowship and for those outside our fellowship who need to see that love in action. Do that and the next few verses wil be our Joy- especialy when we are able to come back together in worship.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. WOW can’t wait
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Lets pray
Father God We thank You - each one of us - for Your love - the love that fills our hearts to overflowing - the love that you showed us when You gave Your Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sins - Father our hearts are ovewhelmed by the awesome extent of Your love - for You to value us - guilty sinners as we were - as worthy of that Sacrifice.
Lord I pray that we will begin to show You how much we love You by the responding to Your example by loving one another with that same passion by being prepared to think more highly of our brothers and sisters and give whatever it takes to help one another stay close to You.
Lord forgive us if we have failed You in any way by not showing that same love to one another and especially to those who as yet don’t know You and perhaps look down on us because of our faith in You and make our lives difficult
Forgive us Lord if we have allowed the attractions of the world to take pre-eminence over things like bible study or prayer and help us Lord to show You how much we love You by putting You first in our everyday lives.
We thank You Lord for Your great Love and pray that we will be vehicles through whom You will show Your love to others.
We pray for those of our family who need You in any special way today.
We pray for our fellowship that You will strengthen and direct us to be the people You want us to be in the world today
We pray for the Church all over the world - that the evil ways of the deciever will not be able to stop people holding on to the truth of Your word.
Father we thank You for the way You are taking care of us in these difficult days and I pray that if anyone taking part in this prayer time needs You in any way that Lord You will presence Yourself with that one and bring the answer to their deepest need.
We pray for healing - both of body and of mind - we pray for comfort and for strength and that each one bowed before You now will begin to feel the warmth of Your great love in their heart now as we pray.
May Your Love be evidenced in the lives of each one bowed before You now. And may we begin to share that Love with others around us to Your Glory Lord.
We pray this in the name of the Father , the Son and the Holy Spirit
Amen
Last week we looked at the importance of prayer - We looked at how one of the last things Jesus did before He was arrested and taken away - was to pray - firstly for Himself, secondly for His disciples and thirdly for you and me
We read how the three disciples who were privileged to be chosen to share that final prayer time with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane - were James, Peter and John, the authors of the last three letters in the New Testament that preceed the book of Jude and Revelation. They were also the three that we are told in Matthew 17 that Jesus took with Him to experience His transfiguration. - What special, privileged people.
We closed with the words of 1 John 5; 14,15 which says; This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.
We looked at how important it is to be in daily contact with God, - of knowing His presence and sharing His love with one another.
I said then that I can’t wait to see the outcome of these last months when I believe God has been sending the same message to us and many other churches that of taking an honest look at themselves, their purpose which is to be more Christlike in order to live the life that God wants us all to live and shine in the darkness of this world to help others who as yet don‘t know Him to seek Him for themselves , their commitment, Which is to live in obedience to His word, their direction which is to bring others onboard to know and live the love of God in a selfish ungodly world in preperation for the second coming of Christ when He will take His people to live with Him in Glory.
As Gods people today we need to take a good look at ourselves and if needs be get back to be the Church God started in the first place and get our ACT2gether.
Iv’e been amazed at the confirmations I have had that what we’ve been sharing has been under the direction of God as I have heard and seen other churches looking at the same bible readings that we have - being led under the divine direction of God.
Following last weeks message Brian Lofthouse put a video on face book of a service from the a Church in Belfast where the message was the same as ours about the power of prayer. Make no mistake - God is speaking to us all in these last days and I can’t wait to see the difference God will have made to the churches. Including our church - when we get back together. I believe that if we and the other churches have responded to Gods word that we will be a stronger more determined, purposed and directed Fellowship, empowered and enabled to do the will of God - whatever that will be in the days that lie ahead in preparation for the return of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
I don’t believe God wants to lose anyone - that why He’s giving His creation this last chance to get right with Him and one another in preperation for eternity with Him. A place where love reigns - love for God and love for one another
God IS Love - This week I feel I was directed to look at what John - one of the three disciples that we read about last week who was privileged along with Pater and James to be with Jesus when He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane - to what John says about the love of God and how much God loves His creation - you and me - and the people that I believe He is calling us to share His love with.
John and James were both sons of Zebedee and Salome who was the sister of Mary, Jesus' mother, so their sons John the Apostle and James were Jesus's cousins.
Johns relationship with Jesus was so special and probably the reason that John when refering to himself in his writings calls himself ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. Only in the Gospel of John do we see this expression being used. That’s not to say that Jesus loved John more than any of the other disciples - what I believe it tells us is that John accepted and delighted in the love that he and Jesus shared.
That love was seen when in John 19:26 he declares that at the crucifixion "When Jesus saw His mother there, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, 'Dear woman, here is your son WOW Jesus is going and realises the grief and pain that His mother will feel after His death and so He chooses John to take His place - That’s how special John was.
John uses this expression in his letter and in the gospel of John such as in John 21:7 where he says, “Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, ‘It is the Lord!’
To John - Jesus was special - just like He was to the others - he knew he was loved by Jesus that why he uses this term many times like the time. To be loved by Jesus was special to John and I believe that by using this phrase John wants to draw out attention to the special privilage that is ours also which is to be loved by Jesus.
Last week we looked at the importance of Prayer to the believer and this week we look at the importance of Love - true love - Agape love for God and one another and how precious that love is for the people of God - His church - in the world today.
Lets look first at what Jesus says about the importance of love when challenged by a Pharisse, a teacher of the law Matthew 17; 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
When stressing the extent and depth of this love Jesus said in John 15; 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
Lets look at what John has to say in his first letter to the believer - 1 John 4;7-21 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love - does not know God, because God is love.
WOW God is love - if we don’t love one another how can we say we know God. When you look at the terrible things that are going on in the world today - the terrible things man is doing to others - the wickedness, the brutality, the selfishness, the way men are prepared to do whatever it takes to get on in the world at the expence of their fellow men such as human trafficking - we can see the evil ways of the devil where real love has lost it’s importance and the love of money, power and authority has taken over. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
Love God and love one another was the command Jesus stressed to the Pharisee. And as John tells us -9 This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him.
John 15; 13 reveals the depth of true love as expressed by Jesus Himself when He said Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are My friends if you do whatsoever I command you. Jesus not only said it but He did it when He went to the cross - gave His own life for the sake of you and me.
We hear a lot these days about the selfish actions of some young people. In contrast you may remember how 4 years ago I shared how a brave young man from Thorpe Edge, Dylan Graves suffered two broken vertebrae, a fractured pelvis and a bruised lung when he was hit by a car and trapped between that car and a fence.
He was just 12 years old when he pushed his friend James Yeadon to safety and bore the impact of the Vauxhall Vectra himself, as it rolled down a hill in Rowantree Avenue, Thorpe Edge, just a few hundred metres from the family home. His bravery left him seriously injured, and for his heroics he was named the Child/Teenager of Courage at the 2016 Pride of Britain Awards.
This week he was featured in the T&A which reports that he is moving one step closer to realising his dream of becoming a professional footballer. He risked his own life for the sake of his friend and so this week on facebook in response to a report from his mother I commended his bravery and said that the love he showed for his friend was great and that it would be great if we could see others in the world today responding with such love. I also reminded her of how Jesus did exactly that in giving His own life for the same of you and me today.
1 John 4;10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
John had said this earlier in chapter 3; 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. Laying down your life for others doesn’t just mean putting your own life at risk its about putting others first above your own needs and John then goes on to illustrate this in more practical ways when he says If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.
Love is more than a feeling we show our love by putting it into action - many of our Corps show our love to the underprivileged children in Africa be giving financialy on a monthly basis to provide education, food and a home to the children who have been orphaned through the AIDS. It’s really heart-warming to hear the good news of their progress of how through our help they are growing to become young adults.
Love in action is so important and so needed in the world today. We are privileged to know and feel His love and are required to show that love - the love of God - to others.He has made this possible by filling those who love Him and desire to live in harmony and obedience to His word by filling them with His Holy Spirit John testifies to that truth when he shares how Jesus gave His Holy Spirit at Pentecost;
13; We know that we live in Him and He in us because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us - God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
Paul said it to the Galatians 5;22 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Notice it says fruit not fruits - the qualities highlighted here all stem from the one which is LOVE True love brings Joy, Peace, helps us to think more highly of others, show Kindness, be Good, be faithful to God and our fellow men by being Gentle and in full control of ourselves - that LOVE.
And so John goes on to say 17; In this way love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment because in this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19; We love because He first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And He has given us this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. That’s real love - Gods love - that’s what the world today lacks - love - Gods love.
Mankind today has developed a different ungodly - selfish idea of love. John warns us of this in chapter 2 when he says this; 15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives for ever.
I don’t believe that John is saying hate the world - I love the world that God made and enjoy it every day on my walks along the canal, through the countryside, Ilkley Moor, Gods opened my eyes and my heart to a lovely world over the last 7 months during lockdown - I love my walks. The wonder of Gods world.
John’s not saying hate the world or why else should the bible say that God so loved the world - that He gave His beloved Son Jesus to die on the cross that whosoever believeth in Him should have eternal life. What John is saying is don’t love mans idea of what he would say is the perfect world which is fuelled with greed - lust -the love of money, wealth at any cost - a world where power and dominance is sought after - a world where true love has lost it’s meaning and identity. A world that has been taken over by the evil one who seeks to corrupt and deny the word of God. A world that is fuelled by greed and power hunters.
A world where the true meaning of love has been corrupted to be unscriptural - a world where even some churches have allowed the world to dominate their thinking and are allowing marriage between people of the same sex. A world where the value of new life is threatened by abortion, a world where children in schools are being taught that same sex relationships are acceptable. A world where even TV supports and glories in opening their programmes, soaps etc to accept the evil values of the world.
A world where speaking up for God is denied - free speech is being criminalized. Only this week Newquay Town Councilor the labour politician Stephen Hicks is calling for Pastor Williamson of Newquay Baptist Church, Cornwall to be deported as a hate preacher because he spoke up against a march organised by PRIDE. It appears that all he did was share the true Word of God.
Another threat against free speech is when you try and look at the report put on face book by Christian Concern and you’ll find it has been taken off the internet - That’s the way the world is being influenced by the evil one and the kind of world that the bible talks about when it says ‘Do not love the world or anything in the world’ for if you do, then the love of God our Father is not in them. God is our Father and we are His children,. God loves us, and through us, wants to show His love to the world.
The whole of Johns letter is based on Love The Love God has for us and the love that we should have for God and for one another. Unselfish compassionate love of God.
I thank God that I belong to a fellowship of people who love one another and I pray that that love will grow and reach out to those of our families, friends and neighbours. True love that is seen in the way we respond to the needs of others, True love that shows the extent of our love for God and how His presence and love for us dominates the way we live and can be seen by others around us..
I love the way John describes himself as the disciple whom Jesus loves - that shows us that he really feels and knows the true love of Jesus in his everyday life and experience and shares that love with others.
O how we need to let the world around us see the love that we share as a church as there are so many churches who have become bad examples of what the bible teaches as the evil one has crept in and corrupted the very word of God.
Finally look at what Paul writes to the church at Colosse ch 3;12-17 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Love - genuine - real heartfelt love for the fellowship and for those outside our fellowship who need to see that love in action. Do that and the next few verses wil be our Joy- especialy when we are able to come back together in worship.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. WOW can’t wait
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Lets pray
Father God We thank You - each one of us - for Your love - the love that fills our hearts to overflowing - the love that you showed us when You gave Your Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sins - Father our hearts are ovewhelmed by the awesome extent of Your love - for You to value us - guilty sinners as we were - as worthy of that Sacrifice.
Lord I pray that we will begin to show You how much we love You by the responding to Your example by loving one another with that same passion by being prepared to think more highly of our brothers and sisters and give whatever it takes to help one another stay close to You.
Lord forgive us if we have failed You in any way by not showing that same love to one another and especially to those who as yet don’t know You and perhaps look down on us because of our faith in You and make our lives difficult
Forgive us Lord if we have allowed the attractions of the world to take pre-eminence over things like bible study or prayer and help us Lord to show You how much we love You by putting You first in our everyday lives.
We thank You Lord for Your great Love and pray that we will be vehicles through whom You will show Your love to others.
We pray for those of our family who need You in any special way today.
We pray for our fellowship that You will strengthen and direct us to be the people You want us to be in the world today
We pray for the Church all over the world - that the evil ways of the deciever will not be able to stop people holding on to the truth of Your word.
Father we thank You for the way You are taking care of us in these difficult days and I pray that if anyone taking part in this prayer time needs You in any way that Lord You will presence Yourself with that one and bring the answer to their deepest need.
We pray for healing - both of body and of mind - we pray for comfort and for strength and that each one bowed before You now will begin to feel the warmth of Your great love in their heart now as we pray.
May Your Love be evidenced in the lives of each one bowed before You now. And may we begin to share that Love with others around us to Your Glory Lord.
We pray this in the name of the Father , the Son and the Holy Spirit
Amen
Message for 6 September 2020 also on Youtube
Last week we looked at the what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi in Chapter 4; 1-9 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I said then that today - It’s not easy not to be anxious about anything - we’ve been living in a difficult climate since March - six months - and no sign of the end of it. Not being able to share with our loved ones - not being able to come together for worship, bible study, prayer - having to wear a face mask when we go out - it’s not easy and if we are honest it’s easy to get anxious about what is happenning and what to expect in the coming days.
Yes we all have anxious times but thankfully as Paul says - through prayer and petition the peace of God that is far above our mortal understanding will guard your heart and keep your mind firmly fixed on Him. I know that’s true - as I’ve never felt closer to God than I do now - He is my strength - my help - My friend when I need Him.
I said last week that Gods been amazing me these last few months in the way He has ministered to me and helped me through some difficult situations and I can do nothing more than praise Him for that and try to live in faithfulness to the life he has called me to live for Him.
That was what I believe was Gods message to us all last week - don’t be anxious about anything - pray about it - and with a grateful believing thankful heart let God fill you with the assurance that whatever - no matter how impossible we believe it is - God who is above the limitations of our mortal understanding will listen and respond to our faith in Him.
That was Gods message to us all - to you and to me the messenger - and believe me I know that when I give the message it’s for me as well - I’m only the vehicle through whom I believe God speaks to us all. God was speaking to us all and on Thursday I did what God had told us all to do in last weeks message.
I prayed in faith believing and experienced once again the awesome answer to my prayer that day - I was so overwhelmed that I felt I had to put it on face book as evidence of how God backed up what He had promised - if we take our all our difficulties to Him in believing prayer. I would even call what He did a miracle.
This is what I shared; I have not been able to open my back door for over a year now as I could not find the key. I have searched everywhere time and time again - had the house upside down - even my family have searched and none of us could find it.
Last week in my Sunday message God led me to share from Philippians 4; 6,7 which says; Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus'.
On Thursday morning I got on my knees ( as I do every morning) and asked God to show me where the key is - I prayed passionately believing that God is all powerful and would know where it was. I even said that I would understand if I had somehow got rid of the key with some rubbish and it could not be retrievable. I then went out for one of my walks around Roberts park in Saltaire. When I got home, I opened the front door and as I entered the hall there at the bottom of the stairs on the floor - staring me in the face was a key - I rushed to the back door and tried it and it openned - I just stood there with tears in my eyes and thanked God out loud for finding my key. Believe me - it wasn't there when I left the house - I had searched that very area.
I went straight up stairs, got down on my knees thanked God for the miracle. A whole years searching and after a simple heartfelt prayer of faith there it was. What did Paul say? Don’t be anxious about anything, pray with a believing mind that God is above our understanding for He is. Believe me - I was so overwhelmed that my heart was bursting to let the whole world know how awesome God is - I still can’t get over it - my heart is full of praise to Almighty God for His love and answered prayer.
As you all know I’ve personally experienced miraculous answers to prayer in my own life - firstly being prayed for by David Murden the night before I was due to go down to the operating theatre for a second operation on my kidneys that had refused to work following my first operation. When I awoke the morning of the operation, the doctors told me I didn’t need it as my kidneys had started to function during the night. Then secondly I had an operation for a deep malignant cancer that after they had done it, the specialist wrote to my doctor and said that my life expectancy was short - that was over 20 years ago and I’m still here - Praise the Lord.
I’ve seen answers to my prayers for others such as Christopher who had calipers on his legs and was told that he would have to have a steel rod put down his spine - we prayed and God answered our prayers and he didn’t need the operation and even had the calipers removed from his legs.
Baby Adam who was born with lungs that wouldn’t work - we prayed and a week later he was home - healed - our God is awesome - believe that - he will see us through whatever difficulties we face.
Obviously as you all know - there have been many times when my prayers have not been answered in the way I wanted- healing for Beryl for instance - but through all those years that we had to cope with her Altzheimers I can truly say - God was with us upholding and strengthening us - and as other people looked on they could see the love we shared and how God was helping us through it all.
Whilst God loves you and me and will see us through these difficult times - make no mistake - The devil will do his best to use the difficult times to try to bring us down and lose faith in God but thank God - he will fail if we place our trust and confidence in the Lord - as Peter said in 1 Peter 1 , you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials - verse 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
As Paul says and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus and He’s done that for me.
So - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
We ended last week by looking at what Paul went on to say Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice and the God of peace will be with you.
Paul is speaking here about the practicalities of putting into practice that which God has revealed to them through His letters and his life. What he is saying is what God has told me to share with you - put it into practice = live it and if you do then the God of peace will be with you. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice - Live it let the word become flesh in you
This week we continue to look at prayer - particularly the one Jesus made before He was arrested and led away to be crucified. John 17 v 1-26. I was surprised when I checked the last time I had used this passage of Scripture to find that it was the very last message I gave the week before lockdown - March 15 . It was during the following week March 18 that we were informed we were not allowed to meet together in church the following week which was Mothers Day.
As I looked at what I had said then I realised that even then God was preparing us for what was going to happen in the next week and following months and was turning our thoughts to prayer and the special privilage that is ours of being indwelt by Jesus - the very things that God has drawn out attention to in these last few weeks. WOW
Matthew tells us that when Jesus went to pray in Gethsemane He took Peter, James and John with Him and the other disciples were told to wait and stay awake which they failed to do; So not suprising that when Matthew, Mark and Luke record the prayer time of Jesus it’s probably how they saw Him before He went to pray alone.
The first three gospel writers report Jesus as saying that He is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death and asking for the cup of suffering to be removed.
The only time we have the full prayer of Jesus is from John - who was one of the three closest to Jesus at that time. Matthew, Mark and Luke cannot give the whole prayer a they were not close enough to Jesus. -
The prayer that John records is the full prayer where firstly Jesus prays for Himself John 17;1-5 secondly for His disciples, 6-19 and thirdly for the ones who will come after them - me and you. All believers 20-26
As we know, Jesus was a man of prayer it was the first thing He did before the day began and before any recorded incident we have of Him. He prayed before He chose His Disciples, before He gave the sermon on the mount and before being led away to be tried and crucified. He also taught His disciples how to pray when He taught them what we today call the Lords Prayer
Lets look at the full prayer of Jesus and remind ourselves of what we shared the week lockdown began
John 17 Firstly Jesus prayed for Himself and His mission
John 17 “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. Wow! Eternal life is attained by Knowing Him - God in Christ Jesus
I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Here Jesus is maintaining that He was there at the beginning - as John says later - In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God - and the Word was God. The pure word of God that was only spoiled when the evil one came to bring temptation into the world.
Jesus then Prayed for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed You to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word. Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. For I gave them the words You gave
Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours.
All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine. And glory has come to Me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name, the name you gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one. Completely One as Jesus and God are.
13 “I am coming to You now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them. I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. What Jesus is praying here is that the disciples would be Enabled and empowered to continue the work He had began of sharing the truth by physically living the Word. Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness
Jesus then Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, WOW! That’s you and me and listen to this - Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and You in Me—so
that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.
Unity - The fellowship together in mind and deed That’s what we shared last week from Pauls letter to the Philippians- united in Christ and with one another - a together Church and there’s more - that they may be one as We are one— I in them and You in Me.
He closes His prayer like this; 24 “Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. Jesus wants us to one day, be with Him in Glory
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them.”
A couple of weeks ago we looked at the prayer of Paul he cried out to God ‘I want to know You’ really know You - what did Jesus pray here -
Father I have made known to them and will continue to do that so that Your love may be in them and that I myself may be in them - wow that’s what we looked at last week - the presence of Jesus living within us - to enable us to be the embodiment of Christ just as Jesus was the embodiment of God
WOW! And those are the truths that we looked at the week before lockdown - in preparation for what was to come. United as a fellowship, with a passion to really know Jesus and infilled with His presence. Then over the last few weeks to share the awesome power there is in prayer as seen when Peter was released from prison In answer to the prayers of the church.
Prayer- how important it is. I couldn’t start the day - without kneeling at my bedside to talk to God. I wouldn’t dare face the day without first seeking His presence and guidance for that day - I need to know that I am doing what He wants me to do and not just what I want to do.
I thank God for the amazing answer to my prayer on Thursday morning - it’s almost as if God was confirming all that we have been sharing for the last 6 months and especially what we shared last week - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I can’t wait to see the outcome of these last months and what a difference God will have made to the churches. Including our church - when we get back together. I believe that if we and the other churches have responded to Gods word that we will be a stronger more determined purposed and directed fellowship empowered and enabled to do the will of God - whatever that will be in the days that lie ahead in
preparation for the return of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
God doesn’t want to lose anyone that why I believe He’s giving His creation this last chance to get right with Him and one another in preperation for eternity with Him. A place where love reigns - love for God and love for one another
Amazingly the three disciples who were privileged to be chosen to share that final prayer time with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane - James, Peter and John are the authors of the last three letters in the New Testament that preceed the book of Revelation
Lets rejoice in the concluding remarks of John’s letter that says 1 John 5; 14,15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.
Lets pray - with that confidence;
Father God we thank You for the privilage there is in being able to talk to You - Almighty God - Yahweh - that if we are responsive to You and seek to live in obedience to You and fulfil Your will in our daily living that You will hear and answer our prayers.
Lord I pray that we may be responsive to all that You have been saying to us over the last few months and that if in any way we have failed You that we will seek your forgiveness and become a people who are ready to be indwelt by You and empowered and enabled to become the people you desired us to be from the very beginning of time - a people filled with love for You and one another.
Lord I pray that You will fill our hearts with Your love and help us to show that Love - Your love - to those we meet day by day so that they will be able to see the way You help us through our difficult days and seek to know You themselves.
Father God we look forward to the day when we will be able to come back together to worship You together as a fellowship - Lord that will be great - but until that time I pray that will feel Your awesome presence in our hearts and lives and glorify You by living the Word as Jesus did.
Be with us Lord as we go through this coming week and may we live to please You in every way - in Jesus name we ask
Amen
Last week we looked at the what Paul wrote to the church at Philippi in Chapter 4; 1-9 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I said then that today - It’s not easy not to be anxious about anything - we’ve been living in a difficult climate since March - six months - and no sign of the end of it. Not being able to share with our loved ones - not being able to come together for worship, bible study, prayer - having to wear a face mask when we go out - it’s not easy and if we are honest it’s easy to get anxious about what is happenning and what to expect in the coming days.
Yes we all have anxious times but thankfully as Paul says - through prayer and petition the peace of God that is far above our mortal understanding will guard your heart and keep your mind firmly fixed on Him. I know that’s true - as I’ve never felt closer to God than I do now - He is my strength - my help - My friend when I need Him.
I said last week that Gods been amazing me these last few months in the way He has ministered to me and helped me through some difficult situations and I can do nothing more than praise Him for that and try to live in faithfulness to the life he has called me to live for Him.
That was what I believe was Gods message to us all last week - don’t be anxious about anything - pray about it - and with a grateful believing thankful heart let God fill you with the assurance that whatever - no matter how impossible we believe it is - God who is above the limitations of our mortal understanding will listen and respond to our faith in Him.
That was Gods message to us all - to you and to me the messenger - and believe me I know that when I give the message it’s for me as well - I’m only the vehicle through whom I believe God speaks to us all. God was speaking to us all and on Thursday I did what God had told us all to do in last weeks message.
I prayed in faith believing and experienced once again the awesome answer to my prayer that day - I was so overwhelmed that I felt I had to put it on face book as evidence of how God backed up what He had promised - if we take our all our difficulties to Him in believing prayer. I would even call what He did a miracle.
This is what I shared; I have not been able to open my back door for over a year now as I could not find the key. I have searched everywhere time and time again - had the house upside down - even my family have searched and none of us could find it.
Last week in my Sunday message God led me to share from Philippians 4; 6,7 which says; Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus'.
On Thursday morning I got on my knees ( as I do every morning) and asked God to show me where the key is - I prayed passionately believing that God is all powerful and would know where it was. I even said that I would understand if I had somehow got rid of the key with some rubbish and it could not be retrievable. I then went out for one of my walks around Roberts park in Saltaire. When I got home, I opened the front door and as I entered the hall there at the bottom of the stairs on the floor - staring me in the face was a key - I rushed to the back door and tried it and it openned - I just stood there with tears in my eyes and thanked God out loud for finding my key. Believe me - it wasn't there when I left the house - I had searched that very area.
I went straight up stairs, got down on my knees thanked God for the miracle. A whole years searching and after a simple heartfelt prayer of faith there it was. What did Paul say? Don’t be anxious about anything, pray with a believing mind that God is above our understanding for He is. Believe me - I was so overwhelmed that my heart was bursting to let the whole world know how awesome God is - I still can’t get over it - my heart is full of praise to Almighty God for His love and answered prayer.
As you all know I’ve personally experienced miraculous answers to prayer in my own life - firstly being prayed for by David Murden the night before I was due to go down to the operating theatre for a second operation on my kidneys that had refused to work following my first operation. When I awoke the morning of the operation, the doctors told me I didn’t need it as my kidneys had started to function during the night. Then secondly I had an operation for a deep malignant cancer that after they had done it, the specialist wrote to my doctor and said that my life expectancy was short - that was over 20 years ago and I’m still here - Praise the Lord.
I’ve seen answers to my prayers for others such as Christopher who had calipers on his legs and was told that he would have to have a steel rod put down his spine - we prayed and God answered our prayers and he didn’t need the operation and even had the calipers removed from his legs.
Baby Adam who was born with lungs that wouldn’t work - we prayed and a week later he was home - healed - our God is awesome - believe that - he will see us through whatever difficulties we face.
Obviously as you all know - there have been many times when my prayers have not been answered in the way I wanted- healing for Beryl for instance - but through all those years that we had to cope with her Altzheimers I can truly say - God was with us upholding and strengthening us - and as other people looked on they could see the love we shared and how God was helping us through it all.
Whilst God loves you and me and will see us through these difficult times - make no mistake - The devil will do his best to use the difficult times to try to bring us down and lose faith in God but thank God - he will fail if we place our trust and confidence in the Lord - as Peter said in 1 Peter 1 , you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials - verse 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."
As Paul says and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus and He’s done that for me.
So - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
We ended last week by looking at what Paul went on to say Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice and the God of peace will be with you.
Paul is speaking here about the practicalities of putting into practice that which God has revealed to them through His letters and his life. What he is saying is what God has told me to share with you - put it into practice = live it and if you do then the God of peace will be with you. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice - Live it let the word become flesh in you
This week we continue to look at prayer - particularly the one Jesus made before He was arrested and led away to be crucified. John 17 v 1-26. I was surprised when I checked the last time I had used this passage of Scripture to find that it was the very last message I gave the week before lockdown - March 15 . It was during the following week March 18 that we were informed we were not allowed to meet together in church the following week which was Mothers Day.
As I looked at what I had said then I realised that even then God was preparing us for what was going to happen in the next week and following months and was turning our thoughts to prayer and the special privilage that is ours of being indwelt by Jesus - the very things that God has drawn out attention to in these last few weeks. WOW
Matthew tells us that when Jesus went to pray in Gethsemane He took Peter, James and John with Him and the other disciples were told to wait and stay awake which they failed to do; So not suprising that when Matthew, Mark and Luke record the prayer time of Jesus it’s probably how they saw Him before He went to pray alone.
The first three gospel writers report Jesus as saying that He is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death and asking for the cup of suffering to be removed.
The only time we have the full prayer of Jesus is from John - who was one of the three closest to Jesus at that time. Matthew, Mark and Luke cannot give the whole prayer a they were not close enough to Jesus. -
The prayer that John records is the full prayer where firstly Jesus prays for Himself John 17;1-5 secondly for His disciples, 6-19 and thirdly for the ones who will come after them - me and you. All believers 20-26
As we know, Jesus was a man of prayer it was the first thing He did before the day began and before any recorded incident we have of Him. He prayed before He chose His Disciples, before He gave the sermon on the mount and before being led away to be tried and crucified. He also taught His disciples how to pray when He taught them what we today call the Lords Prayer
Lets look at the full prayer of Jesus and remind ourselves of what we shared the week lockdown began
John 17 Firstly Jesus prayed for Himself and His mission
John 17 “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. Wow! Eternal life is attained by Knowing Him - God in Christ Jesus
I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Here Jesus is maintaining that He was there at the beginning - as John says later - In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God - and the Word was God. The pure word of God that was only spoiled when the evil one came to bring temptation into the world.
Jesus then Prayed for His Disciples
6 “I have revealed You to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were Yours; You gave them to Me and they have obeyed Your word. Now they know that everything You have given Me comes from You. For I gave them the words You gave
Me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from You, and they believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those You have given Me, for they are Yours.
All I have is Yours, and all You have is Mine. And glory has come to Me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name, the name you gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one. Completely One as Jesus and God are.
13 “I am coming to You now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of My joy within them. I have given them Your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. What Jesus is praying here is that the disciples would be Enabled and empowered to continue the work He had began of sharing the truth by physically living the Word. Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness
Jesus then Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, WOW! That’s you and me and listen to this - Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent Me. I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and You in Me—so
that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me.
Unity - The fellowship together in mind and deed That’s what we shared last week from Pauls letter to the Philippians- united in Christ and with one another - a together Church and there’s more - that they may be one as We are one— I in them and You in Me.
He closes His prayer like this; 24 “Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world. Jesus wants us to one day, be with Him in Glory
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them.”
A couple of weeks ago we looked at the prayer of Paul he cried out to God ‘I want to know You’ really know You - what did Jesus pray here -
Father I have made known to them and will continue to do that so that Your love may be in them and that I myself may be in them - wow that’s what we looked at last week - the presence of Jesus living within us - to enable us to be the embodiment of Christ just as Jesus was the embodiment of God
WOW! And those are the truths that we looked at the week before lockdown - in preparation for what was to come. United as a fellowship, with a passion to really know Jesus and infilled with His presence. Then over the last few weeks to share the awesome power there is in prayer as seen when Peter was released from prison In answer to the prayers of the church.
Prayer- how important it is. I couldn’t start the day - without kneeling at my bedside to talk to God. I wouldn’t dare face the day without first seeking His presence and guidance for that day - I need to know that I am doing what He wants me to do and not just what I want to do.
I thank God for the amazing answer to my prayer on Thursday morning - it’s almost as if God was confirming all that we have been sharing for the last 6 months and especially what we shared last week - Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
I can’t wait to see the outcome of these last months and what a difference God will have made to the churches. Including our church - when we get back together. I believe that if we and the other churches have responded to Gods word that we will be a stronger more determined purposed and directed fellowship empowered and enabled to do the will of God - whatever that will be in the days that lie ahead in
preparation for the return of our Saviour Jesus Christ.
God doesn’t want to lose anyone that why I believe He’s giving His creation this last chance to get right with Him and one another in preperation for eternity with Him. A place where love reigns - love for God and love for one another
Amazingly the three disciples who were privileged to be chosen to share that final prayer time with Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane - James, Peter and John are the authors of the last three letters in the New Testament that preceed the book of Revelation
Lets rejoice in the concluding remarks of John’s letter that says 1 John 5; 14,15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.
Lets pray - with that confidence;
Father God we thank You for the privilage there is in being able to talk to You - Almighty God - Yahweh - that if we are responsive to You and seek to live in obedience to You and fulfil Your will in our daily living that You will hear and answer our prayers.
Lord I pray that we may be responsive to all that You have been saying to us over the last few months and that if in any way we have failed You that we will seek your forgiveness and become a people who are ready to be indwelt by You and empowered and enabled to become the people you desired us to be from the very beginning of time - a people filled with love for You and one another.
Lord I pray that You will fill our hearts with Your love and help us to show that Love - Your love - to those we meet day by day so that they will be able to see the way You help us through our difficult days and seek to know You themselves.
Father God we look forward to the day when we will be able to come back together to worship You together as a fellowship - Lord that will be great - but until that time I pray that will feel Your awesome presence in our hearts and lives and glorify You by living the Word as Jesus did.
Be with us Lord as we go through this coming week and may we live to please You in every way - in Jesus name we ask
Amen
Message for Sunday 30 August 2020 Can also be seen on Youtube Billy Cowgill
For the last month we have been looking at the life, testimony and teaching of the disciple Peter and the Apostle Paul - we’ve looked at Paul’s wonderfully challenging and inspiring letters that he sent to the young churches in his day. Letters written to to encourage them and sometimes to bring them to heel by reminding them where they came from, how they used to be, and the difference that knowing and accepting Jesus as their Saviour had made to them when God gave them a new life - new birth. In doing this Paul continually reminds them to put the past behind them and look at how God wants them to live their lives in obedience to Him .
Paul even told them that the change that God wants to make in their lives is to make them more Christlike. WOW last week we ended by looking at Pauls letter to the church at Corinth where he said this And we all, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. ; 2 Corinthians 3; 18
That’s awesome - Christ-like Wow - I love the way Paul truthfully admits that he himself has a long way to go - Philippians 3;12 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
How humbling and honest - he ‘s not there yet, but he’s pressing on - he’s still on the path to be what God wants him to be that’s why Paul uses the phrase ‘we are being changed - being -that’s an ongoing state - the more open we are to Gods ways in our lives the more like Jesus in His life style we become.
I closed last week by saying make that your aim and see what a difference God will make in your life and ministry for I believe that God desires to use you and me in the same way He used Paul, Peter and all the other disciples by changing our lifestyles to become more like Jesus and in so doing encourage those around us who don’t know Him - to encourage them by example to want to know Him for themselves - Jesus is coming again - and God wants us to be faithful to Him - to live lives in obedience to Him and shine like stars in the darkness of this world to lead others into the light.
This was Pauls message to the early church and I believe God’s reminder for His people today = you and I to live together in love and let the beauty of Jesus be seen in His people = you and me - us - His body on earth today
I will never forget the bible verse that was painted on the front wall of our Church that faced everyone in the hall it was taken from Psalm 96;9 and said simply; Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness
That’s the awesomness of what I believe God is calling His church to do today to help us share the truth with others around us. Jesus said ‘you are the Light of the world’ which is emphasised by Paul when he calls us to Shine like stars as you hold firmly to the word of life.
This week we look at the what Paul goes on to say in Chapter 4; 1-9 It starts with the word ‘Therefore’ which follows on from chapter 3 where Paul talks about the wayward ways of those who refuse to accept Jesus as Messiah and Lord and chose to live as enemies to the cross of Jesus more interested in earthly things where Pauls says; 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
WOW! There we have it again - to be like Jesus - and so chapter 4 continues
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!
Paul then adds a personal note for the church to rally round to help and support the women who have been working along side him to spread the gospel 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Paul had already written in chapter 2 about being united in Christ and being like-minded - one in the spirit - caring for one another and this was his concern for the ones who had become his helpers in spreading the truth - maybe the two women mentioned had some slight differences of opinion - who knows - Paul asks the church to rally round them and help and support them to be in agreement - be like minded.
That’s good advice for the church today isn’t it to seek the truth and live in agreement with one another concerning the truth. Paul had already touched upon this in chapter 2; 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
There’s nothing more damaging to the growth and development of a church that when people within it start disagreeing with one another and begin to argue - it caused unrest to the fellowship and is not a good sign for those outside. The devil loves it when disagreement starts to show it’s ugly face in what should be a loving, understanding and caring fellowship. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, is good advice for a fellowship that seeks to grow and attract those around us.
Paul had said this right at the beginning of chapter 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others
Good personal advice for harmony in the church that will affect not only one another but also bee seen by those outside the church as being a loving, peaceful, caring and sharing fellowship that they will find inviting and hopefully one day become a part of themselves.
The world today is seeing some terrible - frightening things - police and the public killing one another in retaliation for the terrible injustices that are taking place through mans foolishness and intolerance. You can’t turn the news on these days without seeing thousands gathering in opposition to the foolishness of a few individuals who have taken the law into their own hands or even those entrusted to uphold the law taking drastic foolish action against a minority.
The devil is really having a field day because of mans failure to live peacefully with his fellow men. Not only are we seeing signs of the end times in the physical Pandemics such as Covid 19 and earthquakes, forest fires, Politicians and world leaders gathering together to form a One World agreement, false prophets and devil inspired new churches - but now in the intolerance of man kind fighting one another.
Now we see as never before the man in the street fighting against the police and - killing one another
The truth is that even in some churches we see false teaching gaining control and preaching the most outrageous things that are against what the bible teaches. There is a real need today for the church to stand up for the truth and as Paul says live in agreement to the word of God and live in harmony with one another.
Lets get back to the more positive things that Paul is expressing to the young churches Chapter 4; Paul then moves on with some really good advice - that we would do well honouring today 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
I love that, let your goodness - your gentleness - your love - your concern for one another and people around you be evident to all. As the bible tells us They - the people around us - will know you are Christian by your love. Live in peace and harmony both within your fellowship and your home.
And some personal advice; Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
It’s not easy not to be anxious about anything - we’ve been living in a difficult climate since March - six months - and no sign of the end of it. Not being able to share with our loved ones - not being able to come together for worship, bible study, prayer - having to wear a face mask when we go out - it’s not easy and if we are honest it’s easy to get anxious about what is happenning and what to expect in the coming days.
Don’t anxious about anything Paul writes - that’s not easy is it? - I’ve shared some very difficult times with families who have lost loved ones these last few months and have had to say goodbye with just a few friends around them - not being able to sing hymns - or even together following the funerals - extremely difficult times and I’ve tries my best to bring them the comfort they need by sharing the c=fact that God knows and understands what they are going through and if they place their faith and trust in Him - He will presence Himself with them and help them cope with the situation by comforting them with His love.
Paul gives good advice when he says Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Whatever you are going through at this time - trust me - God cares and loves you and by spending time in prayer - will come alongside you and minister His peace and strength whatever you are facing.
I was 80 last week and the family included me in their bubble and we celebrated by having a picnic on the banks of the Canal at Bramley - it was great I really enjoyed it. After walking all the way home on the canal bank, I spent the evening alone at home. It was there as I sat in the living room that my thoughts and heavy heart turned to think about Beryl and Kevin and how much I wished they could have been a part of that day = O how I miss them - I find each day so difficult without them and know that without the presence of God to comfort and keep me going I wouldn’t be able to cope. I have the assurance that as they loved and served God that they will be safe in His loving arms and that one day - if I remain faithful - one day we will be together again - I pray this every morning at my bedside.
Yes I have my anxious times but thankfully as Paul says through prayer and petition the peace of God that is far above our mortal understanding guards my heart and keeps my mind firmly fixed on Him. I’ve never felt closer to God than I do now - He is my strength - my help - My friend when I need Him.
He’s been amazing me these last few months in the way He has ministered to me and helped me through some difficult situations and I can do nothing more than praise Him for that and try to live in faithfulness to the life he has called me to live for Him.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
God loves you and me and will see us through these difficult times. The devil will his best to spoil our relationship but will fail if we place our trust and confidence in the Lord - as Paul says and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. So - Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Whatever is; True, Noble, Right, Pure, Lovely, Admirable, Excellent or Praiseworthy—think about such things.
True, Noble, Right I see all that in the WORD of God
My prayer is Lord give us a hunger for Your Word - let the WORD live within us and be evidenced in our daily lives. Just as the Word became Flesh in Jesus - so too as we said last week The WORD of God, the living word that is Jesus, needs to become flesh in us. He is within us
This week I watched a video of Loius Gigalo that Brian Lancaster sent to me. Louis was talking about the fact that we are created in Gods image and that we are so wonderfully made - he talks about the way our bodies are formed and in great detail about the microbiology of our bodies - It was all above me but the close of the video he showed a picture of the protein that holds our biological being - our whole body together - its called Laminin and amazingly it is in the shape of the cross of Jesus - WOW the cross of our Saviour Jesus holds our body together.
Pauls letter to the Colossians 1:17, says this, “He [Christ] is before all things, and in Him all things hold together Oh Lord Jesus - hold our Church together - hold each one of us in the hollow of Your hands - Lord be at the centre of our being
Paul continued by saying v 19 that God was pleased to have all His fulness dwell in Him-Jesus - and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, wether things s on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood shed on the cross
Pure, Lovely That’s speaks to me of Jesus my Saviour. That’s awesome. Jesus the Son of God - Jesus our Saviour. We are called to show our allegiance to God by believing in His Son - Jesus who He sent to show us what He God was really like and put right, made mans misconceptions about Him. Mans rules and regulations, extended traditions that put great pressure on mankind and made life difficult. Jesus told the Pharisee that the greatest commandments were to love God with all your heart and love one another - Love
1 John 3;24 tells us that when the disciples asked Jesus, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one He has sent.” that's Jesus
John continued to say this when he wrote his letter to believers everywhere saying; And this is His command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. The one who keeps God’s commands lives in Him, and Him them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us. In Jesus we see the pure, lovely image of Almighty God
Admirable, Excellent or Praiseworthy That’s speaks to me of the people who have faithfully lived their lives in obedience to the Word of God and become examples of His love. People in the bible like Paul and Peter but also those who have put their faith into practice since bible times like - William Booth, David Hathaway and hundreds more.
And on a personal note Paul closes by saying Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice.
Paul is speaking here about the practicalities of putting into practice that which God has revealed to them through His letters and his life. What he is saying is what God has told me to share with you - put it into practice = live it and if you do then the God of peace will be with you. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice - Live it let the word become flesh in you
As I said last week, Psalm 96;9 puts it simply; Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness
Worship the Lord is not confined to just coming to church, thank goodness because we’ve been denied that privilage for the last 6 months of being together to sing songs of praise, to pray and study His word together. Its more than that - Yes we worship Him when we meet together and that’s precious, but the most important way to worship Him is in the way we live our lives out there in the world. Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holy Living
As Paul said Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice
So in in a practical response to Gods word this morning
1 Don’t let discourse or arguing drive you apart Work together in harmony
2 Don’t be anxious about anything - but Pray about it
3 Rejoice in the Lord always Think about the good things
And finally; If whatever you feel God has been saying to you over the last 6 months - put it into practice and you will have the reassurance that the God of peace will be with you.
That’s Gods advice to you and me this morning brought to us through the letter of Paul .It’s also my prayer for us all in these difficult times - God loves us and wants to fill our hearts with His love and our minds with the assurance that He is with us in all our difficulties and will see us through by filling our hearts with His Peace.
Prayer
Lord thank you for Your patience with each one of us. Thank You Lord for loving us - even when many times we don’t deserve it
Thank You Lord for the assurance that comes to us through both Your written Word and the Living Word - Jesus who, because He cares, died for us and today lives within us - Lord help us to be a fit dwelling for His presence.
We thank You Lord for the fellowship we share together as your church your people and Lord help us to work in harmony with one another .
We thank You for the availability of being able to speak to You anytime in prayer so that we can bring our every thought to You including the things that would make us anxious in our daily lives and have the assurance that through the power of prayer You will lift out anxious thoughts and bring Your peace.
Thank You Lord that you bring Love, Peace and Joy into our lives through the indwelling of Jesus in our hearts.
And so Lord - Our heavenly Father Hallowed be Your name - Yahweh - Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth - in my life - just as it is in Heaven.
We thank You Lord that you look after us daily and that You are forever forgiving us for the things we do wrong - help us Lord to be as forgiving to those around us who would try to bring us down.
Lord keep us away from the evil one - protect us from the false teachings that abound in the world today through those who are led by the evil one - Lord deliver us from the clutches of the evil one.
For Thine is the Kingdom - Thine is the Power - and Thine is the Glory through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour - for ever and ever
Amen
Message for Sunday 23 August 2020 can be seen on Youtube
Last week we looked at how Paul explained what we mean by Faith when writing to the Hebrews in chapter 11 he said this; faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see;
I said then that Paul gives lots of examples of faith such as Noah being told by God to build an ark to save his family - that was before the storms came - but by faith he obeyed God. Sadly today many people in the world find it hard to believe in a God they cannot see. All the more reasons for us to put our faith into action and let them see the way we respond to the difficulties of life by trusting in God and how we can cope because we have faith in God who we know cares and loves us all.
In the months since March this year when this pandemic started I have shared many times how I believe that God is using this to time to impress on all Christians the need to take an honest look at own lives and the ministry of our churches and if needs be to look at what God is saying to us and make sure that we’ve not moved away from our first love - which was one of the accusations that is expressed in Revelations regarding the Christian Churches then.
Over the months we have been looking at the formation of the early Christian Churches and the faithfulness of the ones that God chose to lead them into a new realisation of God. Peter and Paul have been two of the main characters we have been looking at and seeing how through Faith and prayer that God used them in making sure that the churches -Gods people - were built on a sure foundation - Jesus Christ.
We’ve looked at how the growth was spearheaded by getting to really know God and not just about Him. The church - Gods people - was based on attaining a natural relationship with a living God as expressed in the life of His son Jesus and the awesome reality that God wants to adopt us all as His sons and as we look to God as our Father grow to be more like Christ in the way we respond to our Father and to one another as family - brothers and sisters.
The whole foundation of the new life that we have been invited to share is based on the truth of being born again of the Spirit. That’s why Paul greets the believers with the words Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Its through Knowing God and Jesus that our faith grows stronger day by day - and what better way could we find to get to know Him but by reading His word and spending time with God in prayer. ‘In this instance what is really being expressed is that ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ that’s important to our faith into action.
The desire of Paul’s heart when he met with the Saviour on the Damascus Road was expressed in his letter to the Philippians ch3; 10 which we are going to look at this morning and then how Paul was honest in evaluating his own Christian life
Philippians 3; 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
Paul’s desire having been chosen by God was to Know Christ and become more like Him - whatever that may cost - Paul was willing to go the whole hog - even die for Jesus - knowing that if and when that happened, he , Paul would also share the wonderful Joy of knowing that like Jesus, he would rise again to live with His saviour in Glory.
That’s why he starts by saying I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. To know Him now in our everyday life and when the time is ripe to move on and share the wonderful reality of going to live with Him in Glory - a resurrected body like Jesus.
I shared the reality of this with the family and friends who met for the funeral I did on Wednesday. The awesome truth that if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour that we are born again transformed to a new life indwelt by Jesus who lives within us and helps us through this life - and then when our mortal bodies die it isn’t the end but the time of another transformation from mortal to immortal.
I read Paul ’s letter to the Corinthians 15;51 ‘Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Not an easy thing for our limited minds to understand and so I used an illustration that I tend to use at all the funerals I do that I believe is a great way to make more understandable the awesome transformation that Paul is talking about .
This is what I shared; ‘If you've ever been to the butterfly house at Roundhay Park you'll have seen the wonderful illustration there of the transformation of the caterpillar to a butterfly. As you walk round the building there above you, hanging from the ceiling are the discarded shell that one day was a caterpillar - hanging there, left to fade away to make way for the glorious new body of the beautiful butterfly that when it emerges soars into the sky on it‘s newly formed wings, it’s a marvellous picture of the resurrection to a new body.
One minute the caterpillar is slowly moving on the ground, the next it’s flying in the sky - a new creation. WOW! a marvellous picture of the resurrection to a new body.
One minute your loved one was with you all, the next, they’d gone, and just like the butterfly, all that remains is the discarded shell. The person we knew and loved no longer inhabit’s the shell - for the perishable human body has been re-clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality‘.
Back to Pauls letter to the Philippians. Following v 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. I love the honesty of verse 12 where Paul admits that Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,
Paul was honest enough to share with his listeners that he himself had a long way to go to be anything like Christ but he will persevere at whatever cost and as he says press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Which was to come to really know Christ and the new life that there is in knowing Him, and to experience His presence in his everyday life so that the love of God would be seen in his life by those he has been called to minister to. The Word ( Jesus) had to become flesh in him.
To do this, he knew that he had to put the past behind him and embrace the new life he had been given in Christ and the need to share it with others and if he did that, this would please God and he would reap the reward in heaven.
That’s why he adds But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Here we have echoes of Isaiah 43:18-20 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. That’s what Paul is saying here Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead
His advise to all his hearers was this 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Here we have again what I believe God is saying to His church today - that God is making clear to us all - to re-afirm our first love and commitment to Him and live up to what we have promised and what God has already blessed us with up to this point in our experience. To live up to what we have already attained.
Paul then adds - 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
His opening verse sounds like he’s boasting but I don’t believe Paul intends it to be - what he is simply saying is just as others can see the way in which his own life is changing through really getting to know Jesus and also in the lives of the others God has called like Paul and Peter and the lives of those who are responding to the call of Jesus - keep your eyes on those who are now living in the same way that Paul is in their relationship with God because there are others around who live lives that are in conflict to the ways of God.
Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things These are the ones who need to know the truth - the ones that Paul had been called to share with - the people today that we are called to show the love of God to - people who hopefully will be able to see the difference there is in knowing God and not just knowing about Him - as witnessed through our lives today. Its through Knowing God and Jesus that our faith grows stronger day by day - and what better way could we find to get to know Him but by reading His word and as we shared last week - spending time with God in prayer.
Pauls advice to the fellowship of believers in Philippi as to how they can shine for Jesus and help to show others around them the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ that presses upon them the need to change their worldly selfish ways and turn to God is found earlier in Philippians 2; 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
I will never forget the bible verse that was painted on the front wall of our Church that faced everyone in the hall it was taken from Psalm 96 v9 and said simply Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness That’s the awesomness of what I believe God is calling His church to do today to help us share the truth with others around us. Jesus said ‘you are the Light of the world’ which is emphasised by Paul when he calls us to Shine like stars as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Church is not a building - Church is you and me - Christians who need allow God to fill us with Himself to transform us to be more like Jesus in the world today. John tells us that the Word became flesh in Jesus Christ - He lived the word So too the Word - Jesus - needs to become flesh in us . Just as Jesus was the Light of the world so too we are to embrace the truth that Jesus said we would be both the light and salt of the World - What a privilage - what a responsibility to become like Christ.
Thats not to say that we become Christ - God - but rather that we become Christ-like to let the beauty of Jesus be seen in us. To live lives that mirror the beauty of Jesus in the way He lived - which was full of love and compassion for others. To attract the unbeliever to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. And to that end Paul says; Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
I believe that this is Gods wish for you and me today to let the beauty of our changed lives become a vehicle through whom God can move to bring others into fellowship with Him and with His people = you and me. Pauls letter inspires us to examine our own lives to forget the past and press on to win the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus by living our lives to honour Him
I find it awesome that God has made it possible for those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and desire to live their lives in obedience to Gods word that He makes that possible by enabling and transforming us to become Christlike.
2 Corinthians 3; 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
That’s awesome - Christlike Wow - like Paul says - I’ve a long way to go - that’s why Paul says that we are being changed - being -that’s an ongoing state - the more open we are to Gods ways in our lives the more like Jesus in His life style we become.
Make that your aim and see what a difference God will make in your life and ministry.
I believe that God desires to use you and me in the same way He used Paul, Peter and all the other disciples to change their lifestyles to become more like Jesus and in so doing encourage those around us who don’t know Him - to encourage them by example to want to know Him for themselves - Jesus is coming again - and God wants us to be faithful to Him - to live lives in obedience to Him and shine like stars in the darkness of this world to lead others into the light.
This was Pauls message to the early church and I believe God’s reminder for His people today = you and I to live together in love and let the beauty of Jesus be seen in His people = you and me - us - His body on earth today
We sing the chorus Lord make me like You please make me like You
You are a servant make me one too
Oh Lord I am willing - do what You must do
To make me like You Lord - please make me like You
John Gowans and John Larson wrote the musical called ’Spirit’ which includes a lovely song that encourages us all to become more like Christlike;
To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me
In every thought and deed, this is my aim and creed
To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me
The Spirit's helping me, like Him I'll be
There’s also a song in the song book that I can’t remember ever singing that puts into words and music what we have been talking about this morning - it’s song 623 written by Thomas Chisolm in 1893
O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Chorus O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinners to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.
O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.
O to be like Thee! While I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve
I pray that that will be our desire - there is a real need for us all to be more like Jesus in the world today
Prayer Lord we thank you for the inspiration of Your word that reminds us of the privilage that is ours to really know You and being filled with Your Spirit enabled to become more Christ like in our everyday lives.
Forgive us Lord is we have fallen short of Your desire for us as Your people to let the light of the gospel of Jesus shine from us into the darkness of this world today.
Lord we love You and thank You for the love that You show us - Lord let that love be seen in our everyday living and reach out not only to each other, our families, our friends, our fellowship but also Lord to those who as yet don’t know You.
We want to shine for You Lord so I pray that You will fill us with Your Spirit and empower us to become more Christ like in our attitudes and response to those around us just like Jesus did.
Help us to do what Paul reminded the early church to do which is to Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that we may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” and if we do then your word assures us that we will shine like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life.
Lord I believe that that’s what You want of your church today in this present age and so, Lord I pray that the fourth verse of that song ‘O to be like Thee’ will be our response to You this morning and that to enable us to be like Thee! Lord, we will voice this prayer to You
Lord I am coming, Now to receive the anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine
Lets spend a few moment of silence as you make that your prayer and I pray that you will feel the Lords presence and anointing upon your life now - as we bow before Him
Quiet time
Lord we thank You for Your word and Your blessing and pray that from this moment on we will become more like Jesus and share Your love with all those we meet in the following week -
We pray this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - Amen
Last week we looked at how Paul explained what we mean by Faith when writing to the Hebrews in chapter 11 he said this; faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see;
I said then that Paul gives lots of examples of faith such as Noah being told by God to build an ark to save his family - that was before the storms came - but by faith he obeyed God. Sadly today many people in the world find it hard to believe in a God they cannot see. All the more reasons for us to put our faith into action and let them see the way we respond to the difficulties of life by trusting in God and how we can cope because we have faith in God who we know cares and loves us all.
In the months since March this year when this pandemic started I have shared many times how I believe that God is using this to time to impress on all Christians the need to take an honest look at own lives and the ministry of our churches and if needs be to look at what God is saying to us and make sure that we’ve not moved away from our first love - which was one of the accusations that is expressed in Revelations regarding the Christian Churches then.
Over the months we have been looking at the formation of the early Christian Churches and the faithfulness of the ones that God chose to lead them into a new realisation of God. Peter and Paul have been two of the main characters we have been looking at and seeing how through Faith and prayer that God used them in making sure that the churches -Gods people - were built on a sure foundation - Jesus Christ.
We’ve looked at how the growth was spearheaded by getting to really know God and not just about Him. The church - Gods people - was based on attaining a natural relationship with a living God as expressed in the life of His son Jesus and the awesome reality that God wants to adopt us all as His sons and as we look to God as our Father grow to be more like Christ in the way we respond to our Father and to one another as family - brothers and sisters.
The whole foundation of the new life that we have been invited to share is based on the truth of being born again of the Spirit. That’s why Paul greets the believers with the words Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
Its through Knowing God and Jesus that our faith grows stronger day by day - and what better way could we find to get to know Him but by reading His word and spending time with God in prayer. ‘In this instance what is really being expressed is that ‘it’s not what you know but who you know’ that’s important to our faith into action.
The desire of Paul’s heart when he met with the Saviour on the Damascus Road was expressed in his letter to the Philippians ch3; 10 which we are going to look at this morning and then how Paul was honest in evaluating his own Christian life
Philippians 3; 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
Paul’s desire having been chosen by God was to Know Christ and become more like Him - whatever that may cost - Paul was willing to go the whole hog - even die for Jesus - knowing that if and when that happened, he , Paul would also share the wonderful Joy of knowing that like Jesus, he would rise again to live with His saviour in Glory.
That’s why he starts by saying I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. To know Him now in our everyday life and when the time is ripe to move on and share the wonderful reality of going to live with Him in Glory - a resurrected body like Jesus.
I shared the reality of this with the family and friends who met for the funeral I did on Wednesday. The awesome truth that if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour that we are born again transformed to a new life indwelt by Jesus who lives within us and helps us through this life - and then when our mortal bodies die it isn’t the end but the time of another transformation from mortal to immortal.
I read Paul ’s letter to the Corinthians 15;51 ‘Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Not an easy thing for our limited minds to understand and so I used an illustration that I tend to use at all the funerals I do that I believe is a great way to make more understandable the awesome transformation that Paul is talking about .
This is what I shared; ‘If you've ever been to the butterfly house at Roundhay Park you'll have seen the wonderful illustration there of the transformation of the caterpillar to a butterfly. As you walk round the building there above you, hanging from the ceiling are the discarded shell that one day was a caterpillar - hanging there, left to fade away to make way for the glorious new body of the beautiful butterfly that when it emerges soars into the sky on it‘s newly formed wings, it’s a marvellous picture of the resurrection to a new body.
One minute the caterpillar is slowly moving on the ground, the next it’s flying in the sky - a new creation. WOW! a marvellous picture of the resurrection to a new body.
One minute your loved one was with you all, the next, they’d gone, and just like the butterfly, all that remains is the discarded shell. The person we knew and loved no longer inhabit’s the shell - for the perishable human body has been re-clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality‘.
Back to Pauls letter to the Philippians. Following v 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of His resurrection and participation in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. I love the honesty of verse 12 where Paul admits that Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal,
Paul was honest enough to share with his listeners that he himself had a long way to go to be anything like Christ but he will persevere at whatever cost and as he says press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Which was to come to really know Christ and the new life that there is in knowing Him, and to experience His presence in his everyday life so that the love of God would be seen in his life by those he has been called to minister to. The Word ( Jesus) had to become flesh in him.
To do this, he knew that he had to put the past behind him and embrace the new life he had been given in Christ and the need to share it with others and if he did that, this would please God and he would reap the reward in heaven.
That’s why he adds But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Here we have echoes of Isaiah 43:18-20 “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. That’s what Paul is saying here Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead
His advise to all his hearers was this 15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Here we have again what I believe God is saying to His church today - that God is making clear to us all - to re-afirm our first love and commitment to Him and live up to what we have promised and what God has already blessed us with up to this point in our experience. To live up to what we have already attained.
Paul then adds - 17 Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.
His opening verse sounds like he’s boasting but I don’t believe Paul intends it to be - what he is simply saying is just as others can see the way in which his own life is changing through really getting to know Jesus and also in the lives of the others God has called like Paul and Peter and the lives of those who are responding to the call of Jesus - keep your eyes on those who are now living in the same way that Paul is in their relationship with God because there are others around who live lives that are in conflict to the ways of God.
Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things These are the ones who need to know the truth - the ones that Paul had been called to share with - the people today that we are called to show the love of God to - people who hopefully will be able to see the difference there is in knowing God and not just knowing about Him - as witnessed through our lives today. Its through Knowing God and Jesus that our faith grows stronger day by day - and what better way could we find to get to know Him but by reading His word and as we shared last week - spending time with God in prayer.
Pauls advice to the fellowship of believers in Philippi as to how they can shine for Jesus and help to show others around them the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ that presses upon them the need to change their worldly selfish ways and turn to God is found earlier in Philippians 2; 12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
I will never forget the bible verse that was painted on the front wall of our Church that faced everyone in the hall it was taken from Psalm 96 v9 and said simply Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness That’s the awesomness of what I believe God is calling His church to do today to help us share the truth with others around us. Jesus said ‘you are the Light of the world’ which is emphasised by Paul when he calls us to Shine like stars as you hold firmly to the word of life.
Church is not a building - Church is you and me - Christians who need allow God to fill us with Himself to transform us to be more like Jesus in the world today. John tells us that the Word became flesh in Jesus Christ - He lived the word So too the Word - Jesus - needs to become flesh in us . Just as Jesus was the Light of the world so too we are to embrace the truth that Jesus said we would be both the light and salt of the World - What a privilage - what a responsibility to become like Christ.
Thats not to say that we become Christ - God - but rather that we become Christ-like to let the beauty of Jesus be seen in us. To live lives that mirror the beauty of Jesus in the way He lived - which was full of love and compassion for others. To attract the unbeliever to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. And to that end Paul says; Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.
I believe that this is Gods wish for you and me today to let the beauty of our changed lives become a vehicle through whom God can move to bring others into fellowship with Him and with His people = you and me. Pauls letter inspires us to examine our own lives to forget the past and press on to win the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus by living our lives to honour Him
I find it awesome that God has made it possible for those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and desire to live their lives in obedience to Gods word that He makes that possible by enabling and transforming us to become Christlike.
2 Corinthians 3; 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
That’s awesome - Christlike Wow - like Paul says - I’ve a long way to go - that’s why Paul says that we are being changed - being -that’s an ongoing state - the more open we are to Gods ways in our lives the more like Jesus in His life style we become.
Make that your aim and see what a difference God will make in your life and ministry.
I believe that God desires to use you and me in the same way He used Paul, Peter and all the other disciples to change their lifestyles to become more like Jesus and in so doing encourage those around us who don’t know Him - to encourage them by example to want to know Him for themselves - Jesus is coming again - and God wants us to be faithful to Him - to live lives in obedience to Him and shine like stars in the darkness of this world to lead others into the light.
This was Pauls message to the early church and I believe God’s reminder for His people today = you and I to live together in love and let the beauty of Jesus be seen in His people = you and me - us - His body on earth today
We sing the chorus Lord make me like You please make me like You
You are a servant make me one too
Oh Lord I am willing - do what You must do
To make me like You Lord - please make me like You
John Gowans and John Larson wrote the musical called ’Spirit’ which includes a lovely song that encourages us all to become more like Christlike;
To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me
In every thought and deed, this is my aim and creed
To be like Jesus, this hope possesses me
The Spirit's helping me, like Him I'll be
There’s also a song in the song book that I can’t remember ever singing that puts into words and music what we have been talking about this morning - it’s song 623 written by Thomas Chisolm in 1893
O to be like Thee! blessed Redeemer;
This is my constant longing and prayer;
Gladly I’ll forfeit all of earth’s treasures,
Jesus, Thy perfect likeness to wear.
Chorus O to be like Thee! O to be like Thee!
Blessed Redeemer, pure as Thou art;
Come in Thy sweetness, come in Thy fullness;
Stamp Thine own image deep on my heart.
O to be like Thee! full of compassion,
Loving, forgiving, tender and kind,
Helping the helpless, cheering the fainting,
Seeking the wand’ring sinners to find.
O to be like Thee! lowly in spirit,
Holy and harmless, patient and brave;
Meekly enduring cruel reproaches,
Willing to suffer, others to save.
O to be like Thee! Lord, I am coming,
Now to receive th’ anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine.
O to be like Thee! While I am pleading
Pour out Thy Spirit, fill with Thy love.
Make me a temple meet for Thy dwelling,
Fit for a life which Thou wouldst approve
I pray that that will be our desire - there is a real need for us all to be more like Jesus in the world today
Prayer Lord we thank you for the inspiration of Your word that reminds us of the privilage that is ours to really know You and being filled with Your Spirit enabled to become more Christ like in our everyday lives.
Forgive us Lord is we have fallen short of Your desire for us as Your people to let the light of the gospel of Jesus shine from us into the darkness of this world today.
Lord we love You and thank You for the love that You show us - Lord let that love be seen in our everyday living and reach out not only to each other, our families, our friends, our fellowship but also Lord to those who as yet don’t know You.
We want to shine for You Lord so I pray that You will fill us with Your Spirit and empower us to become more Christ like in our attitudes and response to those around us just like Jesus did.
Help us to do what Paul reminded the early church to do which is to Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that we may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” and if we do then your word assures us that we will shine like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life.
Lord I believe that that’s what You want of your church today in this present age and so, Lord I pray that the fourth verse of that song ‘O to be like Thee’ will be our response to You this morning and that to enable us to be like Thee! Lord, we will voice this prayer to You
Lord I am coming, Now to receive the anointing divine;
All that I am and have I am bringing;
Lord, from this moment all shall be Thine
Lets spend a few moment of silence as you make that your prayer and I pray that you will feel the Lords presence and anointing upon your life now - as we bow before Him
Quiet time
Lord we thank You for Your word and Your blessing and pray that from this moment on we will become more like Jesus and share Your love with all those we meet in the following week -
We pray this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - Amen
Message for 16 August 2020 Video on Youtube
For many week now I have been expressing the thought of what I believe is what God is doing in these troubled times - in bringing those He has already called to follow Him to reflect on their progress and seek Him in prayer to reafirm their commitment and be filled with the Holy Spirit and be enabled to put Gods plan into action in these coming days which, I believe, is to give another chance to others who as yet don’t know Him as their Lord to get to know Him and respond to His call on their lives.
Last week we looked at how God moved in awesome ways through the lives of both Peter and Paul and Ananias and Cornelius through the vehicle of prayer. They prayed and God revealed His direction to them to get them to act in ways that would help them to understand how He wanted them to move forward and spread the good news to all mankind, that in Gods eyes, both Jews and Gentiles - and in fact all people are equally loved by God and that His forgiveness and infilling with the Holy Spirit is available for all - if only mankind would realise this.
And through the impact that these faithful people are making, the gospel is spreading and the early church growing. The word is spreading through the faithfulness of Gods followers and the power of prayer. Both Paul and Peter were commissioned by God to take the truth of the gospel not just to their own people - the Jews - but to the whole world. Because they were faithful in prayer and obedient to God we saw that nothing could stop the spread of the gospel - and here we are today to prove that.
We saw how the powers of the opposition were incapable and powerless in their attempts to stop the spread of the good news - prison doors were opened, shackles were torn off and they the prisoners were set free. This happened not just in a physical way but also in a powerful spiritual way when the shackles of their misconceived ideas about God were removed and the prison doors that had encased their hearts were opened wide as both Jews And Gentiles were led into the freedom of the truth.
Jesus, in giving His life to pay sins price for us all on the cross was setting man free by opening his mind and heart to respond to the truth of what God was really like and how He wanted us to respond to Him.
Not only did Peter and Paul preach the good news but like Jesus they too lived it and in so doing were able to show the power of their own transformed lives to others.
And just as their lives had been dramatically changed so too were the lives of others, and as the good news spread Christian Churches began to spring up all over the place helped and inspired by the letters that both Paul and Peter wrote to those churches to encourage them to Grow and to warn them about false teachers who were inspired by satan to distort the truth and bring false teaching into the church.
As I said last week, we today are able to read and learn from those same awesome letters as recorded in the New Testament that encourage us all to be faithful in our Christian walk by sharing the truth that is the good news with others - and God is using this time of lockdown to set His church free to get out into the world and spread the good news to those who before the lockdown were probably not in a position to hear and respond to the message because church was not a part of their lives. They were not coming to hear Gods word and so God is moving His church - you and me out into the world to share and live our faith and by so doing encourage others to see the joy that there is in knowing the love of Jesus and the strength that His presence brings to our lives and to theirs if they respond to His call upon them.
I closed last weeks message by assuring you that whatever situation you find yourself in today - that believe me - God cares, God loves you and if you let go of the things that are maybe holding you back and spend time in believing prayer - open your mind to hear Gods voice - and your heart to feel His love, I know, just as His word says, that He will be with you whatever situation you find yourself in. Isaiah 43 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; - Why? Because your are precious to me and I love you
We looked at the letters that Peter wrote to inspire and encourage us all. He speaks about the privilage that is ours of being Chosen by God -given a fresh start to our lives by being born again - this time of the Spirit to enable us to have the obedience of a child to our Father God and seek to live Christlike lives. He stresses the need to live in harmony with one another whatever that may cost and be holy as He is holy
Peter goes on to tell us why we have been chosen by God, which is- to ’declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His glorious light and the importance of living our lives for God whatever that may cost.
The second letter of Peter talks about what we should endevour to do to make our calling and election sure - he calls them additives to faith. Lets look at;
2 Peter 1;1-15 From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
I love how he starts his letter; From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, - WOW he certainly knows his mission - which is to serve the Lord as an apostle - one who is passionate about sharing and spreading the good news. Elected by Jesus to be shepherd of the flock - to feed and nurture both the lambs - the young ones and the sheep - the old ones to become Christlike - Like Jesus the good shepherd.
We talked about that last week how faithful to God =those who have been appointed by Him - need to be to feed and nurture the fellowship of believers - their flock - to encourage them to grow and mature to be Gods Church - the living body of Christ in the world today.
Then Peter shares who this letter is addressed to - to those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours. Wow - the awesome truth is that in Gods eyes, we are all equal - God has called us all - both leaders and the flock and given us all the opportunity to grow in our faith and become more like Christ ourselves. Paul writing to the Hebrews in chapter 11 explains what we mean by Faith ; faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see; I particularly like the way The King James Bible describes what faith is ; Faith is described as being the substance of things hoped for.
As Paul explains, the awesome things of God are not always easily explained such as creation as described in Genesis - it’s so awesome that our human minds are incapable of understanding it - so we believe by Faith. Just as in the same way we can’t see electricity - but we can see the power it creates, we can’t see the wind but we can see the energy of it in the trees. We cannot begin to understand how the world could be created in just six days - we choose to simply believe by faith.
Wow! On one of the days this last week we were sitting on the beach at Filey when the wind started up with great force and people were struggling to put their wind breaks up - my grandsons wife Amanda bought a couple of ornate umbrellas that were intended to shield the sun and tried to use them to keep the wind at bay but with very little success. We can’t see but we know it’s there because of the effect it has on us.
Paul gives lots of examples of faith such as Noah being told by God to build an ark to save his family - that was before the storms came - but by faith he obeyed God. Sadly today many people in the world find it hard to believe in a God they cannot see. All the more reasons for us to put our faith into action and let them see by the way we respond to the difficulties of life by trusting in God and letting them see the way that we cope because we have faith in God who we know cares and loves us all.
That’s why Paul greets the believers with the words Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Its through Knowing God and Jesus that our faith grows stronger day by day - and what better way could we find to get to know Him but by reading His word and as we shared last week - spending time with God in prayer.
The desire of Pauls heart when he met with the Saviour on the Damascus Road was expressed in his letter to the Philippians when in ch3; 10 he wrote I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead In the preceeding verse talking about what he had achieved in his life before meeting Jesus garbage as compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord,
Back to 2 Peter 1;3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness
Its through knowing Him - like Paul wanted - to really know Him - and that not just knowing about Him - but really knowing Him - seeking and feeling His presence. Thats our privilage - I wonder if we all seek that and have the faith to believe that that is possible. What did Paul say faith was - it’s the substance of things hoped for faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see;
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness
4; Through these - that His Glory the awesomeness of Almighty God and His Goodness - which is expressed in His love for mankind - Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
WOW! We - you and me may participate in the divine nature,and so for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; The psalmist David talked about Goodness in Psalm 23; 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord. It’s not just about having faith it’s putting that faith into action by living a good life. A life of love for God and one another.
Again we have knowledge; and of course our faith and goodness are the result of truly knowing God - and just as knowledge is important so is how we exercise that knowledge which is shown by the extent of our self-control.
It’s one thing to know God and how He wants us to live our lives - but it’s also so important to exercise self- control over our lives and not give in to our weakneses, or succumb to temptations - but to be self- controlled in our daily lives and work at it with a passion that will help us to do what Peter says is an important additive to our faith which is to persevere and stick at it in our Christian lives
The next additive Peter lists is godliness; a genuine passionate desire to live a Godly life in obedience to Our Father God. When the teacher of the law asked Jesus which were the most important commandments Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, as regards mutual affection - 'Love your neighbour as yourself.
That’s mutual affection to God who loves us with such a passion that He sent His son to die for us. And also mutual affection with our neighbours - that’s one another. Add to all that - Love for God and one another
Not surprising is it that the additives to Faith are also the result of our relationship with Jesus. The fruits of knowing Him and acknowledging His presence within us.
When Jesus lives within us Gods word through Paul says that we are rooted firmly in Him and as a result begin to bear fruits. Some, if not all of the additives to faith are a natural progression in our Christian lives that Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5;22 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Five of the additives that Peter talks about Faithfulness, Goodness, Self-Control, Kindness and Love are listed as the fruit of the Spirit
Notice what he says ‘ The fruit, not fruits - there is no pick and choose If the Spirit of God lives within you then you grow and people will be able to see the Love, of God, the Joy of God, the Peace that only God can give, the qualities of, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.
God has given us His word - the seed, and as we read it we see the power of that word bearing fruit in the lives of ordinary people like you and me. We see that in order for His word to spread throughout the world, God gave the Holy Spirit who lives within us to enable Gods word to bear fruit in and through us. As the word of God takes root in our hearts then LOVE becomes our greatest aim.
This week I have been privileged and Joy of spending the time with my lovely family, Catherine, Tony, Joel and Bethany - we also shared a few days with Joshua and Amanda, and Jordan -it’s been great to share a week with my family - all of who love Jesus and delight in Him. We’ve shared the fruit of the Spirit together and enjoyed the additives of faith. A wonderful time of sharing the love of God together -
As Jesus said; it’s to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples
Back to 2 Peter 1 v8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Increasing measure wow - The additives to faith are a practical expression of our relationship with God that reaches out to one another including the people who as yet don’t know or acknowledge God in there lives.
That’s the responsibility that I believe God has placed on each one of us in these last days - to really get to Know Him and then live lives that reflect the mutual love we share and honour Him by sharing our lives and experience of Him with one another and the world around us. God cares and loves His creation Paul in 1 Timothy 2; tells us I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. The good news is that God has made salvation available to all in sending Jesus Christ - the Messiah - to show us this and it is the job of all those who have accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour - that’s me and you - to do as Peter says in these final words
2 Peter 1;10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Make every effort - really make it your desire and intention to share what you know and are experiencing in your own lives in your relationship with God with others around you. Make your calling sure - live it out in your relationships with friends and neighbours - don’t let it be your fault if they miss out on eternity with God.
So important is this truth that Peter adds v12; So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
Peter then goes on to share the fact that what he is sharing with them is not some cleverly invented stories about Jesus and the awesome confirmations he and the other disciples shared when they heard the voice of God says ’This is My beloved Son whom I love and with Him I am well pleased - Peter confirmed that he was there when the voice from heaven declared that truth about Jesus.
Peter ends by saying that what He and the other disciples experienced about Jesus confirmed all that the prophets of old had prophesied and that we would do well to pay attention to it all and likened it all to a light shining in the darkness until the day dawns and the morning star ( Jesus) rises in your hearts.
There is a great need today for those who know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour to share our experiences with those of our friends who don’t know Him. Just as The word became flesh in Christ I believe Christ desires to become flesh in you and me - that’s how He will build His church - we are not called the Body of Christ for nothing.
How do you feel this morning - do you feel that you really know Jesus in the truest expression of the word or just about Him. Is Christ a living reality in your life - do you feel His presence ? I hope so - I believe that that’s what God intends for His church.
These are dangerous times as far as the kingdom of God is concerned as the evil one is really hard at work spreading false teaching and infiltrating many churches in an attempt to steal people from the truth and ruin their chances of eternal life There are too many churches around that have congregations that are content to play along with the outward show of being Christian but sadly without knowing and experiencing the awesome reality of the living presence of God who will motivate them to become living vibrant witnesses to His awesome power.
When Jesus becomes a living reality in our everyday lives, I believe we will begin to feel the empowering needed to fulfil the differing ministries He will give us. To be like Jesus is made possible when we feel His loving empowering presence within and those around us will begin to see the difference in our lives. We need to God and live in obedience to His word
Trust and Obey
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word.
What a glory he sheds on our way;
While we do his good will, He abides with us still.
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear, not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear. not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown nor a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows, and the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
John Henry Sammis (1846-1919)
For many week now I have been expressing the thought of what I believe is what God is doing in these troubled times - in bringing those He has already called to follow Him to reflect on their progress and seek Him in prayer to reafirm their commitment and be filled with the Holy Spirit and be enabled to put Gods plan into action in these coming days which, I believe, is to give another chance to others who as yet don’t know Him as their Lord to get to know Him and respond to His call on their lives.
Last week we looked at how God moved in awesome ways through the lives of both Peter and Paul and Ananias and Cornelius through the vehicle of prayer. They prayed and God revealed His direction to them to get them to act in ways that would help them to understand how He wanted them to move forward and spread the good news to all mankind, that in Gods eyes, both Jews and Gentiles - and in fact all people are equally loved by God and that His forgiveness and infilling with the Holy Spirit is available for all - if only mankind would realise this.
And through the impact that these faithful people are making, the gospel is spreading and the early church growing. The word is spreading through the faithfulness of Gods followers and the power of prayer. Both Paul and Peter were commissioned by God to take the truth of the gospel not just to their own people - the Jews - but to the whole world. Because they were faithful in prayer and obedient to God we saw that nothing could stop the spread of the gospel - and here we are today to prove that.
We saw how the powers of the opposition were incapable and powerless in their attempts to stop the spread of the good news - prison doors were opened, shackles were torn off and they the prisoners were set free. This happened not just in a physical way but also in a powerful spiritual way when the shackles of their misconceived ideas about God were removed and the prison doors that had encased their hearts were opened wide as both Jews And Gentiles were led into the freedom of the truth.
Jesus, in giving His life to pay sins price for us all on the cross was setting man free by opening his mind and heart to respond to the truth of what God was really like and how He wanted us to respond to Him.
Not only did Peter and Paul preach the good news but like Jesus they too lived it and in so doing were able to show the power of their own transformed lives to others.
And just as their lives had been dramatically changed so too were the lives of others, and as the good news spread Christian Churches began to spring up all over the place helped and inspired by the letters that both Paul and Peter wrote to those churches to encourage them to Grow and to warn them about false teachers who were inspired by satan to distort the truth and bring false teaching into the church.
As I said last week, we today are able to read and learn from those same awesome letters as recorded in the New Testament that encourage us all to be faithful in our Christian walk by sharing the truth that is the good news with others - and God is using this time of lockdown to set His church free to get out into the world and spread the good news to those who before the lockdown were probably not in a position to hear and respond to the message because church was not a part of their lives. They were not coming to hear Gods word and so God is moving His church - you and me out into the world to share and live our faith and by so doing encourage others to see the joy that there is in knowing the love of Jesus and the strength that His presence brings to our lives and to theirs if they respond to His call upon them.
I closed last weeks message by assuring you that whatever situation you find yourself in today - that believe me - God cares, God loves you and if you let go of the things that are maybe holding you back and spend time in believing prayer - open your mind to hear Gods voice - and your heart to feel His love, I know, just as His word says, that He will be with you whatever situation you find yourself in. Isaiah 43 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; - Why? Because your are precious to me and I love you
We looked at the letters that Peter wrote to inspire and encourage us all. He speaks about the privilage that is ours of being Chosen by God -given a fresh start to our lives by being born again - this time of the Spirit to enable us to have the obedience of a child to our Father God and seek to live Christlike lives. He stresses the need to live in harmony with one another whatever that may cost and be holy as He is holy
Peter goes on to tell us why we have been chosen by God, which is- to ’declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His glorious light and the importance of living our lives for God whatever that may cost.
The second letter of Peter talks about what we should endevour to do to make our calling and election sure - he calls them additives to faith. Lets look at;
2 Peter 1;1-15 From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
I love how he starts his letter; From Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, - WOW he certainly knows his mission - which is to serve the Lord as an apostle - one who is passionate about sharing and spreading the good news. Elected by Jesus to be shepherd of the flock - to feed and nurture both the lambs - the young ones and the sheep - the old ones to become Christlike - Like Jesus the good shepherd.
We talked about that last week how faithful to God =those who have been appointed by Him - need to be to feed and nurture the fellowship of believers - their flock - to encourage them to grow and mature to be Gods Church - the living body of Christ in the world today.
Then Peter shares who this letter is addressed to - to those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours. Wow - the awesome truth is that in Gods eyes, we are all equal - God has called us all - both leaders and the flock and given us all the opportunity to grow in our faith and become more like Christ ourselves. Paul writing to the Hebrews in chapter 11 explains what we mean by Faith ; faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see; I particularly like the way The King James Bible describes what faith is ; Faith is described as being the substance of things hoped for.
As Paul explains, the awesome things of God are not always easily explained such as creation as described in Genesis - it’s so awesome that our human minds are incapable of understanding it - so we believe by Faith. Just as in the same way we can’t see electricity - but we can see the power it creates, we can’t see the wind but we can see the energy of it in the trees. We cannot begin to understand how the world could be created in just six days - we choose to simply believe by faith.
Wow! On one of the days this last week we were sitting on the beach at Filey when the wind started up with great force and people were struggling to put their wind breaks up - my grandsons wife Amanda bought a couple of ornate umbrellas that were intended to shield the sun and tried to use them to keep the wind at bay but with very little success. We can’t see but we know it’s there because of the effect it has on us.
Paul gives lots of examples of faith such as Noah being told by God to build an ark to save his family - that was before the storms came - but by faith he obeyed God. Sadly today many people in the world find it hard to believe in a God they cannot see. All the more reasons for us to put our faith into action and let them see by the way we respond to the difficulties of life by trusting in God and letting them see the way that we cope because we have faith in God who we know cares and loves us all.
That’s why Paul greets the believers with the words Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. Its through Knowing God and Jesus that our faith grows stronger day by day - and what better way could we find to get to know Him but by reading His word and as we shared last week - spending time with God in prayer.
The desire of Pauls heart when he met with the Saviour on the Damascus Road was expressed in his letter to the Philippians when in ch3; 10 he wrote I want to know Christ – yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead In the preceeding verse talking about what he had achieved in his life before meeting Jesus garbage as compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus his Lord,
Back to 2 Peter 1;3 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness
Its through knowing Him - like Paul wanted - to really know Him - and that not just knowing about Him - but really knowing Him - seeking and feeling His presence. Thats our privilage - I wonder if we all seek that and have the faith to believe that that is possible. What did Paul say faith was - it’s the substance of things hoped for faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see;
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness
4; Through these - that His Glory the awesomeness of Almighty God and His Goodness - which is expressed in His love for mankind - Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
WOW! We - you and me may participate in the divine nature,and so for this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; The psalmist David talked about Goodness in Psalm 23; 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord. It’s not just about having faith it’s putting that faith into action by living a good life. A life of love for God and one another.
Again we have knowledge; and of course our faith and goodness are the result of truly knowing God - and just as knowledge is important so is how we exercise that knowledge which is shown by the extent of our self-control.
It’s one thing to know God and how He wants us to live our lives - but it’s also so important to exercise self- control over our lives and not give in to our weakneses, or succumb to temptations - but to be self- controlled in our daily lives and work at it with a passion that will help us to do what Peter says is an important additive to our faith which is to persevere and stick at it in our Christian lives
The next additive Peter lists is godliness; a genuine passionate desire to live a Godly life in obedience to Our Father God. When the teacher of the law asked Jesus which were the most important commandments Jesus answered, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, as regards mutual affection - 'Love your neighbour as yourself.
That’s mutual affection to God who loves us with such a passion that He sent His son to die for us. And also mutual affection with our neighbours - that’s one another. Add to all that - Love for God and one another
Not surprising is it that the additives to Faith are also the result of our relationship with Jesus. The fruits of knowing Him and acknowledging His presence within us.
When Jesus lives within us Gods word through Paul says that we are rooted firmly in Him and as a result begin to bear fruits. Some, if not all of the additives to faith are a natural progression in our Christian lives that Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit.
Galatians 5;22 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Five of the additives that Peter talks about Faithfulness, Goodness, Self-Control, Kindness and Love are listed as the fruit of the Spirit
Notice what he says ‘ The fruit, not fruits - there is no pick and choose If the Spirit of God lives within you then you grow and people will be able to see the Love, of God, the Joy of God, the Peace that only God can give, the qualities of, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.
God has given us His word - the seed, and as we read it we see the power of that word bearing fruit in the lives of ordinary people like you and me. We see that in order for His word to spread throughout the world, God gave the Holy Spirit who lives within us to enable Gods word to bear fruit in and through us. As the word of God takes root in our hearts then LOVE becomes our greatest aim.
This week I have been privileged and Joy of spending the time with my lovely family, Catherine, Tony, Joel and Bethany - we also shared a few days with Joshua and Amanda, and Jordan -it’s been great to share a week with my family - all of who love Jesus and delight in Him. We’ve shared the fruit of the Spirit together and enjoyed the additives of faith. A wonderful time of sharing the love of God together -
As Jesus said; it’s to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples
Back to 2 Peter 1 v8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Increasing measure wow - The additives to faith are a practical expression of our relationship with God that reaches out to one another including the people who as yet don’t know or acknowledge God in there lives.
That’s the responsibility that I believe God has placed on each one of us in these last days - to really get to Know Him and then live lives that reflect the mutual love we share and honour Him by sharing our lives and experience of Him with one another and the world around us. God cares and loves His creation Paul in 1 Timothy 2; tells us I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. The good news is that God has made salvation available to all in sending Jesus Christ - the Messiah - to show us this and it is the job of all those who have accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour - that’s me and you - to do as Peter says in these final words
2 Peter 1;10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Make every effort - really make it your desire and intention to share what you know and are experiencing in your own lives in your relationship with God with others around you. Make your calling sure - live it out in your relationships with friends and neighbours - don’t let it be your fault if they miss out on eternity with God.
So important is this truth that Peter adds v12; So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.
Peter then goes on to share the fact that what he is sharing with them is not some cleverly invented stories about Jesus and the awesome confirmations he and the other disciples shared when they heard the voice of God says ’This is My beloved Son whom I love and with Him I am well pleased - Peter confirmed that he was there when the voice from heaven declared that truth about Jesus.
Peter ends by saying that what He and the other disciples experienced about Jesus confirmed all that the prophets of old had prophesied and that we would do well to pay attention to it all and likened it all to a light shining in the darkness until the day dawns and the morning star ( Jesus) rises in your hearts.
There is a great need today for those who know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour to share our experiences with those of our friends who don’t know Him. Just as The word became flesh in Christ I believe Christ desires to become flesh in you and me - that’s how He will build His church - we are not called the Body of Christ for nothing.
How do you feel this morning - do you feel that you really know Jesus in the truest expression of the word or just about Him. Is Christ a living reality in your life - do you feel His presence ? I hope so - I believe that that’s what God intends for His church.
These are dangerous times as far as the kingdom of God is concerned as the evil one is really hard at work spreading false teaching and infiltrating many churches in an attempt to steal people from the truth and ruin their chances of eternal life There are too many churches around that have congregations that are content to play along with the outward show of being Christian but sadly without knowing and experiencing the awesome reality of the living presence of God who will motivate them to become living vibrant witnesses to His awesome power.
When Jesus becomes a living reality in our everyday lives, I believe we will begin to feel the empowering needed to fulfil the differing ministries He will give us. To be like Jesus is made possible when we feel His loving empowering presence within and those around us will begin to see the difference in our lives. We need to God and live in obedience to His word
Trust and Obey
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word.
What a glory he sheds on our way;
While we do his good will, He abides with us still.
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt nor a fear, not a sigh nor a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Not a burden we bear. not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief nor a loss, not a frown nor a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
But we never can prove the delights of His love,
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favour He shows, and the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet,
Or we'll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go,
Never fear, only trust and obey.
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
John Henry Sammis (1846-1919)
Message 9 August 2020 this is also available on Youtube
Last week we looked at the power of prayer and how as Christians we need to be faithful in our prayer life. The awesome truth is that our prayer time is not only the time where we speak to God but also the time when God can speak to us
Many see Prayer as a one way conversation and it doesn’t have to be - we saw how Saul , following his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road started to spend time in prayer and on one occasion was told that a man called Ananias was also in prayer and was being told about Saul - to go to Simon the tanners house and seek him out.
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Even though Ananias was afraid of Saul -he was obedient and did as he was told and through that encounter Saul was baptised in the Holy Spirit that empowered him to go and do what God had appointed him to do which was take the message of Jesus the long awaited Messiah to his Jewish friends and Gentiles - and it all came about through prayer when God spoke to both Saul and Ananias who did exactly what God told them.
We then turned out attention to Peter and read how a centurian called Cornelius a God fearing man who, along with his family, spent lots of time in prayer - Cornelius was told in one of his prayer times to send to Jerusalem for Peter to come and talk to him and his family. He was obedient and did exactly that.
We then read how God also prepared Peter for this encounter with Cornelius by giving him a vision because He wanted Peter a Jewish Christian to go to the house of Cornelius a non Jew and share the good news with him. It was strictly forbidden for a Jew to enter the house of a non Jew. But just as Cornelius obeyed God so too did Peter which resulted in both the household of Cornelius, his neighbours and the Jews in Jerusalem accepting that Jesus the Messiah came for all people regardless of race.
Both Saul and Peter like so many of the first disciples were being prepared to share all that God had in store for His church at the beginning through the vehicle of prayer.
I said last week that I believe that that’s what God is doing in these troubled times - in bringing those He has already called to follow Him to reflect on their progress and seek Him in prayer to reafirm their commitment and be filled with the Holy Spirit to put Gods plan into action in these coming days.
This week we are going to continue with the lives of both Peter and Saul, now named Paul and see how God once again uses similar situations to bring about the continuation of the spread of the message
Last week we closed by reading how through the faithfulness of Saul and Barnabas ministering to the church at Antioch that it was at Antioch that the believers were called by the name of Jesus - which is Christian. Lets read on;
Acts Ch 12;1-12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
WOW Peter in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Here we find Peter bound by two chains and sleeping between two soldiers with more soldiers standing guard at the door of the prison - an almost impossible situation to be in - and yet we read the chains fell off
It’s no wonder that Peter thought he was dreaming - they ( Peter and the angel) passed all the guards, reached the iron gate and even that opened for them by itself - then when the angel left Peter we read that the truth dawned on him and he said ‘Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from Herods clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating’. When it dawned on him he went to the house of Mary the mother of John and the auntie of Barnabus which was probably the same place that they had shared the last supper with Jesus.
I love the next few verses that tell us that even though they had included Peter in their prayers - when they were told by the servant girl Rhoda that he was knocking at their door - they didn’t believe it -
v13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.
WOW the power of Prayer no wonder we read that In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
In the same way that last week we read of how Peter and Paul found themselves in similar situations - both experiencing visions through prayer - this week we have read how Peter imprisoned for spreading the good news is released in a miraculous way - through prayer. Now we move on and find Paul in a similar situation.
In Acts 16 we find Paul and Silas are thrown into prison for casting a Spirit out of a slave girls who made a lot of money for her owners by fortune telling - and when her owners realised that their money earner could no longer gain then money as Paul had cast the spirit out of her, they dragged Paul and Silas off to the magistrates who ordered them to be flogged and imprisoned - instructing the jailer to guard them carefully and fasten there feet in stocks. But what are they doing in prison - praying?
Acts 16; 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.”
The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”
The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left
Two amazing accounts of what the power of prayer can do when we pray. Last week Peter and Paul are both seeing visions and in in their obedient response to prayer seeing the growth of the Christian Church. This week we saw them imprisoned for doing what God had appointed them to do and how God miraculously releases them through the power of prayer to continue spreading the good news.
The word is spreading through the faithfulness of Gods followers and the power of prayer. Both Paul and Peter were commissioned by God to take the truth of the gospel not just to their own people - the Jews - but to the whole world.
Because they were faithful in prayer and obedient to God we can see that nothing is going to stop the spread of the gospel - and here we are today to prove that. I love the way that both Paul and Peter went on to write some awesome letters that we have today in the New Testament that encourage us all to be faithful in our Christian walk by sharing the good news with others - even in difficult times like today. We may feel restricted through this time of lockdown but I believe that God is getting His people ready to face what He has ready for the future.
Whatever situation we find ourselves in today - we, like the early day Christians - can know the presence of Almighty God with us to see us through - even when we can’t see a way out - God can and will be with us and see us through. He can remove the chains that restrict us, the shackles, whatever form they may take, will not be able to hold us back, for God can and will if we trust Him, remove them and set us free.
Whatever situation you find yourself in today - believe me = God cares, God loves you and if you let go of the things that are maybe holding you back and spend time in believing prayer - open your mind to hear Gods voice - and your heart to feel His love, I know, just as His word says, that He will be with you whatever situation you find yourself in. Isaiah 43 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; - Why?
Well , the next verse tells us Because your are precious to me and I love you
There are Christians all over the world today, who like Peter and Paul are suffering persecution - imprisonment - even death for the sake of the gospel. Christians who because they dare to stand up and declare their faith are being hounded and persecuted. Especially those of other faiths who come on board and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Without that promise from God - they would not have the strength to cope - but they believe and hold on to the truth that they have now been shown - that God loves them and will see them through.
Gods word is so powerful for it not only tells us to trust in God but it gives us so many examples of the awesome way in which God proves His word to be true - just as we have read about the unbelievable way God delivered both Paul and Peter and enabled them to continue in the faith.
I find Pauls letters to the early churches so inspiring for us today and also the two letters that Peter wrote. They are so inspiring and encouraging. Peter uses awesome expressions when he shares the privilage that is ours of being called Christian. Elected by God, Chosen by God and given another chance through being born again of the Spirit. He talks about how even if we find the going tough and have to suffer all kinds of trials that God can use them to help us to test the genuiness of our faith.
He urges us to have the obedience of a child and seek to live our lives in the way our Heavenly Father would want us to. Even be holy as He is holy for we have been chosen by God to ’declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His glorious light. He talks about living in harmony with one another whatever that may cost. Chapter 4 of Peter 1 talks about living our lives for God whatever that may cost us. Ch 5 gives good advice to those who, like Peter himself, have been called to shepherd the flock - those called to the ministry like Peter was.
He talks about the importance of being shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care - not because you must but because you are willing to do what God wants you to do. Not greedy for money but eager to serve. I thank God that He called me those many years ago to become one of those shepherds when He took me out of the familiar that I had been accustomed to and got me to start the New Life Christian in Idle in - God used Jeremiah 29; 10 to tell me that He was taking me out of the place I was then but then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised and bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest. I was obedient to Him and started the Fellowship and then after a couple of years He brought me back - a new person - to the place He had taken me out of and eventually I became the Shepherd of the flock at the Idle Corps and I just pray that He will help me stay faithful to Him and to you
This week my friend Commissioner Harry Read put a new poem of his on face book which talked about being good shepherds. Based on Luke 15: 4“Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
This is the poem He wrote;
Out in the wilderness the Shepherd goes where foolish, simple, wandering sheep have strayed.
Exposed to danger and their natural foes – Oblivious of danger – yet afraid.
The Shepherd, caring, seeking, knows their plight, their waywardness He knows and understands;
With urgency He moves: He knows the night holds terrors that may keep them from His hands.
O Christ, Good Shepherd to this foolish race, still searching carefully for all the lost –
We marvel at Your all-persistent grace - expressed at such a sacrificial cost.
And, Lord, if I can be a shepherd too – grant me the heart and mind to care – like You.
I believe that just as it spoke to me as a minister of the word - I believe that it is something we can all work on - being good shepherds who want to help the wayward sheep around us by loving them and pointing them to God.
In response to Harrys words I sent him a reply - this is what I said; ‘Another gem - I love the line that says; And, Lord, if I can be a shepherd too –Grant me the heart and mind to care – like you' what a privilage to be called to be a shepherd like Jesus -the privilage to be Christlike. I love 1 Peter 5;2-4 that encourages us oldies to - be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care-not because you must, but because you are willing as God wants you to be- not greedy for money , but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears - you will receive the crown of Glory that will never fade away'. Wow, What a privilege to be a shepherd of the flock - bless you Harry love Billy
That line that spoke so forceably to me And, Lord, if I can be a shepherd too – grant me the heart and mind to care – like you. is a powerful prayer that we all need to make in full commitment to God so that in caring for others around us the WORD will become flesh in us as we live it - in obedience to God
The only way to take the Hell out of the world is to live in obedience to and share the WORD of God - and for that - I believe God has called His church into being and that together, you and me can be used by God to show His love to the people around us and let them see how in our own lives - God takes care of us because He loves us. He loves us so much that He is forever loving and ready to forgive us when we sin and fall by the wayside - God is a forever forgiving God.
Paul the one time murderer of the Christians was forgiven and set free by God, Peter who denied knowing Jesus - not once but three times and was forgiven three times and I would think that there would be many more times following the ones we know about when he would need to ask God to forgive him -
We all make mistakes but God is always ready to forgive us and will do so until the time comes when it is too late and He comes again to take the faithful to live with Him in Glory.
Peter talks about the end times in the last chapter of His second letter when he says that scoffers will come who will challenge us by saying where is this coming Jesus promised - life goes on as it has always done - nothing changes - to which v 9 says;The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever! Amen.
I pray that we will all take Gods word to heart and in response to His patience with us - make sure that we live lives that in obedience to His word and the only way to be able to know what He says is by making time to Read His Word and act upon it and to spend time in prayer speaking and listening to God
Prayer; Father we thank You for the inspiration of your word that shows us the extent You were and still are prepared to go to show us how much You love us and care about us.
Forgive us Lord if we have failed You in any way by not giving more of our time to read Your word and seek Your presence in prayer .
Forgive us Lord if there are things in our lives that we know should not be there, give us the strength to be able to reject them and start to live lives that are pleasing to You.
Father take the things that stop us growing in our faith and give us a hunger for Your word and the strength and power to enable us to live lives that will please You and in so doing, be an example to others of how much You care for all people.
Father we pray that you will strengthen those of our brothers and sisters in the world who are suffering for the sake of the gospel and that through these difficult days - Your church will grow and develop into the church You want it to be - a powerful voice to the wayward world we live in that You care about them and want that no one would perish and go to hell.
Lord we pray that we may be used by You to bring the lost and wayward sheep into the safety of Your fold.
Song; Fear not for I have redeemed you Jodi Page Clark and The Fisherfolk
Last week we looked at the power of prayer and how as Christians we need to be faithful in our prayer life. The awesome truth is that our prayer time is not only the time where we speak to God but also the time when God can speak to us
Many see Prayer as a one way conversation and it doesn’t have to be - we saw how Saul , following his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus Road started to spend time in prayer and on one occasion was told that a man called Ananias was also in prayer and was being told about Saul - to go to Simon the tanners house and seek him out.
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Even though Ananias was afraid of Saul -he was obedient and did as he was told and through that encounter Saul was baptised in the Holy Spirit that empowered him to go and do what God had appointed him to do which was take the message of Jesus the long awaited Messiah to his Jewish friends and Gentiles - and it all came about through prayer when God spoke to both Saul and Ananias who did exactly what God told them.
We then turned out attention to Peter and read how a centurian called Cornelius a God fearing man who, along with his family, spent lots of time in prayer - Cornelius was told in one of his prayer times to send to Jerusalem for Peter to come and talk to him and his family. He was obedient and did exactly that.
We then read how God also prepared Peter for this encounter with Cornelius by giving him a vision because He wanted Peter a Jewish Christian to go to the house of Cornelius a non Jew and share the good news with him. It was strictly forbidden for a Jew to enter the house of a non Jew. But just as Cornelius obeyed God so too did Peter which resulted in both the household of Cornelius, his neighbours and the Jews in Jerusalem accepting that Jesus the Messiah came for all people regardless of race.
Both Saul and Peter like so many of the first disciples were being prepared to share all that God had in store for His church at the beginning through the vehicle of prayer.
I said last week that I believe that that’s what God is doing in these troubled times - in bringing those He has already called to follow Him to reflect on their progress and seek Him in prayer to reafirm their commitment and be filled with the Holy Spirit to put Gods plan into action in these coming days.
This week we are going to continue with the lives of both Peter and Saul, now named Paul and see how God once again uses similar situations to bring about the continuation of the spread of the message
Last week we closed by reading how through the faithfulness of Saul and Barnabas ministering to the church at Antioch that it was at Antioch that the believers were called by the name of Jesus - which is Christian. Lets read on;
Acts Ch 12;1-12 It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.
The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him.
Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen.” When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.
WOW Peter in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Here we find Peter bound by two chains and sleeping between two soldiers with more soldiers standing guard at the door of the prison - an almost impossible situation to be in - and yet we read the chains fell off
It’s no wonder that Peter thought he was dreaming - they ( Peter and the angel) passed all the guards, reached the iron gate and even that opened for them by itself - then when the angel left Peter we read that the truth dawned on him and he said ‘Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent His angel and rescued me from Herods clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating’. When it dawned on him he went to the house of Mary the mother of John and the auntie of Barnabus which was probably the same place that they had shared the last supper with Jesus.
I love the next few verses that tell us that even though they had included Peter in their prayers - when they were told by the servant girl Rhoda that he was knocking at their door - they didn’t believe it -
v13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant named Rhoda came to answer the door. When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the other brothers and sisters about this,” he said, and then he left for another place.
WOW the power of Prayer no wonder we read that In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter. After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed.
In the same way that last week we read of how Peter and Paul found themselves in similar situations - both experiencing visions through prayer - this week we have read how Peter imprisoned for spreading the good news is released in a miraculous way - through prayer. Now we move on and find Paul in a similar situation.
In Acts 16 we find Paul and Silas are thrown into prison for casting a Spirit out of a slave girls who made a lot of money for her owners by fortune telling - and when her owners realised that their money earner could no longer gain then money as Paul had cast the spirit out of her, they dragged Paul and Silas off to the magistrates who ordered them to be flogged and imprisoned - instructing the jailer to guard them carefully and fasten there feet in stocks. But what are they doing in prison - praying?
Acts 16; 25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!” The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.
When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.”
The jailer told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.” But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”
The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and sisters and encouraged them. Then they left
Two amazing accounts of what the power of prayer can do when we pray. Last week Peter and Paul are both seeing visions and in in their obedient response to prayer seeing the growth of the Christian Church. This week we saw them imprisoned for doing what God had appointed them to do and how God miraculously releases them through the power of prayer to continue spreading the good news.
The word is spreading through the faithfulness of Gods followers and the power of prayer. Both Paul and Peter were commissioned by God to take the truth of the gospel not just to their own people - the Jews - but to the whole world.
Because they were faithful in prayer and obedient to God we can see that nothing is going to stop the spread of the gospel - and here we are today to prove that. I love the way that both Paul and Peter went on to write some awesome letters that we have today in the New Testament that encourage us all to be faithful in our Christian walk by sharing the good news with others - even in difficult times like today. We may feel restricted through this time of lockdown but I believe that God is getting His people ready to face what He has ready for the future.
Whatever situation we find ourselves in today - we, like the early day Christians - can know the presence of Almighty God with us to see us through - even when we can’t see a way out - God can and will be with us and see us through. He can remove the chains that restrict us, the shackles, whatever form they may take, will not be able to hold us back, for God can and will if we trust Him, remove them and set us free.
Whatever situation you find yourself in today - believe me = God cares, God loves you and if you let go of the things that are maybe holding you back and spend time in believing prayer - open your mind to hear Gods voice - and your heart to feel His love, I know, just as His word says, that He will be with you whatever situation you find yourself in. Isaiah 43 “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; - Why?
Well , the next verse tells us Because your are precious to me and I love you
There are Christians all over the world today, who like Peter and Paul are suffering persecution - imprisonment - even death for the sake of the gospel. Christians who because they dare to stand up and declare their faith are being hounded and persecuted. Especially those of other faiths who come on board and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Without that promise from God - they would not have the strength to cope - but they believe and hold on to the truth that they have now been shown - that God loves them and will see them through.
Gods word is so powerful for it not only tells us to trust in God but it gives us so many examples of the awesome way in which God proves His word to be true - just as we have read about the unbelievable way God delivered both Paul and Peter and enabled them to continue in the faith.
I find Pauls letters to the early churches so inspiring for us today and also the two letters that Peter wrote. They are so inspiring and encouraging. Peter uses awesome expressions when he shares the privilage that is ours of being called Christian. Elected by God, Chosen by God and given another chance through being born again of the Spirit. He talks about how even if we find the going tough and have to suffer all kinds of trials that God can use them to help us to test the genuiness of our faith.
He urges us to have the obedience of a child and seek to live our lives in the way our Heavenly Father would want us to. Even be holy as He is holy for we have been chosen by God to ’declare the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His glorious light. He talks about living in harmony with one another whatever that may cost. Chapter 4 of Peter 1 talks about living our lives for God whatever that may cost us. Ch 5 gives good advice to those who, like Peter himself, have been called to shepherd the flock - those called to the ministry like Peter was.
He talks about the importance of being shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care - not because you must but because you are willing to do what God wants you to do. Not greedy for money but eager to serve. I thank God that He called me those many years ago to become one of those shepherds when He took me out of the familiar that I had been accustomed to and got me to start the New Life Christian in Idle in - God used Jeremiah 29; 10 to tell me that He was taking me out of the place I was then but then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised and bring you home again. For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest. I was obedient to Him and started the Fellowship and then after a couple of years He brought me back - a new person - to the place He had taken me out of and eventually I became the Shepherd of the flock at the Idle Corps and I just pray that He will help me stay faithful to Him and to you
This week my friend Commissioner Harry Read put a new poem of his on face book which talked about being good shepherds. Based on Luke 15: 4“Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
This is the poem He wrote;
Out in the wilderness the Shepherd goes where foolish, simple, wandering sheep have strayed.
Exposed to danger and their natural foes – Oblivious of danger – yet afraid.
The Shepherd, caring, seeking, knows their plight, their waywardness He knows and understands;
With urgency He moves: He knows the night holds terrors that may keep them from His hands.
O Christ, Good Shepherd to this foolish race, still searching carefully for all the lost –
We marvel at Your all-persistent grace - expressed at such a sacrificial cost.
And, Lord, if I can be a shepherd too – grant me the heart and mind to care – like You.
I believe that just as it spoke to me as a minister of the word - I believe that it is something we can all work on - being good shepherds who want to help the wayward sheep around us by loving them and pointing them to God.
In response to Harrys words I sent him a reply - this is what I said; ‘Another gem - I love the line that says; And, Lord, if I can be a shepherd too –Grant me the heart and mind to care – like you' what a privilage to be called to be a shepherd like Jesus -the privilage to be Christlike. I love 1 Peter 5;2-4 that encourages us oldies to - be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care-not because you must, but because you are willing as God wants you to be- not greedy for money , but eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears - you will receive the crown of Glory that will never fade away'. Wow, What a privilege to be a shepherd of the flock - bless you Harry love Billy
That line that spoke so forceably to me And, Lord, if I can be a shepherd too – grant me the heart and mind to care – like you. is a powerful prayer that we all need to make in full commitment to God so that in caring for others around us the WORD will become flesh in us as we live it - in obedience to God
The only way to take the Hell out of the world is to live in obedience to and share the WORD of God - and for that - I believe God has called His church into being and that together, you and me can be used by God to show His love to the people around us and let them see how in our own lives - God takes care of us because He loves us. He loves us so much that He is forever loving and ready to forgive us when we sin and fall by the wayside - God is a forever forgiving God.
Paul the one time murderer of the Christians was forgiven and set free by God, Peter who denied knowing Jesus - not once but three times and was forgiven three times and I would think that there would be many more times following the ones we know about when he would need to ask God to forgive him -
We all make mistakes but God is always ready to forgive us and will do so until the time comes when it is too late and He comes again to take the faithful to live with Him in Glory.
Peter talks about the end times in the last chapter of His second letter when he says that scoffers will come who will challenge us by saying where is this coming Jesus promised - life goes on as it has always done - nothing changes - to which v 9 says;The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness. He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever! Amen.
I pray that we will all take Gods word to heart and in response to His patience with us - make sure that we live lives that in obedience to His word and the only way to be able to know what He says is by making time to Read His Word and act upon it and to spend time in prayer speaking and listening to God
Prayer; Father we thank You for the inspiration of your word that shows us the extent You were and still are prepared to go to show us how much You love us and care about us.
Forgive us Lord if we have failed You in any way by not giving more of our time to read Your word and seek Your presence in prayer .
Forgive us Lord if there are things in our lives that we know should not be there, give us the strength to be able to reject them and start to live lives that are pleasing to You.
Father take the things that stop us growing in our faith and give us a hunger for Your word and the strength and power to enable us to live lives that will please You and in so doing, be an example to others of how much You care for all people.
Father we pray that you will strengthen those of our brothers and sisters in the world who are suffering for the sake of the gospel and that through these difficult days - Your church will grow and develop into the church You want it to be - a powerful voice to the wayward world we live in that You care about them and want that no one would perish and go to hell.
Lord we pray that we may be used by You to bring the lost and wayward sheep into the safety of Your fold.
Song; Fear not for I have redeemed you Jodi Page Clark and The Fisherfolk
Message 2 August 2020 The importance of prayer
Last week we read about Saul who was a devout Jew who was chosen and called by God to become a Christian Jew so that he could be a voice to be listened to amongst his own people as well as the people of other beliefs in order to bring them to know and experience for themselves the Christian faith that is Gods desire for all men.
As you know, the Jews at that time would not accept Jesus as the Messiah they had all been waiting for and even killed Him by nailing Him to a cross - this was even though their own prophets had spoken in clear detail about the Messiah
Where He would be born Bethlehem Micah 5
Who He would be born to Isaiah 7;14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel ( God with us)
How He would be rejected Isaiah 53;3 Despised and rejected of men. And v7 Led like a Lamb to slaughter
How He would be killed Isaiah 53;5 pierced for mans sins
I guess that all this would start to ring true in Saul's mind when he met with the Messiah on the road to Damascus. and further confirmed when he met with the disciples who had been with Jesus and seen the Word in action. The disciples would share how Jesus - the Messiah showed them by His life and miracles who He really was. Saul had a lot to discover about his new found faith but was eager to learn
We then looked at Peter, who as one of the chosen disciples was appointed by Jesus to feed the church - even after denying knowing Jesus- not once- but three times - was forgiven by Jesus and appointed to help the followers of Jesus grow in their faith. Peter was the one who spoke at Pentecost that lead to the conversion and infilling with the Holy Spirit of over 3000, Jews and Gentiles alike.
Peter like Saul began to grow in faith and became great witnesses for all that God wanted to share with his creation. Saul and Peter like so many of the first disciples were being prepared to share all that God had in store for His church at the beginning.
I believe that that’s what God is doing in these troubled times - in bringing those He has already called to follow Him to reflect on their progress and seek Him in prayer to reafirm their commitment and be filled with the Holy Spirit to put Gods plan into action in these coming days.
We know that Jesus is coming again and in preperation for His coming I believe that God requires people who are part of His church - the living body of Christ in the world today - you and me - to spend time in prayer- desiring to be obedient to whatever He commands by putting what He says into action.
This is what I believe God has been saying to me this week and showing me how He accomplished this in the lives of Saul and Peter and the early day disciples of Jesus.
Last week we read Acts 9 how Saul was chosen and appointed by Jesus to become one of His Apostles and spread the good news amongst His own people the Jews as well as the non Jews, the Gentiles, which he did. We read how Saul was met by Jesus on the Damascus road and was blinded and told to go to Damascus where he would be told what to do. It was when he arrived that he spent time seeking God in prayer and in that prayer time was given a vision of Ananias who came and laid hands on him and gave him his sight back
Meanwhile Ananias was also praying and in a vision God told him to go to Damascus and seek out Saul who is also praying and even though Annanias was afraid - he obeyed, found Saul and when he layed hands on him, Saul received his sight in -more ways than one and was baptised in the Holy Spirit.
WOW! Here we have our first example of the power of prayer and I believe, how God both then and today, is using prayer to bring His people to help Him fulfill His plans. Ananias and Saul were both in prayer when God spoke to them and by being obedient to God - the next stages in Gods plan for church growth could begin.
We then read how the re-born Saul now called Paul then went into the synagogue and preached about Jesus and with his new found boldness dared to call his hearers hypocrites for not believing their own prophets - this enraged the jews who planned to kill Paul but he escaped helped by the very people -Christians - he had come to kill. We then read how Paul went to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples there but was viewed with suspicion until Barnabas stood up in his defence.
To put into action Gods intervention in the life of mankind God appointed these great men to enable them to bring the truth of Salvation through the sacrificial love of Jesus and the empowering of the Holy Spirit - to bring the truth to the people both Jew and Gentile and bring them together in unity as Gods chosen people.
It’s wonderful isn’t it how God continued to bring all this about by using ordinary people like you and me to put His plan into action. Jesus called Paul and then used Ananias to baptise Paul. Then Barnabas was used to confirm that Paul was a changed man In fact God used these two men Ananias and Barnabas to encourage Paul and enable him to begin the work God had called him to do.
Acts 9 continues by moving back to Peter who showed the power of God in the healing of a paralytic called Aenaeas which resulted in all the village turning to the Lord. We then read how a woman called Dorcas - a convert who had spent her life helping the poor by making clothing for them had died and was lying in an upstairs room washed and ready for her burial. Peter was called in and she was brought back to life which again resulted in many people turning to the Lord. People who spend time in prayer and are obedient to what God tells them to grow and develop His church.
Today we will be looking at how God further helped Peter to continue the work he had been called to do - and how this was accomplished - again -though faithful prayer where God could reveal His plans in both words and vision in the same way that He had done in the life of Saul that we talked about earlier.
Acts 10; 1-7 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Notice how Cornelius a Gentile who along with his family is refered to as a devout -God fearing man who was always giving to the needy and prayed to God on a regular basis. On one occasion, I guess while he was praying, just like Ananias and Saul, he had a vision from God who told him to send some of his men to Joppa and bring a man called Peter back to his house to talk to him and his relatives about his new found faith in Jesus. In responce to what he was told, Cornelius sent two of his soldiers to Joppa to find Peter. That was in a time when it was forbidden for a Jew to even enter the home of a Gentile.
We then read how God prepared Peter to accept this forbidden encounter by giving him a vision as well.
Acts 10; 9-16 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
This vision was Gods way of preparing Peter to go as a converted Christian Jew and meet with Cornelius a God believing Gentile - a meeting that as a Jew he was forbidden to do. God was showing Peter that we are all one as far as He is concerned - as there are neither Jew nor Gentile
Paul in his letter to the Galatians put it this way; Galatians 3; 23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. The inspiration of our song ‘I am not under law but under Grace
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Jesus had already told the Pharisees and teachers of the law in Jerusalem that they were nullifying the word of God by abiding more to their traditions than what God says. In Matthew 15v 8 we read how Jesus reminded them of what their own prophet Isaiah had said; These people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. In other words, they’re all talk They worship Me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught my men’ WOW
And that’s the reason why God spoke to Cornelius to send for Peter a Jew to come to his Gentile household and share the good news with them and that’s what Peters response. In the bold way that he spoke at Pentecost when he told them that Jesus really was the Messiah that God had told the prophets about but that they had rejected and crucified Him - Peter does the same and tells them that he and many others had been privileged to witness the whole truth about Jesus including His ressurection.
Acts 10; 43 tells us how Peter shared; All the prophets testify about Jesus that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers ( the Jews) who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, ‘Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptised with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Ch 11 Peter goes back to Jerusalem and explains all this to the Jews there who critisized him for going into the home of an uncircumcised a non Jew. Peter explains everything that we have just looked at - including the vision and explanation that God had given him that vision to show that in Gods eyes we are all seen as one.
v18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. And look at this The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Wow! this is how the early church grew and began to spread through the faithful followers who regardless of their birth, Jew or Gentile were called and empowered by God to work together as one - to show Gods love in action by caring for one another and doing all they could to spread the good news and bring unbelievers to accept Jesus as their Saviour and live holy lives in obedience to God their Heavenly Father.
It was when the faithful knelt in prayer that God revealed His plans for the furtherance of His work in building His people to become the people He wanted them to be - the living body of Christ in the world today.
Thats why I believe we should never underestimate the power of prayer and the need for us all to spend time in prayer daily to seek Gods direction for our own lives and the life and continuance of His Church.
When we meet with God in Prayer and Respond Activly upon his words, Yahweh God will use us to build His church and bring others into fellowship with Him when they see the way we live our lives in how we respond to His word.
I believe that that is what God is calling His church to do in these days.
Pray to Him and seek His direction and then
Respond in obedience to His instructions by
Acting upon what
Yahweh tell us to do
That’s what Prayer is all about - getting to know Gods way for both His church and ourselves - O how we all need to spend more time in prayer. We’ve seen the power of Prayer in the lives of Paul, Peter, Barnabus, Cornelius and in fact all the early day folowers of Jesus.
We’ve seen the mighty awesome power of Prayer in our own fellowship her at Idle and why I believe that God has been drawing us to look at this today. Prayer is the Christians vital breath - finding and taking time every day to come before God and feel His presence in prayer is vitally important for the life and continuance of Gods church and will make an impact on our fellowships following the pandemic that we are experiencing. God is getting His church ready for what is yet to come.
Prayer is vital in seeking to know Gods wil for us and His church and following our prayers we need to Respond by Acting upon what Yahweh God has told us to do - as we say - Actions speak louder than words. The Apostles were obedient to the words of God which help the church to Grow which resulted in many accepting the Lord for themselves by being saved.
The love that we have for God and one another should show in our lives and will speak volumes to our non believing friends. As the old Yorkshire phrase says ‘A picture speaks more than a thousand words which was the case when God gave the visions that we have just read about. In the musical My fair lady’ Eliza Doolittle is being taught by professor Higgins and in her frustration cries out to him - ‘Stop - Words, Words, I’m sick of blooming words - Show me’
That’s why Gods word tells us that The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth 1 John 14 Jesus became that living Word and by His example of the way He lived His life showed the world the love of God and how to act and respond to one another in love.
The way God wants us to live our lives compels us to take the letter I which is personal and refers to you and me - out of the word Live and replace it with the letter O that stands for Others and so changes the way we LIVE into the way we LOVE one another - in response to what Jesus told His disciples and applies to you and me today - ‘Greater Love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends - You are My friends if you do whatsoever I command you’
I pray that in these difficult days we will determine daily to spend more time in prayer and seek Gods direction for our lives and the life of His Church as we seek to share His love with others and play our part in bringing them to faith in God.
I pray that God will Bless you all as you seek His will and direction.
Last week we read about Saul who was a devout Jew who was chosen and called by God to become a Christian Jew so that he could be a voice to be listened to amongst his own people as well as the people of other beliefs in order to bring them to know and experience for themselves the Christian faith that is Gods desire for all men.
As you know, the Jews at that time would not accept Jesus as the Messiah they had all been waiting for and even killed Him by nailing Him to a cross - this was even though their own prophets had spoken in clear detail about the Messiah
Where He would be born Bethlehem Micah 5
Who He would be born to Isaiah 7;14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel ( God with us)
How He would be rejected Isaiah 53;3 Despised and rejected of men. And v7 Led like a Lamb to slaughter
How He would be killed Isaiah 53;5 pierced for mans sins
I guess that all this would start to ring true in Saul's mind when he met with the Messiah on the road to Damascus. and further confirmed when he met with the disciples who had been with Jesus and seen the Word in action. The disciples would share how Jesus - the Messiah showed them by His life and miracles who He really was. Saul had a lot to discover about his new found faith but was eager to learn
We then looked at Peter, who as one of the chosen disciples was appointed by Jesus to feed the church - even after denying knowing Jesus- not once- but three times - was forgiven by Jesus and appointed to help the followers of Jesus grow in their faith. Peter was the one who spoke at Pentecost that lead to the conversion and infilling with the Holy Spirit of over 3000, Jews and Gentiles alike.
Peter like Saul began to grow in faith and became great witnesses for all that God wanted to share with his creation. Saul and Peter like so many of the first disciples were being prepared to share all that God had in store for His church at the beginning.
I believe that that’s what God is doing in these troubled times - in bringing those He has already called to follow Him to reflect on their progress and seek Him in prayer to reafirm their commitment and be filled with the Holy Spirit to put Gods plan into action in these coming days.
We know that Jesus is coming again and in preperation for His coming I believe that God requires people who are part of His church - the living body of Christ in the world today - you and me - to spend time in prayer- desiring to be obedient to whatever He commands by putting what He says into action.
This is what I believe God has been saying to me this week and showing me how He accomplished this in the lives of Saul and Peter and the early day disciples of Jesus.
Last week we read Acts 9 how Saul was chosen and appointed by Jesus to become one of His Apostles and spread the good news amongst His own people the Jews as well as the non Jews, the Gentiles, which he did. We read how Saul was met by Jesus on the Damascus road and was blinded and told to go to Damascus where he would be told what to do. It was when he arrived that he spent time seeking God in prayer and in that prayer time was given a vision of Ananias who came and laid hands on him and gave him his sight back
Meanwhile Ananias was also praying and in a vision God told him to go to Damascus and seek out Saul who is also praying and even though Annanias was afraid - he obeyed, found Saul and when he layed hands on him, Saul received his sight in -more ways than one and was baptised in the Holy Spirit.
WOW! Here we have our first example of the power of prayer and I believe, how God both then and today, is using prayer to bring His people to help Him fulfill His plans. Ananias and Saul were both in prayer when God spoke to them and by being obedient to God - the next stages in Gods plan for church growth could begin.
We then read how the re-born Saul now called Paul then went into the synagogue and preached about Jesus and with his new found boldness dared to call his hearers hypocrites for not believing their own prophets - this enraged the jews who planned to kill Paul but he escaped helped by the very people -Christians - he had come to kill. We then read how Paul went to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples there but was viewed with suspicion until Barnabas stood up in his defence.
To put into action Gods intervention in the life of mankind God appointed these great men to enable them to bring the truth of Salvation through the sacrificial love of Jesus and the empowering of the Holy Spirit - to bring the truth to the people both Jew and Gentile and bring them together in unity as Gods chosen people.
It’s wonderful isn’t it how God continued to bring all this about by using ordinary people like you and me to put His plan into action. Jesus called Paul and then used Ananias to baptise Paul. Then Barnabas was used to confirm that Paul was a changed man In fact God used these two men Ananias and Barnabas to encourage Paul and enable him to begin the work God had called him to do.
Acts 9 continues by moving back to Peter who showed the power of God in the healing of a paralytic called Aenaeas which resulted in all the village turning to the Lord. We then read how a woman called Dorcas - a convert who had spent her life helping the poor by making clothing for them had died and was lying in an upstairs room washed and ready for her burial. Peter was called in and she was brought back to life which again resulted in many people turning to the Lord. People who spend time in prayer and are obedient to what God tells them to grow and develop His church.
Today we will be looking at how God further helped Peter to continue the work he had been called to do - and how this was accomplished - again -though faithful prayer where God could reveal His plans in both words and vision in the same way that He had done in the life of Saul that we talked about earlier.
Acts 10; 1-7 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
Notice how Cornelius a Gentile who along with his family is refered to as a devout -God fearing man who was always giving to the needy and prayed to God on a regular basis. On one occasion, I guess while he was praying, just like Ananias and Saul, he had a vision from God who told him to send some of his men to Joppa and bring a man called Peter back to his house to talk to him and his relatives about his new found faith in Jesus. In responce to what he was told, Cornelius sent two of his soldiers to Joppa to find Peter. That was in a time when it was forbidden for a Jew to even enter the home of a Gentile.
We then read how God prepared Peter to accept this forbidden encounter by giving him a vision as well.
Acts 10; 9-16 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.”
But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.
This vision was Gods way of preparing Peter to go as a converted Christian Jew and meet with Cornelius a God believing Gentile - a meeting that as a Jew he was forbidden to do. God was showing Peter that we are all one as far as He is concerned - as there are neither Jew nor Gentile
Paul in his letter to the Galatians put it this way; Galatians 3; 23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. The inspiration of our song ‘I am not under law but under Grace
So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Jesus had already told the Pharisees and teachers of the law in Jerusalem that they were nullifying the word of God by abiding more to their traditions than what God says. In Matthew 15v 8 we read how Jesus reminded them of what their own prophet Isaiah had said; These people honour me with their lips but their hearts are far from me. In other words, they’re all talk They worship Me in vain, their teachings are but rules taught my men’ WOW
And that’s the reason why God spoke to Cornelius to send for Peter a Jew to come to his Gentile household and share the good news with them and that’s what Peters response. In the bold way that he spoke at Pentecost when he told them that Jesus really was the Messiah that God had told the prophets about but that they had rejected and crucified Him - Peter does the same and tells them that he and many others had been privileged to witness the whole truth about Jesus including His ressurection.
Acts 10; 43 tells us how Peter shared; All the prophets testify about Jesus that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers ( the Jews) who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, ‘Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptised with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.’ So he ordered that they be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.
Ch 11 Peter goes back to Jerusalem and explains all this to the Jews there who critisized him for going into the home of an uncircumcised a non Jew. Peter explains everything that we have just looked at - including the vision and explanation that God had given him that vision to show that in Gods eyes we are all seen as one.
v18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, ‘So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life.’ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed travelled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.
News of this reached the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he arrived and saw what the grace of God had done, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.
Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. And look at this The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.
Wow! this is how the early church grew and began to spread through the faithful followers who regardless of their birth, Jew or Gentile were called and empowered by God to work together as one - to show Gods love in action by caring for one another and doing all they could to spread the good news and bring unbelievers to accept Jesus as their Saviour and live holy lives in obedience to God their Heavenly Father.
It was when the faithful knelt in prayer that God revealed His plans for the furtherance of His work in building His people to become the people He wanted them to be - the living body of Christ in the world today.
Thats why I believe we should never underestimate the power of prayer and the need for us all to spend time in prayer daily to seek Gods direction for our own lives and the life and continuance of His Church.
When we meet with God in Prayer and Respond Activly upon his words, Yahweh God will use us to build His church and bring others into fellowship with Him when they see the way we live our lives in how we respond to His word.
I believe that that is what God is calling His church to do in these days.
Pray to Him and seek His direction and then
Respond in obedience to His instructions by
Acting upon what
Yahweh tell us to do
That’s what Prayer is all about - getting to know Gods way for both His church and ourselves - O how we all need to spend more time in prayer. We’ve seen the power of Prayer in the lives of Paul, Peter, Barnabus, Cornelius and in fact all the early day folowers of Jesus.
We’ve seen the mighty awesome power of Prayer in our own fellowship her at Idle and why I believe that God has been drawing us to look at this today. Prayer is the Christians vital breath - finding and taking time every day to come before God and feel His presence in prayer is vitally important for the life and continuance of Gods church and will make an impact on our fellowships following the pandemic that we are experiencing. God is getting His church ready for what is yet to come.
Prayer is vital in seeking to know Gods wil for us and His church and following our prayers we need to Respond by Acting upon what Yahweh God has told us to do - as we say - Actions speak louder than words. The Apostles were obedient to the words of God which help the church to Grow which resulted in many accepting the Lord for themselves by being saved.
The love that we have for God and one another should show in our lives and will speak volumes to our non believing friends. As the old Yorkshire phrase says ‘A picture speaks more than a thousand words which was the case when God gave the visions that we have just read about. In the musical My fair lady’ Eliza Doolittle is being taught by professor Higgins and in her frustration cries out to him - ‘Stop - Words, Words, I’m sick of blooming words - Show me’
That’s why Gods word tells us that The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth 1 John 14 Jesus became that living Word and by His example of the way He lived His life showed the world the love of God and how to act and respond to one another in love.
The way God wants us to live our lives compels us to take the letter I which is personal and refers to you and me - out of the word Live and replace it with the letter O that stands for Others and so changes the way we LIVE into the way we LOVE one another - in response to what Jesus told His disciples and applies to you and me today - ‘Greater Love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends - You are My friends if you do whatsoever I command you’
I pray that in these difficult days we will determine daily to spend more time in prayer and seek Gods direction for our lives and the life of His Church as we seek to share His love with others and play our part in bringing them to faith in God.
I pray that God will Bless you all as you seek His will and direction.
Message 26 July 2010 This can also be seen on Youtube Billy Cowgill
Last week we looked at the awesome way that Stephen who Luke, the writer of Acts, tells us was a great man of faith and filled with the holy Spirit was one of the men chosen to help with administration and outworking of the newly birthed church.
We read how he was so on fire for God that he was challenged by the opposition, who went so far as to persuaded false witnesses to say that they had heard him blaspheme against Moses and God, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
We read chapter 6 that told us that when the Sanhedrin looked at Stephen they could see the face of an Angel WOW! Then in chapter 7 how boldly Stephen reminded his accusers of what their Bible actually does say about the Messiah and how it all fits in with what God was doing through the life of Jesus - who was indeed the Messiah that the prophets had spoken about.
We read how brave Stephen was when he addressed the Sanhedrin ; 51 “You stiff-necked people! - You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
When Stephen said this they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, just as Jesus did from the cross “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
I said last week- In Stephen and the early disciples we can truly see the outworking of the Holy Spirit - even through persecution and the suffering of the new converts to the new Church - Gods living body in the world. And it’s still happening today all over the world - those who turn to Jesus from other faiths are being persecuted.
Peter tells us despite the trials and difficulties we face today, Gods uses them to get us to reflect over our lives and the way we deal with the difficulties we face - and see them as Gods way of helping us to evaluate the genuiness of our faith and our actions.
1 Peter puts it this way; In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith may be proved genuine
We then looked at what Peter wrote to all those who had been with him at Pentecost when God had poured the Holy Spirit on them all. He wrote about the importance of living in obedience to God and about this new life in Christ - He referred to them as Gods elect and spoke of how they had been chosen, forgiven, born again and given a new hope - that of a life spent with the presence of Jesus and an inheritance in the Kingdom to come. Shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
I asked the question ’ Is that how you feel today - Privilaged - Elected and Chosen by Almighty God - Empowered with the Holy Spirit to be obedient to Jesus .And enabled to really know the presence of the Almighty in your everyday life.
At the end of last weeks message I talked about a song that Kevin and I had been privileged to sing so many times as we went and shared our testimony in songs with other churches -
Born again, there’s really been a change in me
Born again just like Jesus said
Born again, and all because of Calvary -
I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again.
All because of Jesus and the sacrificial love He showed in giving His life on the cross to bring forgiveness to those who respond to His love.
I know that I would not have been able to face the difficulties that I have experienced over the last few years without my faith in God being real. To lose my son Kevin who went with me to venues all over singing together about the love of God and encouraging others to come on board. It was Christmas and so his funeral was the day after boxing day. We'd already lost his baby daughter Victoria and then to lose Beryl my lovely wife of over 50 years - I definately would not have been able to cope with all that without knowing the presence of God in my life and the hope that one day we will be together again.
What a privileged people we are to know God love and presence, to know that He is with us every step of the way throughout our lives. I know the truth of His word that says ‘when you walk through the waters - and your up to here with it - and when you walk through the fire - when troubles are hotting up all round you - don’t fear for God says I will be with you - why? Because, God says, we are precious to Him. WOW!
This week I want us to move further on in our trip through Acts and see what a difference the life and testimony of Stephen made to Saul - the one who had stood in agreeance with the stoning of Stephen.
The life and testimony of Stephen really reveals the strength and commitment of his new life in Christ and would surely make a genuine impact on the lives of others - both those who knew and served God and those who as yet didn’t really know Him - like Saul - who’s life was about to take a complete turn around from an enemy of the Christian Church to one of it’s strongest converts and evangelist.
Saul - a strong faithful committed Jew who like his own people saw the life and deeds of Jesus as being against all that they believed. Yes! the Messiah was prophesied scriptures by so many prophets but as Stephen had pointed out to the members of the Sanhedrin - they didn’t realise that the one they were prophesying about would come so much later and in fact when Jesus came - even though He fit all the prophesies that had been made - they didn’t recognise Jesus as the promise Messiah.
Saul was so passionate about what he then believed - that he saw it as his duty to get rid of the disciples of Jesus and try to stop the obvious growth that had started following the death of Jesus and the birth of the New Christian Fellowships.
Following the stoning of Stephen at which Saul was a witness, Acts chapter 8 tell us that 1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the Church at Jerusalem and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him - but Saul began to destroy the church going from house to house he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
But as v4 tells us Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city
There’s no stopping them - bless them - What the people witnessed was the power of God as seen through the faithfulness of the witnesses like Philip which had made a great impact on the people who witnessed it for as verse 8 tells us there was Great Joy in that city. The rest of chapter 8 tells us of the way in which Philip shared the good news but as I said last week today I want us to look at what happened to Saul the persecutor of the church.
Acts 9; 1-9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
He’s dead set on getting rid of what he saw as opposition to his Jewish faith - but WOW God has other plans for Saul - plans to take him out of the enemy camp and convert him and empower him to do what the people he was fighting against were doing and that’s spreading the good news about Jesus.
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Can you imagine how Saul must have felt then - a flashing light from heaven - then the voice of Jesus asking him why - why are you persecuting me? The reply Saul gave implies that he knew who it was speaking to him in the way he asked ‘Who are you - Lord? To which Jesus replied “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Amazingly - The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
And there’s more - as God reveals the next stage in His plan to convert Saul by using one of His obedient servants Ananias;
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”“Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
Not surprisingly Ananias says to God “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to Your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Not surprising is it that Ananias is scared - but the Lord puts his mind at ease when he tells him. “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
I would imagine that hearing this startling news that Ananias would be amazed at the length God is going to make sure that the new church grew and spread by taking someone as powerful as Saul from the opposition and converting him to become a believer and a strong witness and evangelist for the new Christian Fellowships.
Before all this, Saul had been blinded to the truth by his misguided beliefs then and now blinded again, this time for a short while by Jesus so that he had to be led by his colleagues to Damascus where for three days he was left in his blindness to consider all that had happened to put a halt to all his intended plans and start to think again. And so as we continue to read;
In obedience to Gods word v 17 Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.
He can see again not just physically but also spiritually as not only did the scales drop from his eyes but also his Spiritual eyes were opened to see the truth in Christ. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
What an awesome story - that shows the amazing length that God is prepared to go to bring mankind back into line with His intention for mankind which is to be a people who live lives in obedience to Him and His word and seek to become Christlike in their daily lives. A people who Love God with all their hearts and seek to love one another and so create a world where greed and selfishness have no part.
Just look at what happened next as the impact of what God had done in the life of Saul helped the church to blossom and grow. Saul who had set out to Damascus with the intent of Getting rid of the Church has now changed direction and wants to be a disciple himself and become like them. Which will move him from the Persecutor to be on of the persecuted.
The continuation of verse 19 tells us that Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. They would obviously share their experiences of actually being with Jesus and the difference He had made to their lives especially when they were then filled with His presence and the Holy Spirit. This obviously had an enormous effect on Saul and we are told that - At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
Wow! this is Saul the one who had obtained permission from the synagogue to get rid of the followers of Jesus and here he is in the synagogue saying that he now knows that Jesus is who He said He was - the son of God - the Messiah they ‘d all been waiting for.
No wonder is it that verse 21 says All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? That’s the name of Jesus And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” That’s the followers of Jesus
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. Obviously through his encounter with Christ and by listening to the testimonies of the disciples
One minute Saul is in fierce opposition to Jesus and going with great passion to get rid of them - and now the opposition is after him to silence him so verse 23 tells us that After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. As I said earlier, The persecutor becomes the persecuted and the great change in his life means that the ones he came to get rid of are the ones who save him.
This just goes to prove, as many of us know, that accepting the truth about Jesus and repenting your past really makes a difference to your lives.
Saul was so against Christ - An enemy of Jesus yet God chose him, and took him out of his misguided past, turned his life completely round and transformed him into a passionate follower and evangelist of the truth - in fact today you only have to look at the New Testament to see that over half of it was written by Paul. Of the 27 books - 14 were written by Paul. Paul was a changed man on fire for God .
That’s why God sent Jesus - and impact that Jesus had on His disciples and followers turned their lives back to the Father - God who brought meaning and purpose to their lives. God who is love - spread that love through Jesus, then on to His disciples who encourage by Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit began to spread it to the thousands of followers then and still does today through those who choose to forsake their selfish pasts and make Him the centre of their lives.
Saul was a changed man - but this had to be seen by the ones he had come to destroy. Not easy! Not surprising is it that v26 tells us that When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.
The first time we heard about Barnabas was in Acts 4;36 where, at the birth of the Chistian fellowships, Barnabas who’s real name was Joseph a Levitte from Cyprus sold a field he owned and gave the money to the Apostles to help feed the hungry. That was before Ananias and Sapphira did the same but keeping some of the money lied about it and fell dead . He was a part of the early Christian fellowship and known by the Apostles as Barnabas which means ‘Son of Encouragement‘. And that’s what he is doing here- speaking in defence of Saul He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. Barnabas’s testimony was accepted
V 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers Paul and Barnabas eventually started to evangelise together making more converts Acts 11:24 describes Barnabas as "a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit’
I love the way in which chapter 13v9 changes our attention from Saul to another of the names he was known by which is Paul and from there on he is known by his new name. Just like we are told in Isaiah 62; 2,3 which says you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
In the same way that when we are born our parents give us a name - so too, when we are born again we bear the name of Christian - Acts 11 tells us that it was at Antioch that the followers of Jesus first became known as Christians. A New Name
We don’t have a problem being called Christians, but there are many in the world today who are being persecuted because they dare to bear the name Christian. We have it easy but so many of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world are suffering because they love Jesus. The suffering that comes from the evil one.
Last week we read how the genuiness of our faith is often measured by the way we respond to persecution or suffering in the world today and 1 Peter 4;16 tells us that if you suffer as a Christian. Don’t be ashamed but praise God that you bear that name
As I prepared this message it drew me to remember the life and testimony of a lovely local Christian Jo Pollard who along with her husband Michael started to minister to the needs of other Christians suffering for their faith in other countries
Jo was born in 1942 New Zealand but came to England and fell in love and married Leeds born Michael Pollard in 1969 and went to live in Baildon. They had three children but sadly their second baby, Mark died just 3 days old the same time that her brother in New Zealand also died..
It was at a Keswick bible week that they met the parents of Gods Smuggler - Brother Andrew who lived a dangerous life smuggling bibles into persecuted countries. He drew their attention to 1 John 3;16,17 which says 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
They also learned of other Christians who were enduring hardship and suffering for promoting Christianity in communist countries -people like Richard Wurmbrand and George Vins. Inspired and challenged, they began taking trips to Eastern Europe to distribute food, clothing, medical supplies, toys and Christian books to poor families.
They did this type of work in their holidays for nearly 30 years until what was to become their last trip in August 1997. Hey were on their way to Budapest when Jo and Michael who was an elder at the Emmanuel Evangelical Church at Baildon Green, parked their caravanette in a lay-by about 150 miles from Budapest to have a long earned rest, when two men approached them. Claiming to be police they fined Michael and Jo for "illegal parking".
Some time later, the two men returned with an accomplice and battered Michael with an iron club. Within minutes he died. One of the men returned again and attacked Jo who was left with serious injuries.
Some hours later, the three men were arrested - Istvan Dudas, 19, Attila Bilecz, 23, and Laszlo Mester, 23, following their trial they were convicted of manslaughter and robbery and were jailed for a total of 24 years.
Even through all this, Jo forgave and wrote letters to the three men who had murdered her husband telling them that she not only forgave them but loved them.
The T&A report said this; A devout Christian, New-Zealand born Mrs Pollard openly forgave the three men and visited Dudas and Bilecz in prison in the Hungarian capital Budapest on the first anniversary of her husband’s death. She also continued her charity work by helping to co-ordinate aid sent to poverty-stricken areas of Eastern Europe.
In 2000 she was voted Britain’s bravest woman by a women’s magazine and in 2001 published a book about her experience. It was about this time that she began a battle against dementia and on Tuesday 11 Nov 2008 she died aged 66.
Her son, Andrew, said in the early days of the condition his mum continued giving talks locally to raise awareness of the plight in Eastern Europe but eventually had to stop. “I never disagreed with my mum for forgiving the men who killed my father. I saw it as testimony to her faith and the kind of woman she was. Her faith was a help to her but it was still painful,” he said.
In the same way that Jesus on the cross forgave His murderers and Stephen forgave the ones who stoned him to death - so too Jo Pollard forgave the ones who killed her husband. The prayer that Jesus taught us to pray says it all ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. It was through this tragedy that the genuiness of her faith was made apparent to all who knew her. They were a modern Christian couple who in their desire to help other Christians in persecuted countries suffered hardship and death.
Jesus gave His life for us, and the early Christian like Stephen, Peter, John, Paul were prepared to give their lives to spread the Gospel around the world and here we are today as beneficiaries of their love.
Today we have seen how the church of which we are a part was born and the lengths to which ordinary people like us were prepared to go to keep it alive. We’ve seen how God intervened in the lives of so many to bring the church into being to show mankind the way He wanted His people to grow -in Love - loving Him and one another..
We live in difficult days but I believe that if we place our complete faith and trust in God then we will come through it a stronger and more Christlike people. WOW! I continue to believe that God’s Kingdom will benefit from the problems we have been facing over the last few months as God shows us different ways in which we can let our light shine for Him in a difficult time.
There was no way the early church that trusted in God could be stopped and God even intervened in the lives of the people like Saul to be transformed from being an enemy of the church to one of its greatest exponents.
When you consider that the one who was so violently against the church became one of its greatest evangelists then how can anyone fail to believe that Jesus is Lord and that we are called by God to live in peace and harmony with Him and each other. Whatever that may cost and spread the good news to all.
Amazing how God used ordinary people like - Stephen, Ananias, Barnabus who all played their part in the conversion of Paul and today I believe that God is calling us to play our part by sharing His love and message with others. Difficult times but times where God is using it to test the genuiness of our faith and commitment to Him.
Lets Pray
Father God we marvel at the way in which you turned the life of Paul from being against Jesus and the Christian Church to one who began to believe the truth and become an ardent evangelist in the early Church.
We thank You Lord that You chose to do the same today through people like us if we will live in obedience to Your word and let Your love shine through us to those among our neighbours and friends who as yet don’t know You
We thank You Father that today -through the powerful letters Paul wrote to the new churches in his day - that we are inspired to live lives of love in obedience to You.
We thank You Lord that when we go through difficult times in our lives that we have the assurance that we are not alone in them but that You are there with us and will see us through them. Your word doesn’t say we will not have problems - for we live in a fallen world - but your word does promise that when these things come upon us that You will be there to help and strengthen us.
I pray too Lord that when we go through the difficult times that we will feel the awesomness of that promise and that how we deal with the situations will help us to confirm the true extent of the faith that we have in You.
Father I pray that You will keep us strong in these difficult days and that even though many of us have to live alone in isolation from our friends and loved ones that we will feel the comfort of Your awesome presence surrounding and upholding us.
I pray for all who are bowed before You now that Lord You will strengthen us in our resolve to live our lives for You and give us the right words that will help to bring others to seek to know You for themselves
We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord and Saviour - Amen
Last week we looked at the awesome way that Stephen who Luke, the writer of Acts, tells us was a great man of faith and filled with the holy Spirit was one of the men chosen to help with administration and outworking of the newly birthed church.
We read how he was so on fire for God that he was challenged by the opposition, who went so far as to persuaded false witnesses to say that they had heard him blaspheme against Moses and God, and brought him before the Sanhedrin.
We read chapter 6 that told us that when the Sanhedrin looked at Stephen they could see the face of an Angel WOW! Then in chapter 7 how boldly Stephen reminded his accusers of what their Bible actually does say about the Messiah and how it all fits in with what God was doing through the life of Jesus - who was indeed the Messiah that the prophets had spoken about.
We read how brave Stephen was when he addressed the Sanhedrin ; 51 “You stiff-necked people! - You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
When Stephen said this they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, just as Jesus did from the cross “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
I said last week- In Stephen and the early disciples we can truly see the outworking of the Holy Spirit - even through persecution and the suffering of the new converts to the new Church - Gods living body in the world. And it’s still happening today all over the world - those who turn to Jesus from other faiths are being persecuted.
Peter tells us despite the trials and difficulties we face today, Gods uses them to get us to reflect over our lives and the way we deal with the difficulties we face - and see them as Gods way of helping us to evaluate the genuiness of our faith and our actions.
1 Peter puts it this way; In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith may be proved genuine
We then looked at what Peter wrote to all those who had been with him at Pentecost when God had poured the Holy Spirit on them all. He wrote about the importance of living in obedience to God and about this new life in Christ - He referred to them as Gods elect and spoke of how they had been chosen, forgiven, born again and given a new hope - that of a life spent with the presence of Jesus and an inheritance in the Kingdom to come. Shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
I asked the question ’ Is that how you feel today - Privilaged - Elected and Chosen by Almighty God - Empowered with the Holy Spirit to be obedient to Jesus .And enabled to really know the presence of the Almighty in your everyday life.
At the end of last weeks message I talked about a song that Kevin and I had been privileged to sing so many times as we went and shared our testimony in songs with other churches -
Born again, there’s really been a change in me
Born again just like Jesus said
Born again, and all because of Calvary -
I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again.
All because of Jesus and the sacrificial love He showed in giving His life on the cross to bring forgiveness to those who respond to His love.
I know that I would not have been able to face the difficulties that I have experienced over the last few years without my faith in God being real. To lose my son Kevin who went with me to venues all over singing together about the love of God and encouraging others to come on board. It was Christmas and so his funeral was the day after boxing day. We'd already lost his baby daughter Victoria and then to lose Beryl my lovely wife of over 50 years - I definately would not have been able to cope with all that without knowing the presence of God in my life and the hope that one day we will be together again.
What a privileged people we are to know God love and presence, to know that He is with us every step of the way throughout our lives. I know the truth of His word that says ‘when you walk through the waters - and your up to here with it - and when you walk through the fire - when troubles are hotting up all round you - don’t fear for God says I will be with you - why? Because, God says, we are precious to Him. WOW!
This week I want us to move further on in our trip through Acts and see what a difference the life and testimony of Stephen made to Saul - the one who had stood in agreeance with the stoning of Stephen.
The life and testimony of Stephen really reveals the strength and commitment of his new life in Christ and would surely make a genuine impact on the lives of others - both those who knew and served God and those who as yet didn’t really know Him - like Saul - who’s life was about to take a complete turn around from an enemy of the Christian Church to one of it’s strongest converts and evangelist.
Saul - a strong faithful committed Jew who like his own people saw the life and deeds of Jesus as being against all that they believed. Yes! the Messiah was prophesied scriptures by so many prophets but as Stephen had pointed out to the members of the Sanhedrin - they didn’t realise that the one they were prophesying about would come so much later and in fact when Jesus came - even though He fit all the prophesies that had been made - they didn’t recognise Jesus as the promise Messiah.
Saul was so passionate about what he then believed - that he saw it as his duty to get rid of the disciples of Jesus and try to stop the obvious growth that had started following the death of Jesus and the birth of the New Christian Fellowships.
Following the stoning of Stephen at which Saul was a witness, Acts chapter 8 tell us that 1 On that day a great persecution broke out against the Church at Jerusalem and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him - but Saul began to destroy the church going from house to house he dragged off men and women and put them in prison.
But as v4 tells us Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city
There’s no stopping them - bless them - What the people witnessed was the power of God as seen through the faithfulness of the witnesses like Philip which had made a great impact on the people who witnessed it for as verse 8 tells us there was Great Joy in that city. The rest of chapter 8 tells us of the way in which Philip shared the good news but as I said last week today I want us to look at what happened to Saul the persecutor of the church.
Acts 9; 1-9 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem.
He’s dead set on getting rid of what he saw as opposition to his Jewish faith - but WOW God has other plans for Saul - plans to take him out of the enemy camp and convert him and empower him to do what the people he was fighting against were doing and that’s spreading the good news about Jesus.
3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Can you imagine how Saul must have felt then - a flashing light from heaven - then the voice of Jesus asking him why - why are you persecuting me? The reply Saul gave implies that he knew who it was speaking to him in the way he asked ‘Who are you - Lord? To which Jesus replied “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
Amazingly - The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
And there’s more - as God reveals the next stage in His plan to convert Saul by using one of His obedient servants Ananias;
10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”“Yes, Lord,” he answered. The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
Not surprisingly Ananias says to God “Lord, I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to Your holy people in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
Not surprising is it that Ananias is scared - but the Lord puts his mind at ease when he tells him. “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
I would imagine that hearing this startling news that Ananias would be amazed at the length God is going to make sure that the new church grew and spread by taking someone as powerful as Saul from the opposition and converting him to become a believer and a strong witness and evangelist for the new Christian Fellowships.
Before all this, Saul had been blinded to the truth by his misguided beliefs then and now blinded again, this time for a short while by Jesus so that he had to be led by his colleagues to Damascus where for three days he was left in his blindness to consider all that had happened to put a halt to all his intended plans and start to think again. And so as we continue to read;
In obedience to Gods word v 17 Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again.
He can see again not just physically but also spiritually as not only did the scales drop from his eyes but also his Spiritual eyes were opened to see the truth in Christ. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.
What an awesome story - that shows the amazing length that God is prepared to go to bring mankind back into line with His intention for mankind which is to be a people who live lives in obedience to Him and His word and seek to become Christlike in their daily lives. A people who Love God with all their hearts and seek to love one another and so create a world where greed and selfishness have no part.
Just look at what happened next as the impact of what God had done in the life of Saul helped the church to blossom and grow. Saul who had set out to Damascus with the intent of Getting rid of the Church has now changed direction and wants to be a disciple himself and become like them. Which will move him from the Persecutor to be on of the persecuted.
The continuation of verse 19 tells us that Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. They would obviously share their experiences of actually being with Jesus and the difference He had made to their lives especially when they were then filled with His presence and the Holy Spirit. This obviously had an enormous effect on Saul and we are told that - At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.
Wow! this is Saul the one who had obtained permission from the synagogue to get rid of the followers of Jesus and here he is in the synagogue saying that he now knows that Jesus is who He said He was - the son of God - the Messiah they ‘d all been waiting for.
No wonder is it that verse 21 says All those who heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those who call on this name? That’s the name of Jesus And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” That’s the followers of Jesus
Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah. Obviously through his encounter with Christ and by listening to the testimonies of the disciples
One minute Saul is in fierce opposition to Jesus and going with great passion to get rid of them - and now the opposition is after him to silence him so verse 23 tells us that After many days had gone by, there was a conspiracy among the Jews to kill him, but Saul learned of their plan. Day and night they kept close watch on the city gates in order to kill him. But his followers took him by night and lowered him in a basket through an opening in the wall. As I said earlier, The persecutor becomes the persecuted and the great change in his life means that the ones he came to get rid of are the ones who save him.
This just goes to prove, as many of us know, that accepting the truth about Jesus and repenting your past really makes a difference to your lives.
Saul was so against Christ - An enemy of Jesus yet God chose him, and took him out of his misguided past, turned his life completely round and transformed him into a passionate follower and evangelist of the truth - in fact today you only have to look at the New Testament to see that over half of it was written by Paul. Of the 27 books - 14 were written by Paul. Paul was a changed man on fire for God .
That’s why God sent Jesus - and impact that Jesus had on His disciples and followers turned their lives back to the Father - God who brought meaning and purpose to their lives. God who is love - spread that love through Jesus, then on to His disciples who encourage by Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit began to spread it to the thousands of followers then and still does today through those who choose to forsake their selfish pasts and make Him the centre of their lives.
Saul was a changed man - but this had to be seen by the ones he had come to destroy. Not easy! Not surprising is it that v26 tells us that When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles.
The first time we heard about Barnabas was in Acts 4;36 where, at the birth of the Chistian fellowships, Barnabas who’s real name was Joseph a Levitte from Cyprus sold a field he owned and gave the money to the Apostles to help feed the hungry. That was before Ananias and Sapphira did the same but keeping some of the money lied about it and fell dead . He was a part of the early Christian fellowship and known by the Apostles as Barnabas which means ‘Son of Encouragement‘. And that’s what he is doing here- speaking in defence of Saul He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. Barnabas’s testimony was accepted
V 28 So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened. Living in the fear of the Lord and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it increased in numbers Paul and Barnabas eventually started to evangelise together making more converts Acts 11:24 describes Barnabas as "a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit’
I love the way in which chapter 13v9 changes our attention from Saul to another of the names he was known by which is Paul and from there on he is known by his new name. Just like we are told in Isaiah 62; 2,3 which says you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow. You will be a crown of splendour in the Lord’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
In the same way that when we are born our parents give us a name - so too, when we are born again we bear the name of Christian - Acts 11 tells us that it was at Antioch that the followers of Jesus first became known as Christians. A New Name
We don’t have a problem being called Christians, but there are many in the world today who are being persecuted because they dare to bear the name Christian. We have it easy but so many of our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world are suffering because they love Jesus. The suffering that comes from the evil one.
Last week we read how the genuiness of our faith is often measured by the way we respond to persecution or suffering in the world today and 1 Peter 4;16 tells us that if you suffer as a Christian. Don’t be ashamed but praise God that you bear that name
As I prepared this message it drew me to remember the life and testimony of a lovely local Christian Jo Pollard who along with her husband Michael started to minister to the needs of other Christians suffering for their faith in other countries
Jo was born in 1942 New Zealand but came to England and fell in love and married Leeds born Michael Pollard in 1969 and went to live in Baildon. They had three children but sadly their second baby, Mark died just 3 days old the same time that her brother in New Zealand also died..
It was at a Keswick bible week that they met the parents of Gods Smuggler - Brother Andrew who lived a dangerous life smuggling bibles into persecuted countries. He drew their attention to 1 John 3;16,17 which says 16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?
They also learned of other Christians who were enduring hardship and suffering for promoting Christianity in communist countries -people like Richard Wurmbrand and George Vins. Inspired and challenged, they began taking trips to Eastern Europe to distribute food, clothing, medical supplies, toys and Christian books to poor families.
They did this type of work in their holidays for nearly 30 years until what was to become their last trip in August 1997. Hey were on their way to Budapest when Jo and Michael who was an elder at the Emmanuel Evangelical Church at Baildon Green, parked their caravanette in a lay-by about 150 miles from Budapest to have a long earned rest, when two men approached them. Claiming to be police they fined Michael and Jo for "illegal parking".
Some time later, the two men returned with an accomplice and battered Michael with an iron club. Within minutes he died. One of the men returned again and attacked Jo who was left with serious injuries.
Some hours later, the three men were arrested - Istvan Dudas, 19, Attila Bilecz, 23, and Laszlo Mester, 23, following their trial they were convicted of manslaughter and robbery and were jailed for a total of 24 years.
Even through all this, Jo forgave and wrote letters to the three men who had murdered her husband telling them that she not only forgave them but loved them.
The T&A report said this; A devout Christian, New-Zealand born Mrs Pollard openly forgave the three men and visited Dudas and Bilecz in prison in the Hungarian capital Budapest on the first anniversary of her husband’s death. She also continued her charity work by helping to co-ordinate aid sent to poverty-stricken areas of Eastern Europe.
In 2000 she was voted Britain’s bravest woman by a women’s magazine and in 2001 published a book about her experience. It was about this time that she began a battle against dementia and on Tuesday 11 Nov 2008 she died aged 66.
Her son, Andrew, said in the early days of the condition his mum continued giving talks locally to raise awareness of the plight in Eastern Europe but eventually had to stop. “I never disagreed with my mum for forgiving the men who killed my father. I saw it as testimony to her faith and the kind of woman she was. Her faith was a help to her but it was still painful,” he said.
In the same way that Jesus on the cross forgave His murderers and Stephen forgave the ones who stoned him to death - so too Jo Pollard forgave the ones who killed her husband. The prayer that Jesus taught us to pray says it all ‘forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. It was through this tragedy that the genuiness of her faith was made apparent to all who knew her. They were a modern Christian couple who in their desire to help other Christians in persecuted countries suffered hardship and death.
Jesus gave His life for us, and the early Christian like Stephen, Peter, John, Paul were prepared to give their lives to spread the Gospel around the world and here we are today as beneficiaries of their love.
Today we have seen how the church of which we are a part was born and the lengths to which ordinary people like us were prepared to go to keep it alive. We’ve seen how God intervened in the lives of so many to bring the church into being to show mankind the way He wanted His people to grow -in Love - loving Him and one another..
We live in difficult days but I believe that if we place our complete faith and trust in God then we will come through it a stronger and more Christlike people. WOW! I continue to believe that God’s Kingdom will benefit from the problems we have been facing over the last few months as God shows us different ways in which we can let our light shine for Him in a difficult time.
There was no way the early church that trusted in God could be stopped and God even intervened in the lives of the people like Saul to be transformed from being an enemy of the church to one of its greatest exponents.
When you consider that the one who was so violently against the church became one of its greatest evangelists then how can anyone fail to believe that Jesus is Lord and that we are called by God to live in peace and harmony with Him and each other. Whatever that may cost and spread the good news to all.
Amazing how God used ordinary people like - Stephen, Ananias, Barnabus who all played their part in the conversion of Paul and today I believe that God is calling us to play our part by sharing His love and message with others. Difficult times but times where God is using it to test the genuiness of our faith and commitment to Him.
Lets Pray
Father God we marvel at the way in which you turned the life of Paul from being against Jesus and the Christian Church to one who began to believe the truth and become an ardent evangelist in the early Church.
We thank You Lord that You chose to do the same today through people like us if we will live in obedience to Your word and let Your love shine through us to those among our neighbours and friends who as yet don’t know You
We thank You Father that today -through the powerful letters Paul wrote to the new churches in his day - that we are inspired to live lives of love in obedience to You.
We thank You Lord that when we go through difficult times in our lives that we have the assurance that we are not alone in them but that You are there with us and will see us through them. Your word doesn’t say we will not have problems - for we live in a fallen world - but your word does promise that when these things come upon us that You will be there to help and strengthen us.
I pray too Lord that when we go through the difficult times that we will feel the awesomness of that promise and that how we deal with the situations will help us to confirm the true extent of the faith that we have in You.
Father I pray that You will keep us strong in these difficult days and that even though many of us have to live alone in isolation from our friends and loved ones that we will feel the comfort of Your awesome presence surrounding and upholding us.
I pray for all who are bowed before You now that Lord You will strengthen us in our resolve to live our lives for You and give us the right words that will help to bring others to seek to know You for themselves
We ask this in the name of Jesus our Lord and Saviour - Amen
Message 19 July 2010 This can also be seen on Youtube Billy Cowgill
Last week we saw how Stephen a man full of Gods grace and power WOW! was chosen to fill an administrative positioning in the church that meant serving others.
Acts 6 tells us how Stephen did great and wonderful and miraculous things among the people so that, in the same way the authorities didn’t like what Peter and John were doing, they began to argue against Stephen but only found that they couldn’t stand against Stephens wisdom and the obvious presence of the Spirit within him, so they drummed up untruths about him and persuaded others to say that they had heard Stephen blaspheme against Moses and God. Stephen was then brought before the Sanhedrin where the false witnesses declared they had heard Stephen say that Jesus - who they crucified - would destroy the Temple and change the laws that God had given through Moses. WOW! There’s no stopping the lies and false accusations of Gods enemies in trying to stop the teachings of Jesus, likewise there ws no stopping the truth coming from Gods chosen people like Peter, John and now Stephen.
I love the last verse of chapter 6 that tells us that all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin as they looked at Stephen saw the face of an Angel WOW!
Chapter 7 tells us that in the same way that Peter had used his imprisonment as a time to remind there accusers of what their Bible actually says about the ways of God and how it all fits in with what God is saying today through them - went on to share the good news of Jesus and then ends with a strong indictment of their foolishness by saying ; 51 “You stiff-necked people! - You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
You can imagine the response of the Sanhedrin when Stephen said this they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, just as Jesus did from the cross “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
WOW - it’s awesome here we see the outworking of the Holy Spirit through persecution and the suffering of the new converts to the new Church - Gods living body in the world.
A few weeks ago I watched an Open Doors video of the testimony of a young man called Mojtaba a former Moslem who lived in Iraq. In the video he shared how when he was 20 years old he was imprisoned for converting to Christianity and holding Bible Fellowships in his home. At first, I asked for forgiveness. I thought God had put me in jail as punishment for mistakes I had made in the past. But He said to me, "It's not about you, Mojtaba. It's about me. Look around you." And I saw that the people around me who had committed the worst crimes were poor and lonely. "It is time for you to share My Word with them, that you share myself with them," God said."
Mojtaba shared this testimony at an the Open Doors Day in November last year where he was present as a guest speaker
He began to see his imprisonment as a precious time that the authorities who were against his preaching had without realising it, given him an audience to spread the good news.
In the same way as today, many see that we are not able to meet together as Christians in our respective churches as a bad thing - I believe that this is Gods way of getting His people - you and me - out into the district to share what God is really like and what Church should all about - a people trusting, loving and serving God out there in our community and bringing peoples attention back to God. We love meeting together to share the word of God with one another but God wants us to take it out there - to share the good news with other people who have become prisoners to worldliness. An opportunity to get out into the community and share the love of God.
Next week we will come back to Acts and see the important part that Saul played in the continuation of the New Testament Church
Today I want us to look at what Peter - who under the direction of God, inspired and filled with the presence of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit was the one who following the commissioning of Jesus to feed His sheep started all this.
1 Peter 1-12 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things
What an awesome letter from Peter who in the first verse declare his name and position in the company of Gods people.
From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, That was almost like his business card - his card of authority. When I worked at Watmoughs my business card gave my name - well - a shortened version of my name - Bill Cowgill- I guess that they though Billy sounded a bit childish and Bill more adult. At the top of the card the company I represented was named as Watmoughs Financial Print and following my name, my position was then stated as Sales manager. Today Peters card would be headed The church of Jesus Christ - the name of the rep Peter and his position - Apostle.
I wonder how people today see us - who we represent and what our position is? How do people see us today? We don’t have a business card for our lives, our actions should say who we represent WE ARE the business card As we saw when Stephen presented himself to the Sanhedrin - as they looked at him they saw the face of an Angel WOW!
That’s how it should be in our lives - if we live a life of prayer in communion with our Lord and by making bible reading a daily joy learn to live in obedience to His Word - the love of God will begin to shine from our lives and people begin to see for themselves the benefits, the joy of getting to know for themselves, personally, the one we love, represent and want to share with them. That’s what Peter is saying here
We are then told the audience to whom he wanted to address; To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, - Gods new fellowship of believers who came to know Him and were filled with His Spirit at Pentecost - Acts 2 lists them in the same way that Peter does here - people elected by God to become His representatives - His New Testament Church - Gods elect who had been Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be
Obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Wow - Is that how you feel today - what a privilage - elected and chosen by Almighty God - empowered with the Holy Spirit to be obedient to Jesus . No wonder Peter says Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Who In his great mercy he has given us;
New birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an Inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you, who through Faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Great Mercy - it certainly is - when I think of the way in which the world since creation has move constantly away from how God intended His people to be. The depth of Gods Mercy is seen in the way that God sent His only Son Jesus to give His own life by dying on a cruel cross to claim forgiveness for mans sins - that’s awesome - The depth that God went to atone for our sins.
What a privileged people we are that God loves us so much that in His great mercy He has made it possible for us to start again - new birth as Peter expresses it- born again as Jesus explained to the learned teacher - Born not physically but Spiritually.
When my son Kevin was alive - we used to travel round the churches as a singing duo and one of our favourite songs was born again
Born again, there’s really been a change in me
Born again just like Jesus said
Born again, and all because of Calvary -
I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again.
The song then goes on to share what we really felt we had experience in our own lives when it tells the story of John chapter 3
One man came to Jesus, John and chapter 3,
so all alone, he was so alone.
Master Your’e from God I really do believe -
and that’s when he was born again.
Born again, theres really been a change in me
Born again just like Jesus said.
Born again, and all because of Calvary -
I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again.
It doesn’t stop there at being born again but goes on to say that as Children of God we have a share in the Inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you, who through Faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
When he says salvation in the last times he isn’t saying that it wasn’t salvation when we first accepted Jesus as our Saviour, no, this is a continuation of that same salvation - a second phase when Jesus will come again and takes us to live with Him - and until that time we enjoy the protection of God’s power - completely saved from the ills of the world until that salvation comes. No wonder Peter then says;
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to Suffer Grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Here again, I bring your thoughts back to what I said earlier in the way that what we as Christians might be going through now should be seen as an opportunity to confirm or prove to ourselves - the genuiness of our own faith.
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. No we can’t see Him physically but I believe that we should be able to see the reflected love of God in one another. Even though we can’t see Him - we love Him. Faith opens up not our eyes but our hearts - the source of life - to see the beauty of God in His creation and in one another.
During the last 5 months of lockdown I have spent almost every day walking around the beautiful world that God created. It’s always been there, but I like so many others have been too busy to see it - wow - I shall make sure that when this is all over I will continue to enjoy and be amazed at the awesomness of Gods creativity in the nature around us.
Peter then goes back to talk about the Salvation that was prophesied in their own bibles but yet not fully understood by the prophets themselves Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.
They prophesied about things that would happen a long way in the future when they themselves had departed this earth - what they shared was for a future generation of which Peter was a part when as the prophet Joel had prophesied 800 years earlier - the Holy Spirit would be given Joel 2;28 which happened at Pentecost.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
The final verses of 1 Peter that offer good advice for those who want to live in obedience to God - that’s you and me
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
Foreigners - people who don’t really fit in with the worldy things that surrounds us - the empty life as Peter calls it - but people who are looking forward to the joys to come.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
You can’t buy your way into the Kingdom of God - we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. - He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
And then finally - words of good advice for those who have chosen to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and seek with all their hearts to live in accordance to His Word ;
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth I hope that’s you desire and aim in life
so that you have sincere love for each other, That’s real deep love that flows freely from our hearts
Peter explains how this possible?
For you have been Born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the Living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you
WOW! I pray that God’s Kingdom will benefit from the problems we have been facing over the last few months as God has been showing us different ways in which we can let our light shine for Him in a difficult time.
Every day in my prayer time I ask God what He wants me to share with you all in my Sunday message and I’ve been amazed at how God has not only been directing me to the bible readings He wanted me to share but also been leading the leaders of the different churches around us to share the same portions of Scripture. I’ve been amazed at the way that I believe God has been showing His church the direction He wants us to go in future months by drawing our attention to the same bible readings - like the one we have been sharing today.
I believe that God is really using these times of lockdown to open up His church to reach out into the community and let them see the beauty of coming to know Him and His ways which are so far away from the foolish way that both the world and His church has developed. My prayer is that we will all come through this time a better more devoted disciplined and committed fellowship of people who have found new and exciting ways of sharing the love of God with one another and the people around us.
As that last verse said - “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; and in my walks these last few months I have seen the beauty of the grassland and flowers - But come the winter months and we will see that the grass withers and the flowers fall, But believe this - unlike the grass and the flowers that will one day fade - we are reminded but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you
Lets pray;
Father God we thank You Lord for your wonderful love
We thank You Lord that as Peter reminds us, we have been chosen by You to share Your love and the message of forgiveness that you have made available through Jesus Christ for all those who repent their past and turn to You that in Your great Mercy you not only forgive us but you make it possible for us to start again, be born again and learn from You Father how you want us to live our new lives.
All this made possible through the awesome way that we can not only talk to You in prayer but through the wisdom of Your Word - become more like Jesus - brothers in Christ.
Lord let us begin to realise if we havn’t already done so , how privileged we are to be adopted into Your family knowing you as our Father and that together with others in our fellowship, share the awesome relationship of being brothers and Sisters in Christ.
Lord I pray that we will be so filled with Your presence that it will begin to show in the way we live our lives - that the beauty of knowing Jesus as our Saviour will really shine from us like it did with your servant Stephen.
I pray that in this time of difficulty in the world and in Your church today, that we will take the opportunity You have given us to share your love with others around and as Your obedient children begin to live a life of Holiness - a Holy people in both word and deed.
We ask this in the precious name of Jesus Christ our Saviour
Amen
Last week we saw how Stephen a man full of Gods grace and power WOW! was chosen to fill an administrative positioning in the church that meant serving others.
Acts 6 tells us how Stephen did great and wonderful and miraculous things among the people so that, in the same way the authorities didn’t like what Peter and John were doing, they began to argue against Stephen but only found that they couldn’t stand against Stephens wisdom and the obvious presence of the Spirit within him, so they drummed up untruths about him and persuaded others to say that they had heard Stephen blaspheme against Moses and God. Stephen was then brought before the Sanhedrin where the false witnesses declared they had heard Stephen say that Jesus - who they crucified - would destroy the Temple and change the laws that God had given through Moses. WOW! There’s no stopping the lies and false accusations of Gods enemies in trying to stop the teachings of Jesus, likewise there ws no stopping the truth coming from Gods chosen people like Peter, John and now Stephen.
I love the last verse of chapter 6 that tells us that all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin as they looked at Stephen saw the face of an Angel WOW!
Chapter 7 tells us that in the same way that Peter had used his imprisonment as a time to remind there accusers of what their Bible actually says about the ways of God and how it all fits in with what God is saying today through them - went on to share the good news of Jesus and then ends with a strong indictment of their foolishness by saying ; 51 “You stiff-necked people! - You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered Him you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
You can imagine the response of the Sanhedrin when Stephen said this they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, just as Jesus did from the cross “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
WOW - it’s awesome here we see the outworking of the Holy Spirit through persecution and the suffering of the new converts to the new Church - Gods living body in the world.
A few weeks ago I watched an Open Doors video of the testimony of a young man called Mojtaba a former Moslem who lived in Iraq. In the video he shared how when he was 20 years old he was imprisoned for converting to Christianity and holding Bible Fellowships in his home. At first, I asked for forgiveness. I thought God had put me in jail as punishment for mistakes I had made in the past. But He said to me, "It's not about you, Mojtaba. It's about me. Look around you." And I saw that the people around me who had committed the worst crimes were poor and lonely. "It is time for you to share My Word with them, that you share myself with them," God said."
Mojtaba shared this testimony at an the Open Doors Day in November last year where he was present as a guest speaker
He began to see his imprisonment as a precious time that the authorities who were against his preaching had without realising it, given him an audience to spread the good news.
In the same way as today, many see that we are not able to meet together as Christians in our respective churches as a bad thing - I believe that this is Gods way of getting His people - you and me - out into the district to share what God is really like and what Church should all about - a people trusting, loving and serving God out there in our community and bringing peoples attention back to God. We love meeting together to share the word of God with one another but God wants us to take it out there - to share the good news with other people who have become prisoners to worldliness. An opportunity to get out into the community and share the love of God.
Next week we will come back to Acts and see the important part that Saul played in the continuation of the New Testament Church
Today I want us to look at what Peter - who under the direction of God, inspired and filled with the presence of Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit was the one who following the commissioning of Jesus to feed His sheep started all this.
1 Peter 1-12 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things
What an awesome letter from Peter who in the first verse declare his name and position in the company of Gods people.
From Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, That was almost like his business card - his card of authority. When I worked at Watmoughs my business card gave my name - well - a shortened version of my name - Bill Cowgill- I guess that they though Billy sounded a bit childish and Bill more adult. At the top of the card the company I represented was named as Watmoughs Financial Print and following my name, my position was then stated as Sales manager. Today Peters card would be headed The church of Jesus Christ - the name of the rep Peter and his position - Apostle.
I wonder how people today see us - who we represent and what our position is? How do people see us today? We don’t have a business card for our lives, our actions should say who we represent WE ARE the business card As we saw when Stephen presented himself to the Sanhedrin - as they looked at him they saw the face of an Angel WOW!
That’s how it should be in our lives - if we live a life of prayer in communion with our Lord and by making bible reading a daily joy learn to live in obedience to His Word - the love of God will begin to shine from our lives and people begin to see for themselves the benefits, the joy of getting to know for themselves, personally, the one we love, represent and want to share with them. That’s what Peter is saying here
We are then told the audience to whom he wanted to address; To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, - Gods new fellowship of believers who came to know Him and were filled with His Spirit at Pentecost - Acts 2 lists them in the same way that Peter does here - people elected by God to become His representatives - His New Testament Church - Gods elect who had been Chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be
Obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Wow - Is that how you feel today - what a privilage - elected and chosen by Almighty God - empowered with the Holy Spirit to be obedient to Jesus . No wonder Peter says Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! Who In his great mercy he has given us;
New birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an Inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you, who through Faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
Great Mercy - it certainly is - when I think of the way in which the world since creation has move constantly away from how God intended His people to be. The depth of Gods Mercy is seen in the way that God sent His only Son Jesus to give His own life by dying on a cruel cross to claim forgiveness for mans sins - that’s awesome - The depth that God went to atone for our sins.
What a privileged people we are that God loves us so much that in His great mercy He has made it possible for us to start again - new birth as Peter expresses it- born again as Jesus explained to the learned teacher - Born not physically but Spiritually.
When my son Kevin was alive - we used to travel round the churches as a singing duo and one of our favourite songs was born again
Born again, there’s really been a change in me
Born again just like Jesus said
Born again, and all because of Calvary -
I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again.
The song then goes on to share what we really felt we had experience in our own lives when it tells the story of John chapter 3
One man came to Jesus, John and chapter 3,
so all alone, he was so alone.
Master Your’e from God I really do believe -
and that’s when he was born again.
Born again, theres really been a change in me
Born again just like Jesus said.
Born again, and all because of Calvary -
I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again.
It doesn’t stop there at being born again but goes on to say that as Children of God we have a share in the Inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you, who through Faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
When he says salvation in the last times he isn’t saying that it wasn’t salvation when we first accepted Jesus as our Saviour, no, this is a continuation of that same salvation - a second phase when Jesus will come again and takes us to live with Him - and until that time we enjoy the protection of God’s power - completely saved from the ills of the world until that salvation comes. No wonder Peter then says;
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to Suffer Grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Here again, I bring your thoughts back to what I said earlier in the way that what we as Christians might be going through now should be seen as an opportunity to confirm or prove to ourselves - the genuiness of our own faith.
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. No we can’t see Him physically but I believe that we should be able to see the reflected love of God in one another. Even though we can’t see Him - we love Him. Faith opens up not our eyes but our hearts - the source of life - to see the beauty of God in His creation and in one another.
During the last 5 months of lockdown I have spent almost every day walking around the beautiful world that God created. It’s always been there, but I like so many others have been too busy to see it - wow - I shall make sure that when this is all over I will continue to enjoy and be amazed at the awesomness of Gods creativity in the nature around us.
Peter then goes back to talk about the Salvation that was prophesied in their own bibles but yet not fully understood by the prophets themselves Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow.
They prophesied about things that would happen a long way in the future when they themselves had departed this earth - what they shared was for a future generation of which Peter was a part when as the prophet Joel had prophesied 800 years earlier - the Holy Spirit would be given Joel 2;28 which happened at Pentecost.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
The final verses of 1 Peter that offer good advice for those who want to live in obedience to God - that’s you and me
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
Foreigners - people who don’t really fit in with the worldy things that surrounds us - the empty life as Peter calls it - but people who are looking forward to the joys to come.
For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
You can’t buy your way into the Kingdom of God - we are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. - He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
And then finally - words of good advice for those who have chosen to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour and seek with all their hearts to live in accordance to His Word ;
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth I hope that’s you desire and aim in life
so that you have sincere love for each other, That’s real deep love that flows freely from our hearts
Peter explains how this possible?
For you have been Born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the Living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you
WOW! I pray that God’s Kingdom will benefit from the problems we have been facing over the last few months as God has been showing us different ways in which we can let our light shine for Him in a difficult time.
Every day in my prayer time I ask God what He wants me to share with you all in my Sunday message and I’ve been amazed at how God has not only been directing me to the bible readings He wanted me to share but also been leading the leaders of the different churches around us to share the same portions of Scripture. I’ve been amazed at the way that I believe God has been showing His church the direction He wants us to go in future months by drawing our attention to the same bible readings - like the one we have been sharing today.
I believe that God is really using these times of lockdown to open up His church to reach out into the community and let them see the beauty of coming to know Him and His ways which are so far away from the foolish way that both the world and His church has developed. My prayer is that we will all come through this time a better more devoted disciplined and committed fellowship of people who have found new and exciting ways of sharing the love of God with one another and the people around us.
As that last verse said - “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; and in my walks these last few months I have seen the beauty of the grassland and flowers - But come the winter months and we will see that the grass withers and the flowers fall, But believe this - unlike the grass and the flowers that will one day fade - we are reminded but the word of the Lord endures forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you
Lets pray;
Father God we thank You Lord for your wonderful love
We thank You Lord that as Peter reminds us, we have been chosen by You to share Your love and the message of forgiveness that you have made available through Jesus Christ for all those who repent their past and turn to You that in Your great Mercy you not only forgive us but you make it possible for us to start again, be born again and learn from You Father how you want us to live our new lives.
All this made possible through the awesome way that we can not only talk to You in prayer but through the wisdom of Your Word - become more like Jesus - brothers in Christ.
Lord let us begin to realise if we havn’t already done so , how privileged we are to be adopted into Your family knowing you as our Father and that together with others in our fellowship, share the awesome relationship of being brothers and Sisters in Christ.
Lord I pray that we will be so filled with Your presence that it will begin to show in the way we live our lives - that the beauty of knowing Jesus as our Saviour will really shine from us like it did with your servant Stephen.
I pray that in this time of difficulty in the world and in Your church today, that we will take the opportunity You have given us to share your love with others around and as Your obedient children begin to live a life of Holiness - a Holy people in both word and deed.
We ask this in the precious name of Jesus Christ our Saviour
Amen
Message for Sunday 12 July 2020 also on Youtube Billy Cowgill
Last week we looked at the powerful way that God moved in the early fellowship of the new church and through the faithful, not just Peter and John but the whole fellowship, began to show His power and let the world see that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the only way to the heart of the Father.
There’s no stopping them - they had been empowered by the Holy Spirit to be like Jesus and do the things that only He had done before like healing the sick - we saw how this angered the leaders of the state and the church who had killed Jesus and hoped that that was the end of what they saw as blasphemous preaching. We read how following the healing of the lame man the authorities arrested peter and ordered him to stop preaching about Jesus to which Peter boldly replied ‘ we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ Acts 4; 20
We read how Peter and John continued to spread the good news and started to build the team together that would become what today we would call the new Testament Church - a fellowship based on the teachings of Jesus and especially Jesus’s statement that the greatest commandments that God gave through Moses was to Love God and love one another - this they did and the love they had reached out to all people especially the poor and the needy.
We looked at how William Booth was given a vision of what his church should be which also included caring for those that the recognised churches of his time tended to forget. William cared for the poor, the needy, the underprivileged in practical ways just like the fellowship in Acts 2 did.
We looked at how, in the early church in Acts, Ananias and Sapphira held back from giving themselves in total commitment and lied to the fellowship which resulted in them both dropping dead at the Apostles feet which resulted in others holding back from joining the church - but not for long as we are then told that Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
They became a voice to be listened to as the Words they shared were backed up by their Actions and resulted in people bringing their sick and dying on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
Again the authorities didn’t like what was happening as more and more people responded to the truth about Jesus - arrested Peter and John and put them in jail. But God sent an angel to open the jail-set them free- with the command to Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people all about this new life.”
This they did and were arrested again - but that only gave Peter another golden opportunity to speak the truth about Jesus. We read v29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
This infuriated their accusers who were all set to kill them- but this time one of their own group, Gamiliel warned them that if what they are doing is of God you’ll never stop them but if its of man they will fail anyway - 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, and here we have the awesome way they felt at being the ones privileged to be called by God to share the good news with the world - they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
There was no stopping them, and as a result of their faithfulness the good news spread and people were converted to Christ.
Today we are going to read how the fellowship of believers - the New testament Church continued to give themselves in total commitment to what they felt God was birthing them to do
Acts 6 'In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Reading this, one can see how the early church was growing faster than I guess the Apostles were ready for. The pressures began to show as dissension entered the fellowship, as some of them, the Greek Jews and the Hebrew Jews were in dispute about an unfair distribution of the food - it was the Greeks who complained that the widows were being neglected. So the Apostles called the new disciples together and told them "It would not be right for us ( the Apostles) to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
The Apostles outlined what is an important basic requirement for any church of God to hold true to which is prayer and the ministry of the word of God. That was what they felt they had been called together to do - Spend time in prayer seeking Gods direction for his church and then teaching the rest of the fellowship what God had told them - which was the word of God that they knew needed to share with the whole Church so that what they were becoming was of God. First to seek His direction in prayer and then after sharing it with the others, put it into practice - that’s the only way the church would grow if they were obedient to God and so they held a meeting to choose leaders from among them who would be called to manage the different areas of ministry that needed help.
Once again I believe that God-today- has called the church of today into hold - lockdown - so that we can take a look at ourselves see what we have become and ask ourselves if our fellowships today are living under Gods direction or mans ideas - to ask ourselves ‘are we living in accordance to Gods idea of Church’ and if not, to be re-directed back to what I see as the New testament pattern for Church as God intends us to be and get our ACT2 gether. Empowered to bring the unchurched to see the error of their ways, seek Jesus for themselves and grow the true church of God ready for His return.
When this Corona Virus started to spread in March this year, I said then that scripture had warned us of what would happen in these last days before Christs return for His Church and I and many others saw this pandemic as being the pestilence mentioned in scripture. We were already also experiencing the fighting over Jerusalem and worldwide catastrophies such as earthquakes and persecution of Christians all over the world. We were seeing the conversion of thousands of Jews to believe in Jesus as the Messiah - we could see it all fitting together as Gods plan to bring the world especially the church to halt and start to look at itself and what it had developed into and where needed, to get back to being the people God intended us to be.
I looked at the letters of Corona virus and using each letter penned a statement that I thought aptly described what God was doing - it went like this Christs Order Rules Our Nation Again- Victorious In Reclaiming US or in other words, Christs Order Rules Our Nation Again- Victorious In Restoring Universal Salvation.
Here in our Bible reading, we have the perfect example of good Church management 'Kingdom Style'. One that we today need to adhere to if we are to grow.
(1) Make Prayer and Bible Study a priority
(2) Spot the weak areas before they get worse,
(3) fill the gap with the right person and get on with the job that we were all called to do.
This is a lesson in togetherness - The weak spot in this newly birthed fellowship was one of administration mainly because the Apostles themselves were overstretched in trying to be 'Jack of all trades' and do everything themselves. The remedy was to delegate the job to someone else and make it their responsibility and then get back to the job that they had been appointed to do which was pray, preach the Word, and live the word and make more disciples.
Wisely, the Apostles passed the job of choosing the seven, to the very people that the seven were to serve. And so the seven chosen were all insiders part of the fellowship, elected by the people themselves. v3 Brothers, chose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will then turn the responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word'.
I call them 'The Magnificent seven'. That was a well known film when I was a lad. My son Steven is a film buff and I guess if I asked him the names of the magnificent seven - he’d probably be able to tell me - I wonder if you can remember the names of the seven the Apostles chose?
God's magnificent seven were Stephen, Philip, Procurus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas. They all had the same, necessary qualifications, they were chosen because they were known to be, like the Apostles, men full of the Spirit and wisdom. High qualities - and what were they chosen to do? - they were chosen to serve, to administer the daily distribution of the food to the other believers, so that the Apostles could get on with their responsibility which was to pray and preach the word of God
If an employer was looking for people to look after the distribution of food today, he would probably look for people with the right qualifications in catering management. He would check their CV's to chart their progress up the ladder of the management profession.
Not so the Apostles. They wanted men who would be fair, honest, in their dealings. Men who were first and foremost, men of faith and conviction. Men who were 100% committed to the faith and the spreading of the word. Men whom they knew the others in the fellowship trusted.
I remember when I was Sales Director of Watmoughs, and needed new sales staff, I advertised in the top papers, and even though I always asked for a CV, my decision whom to employ was taken, not through qualifications, but by character and the 'feel' of the interview.
I found out about his family, realising that if he was a good family man, he would need to provide for them, so would want to be in long term employment which brought stability. I asked about his hobbies and interests, to make sure that there would not be a conflict of interests, such as sport that would make him inaccessible if we needed him to work over. I asked what his values in life were, as I wanted honesty and integrity. I also enquired about his beliefs, wanting someone I could trust.
Whenever the Salvation Army advertise particular jobs of service, Charity Shop managers, care workers, people to work in the homes and hostels, they stipulate on the job description 'No CV's'. I guess that they, like me, realise that only the interviews themselves would reveal the true qualities they are looking for. People of integrity, honest, 100% committed to the faith. Why? because honesty demands, that such people would not be applying in the first place if they were not up to the task.
It was the same when Jesus chose His disciples, His team, he didn't necessarily look for well educated, learned people. He chose people whom He knew would give 100% to the cause. Men and women who were open to Him, whom He knew would be breakable, mouldable, fill-able. People who would be prepared to work, prepared to withstand the rebuffs, the knocks, the difficulties, the hardships, the problems.
Men and women who would learn to love and respect His authority. Men and women who would capture the vision of the new Kingdom life, and as well as embrace it themselves, would be eager to share it with others. Disciples first, then witnesses to the truth that they had received.
The Apostles could see that as the church was growing rapidly, then in order that each new member of the fellowship could be nurtured in the truth, the ministry of the word would not have to be neglected. They needed to delegate some of the tasks that were beginning to take so much of their time away from their first priority, that of Teaching and seeing that the truth of the Gospel was upheld and so seven men were chosen to fulfill the ministry of serving the needs of the fellowship. Responsibility was delegated.
So many fellowships today, are struggling under 'one man ministries' instead of flourishing under the ministry of 'the priesthood of all believers'.
The early Church taught that all members are the Laos -the people- who have been called out of society to serve God and their fellow men. There was to be no hierarchy or different levels of status, all the believers were part of the Church's mission and belong to the people of God.
As Peter said in Gods word 'We are a Chosen people, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we might declare the Praises of Him who called us out of darkness, into His glorious light. Once you were a nobody, now are the people of God'. 1 Peter 2; 9-10
Phil Wall wrote a book called 'I'll fight, Holiness at war' in it he says this ' If we are to see a world won for God we need to rediscover the theology of calling and ministry. We need to flesh out the gospel for all to see'
Biblically, all of us are the 'Laos', the people of God, set apart by Him to be priests of God. There is work for all of us to do, if only we would seek His will. Colonel Phillip Needham puts it this way ' Ministry shared by all and apportioned according to recognised gifts bestowed by the Spirit, tends to be a function of a dynamic community of faith which is ever on the move'.
Paul to the church at Ephesus put it this way 'It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Ephesians 4; 11-12
The primary function of the leader is the equipping of the saints, the ones who actually live and work amongst the unsaved, the very people we are trying to reach with the gospel of Christ. They need all the help and encouragement that they can get.
The success of the early Church is in part due to the apostles grasping the truth of what the priesthood of all believers really means. People called by Almighty God to fulfill their ministry, whilst allowing others to get on with theirs.
Our Corps like all other of Gods churches will go from strength to strength only when we realise that we are in this together. We need each other. We need to value each other. We need to see the ‘God given giftedness’ in each other so that the needs of the whole fellowship can be met through our ministry.
WOW! what a privilege. Chosen, hand-picked by God Himself. And when God chooses, He looks on the inside, the heart. He sees us through visionary eyes, and therefore able to choose us, not because of what we are now, but what He knows we will become. I believe that if we are responsive and open to Gods leading that He will build His Kingdom here at Idle.
There is so much to do, key positions still to be filled, I pray that we will all be open to see what God wants of our lives, and that we will be ready and willing to serve Him. God wants obedient folk who are 100% committed to Him. Our prayer to God should surely be; 'Here I am Lord, wholly available, as for me I will serve the Lord.' There is one thing for certain, you will only find fulfilment in this life, if you seek to do God's will!
The Church should be the living Body of Christ in the world today - He is the head, we are the ligaments.
As Paul says in Ephesians 4; 15-16. Speaking the truth in love, we will, in all things, grow up into Him who is the head, that is Christ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does it’s work’.
We, as the Church, should be the Living Body of Christ in the world today and just as a body is made up of many important parts that all interact with one another - so too we have different talents that can all be used in the service of the church
One of my favourite songs that we sing in our fellowship is the one written by Dave Bilbrough that says, sp beautifully, what we and the church should be like. We sing it to the tune Aurelia which is the music for the hymn of the same name written in 1866 by 27 year old Samuel John Stone an Anglican priest who was dissatisfied with the controversies that were dividing the Anglican church of his day.
These are the words of Dave Bilborough’s hymn which start off with the same first two lines of Samuel Stones hymn that by states the truth that Jesus is the head -
The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ the Lord
And on that revelation each one of us is called
To taste His full salvation, to know His life within
A pure and holy nation to glorify the King
This time of preparation eventually will yield
The fruit of all His labours, His heart will be fulfilled
From every tribe and nation His people shall be known
Drawn to be His kingdom made out of living stones
O See Him and be radiant, O taste the Lord and know
He wants to take us deeper for what we are we sow
With streams of living water, He longs to overflow
That out to all creation, His glory He will show
In closing lets read Ephesians 4; which I suggest aptly puts into focus all that we have been sharing this morning about what we and the Church should be in todays sinful, wayward world. This was Paul - the Jewish convert to Christianity writing from the confines of his prison cell to the fellowship at Ephesus.
Ephesians 4; 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. That's Gods Church
Lets pray; Lord as we bow before You this morning we pray Father that you forgive us if in any way we have fallen short of what You want us, Your children to be. We want Lord to live lives in obedience to Your Word and bring Glory to Your precious name.
We pray father that You will help us to feel Your presence - just now - as we bow before You and as we receive Your forgiveness You will fill us with Your Holy Spirit and empower and enable us to become active members of Your body - the Church.
Help us to discipline ourselves to give You more of our and time in commitment to Prayer and the reading of Your Word so that through them we will clearly hear Your voice and have a burning desire within our heart to live in obedience to You.
We thank You Lord that You never give up on Your children and because of Your great love for us want us to share the joy of Your presence now and every day and live with the assurance that one day we shall live in Heaven with You.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour - Amen
Last week we looked at the powerful way that God moved in the early fellowship of the new church and through the faithful, not just Peter and John but the whole fellowship, began to show His power and let the world see that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the only way to the heart of the Father.
There’s no stopping them - they had been empowered by the Holy Spirit to be like Jesus and do the things that only He had done before like healing the sick - we saw how this angered the leaders of the state and the church who had killed Jesus and hoped that that was the end of what they saw as blasphemous preaching. We read how following the healing of the lame man the authorities arrested peter and ordered him to stop preaching about Jesus to which Peter boldly replied ‘ we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ Acts 4; 20
We read how Peter and John continued to spread the good news and started to build the team together that would become what today we would call the new Testament Church - a fellowship based on the teachings of Jesus and especially Jesus’s statement that the greatest commandments that God gave through Moses was to Love God and love one another - this they did and the love they had reached out to all people especially the poor and the needy.
We looked at how William Booth was given a vision of what his church should be which also included caring for those that the recognised churches of his time tended to forget. William cared for the poor, the needy, the underprivileged in practical ways just like the fellowship in Acts 2 did.
We looked at how, in the early church in Acts, Ananias and Sapphira held back from giving themselves in total commitment and lied to the fellowship which resulted in them both dropping dead at the Apostles feet which resulted in others holding back from joining the church - but not for long as we are then told that Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
They became a voice to be listened to as the Words they shared were backed up by their Actions and resulted in people bringing their sick and dying on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
Again the authorities didn’t like what was happening as more and more people responded to the truth about Jesus - arrested Peter and John and put them in jail. But God sent an angel to open the jail-set them free- with the command to Go, stand in the temple courts, and tell the people all about this new life.”
This they did and were arrested again - but that only gave Peter another golden opportunity to speak the truth about Jesus. We read v29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Saviour that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
This infuriated their accusers who were all set to kill them- but this time one of their own group, Gamiliel warned them that if what they are doing is of God you’ll never stop them but if its of man they will fail anyway - 40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, and here we have the awesome way they felt at being the ones privileged to be called by God to share the good news with the world - they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
There was no stopping them, and as a result of their faithfulness the good news spread and people were converted to Christ.
Today we are going to read how the fellowship of believers - the New testament Church continued to give themselves in total commitment to what they felt God was birthing them to do
Acts 6 'In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, "It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.
Reading this, one can see how the early church was growing faster than I guess the Apostles were ready for. The pressures began to show as dissension entered the fellowship, as some of them, the Greek Jews and the Hebrew Jews were in dispute about an unfair distribution of the food - it was the Greeks who complained that the widows were being neglected. So the Apostles called the new disciples together and told them "It would not be right for us ( the Apostles) to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."
The Apostles outlined what is an important basic requirement for any church of God to hold true to which is prayer and the ministry of the word of God. That was what they felt they had been called together to do - Spend time in prayer seeking Gods direction for his church and then teaching the rest of the fellowship what God had told them - which was the word of God that they knew needed to share with the whole Church so that what they were becoming was of God. First to seek His direction in prayer and then after sharing it with the others, put it into practice - that’s the only way the church would grow if they were obedient to God and so they held a meeting to choose leaders from among them who would be called to manage the different areas of ministry that needed help.
Once again I believe that God-today- has called the church of today into hold - lockdown - so that we can take a look at ourselves see what we have become and ask ourselves if our fellowships today are living under Gods direction or mans ideas - to ask ourselves ‘are we living in accordance to Gods idea of Church’ and if not, to be re-directed back to what I see as the New testament pattern for Church as God intends us to be and get our ACT2 gether. Empowered to bring the unchurched to see the error of their ways, seek Jesus for themselves and grow the true church of God ready for His return.
When this Corona Virus started to spread in March this year, I said then that scripture had warned us of what would happen in these last days before Christs return for His Church and I and many others saw this pandemic as being the pestilence mentioned in scripture. We were already also experiencing the fighting over Jerusalem and worldwide catastrophies such as earthquakes and persecution of Christians all over the world. We were seeing the conversion of thousands of Jews to believe in Jesus as the Messiah - we could see it all fitting together as Gods plan to bring the world especially the church to halt and start to look at itself and what it had developed into and where needed, to get back to being the people God intended us to be.
I looked at the letters of Corona virus and using each letter penned a statement that I thought aptly described what God was doing - it went like this Christs Order Rules Our Nation Again- Victorious In Reclaiming US or in other words, Christs Order Rules Our Nation Again- Victorious In Restoring Universal Salvation.
Here in our Bible reading, we have the perfect example of good Church management 'Kingdom Style'. One that we today need to adhere to if we are to grow.
(1) Make Prayer and Bible Study a priority
(2) Spot the weak areas before they get worse,
(3) fill the gap with the right person and get on with the job that we were all called to do.
This is a lesson in togetherness - The weak spot in this newly birthed fellowship was one of administration mainly because the Apostles themselves were overstretched in trying to be 'Jack of all trades' and do everything themselves. The remedy was to delegate the job to someone else and make it their responsibility and then get back to the job that they had been appointed to do which was pray, preach the Word, and live the word and make more disciples.
Wisely, the Apostles passed the job of choosing the seven, to the very people that the seven were to serve. And so the seven chosen were all insiders part of the fellowship, elected by the people themselves. v3 Brothers, chose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will then turn the responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word'.
I call them 'The Magnificent seven'. That was a well known film when I was a lad. My son Steven is a film buff and I guess if I asked him the names of the magnificent seven - he’d probably be able to tell me - I wonder if you can remember the names of the seven the Apostles chose?
God's magnificent seven were Stephen, Philip, Procurus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas. They all had the same, necessary qualifications, they were chosen because they were known to be, like the Apostles, men full of the Spirit and wisdom. High qualities - and what were they chosen to do? - they were chosen to serve, to administer the daily distribution of the food to the other believers, so that the Apostles could get on with their responsibility which was to pray and preach the word of God
If an employer was looking for people to look after the distribution of food today, he would probably look for people with the right qualifications in catering management. He would check their CV's to chart their progress up the ladder of the management profession.
Not so the Apostles. They wanted men who would be fair, honest, in their dealings. Men who were first and foremost, men of faith and conviction. Men who were 100% committed to the faith and the spreading of the word. Men whom they knew the others in the fellowship trusted.
I remember when I was Sales Director of Watmoughs, and needed new sales staff, I advertised in the top papers, and even though I always asked for a CV, my decision whom to employ was taken, not through qualifications, but by character and the 'feel' of the interview.
I found out about his family, realising that if he was a good family man, he would need to provide for them, so would want to be in long term employment which brought stability. I asked about his hobbies and interests, to make sure that there would not be a conflict of interests, such as sport that would make him inaccessible if we needed him to work over. I asked what his values in life were, as I wanted honesty and integrity. I also enquired about his beliefs, wanting someone I could trust.
Whenever the Salvation Army advertise particular jobs of service, Charity Shop managers, care workers, people to work in the homes and hostels, they stipulate on the job description 'No CV's'. I guess that they, like me, realise that only the interviews themselves would reveal the true qualities they are looking for. People of integrity, honest, 100% committed to the faith. Why? because honesty demands, that such people would not be applying in the first place if they were not up to the task.
It was the same when Jesus chose His disciples, His team, he didn't necessarily look for well educated, learned people. He chose people whom He knew would give 100% to the cause. Men and women who were open to Him, whom He knew would be breakable, mouldable, fill-able. People who would be prepared to work, prepared to withstand the rebuffs, the knocks, the difficulties, the hardships, the problems.
Men and women who would learn to love and respect His authority. Men and women who would capture the vision of the new Kingdom life, and as well as embrace it themselves, would be eager to share it with others. Disciples first, then witnesses to the truth that they had received.
The Apostles could see that as the church was growing rapidly, then in order that each new member of the fellowship could be nurtured in the truth, the ministry of the word would not have to be neglected. They needed to delegate some of the tasks that were beginning to take so much of their time away from their first priority, that of Teaching and seeing that the truth of the Gospel was upheld and so seven men were chosen to fulfill the ministry of serving the needs of the fellowship. Responsibility was delegated.
So many fellowships today, are struggling under 'one man ministries' instead of flourishing under the ministry of 'the priesthood of all believers'.
The early Church taught that all members are the Laos -the people- who have been called out of society to serve God and their fellow men. There was to be no hierarchy or different levels of status, all the believers were part of the Church's mission and belong to the people of God.
As Peter said in Gods word 'We are a Chosen people, a royal priesthood, a Holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we might declare the Praises of Him who called us out of darkness, into His glorious light. Once you were a nobody, now are the people of God'. 1 Peter 2; 9-10
Phil Wall wrote a book called 'I'll fight, Holiness at war' in it he says this ' If we are to see a world won for God we need to rediscover the theology of calling and ministry. We need to flesh out the gospel for all to see'
Biblically, all of us are the 'Laos', the people of God, set apart by Him to be priests of God. There is work for all of us to do, if only we would seek His will. Colonel Phillip Needham puts it this way ' Ministry shared by all and apportioned according to recognised gifts bestowed by the Spirit, tends to be a function of a dynamic community of faith which is ever on the move'.
Paul to the church at Ephesus put it this way 'It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
Ephesians 4; 11-12
The primary function of the leader is the equipping of the saints, the ones who actually live and work amongst the unsaved, the very people we are trying to reach with the gospel of Christ. They need all the help and encouragement that they can get.
The success of the early Church is in part due to the apostles grasping the truth of what the priesthood of all believers really means. People called by Almighty God to fulfill their ministry, whilst allowing others to get on with theirs.
Our Corps like all other of Gods churches will go from strength to strength only when we realise that we are in this together. We need each other. We need to value each other. We need to see the ‘God given giftedness’ in each other so that the needs of the whole fellowship can be met through our ministry.
WOW! what a privilege. Chosen, hand-picked by God Himself. And when God chooses, He looks on the inside, the heart. He sees us through visionary eyes, and therefore able to choose us, not because of what we are now, but what He knows we will become. I believe that if we are responsive and open to Gods leading that He will build His Kingdom here at Idle.
There is so much to do, key positions still to be filled, I pray that we will all be open to see what God wants of our lives, and that we will be ready and willing to serve Him. God wants obedient folk who are 100% committed to Him. Our prayer to God should surely be; 'Here I am Lord, wholly available, as for me I will serve the Lord.' There is one thing for certain, you will only find fulfilment in this life, if you seek to do God's will!
The Church should be the living Body of Christ in the world today - He is the head, we are the ligaments.
As Paul says in Ephesians 4; 15-16. Speaking the truth in love, we will, in all things, grow up into Him who is the head, that is Christ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love as each part does it’s work’.
We, as the Church, should be the Living Body of Christ in the world today and just as a body is made up of many important parts that all interact with one another - so too we have different talents that can all be used in the service of the church
One of my favourite songs that we sing in our fellowship is the one written by Dave Bilbrough that says, sp beautifully, what we and the church should be like. We sing it to the tune Aurelia which is the music for the hymn of the same name written in 1866 by 27 year old Samuel John Stone an Anglican priest who was dissatisfied with the controversies that were dividing the Anglican church of his day.
These are the words of Dave Bilborough’s hymn which start off with the same first two lines of Samuel Stones hymn that by states the truth that Jesus is the head -
The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ the Lord
And on that revelation each one of us is called
To taste His full salvation, to know His life within
A pure and holy nation to glorify the King
This time of preparation eventually will yield
The fruit of all His labours, His heart will be fulfilled
From every tribe and nation His people shall be known
Drawn to be His kingdom made out of living stones
O See Him and be radiant, O taste the Lord and know
He wants to take us deeper for what we are we sow
With streams of living water, He longs to overflow
That out to all creation, His glory He will show
In closing lets read Ephesians 4; which I suggest aptly puts into focus all that we have been sharing this morning about what we and the Church should be in todays sinful, wayward world. This was Paul - the Jewish convert to Christianity writing from the confines of his prison cell to the fellowship at Ephesus.
Ephesians 4; 1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. That's Gods Church
Lets pray; Lord as we bow before You this morning we pray Father that you forgive us if in any way we have fallen short of what You want us, Your children to be. We want Lord to live lives in obedience to Your Word and bring Glory to Your precious name.
We pray father that You will help us to feel Your presence - just now - as we bow before You and as we receive Your forgiveness You will fill us with Your Holy Spirit and empower and enable us to become active members of Your body - the Church.
Help us to discipline ourselves to give You more of our and time in commitment to Prayer and the reading of Your Word so that through them we will clearly hear Your voice and have a burning desire within our heart to live in obedience to You.
We thank You Lord that You never give up on Your children and because of Your great love for us want us to share the joy of Your presence now and every day and live with the assurance that one day we shall live in Heaven with You.
We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ our Saviour - Amen
Message 5 July 2020 This is also on video on Youtube
We’ve shared some of the amazing things that God made possible through the lives of the early church and last Sunday we shared more of how God, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit moved His children to become real Church in the true meaning of the word.
We looked at how following Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John became vehicles through whom God healed the lame man at the gate of the Temple and because of the way in which they had entered the temple and spoke about Jesus were arrested, imprisoned but then released after being told to stop preaching about Jesus. On their release they went back to their fellowship and Acts 4; 31-35 tells us that;
31; After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
WOW the opposite of what they had been ordered to do by the leaders, the scribes, the priests. We read how the new fellowship of believers became a truly together people; 32; All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
Togetherness; Together with God and one with each other which gave strength and boldness to the whole fellowship. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Then we read And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need
I said then - That’s real church - that’s what I believe God has been doing these last few months - opening the eyes and hearts of His people in these days and making us all aware of the needs of others, including those outside of our normal group fellowships - neighbours, strangers who need help in some way or another.
Yes, the early church were more than people of words - but people of action. We say don’t we that actions speak louder than words - that’s why in Jesus -the Word became Flesh - He didn’t just preach it He lived it.
We then read how in Acts 4 36,37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Showing the extent of the followers commitment to their Lord.
We then looked at Chapter 5 and the way in which some of the fellowship fell back on their commitment to God when Ananias and his wife Saphirra also sold some property they owned but lied to the fellowship that they had given the proceeds to the work of the fellowship. They did not live up to the commitment they had made to God and the fellowship and as a result lost their lives.
I said that when we read this it challenges what we mean by commitment to God. It’s so easy to sing ‘All to Jesus I surrender - all to Him I freely give’ or even ‘I surrender all - I surrender all’ - all to Him I freely give’. That’s not primaraly about finance - that’s about ourselves - our time, our energy and our love to God and one another.
I closed last weeks message by saying that I really believe that God is calling His church today to take a good honest look at themselves, and ask themselves have we progressed to become the church Gods intended and wants His church to be.
In these last days I believe that God is bringing His church to heel and challenging us all to look at our own lives and commitment to Him and His ways so that we can become the church He desires us to be. A people totally and fully committed to Him and His Word.
When we become true followers of the Lord and make our promise to be fully committed to His word then I believe He will take care of each one of us - and show His power through us to bring love, peace and healing to others.
This week we continue to see the powerful way that God moved in the early fellowship of the new church and through the faithful, not just Peter and John but the whole fellowship, began to show His power and let the world see that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the only way to heart of the Father.
Acts 5; 12-32 Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
Wow! There’s no stopping them - they were positive in their actions - they had been with Jesus and had shared His life - they were indwelt by Jesus - He lived within them. They were then empowered by the Holy Spirit to be like and do the things that only Jesus had done before like healing the sick - as Peter had said when he was first arrested after healing the lame man - ‘ we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ Acts 4; 20
After seeing the way in which membership in the new Christian fellowship demanded total commitment and honesty and especially hearing about the death of Annanias and Saphira its not surprising that we read that - people were afraid to join them even though they respected the apostles and their new way of life. That didn’t mean that no one else did join them - the text goes on to say Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
They became a voice to be listened to as the Words they shared were backed up by their Actions and resulted in people bringing their sick and dying on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
So widespread was the gossip about what the Apostles had done and were doing we read that Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
No wonder the authorities couldn’t stand by and watch this happen without trying to stop it so we read from v 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
This is certainly God at work in the lives of the obedient - here they are not only instructed to go and continue to tell the people about this new life - but they find that the bolted doors of the prison were opened to let them out - then securely locked behind them. So what did they do? exactly what they had been told to do. 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, ( by the angel) and began to teach the people.
Not suprising then that When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” The man being Jesus
That gave Peter another golden opportunity to speak the truth about Jesus.
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
WOW and then we read this final word that shows the way that they felt at being privileged to be the ones called by God to spread the good news and grow and develop the New Church - the Christian Church.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, and here we have the awesome way they felt at being the ones privileged to be called by God to share the good news with the world - they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
The awesome empowering of the early believers should be an encouragement to us all in these days to continue to spread the good news and share our testimony of the powerful way in which God has, and still does, move in our lives. There was no stopping the first apostles and their should be nothing to stop us sharing the good news with others.
Sadly today - centuries after the events we have just read - the church has enjoyed good times when people were totally committee to God but then drawn back to the ways of the world. There have been great revivals but sadly over the years a steady decline as the World - satan - draws the churches away from their first love.
Last Thursday 2 July was Founders Day in the Salvation Army, the day that William Booth started the Salvation Army in the East end of London by holding an evangelist meeting in a Quaker burial ground where many people were converted and gave their lives to Jesus.
William Booth, had been a full time preacher in the Methodist New Connection but in 1861, resigned as they would not let him become a full time evangelist so he became an independent evangelist. Four years later William and his wife Catherine had opened 'The Christian Revival Society' in the East End of London, which subsequently become the Christian Mission and then The Salvation Army (May 1878). to fight against sin in the world and preach repentance, forgiveness and a new life in Christ.
By this time many of the different churches in this country had become places frequented by the well-to-do in society. Pews were privately owned and even had family names fastened on them. As for the underprivileged, the poor and bedraggled of society there was little room if any for them . Not the New Testament church that God started. William held evangelistic meetings in halls in many towns, where people were converted but then when they tried to join a neighbouring church were not accepted or if they were, they had to take their place away from the respectable congregation - out of sight.
God had given William Booth a vision about this when he was on a train journey to London. I intend to put a link to that vision at the end of this message. In that vision William Booth was shown a vast sea that represented- the sea of life - with people drowning in it crying for help - He saw Jesus go into the sea - the sea of life - and save many and give them new life and by example, encouraged them to seek and save the lost. Sadly over the years that followed, those who had been saved forgot about those dying in the sea of life - they were too content making lives for themselves, gaining wealth and fame enjoying worldy pleasures. His vision inspired William to evangelise to save the forgotten neglected poor of Victorian England
Like the early church, God showed the Salvation Army the importance of ministering to the poor and underprivileged in both word and deed and though the early years were lean ones, with the need of money to help the needy an ever growing issue, Booth and his army persevered and began to grow. So much so that in the early 1880s, operations were extended to other countries, and in Booths lifetime amazingly he saw the ministry and work of the Salvation Army spread to over 58 countries.
William Booth died at age 83 on 20 August 1912. His body lay in state for three days at Clapton Congress Hall where 150,000 people filed past his casket. On 27 August 1912, Booth's funeral was held at London's Olympia where 40,000 people attended, including Queen Mary, who sat almost unrecognised far to the rear of the great hall. Booth's funeral procession began at the Salvation Army's international headquarters as 10,000 uniformed Salvationists fell in behind.
One man - who in just 34 years evangelised and gaining thousands of converts, built and Army that spread into all the world - even faced like Peter and John with opposition - nothing could stop them growing and gaining converts. As we can see - no amount of opposition or persecution will be able to stop the growth of the Christian fellowships that preach repentance, forgiveness through the blood of Jesus and are fully committed to living lives of Holiness by being indwelt by Jesus.
There was no stopping Peter, John and the early church fellowship of believers - all they had to do was be faithful in their commitment to God and the spreading of the good news. To help them do that they were given the awesome privilage of being indwelt by Jesus Himself to enable them to become Christlike. To become Christ like they were also given the awesome opportunity to be indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit to help them to show the love of God to others.
There was no stopping them as a result of their faithfulness the good news spread and people were converted to Christ.
What do we see today? Today we live in a world that is experiencing severe lockdown where we are prevented from meeting together for Christian fellowship and for us all that is really difficult - but as I, and now many others are also saying, as I believe that this is the time when God is getting His church to take a good look at itself - to reflect over what it has become - see if there are things that need addressing in our own lives as well as the church we have become and seek Gods direction to tell us what He wants us to do to get back to being the Church He birthed at Pentecost.
Yes there will be lots of opposition but God is greater than all that as we have seen from scripture and if we stay faithful to Him then He will see us through to victory
Not suprising then, that the things we are experiencing now were all prophesied in Gods word - He knew the way the world would go - far away from His intention - He made a way back possible through accepting Jesus as our Saviour, light and example so that His creation -you and me- would be forgiven and enabled to become an example to others of what a privilage it is to not only know about Jesus but to become like Him and when all this is over to become people of the New Kingdom - Heaven.
Whatever happens - I believe that God is at work through it all and that as the chorus says - He’s got the whole world in His hands, that includes you and me. Even the wind and the rain - and we’ve seen a lot of that lately.
I pray that Gods people - all over the nation and the world - you and me will take this opportunity to re-affirm our love and commitment to God and His ways and start, if we havn’t already done so - to live lives that will be pleasing to God and be vehicles through whom He is able to build His Church like Peter and John and the early church. God bless
We’ve shared some of the amazing things that God made possible through the lives of the early church and last Sunday we shared more of how God, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit moved His children to become real Church in the true meaning of the word.
We looked at how following Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John became vehicles through whom God healed the lame man at the gate of the Temple and because of the way in which they had entered the temple and spoke about Jesus were arrested, imprisoned but then released after being told to stop preaching about Jesus. On their release they went back to their fellowship and Acts 4; 31-35 tells us that;
31; After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
WOW the opposite of what they had been ordered to do by the leaders, the scribes, the priests. We read how the new fellowship of believers became a truly together people; 32; All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
Togetherness; Together with God and one with each other which gave strength and boldness to the whole fellowship. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.
Then we read And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need
I said then - That’s real church - that’s what I believe God has been doing these last few months - opening the eyes and hearts of His people in these days and making us all aware of the needs of others, including those outside of our normal group fellowships - neighbours, strangers who need help in some way or another.
Yes, the early church were more than people of words - but people of action. We say don’t we that actions speak louder than words - that’s why in Jesus -the Word became Flesh - He didn’t just preach it He lived it.
We then read how in Acts 4 36,37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet. Showing the extent of the followers commitment to their Lord.
We then looked at Chapter 5 and the way in which some of the fellowship fell back on their commitment to God when Ananias and his wife Saphirra also sold some property they owned but lied to the fellowship that they had given the proceeds to the work of the fellowship. They did not live up to the commitment they had made to God and the fellowship and as a result lost their lives.
I said that when we read this it challenges what we mean by commitment to God. It’s so easy to sing ‘All to Jesus I surrender - all to Him I freely give’ or even ‘I surrender all - I surrender all’ - all to Him I freely give’. That’s not primaraly about finance - that’s about ourselves - our time, our energy and our love to God and one another.
I closed last weeks message by saying that I really believe that God is calling His church today to take a good honest look at themselves, and ask themselves have we progressed to become the church Gods intended and wants His church to be.
In these last days I believe that God is bringing His church to heel and challenging us all to look at our own lives and commitment to Him and His ways so that we can become the church He desires us to be. A people totally and fully committed to Him and His Word.
When we become true followers of the Lord and make our promise to be fully committed to His word then I believe He will take care of each one of us - and show His power through us to bring love, peace and healing to others.
This week we continue to see the powerful way that God moved in the early fellowship of the new church and through the faithful, not just Peter and John but the whole fellowship, began to show His power and let the world see that Jesus was indeed the Messiah, the only way to heart of the Father.
Acts 5; 12-32 Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by. Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
Wow! There’s no stopping them - they were positive in their actions - they had been with Jesus and had shared His life - they were indwelt by Jesus - He lived within them. They were then empowered by the Holy Spirit to be like and do the things that only Jesus had done before like healing the sick - as Peter had said when he was first arrested after healing the lame man - ‘ we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ Acts 4; 20
After seeing the way in which membership in the new Christian fellowship demanded total commitment and honesty and especially hearing about the death of Annanias and Saphira its not surprising that we read that - people were afraid to join them even though they respected the apostles and their new way of life. That didn’t mean that no one else did join them - the text goes on to say Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
They became a voice to be listened to as the Words they shared were backed up by their Actions and resulted in people bringing their sick and dying on beds and mats so that at least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.
So widespread was the gossip about what the Apostles had done and were doing we read that Crowds gathered also from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those tormented by impure spirits, and all of them were healed.
No wonder the authorities couldn’t stand by and watch this happen without trying to stop it so we read from v 17 Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. “Go, stand in the temple courts,” he said, “and tell the people all about this new life.”
This is certainly God at work in the lives of the obedient - here they are not only instructed to go and continue to tell the people about this new life - but they find that the bolted doors of the prison were opened to let them out - then securely locked behind them. So what did they do? exactly what they had been told to do. 21 At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, ( by the angel) and began to teach the people.
Not suprising then that When the high priest and his associates arrived, they called together the Sanhedrin—the full assembly of the elders of Israel—and sent to the jail for the apostles. But on arriving at the jail, the officers did not find them there. So they went back and reported, “We found the jail securely locked, with the guards standing at the doors; but when we opened them, we found no one inside.”
On hearing this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss, wondering what this might lead to. Then someone came and said, “Look! The men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people.” At that, the captain went with his officers and brought the apostles. They did not use force, because they feared that the people would stone them. The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” The man being Jesus
That gave Peter another golden opportunity to speak the truth about Jesus.
29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
33 When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
40 His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
WOW and then we read this final word that shows the way that they felt at being privileged to be the ones called by God to spread the good news and grow and develop the New Church - the Christian Church.
41 The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, and here we have the awesome way they felt at being the ones privileged to be called by God to share the good news with the world - they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.
The awesome empowering of the early believers should be an encouragement to us all in these days to continue to spread the good news and share our testimony of the powerful way in which God has, and still does, move in our lives. There was no stopping the first apostles and their should be nothing to stop us sharing the good news with others.
Sadly today - centuries after the events we have just read - the church has enjoyed good times when people were totally committee to God but then drawn back to the ways of the world. There have been great revivals but sadly over the years a steady decline as the World - satan - draws the churches away from their first love.
Last Thursday 2 July was Founders Day in the Salvation Army, the day that William Booth started the Salvation Army in the East end of London by holding an evangelist meeting in a Quaker burial ground where many people were converted and gave their lives to Jesus.
William Booth, had been a full time preacher in the Methodist New Connection but in 1861, resigned as they would not let him become a full time evangelist so he became an independent evangelist. Four years later William and his wife Catherine had opened 'The Christian Revival Society' in the East End of London, which subsequently become the Christian Mission and then The Salvation Army (May 1878). to fight against sin in the world and preach repentance, forgiveness and a new life in Christ.
By this time many of the different churches in this country had become places frequented by the well-to-do in society. Pews were privately owned and even had family names fastened on them. As for the underprivileged, the poor and bedraggled of society there was little room if any for them . Not the New Testament church that God started. William held evangelistic meetings in halls in many towns, where people were converted but then when they tried to join a neighbouring church were not accepted or if they were, they had to take their place away from the respectable congregation - out of sight.
God had given William Booth a vision about this when he was on a train journey to London. I intend to put a link to that vision at the end of this message. In that vision William Booth was shown a vast sea that represented- the sea of life - with people drowning in it crying for help - He saw Jesus go into the sea - the sea of life - and save many and give them new life and by example, encouraged them to seek and save the lost. Sadly over the years that followed, those who had been saved forgot about those dying in the sea of life - they were too content making lives for themselves, gaining wealth and fame enjoying worldy pleasures. His vision inspired William to evangelise to save the forgotten neglected poor of Victorian England
Like the early church, God showed the Salvation Army the importance of ministering to the poor and underprivileged in both word and deed and though the early years were lean ones, with the need of money to help the needy an ever growing issue, Booth and his army persevered and began to grow. So much so that in the early 1880s, operations were extended to other countries, and in Booths lifetime amazingly he saw the ministry and work of the Salvation Army spread to over 58 countries.
William Booth died at age 83 on 20 August 1912. His body lay in state for three days at Clapton Congress Hall where 150,000 people filed past his casket. On 27 August 1912, Booth's funeral was held at London's Olympia where 40,000 people attended, including Queen Mary, who sat almost unrecognised far to the rear of the great hall. Booth's funeral procession began at the Salvation Army's international headquarters as 10,000 uniformed Salvationists fell in behind.
One man - who in just 34 years evangelised and gaining thousands of converts, built and Army that spread into all the world - even faced like Peter and John with opposition - nothing could stop them growing and gaining converts. As we can see - no amount of opposition or persecution will be able to stop the growth of the Christian fellowships that preach repentance, forgiveness through the blood of Jesus and are fully committed to living lives of Holiness by being indwelt by Jesus.
There was no stopping Peter, John and the early church fellowship of believers - all they had to do was be faithful in their commitment to God and the spreading of the good news. To help them do that they were given the awesome privilage of being indwelt by Jesus Himself to enable them to become Christlike. To become Christ like they were also given the awesome opportunity to be indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit to help them to show the love of God to others.
There was no stopping them as a result of their faithfulness the good news spread and people were converted to Christ.
What do we see today? Today we live in a world that is experiencing severe lockdown where we are prevented from meeting together for Christian fellowship and for us all that is really difficult - but as I, and now many others are also saying, as I believe that this is the time when God is getting His church to take a good look at itself - to reflect over what it has become - see if there are things that need addressing in our own lives as well as the church we have become and seek Gods direction to tell us what He wants us to do to get back to being the Church He birthed at Pentecost.
Yes there will be lots of opposition but God is greater than all that as we have seen from scripture and if we stay faithful to Him then He will see us through to victory
Not suprising then, that the things we are experiencing now were all prophesied in Gods word - He knew the way the world would go - far away from His intention - He made a way back possible through accepting Jesus as our Saviour, light and example so that His creation -you and me- would be forgiven and enabled to become an example to others of what a privilage it is to not only know about Jesus but to become like Him and when all this is over to become people of the New Kingdom - Heaven.
Whatever happens - I believe that God is at work through it all and that as the chorus says - He’s got the whole world in His hands, that includes you and me. Even the wind and the rain - and we’ve seen a lot of that lately.
I pray that Gods people - all over the nation and the world - you and me will take this opportunity to re-affirm our love and commitment to God and His ways and start, if we havn’t already done so - to live lives that will be pleasing to God and be vehicles through whom He is able to build His Church like Peter and John and the early church. God bless
Message 28 June 2020 The video can be seen on Youtube Billy Cowgill
Over the last few weeks we have been looking the awesome events from Easter through to Pentecost. At Easter we thanked God for showing His concern for mankind in making forgiveness for mans sins a reality through the sacrificial love of Jesus in dying on the cross who took mans punishment for sin upon Himself. We paralleled this by the way in which God, over 2000 years earlier, had rescued man from slavery and set them on their way to the promised land by appointing Moses to be their leader.
We looked at the awesome events following Easter including the many appearances of Jesus to His followers. We shared how Jesus had given His disciples the promise that if they loved Him and lived in obedience to His word then as well as coming to live within them, He would send them another comforter - the Holy Spirit to help them to become more like Him - Jesus.
We saw how the disciples were filled with the Spirit themselves and then went on to share the word at Pentecost and witness over 3000 people give their lives to God and were all filled with the Holy Spirit. WOW!
We then read how the power of God was then manifest through Peter and John to bring healing to the lame man outside the Temple who on being healed jumped for joy and danced his way into the Temple - the church of their day - to witness to the other worshipers.
Last week we shared the joy of Fathers Day where we were reminded that we are all children of God - brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and delight in knowing that God - Awesome Almighty God - is our Father and how we need to respond to that in being His obedient children.
Once again we were reminded of the way in which mankind over the years that followed the setting free of His people from slavery in Egypt began to reject Gods ways and seek his own fulfillment in life by going the way of the world and how Moses on seeing the sinful idolatrous ways his people had started to worship idols - smashed the tablets on which the ten commandments were engraved and accused the people for being foolish and unwise
We then read how even after God had again presented them with a new set of the ten Commandments - again written on stone which Moses placed into the ark he made - they still went against the Lord and as we read in ch 32 of Deuteronomy v6 referring to the rebellious way they were living their lives - Moses throws the challenge and asks ’is this the way you repay the Lord - is He not your father - your creator who made and formed you?’
At Pentecost, we read the awesome account of the birthday of the church and how God brought His wayward people back into the fold to become His Church - the Living body of Christ in the world today.
We’ve shared some of the amazing things that God made possible through the lives of the early church and now this morning we are going to share more of how God, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit moved His children to become real Church in the true meaning of the word.
Following Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John were the vehicles through whom God healed the lame man at the gate of the Temple and because of the way in which they had entered the temple and spoke about Jesus were arrested, imprisoned but then released after being told to stop preaching about Jesus. On their release they went back to their fellowship and Acts 4; 31-35 tells us that;
31; After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
WOW The building was shaken - that must have been an awesome experience - and they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit - and spoke the word of God boldly - WOW the opposite of what they had been ordered to do by the leaders, the scribes, the priests. And look at this - the unselfish loving caring people they had become.
32; All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
That’s the togetherness we looked at a couple of weeks ago. The togetherness with God and one another that gives strength and boldness to the whole fellowship.
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need
That’s real church - that’s what I believe God has been doing these last few months - opening the eyes and hearts of His people in these days of lockdown - seperation - and making us all aware of the needs of others, including those outside of our normal group fellowships - neighbours, strangers who need help in some way or another.
Yes, the early church were given great power to testify to the amazing Lord they served but more than that - they were made aware of the needs of others and started to do whatever they could to help them. God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them
In all the practical ways that we read the early church got involved in I also think that what we read they did speaks about being true to God and one another. Being true to what we believe and giving ourselves in full commitment to the Lord as we read happened in verse 36,37
Acts 4 36,37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
That shows the extent of the followers commitment to their Lord.
But then we come to Chapter 5 which in contrast goes on to show the way in which some of the fellowship fell back on their commitment to God and tried to not only deceive the rest of the fellowship but also themselves.
Acts 5 1-11 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
This is not just about the fact that they only gave part of what they had earned from the sale of their property but that they wanted the fellowship to believe that they had given all the money they had received. It’s about Deceit - that’s where they failed
Not just deceiving the fellowship and as a result, lying to God by saying that they had given their all.
I believe that when we read this it challenges what we mean by commitment to God. We sing don’t we ’Take my life and let it be - consecrated Lord to Thee’ the verses go on to say ‘Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold’. Very challenging commitments - I wonder how far we go in relation to that.
It’s so easy to sing ‘All to Jesus I surrender - all to Him I freely give’ or even ‘I surrender all - I surrender all’ - all to Him I freely give’. That’s not primarily about finance - that’s about ourselves - our time, our energy, our love, or are they just words.
The fact that this account of giving of self, of being fully committed to the ways of the Lord is told at the beginning of the birth of the church I believe goes to show what God expects from those who love Him and say they live in obedience to His word. This is about true church and the need to be totally committed to God.
I really believe that these last few weeks of looking at the birthday of the Church where man was called to live in obedience to God - to Love God with all our hearts and love one another with the same love that Jesus showed to us all - I really believe that God is calling His church today to take a good honest look at themselves, and ask themselves have we progressed to become the church Gods intended and wants His church to be or have we moved away from our first love.
In these last days I believe that God is bringing His church to heel and challenging us all to look at our own lives and commitment to Him and His ways so that we can become the church He desires us to be. A people totally and fully committed to Him and His Word.
When we become true followers of the Lord and make our promise to be fully committed to His word then I believe He will take care of each one of us - and show His power through us to bring love, peace and healing to others. When we decide to become followers of Jesus as the song says, there is no turning back.
This week my dear friend Brian Lancaster messaged me with a video that told the story of the hymn that says ‘I have decided to follow Jesus " which I believe shows very strongly a mans determination to make sure that he is going to stand true to the promise he has made to follow Jesus whatever it costs .
The story of the origin of the song is as follows; Following the Welsh revival in the 1800’s, a missionary from Wales who had endured severe persecution finally saw his first converts in a particularly brutal village in the Northern Indian province of Assam. The new converts were a man called Nokseng , his wife, and their two children, who professed faith in Christ and were baptized.
Assam and its surrounding provinces was located in one of the most oppressive forms of Hinduism — a place where the caste system was entrenched, and where headhunters ruled. Their village leaders decided to make an example of Nokseng. And after arresting the family, they demanded that he renounce Christ, or see his wife and children murdered.
When he refused, his two children were executed by archers. After seeing his children killed, he reportedly said, “The world can be behind me, but the cross is still before me.” Given another chance to recant or see his wife murdered, the man again refused, and said: “I have decided to follow Jesus, and there is no turning back.” And after seeing his wife pierced by the arrows, he said, “Though no one is here to go with me, still I will follow Jesus.” Much later, when the missionary returned to the village that his first convert Nokseng came from, a revival had broken out, and those who had murdered the him and his family had since come to faith in Jesus themselves.
Nokseng is said to have recited verses from the twelfth chapter of the book of John as he and his family were killed. I looked at the passage and thought that probably verses 26 and 27 were the verses he recited. It was at Christs triumphant entry into Jerusalem when Jesus predicted His own death - this is what Jesus said ‘ The man who loves his life will lose it whilst the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whosoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am, My servant also will be’
Jesus is saying that if man loves the sinful - worldly life he is living rather than a life given over to loving and serving God - then he is in danger of loosing everything but the one who lives his life loving and serving God will inherit eternal life.
The declaration of Nokseng ’I have decided to follow Jesus - no turning back’ were turned into a hymn by Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh. The melody is also Indian, and entitled "Assam" after the region where the text originated. Many years later an American hymn editor, William Jensen Reynolds, composed an arrangement which was included in the 1959 Assembly Songbook. His version became a regular feature of Billy Graham's evangelistic meetings in America and elsewhere, spreading its popularity.
There are many Christians today who people who live sacrificial lives - unlike the two we have just read about - Ananias and Saphira.
What is God saying to you this morning - we’ve read over the last few months the awesome account of Gods plan for salvation for the world, that cost Jesus His life.
We’ve seen the way in which God empowered His followers to become Christlike in their daily living - even though it brought fierce opposition and persecution.
We’ve read how the early church was birthed to serve God and in living lives that were totally committed to Him take the truth to the whole world - at any cost.
Today we’ve read how God expects of His followers to be totally committed to Him and be truthful to what they promise - unlike Annanias and Saphira
We have just heard about how one man - Nokseng - who belonged to another faith was converted to Christ and even as they murdered his family, stood firm in total commitment to God. Unbelievably, today there are hundreds, thousands of people of other faiths who at risk to their own lives have turned to God and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Thousands who are being reported on the Christian media but never mentioned in the public press or on TV. People who like Nokseng have decided to follow Jesus and for whom there is no turning back. I saw recently a report that over the last few years, over 32 000 converts to the Christian faith had been murdered by people from the faiths that they were converted from.
We all sing the songs - ‘I have decided to follow Jesus‘, and there’s ‘no turning back‘. ‘All to Jesus I surrender’ ‘Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee’. I wonder how firm we are in our commitment - How strong are we to stand firm for what we believe and what we have promised God. Unlike the people of other lands who have to be prepared to stand firm at the risk of persecution - we have it easy.
I pray that when we get back to normal again Gods people. You and I, will confirm our intention to live in total commitment to God and in practical ways, share His love with others. Make it your intention to keep the promises you have made in the past to live under the authority of Gods Word..
We make easy promises like ’I promise to pray, to read my bible’ I promise to love the unloveable - those who don’t appreciate our commitment to them - I promise to serve the Lord for the rest of my life. Easy in a free country like ours. I wonder how firm that commitment is.
I pray that when we eventually get back to enjoying fellowship by worshipping together that we will have learned from the stirring challenging times that we have experienced these last three months and show our total commitment to the Lord by giving our all into his service
If you havn’t given your life to Jesus then I pray that what we have been sharing over the last few months will have made an impression on you and made you think thinking about total commitment to God - You wont be sorry - God is awesome and wants to share your life and draw you back into His family.
God bless
Over the last few weeks we have been looking the awesome events from Easter through to Pentecost. At Easter we thanked God for showing His concern for mankind in making forgiveness for mans sins a reality through the sacrificial love of Jesus in dying on the cross who took mans punishment for sin upon Himself. We paralleled this by the way in which God, over 2000 years earlier, had rescued man from slavery and set them on their way to the promised land by appointing Moses to be their leader.
We looked at the awesome events following Easter including the many appearances of Jesus to His followers. We shared how Jesus had given His disciples the promise that if they loved Him and lived in obedience to His word then as well as coming to live within them, He would send them another comforter - the Holy Spirit to help them to become more like Him - Jesus.
We saw how the disciples were filled with the Spirit themselves and then went on to share the word at Pentecost and witness over 3000 people give their lives to God and were all filled with the Holy Spirit. WOW!
We then read how the power of God was then manifest through Peter and John to bring healing to the lame man outside the Temple who on being healed jumped for joy and danced his way into the Temple - the church of their day - to witness to the other worshipers.
Last week we shared the joy of Fathers Day where we were reminded that we are all children of God - brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus and delight in knowing that God - Awesome Almighty God - is our Father and how we need to respond to that in being His obedient children.
Once again we were reminded of the way in which mankind over the years that followed the setting free of His people from slavery in Egypt began to reject Gods ways and seek his own fulfillment in life by going the way of the world and how Moses on seeing the sinful idolatrous ways his people had started to worship idols - smashed the tablets on which the ten commandments were engraved and accused the people for being foolish and unwise
We then read how even after God had again presented them with a new set of the ten Commandments - again written on stone which Moses placed into the ark he made - they still went against the Lord and as we read in ch 32 of Deuteronomy v6 referring to the rebellious way they were living their lives - Moses throws the challenge and asks ’is this the way you repay the Lord - is He not your father - your creator who made and formed you?’
At Pentecost, we read the awesome account of the birthday of the church and how God brought His wayward people back into the fold to become His Church - the Living body of Christ in the world today.
We’ve shared some of the amazing things that God made possible through the lives of the early church and now this morning we are going to share more of how God, through the infilling of the Holy Spirit moved His children to become real Church in the true meaning of the word.
Following Pentecost and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, Peter and John were the vehicles through whom God healed the lame man at the gate of the Temple and because of the way in which they had entered the temple and spoke about Jesus were arrested, imprisoned but then released after being told to stop preaching about Jesus. On their release they went back to their fellowship and Acts 4; 31-35 tells us that;
31; After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
WOW The building was shaken - that must have been an awesome experience - and they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit - and spoke the word of God boldly - WOW the opposite of what they had been ordered to do by the leaders, the scribes, the priests. And look at this - the unselfish loving caring people they had become.
32; All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.
That’s the togetherness we looked at a couple of weeks ago. The togetherness with God and one another that gives strength and boldness to the whole fellowship.
33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need
That’s real church - that’s what I believe God has been doing these last few months - opening the eyes and hearts of His people in these days of lockdown - seperation - and making us all aware of the needs of others, including those outside of our normal group fellowships - neighbours, strangers who need help in some way or another.
Yes, the early church were given great power to testify to the amazing Lord they served but more than that - they were made aware of the needs of others and started to do whatever they could to help them. God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them
In all the practical ways that we read the early church got involved in I also think that what we read they did speaks about being true to God and one another. Being true to what we believe and giving ourselves in full commitment to the Lord as we read happened in verse 36,37
Acts 4 36,37 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.
That shows the extent of the followers commitment to their Lord.
But then we come to Chapter 5 which in contrast goes on to show the way in which some of the fellowship fell back on their commitment to God and tried to not only deceive the rest of the fellowship but also themselves.
Acts 5 1-11 Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. With his wife’s full knowledge he kept back part of the money for himself, but brought the rest and put it at the apostles’ feet.
Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”
When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened. Then some young men came forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him.
About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Tell me, is this the price you and Ananias got for the land?” “Yes,” she said, “that is the price.”Peter said to her, “How could you conspire to test the Spirit of the Lord? Listen! The feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.”At that moment she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events.
This is not just about the fact that they only gave part of what they had earned from the sale of their property but that they wanted the fellowship to believe that they had given all the money they had received. It’s about Deceit - that’s where they failed
Not just deceiving the fellowship and as a result, lying to God by saying that they had given their all.
I believe that when we read this it challenges what we mean by commitment to God. We sing don’t we ’Take my life and let it be - consecrated Lord to Thee’ the verses go on to say ‘Take my silver and my gold, not a mite would I withhold’. Very challenging commitments - I wonder how far we go in relation to that.
It’s so easy to sing ‘All to Jesus I surrender - all to Him I freely give’ or even ‘I surrender all - I surrender all’ - all to Him I freely give’. That’s not primarily about finance - that’s about ourselves - our time, our energy, our love, or are they just words.
The fact that this account of giving of self, of being fully committed to the ways of the Lord is told at the beginning of the birth of the church I believe goes to show what God expects from those who love Him and say they live in obedience to His word. This is about true church and the need to be totally committed to God.
I really believe that these last few weeks of looking at the birthday of the Church where man was called to live in obedience to God - to Love God with all our hearts and love one another with the same love that Jesus showed to us all - I really believe that God is calling His church today to take a good honest look at themselves, and ask themselves have we progressed to become the church Gods intended and wants His church to be or have we moved away from our first love.
In these last days I believe that God is bringing His church to heel and challenging us all to look at our own lives and commitment to Him and His ways so that we can become the church He desires us to be. A people totally and fully committed to Him and His Word.
When we become true followers of the Lord and make our promise to be fully committed to His word then I believe He will take care of each one of us - and show His power through us to bring love, peace and healing to others. When we decide to become followers of Jesus as the song says, there is no turning back.
This week my dear friend Brian Lancaster messaged me with a video that told the story of the hymn that says ‘I have decided to follow Jesus " which I believe shows very strongly a mans determination to make sure that he is going to stand true to the promise he has made to follow Jesus whatever it costs .
The story of the origin of the song is as follows; Following the Welsh revival in the 1800’s, a missionary from Wales who had endured severe persecution finally saw his first converts in a particularly brutal village in the Northern Indian province of Assam. The new converts were a man called Nokseng , his wife, and their two children, who professed faith in Christ and were baptized.
Assam and its surrounding provinces was located in one of the most oppressive forms of Hinduism — a place where the caste system was entrenched, and where headhunters ruled. Their village leaders decided to make an example of Nokseng. And after arresting the family, they demanded that he renounce Christ, or see his wife and children murdered.
When he refused, his two children were executed by archers. After seeing his children killed, he reportedly said, “The world can be behind me, but the cross is still before me.” Given another chance to recant or see his wife murdered, the man again refused, and said: “I have decided to follow Jesus, and there is no turning back.” And after seeing his wife pierced by the arrows, he said, “Though no one is here to go with me, still I will follow Jesus.” Much later, when the missionary returned to the village that his first convert Nokseng came from, a revival had broken out, and those who had murdered the him and his family had since come to faith in Jesus themselves.
Nokseng is said to have recited verses from the twelfth chapter of the book of John as he and his family were killed. I looked at the passage and thought that probably verses 26 and 27 were the verses he recited. It was at Christs triumphant entry into Jerusalem when Jesus predicted His own death - this is what Jesus said ‘ The man who loves his life will lose it whilst the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whosoever serves Me must follow Me, and where I am, My servant also will be’
Jesus is saying that if man loves the sinful - worldly life he is living rather than a life given over to loving and serving God - then he is in danger of loosing everything but the one who lives his life loving and serving God will inherit eternal life.
The declaration of Nokseng ’I have decided to follow Jesus - no turning back’ were turned into a hymn by Indian missionary Sadhu Sundar Singh. The melody is also Indian, and entitled "Assam" after the region where the text originated. Many years later an American hymn editor, William Jensen Reynolds, composed an arrangement which was included in the 1959 Assembly Songbook. His version became a regular feature of Billy Graham's evangelistic meetings in America and elsewhere, spreading its popularity.
There are many Christians today who people who live sacrificial lives - unlike the two we have just read about - Ananias and Saphira.
What is God saying to you this morning - we’ve read over the last few months the awesome account of Gods plan for salvation for the world, that cost Jesus His life.
We’ve seen the way in which God empowered His followers to become Christlike in their daily living - even though it brought fierce opposition and persecution.
We’ve read how the early church was birthed to serve God and in living lives that were totally committed to Him take the truth to the whole world - at any cost.
Today we’ve read how God expects of His followers to be totally committed to Him and be truthful to what they promise - unlike Annanias and Saphira
We have just heard about how one man - Nokseng - who belonged to another faith was converted to Christ and even as they murdered his family, stood firm in total commitment to God. Unbelievably, today there are hundreds, thousands of people of other faiths who at risk to their own lives have turned to God and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Thousands who are being reported on the Christian media but never mentioned in the public press or on TV. People who like Nokseng have decided to follow Jesus and for whom there is no turning back. I saw recently a report that over the last few years, over 32 000 converts to the Christian faith had been murdered by people from the faiths that they were converted from.
We all sing the songs - ‘I have decided to follow Jesus‘, and there’s ‘no turning back‘. ‘All to Jesus I surrender’ ‘Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to Thee’. I wonder how firm we are in our commitment - How strong are we to stand firm for what we believe and what we have promised God. Unlike the people of other lands who have to be prepared to stand firm at the risk of persecution - we have it easy.
I pray that when we get back to normal again Gods people. You and I, will confirm our intention to live in total commitment to God and in practical ways, share His love with others. Make it your intention to keep the promises you have made in the past to live under the authority of Gods Word..
We make easy promises like ’I promise to pray, to read my bible’ I promise to love the unloveable - those who don’t appreciate our commitment to them - I promise to serve the Lord for the rest of my life. Easy in a free country like ours. I wonder how firm that commitment is.
I pray that when we eventually get back to enjoying fellowship by worshipping together that we will have learned from the stirring challenging times that we have experienced these last three months and show our total commitment to the Lord by giving our all into his service
If you havn’t given your life to Jesus then I pray that what we have been sharing over the last few months will have made an impression on you and made you think thinking about total commitment to God - You wont be sorry - God is awesome and wants to share your life and draw you back into His family.
God bless
Message for Sunday 21 June 2020 This message is also available on youtube
Today we celebrate Fathers day. Every Sunday is Fathers day in the church! The day set apart as a family of God to come together as a family to our Fathers house. We come to fellowship together as we meet with our Father. We come to celebrate His love for us, we come to tell Him that we love Him. We come to praise Him and thank Him for giving us life - real life in all it’s fullness.
We come to share our experiences of the last week, to talk to our Father. We come to listen to Him, to learn from Him, to seek His advice and hopefully to respond and act on His advice. We come to bring our needs to Him so that He can minister to us.
God is our Father. He loves us, we are precious to Him. He cares about us, He's concerned about the quality of our life, that's why He sent Jesus, to give us 'life in all it's fullness'. That's not about money, fast cars, a successful business career, it's about the quality of our lives, and the things that really matter.
1 John 3; 1-2 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Every morning I kneel at my bedside and during my prayer time thank God for the people in my life who are special to me and whom I love. I start with my family - my mum and dad who gave their all bringing me and my brother Sam up in a Christian home and were partly to thank for the way in which we today love and serve the Lord. I then move to Beryl my lovely wife, my children Kevin, Catherine and Steven then my church family - all individually by name - so many who have impacted my life and still do.
I was Born in 1940 - during the difficult times of the 2nd World War. The first time I saw my dad was when he came home on demob from the battlefront when I was two years old and I have a photo taken at Jerome’s. I can’t recall seeing him as a young child as he didn’t come home until the end of the war when I would be 6 years old.
When he eventually came home, he started work in the wool combing business on nights and so he was in bed all day until tea time when he got up to get ready to catch the bus to work at 6pm where he worked 12 hours for 6 nights. His sacrifice was for the family which paid the rent and put food on the table.
I’ll never forget how even in the school holiday time he worked for a few weeks at a local company that did animal shows in different parts of the country which meant he was away from home for nights on end. All to provide for his wife and his sons. We only went on holiday once and that was in a small caravan owned by the local fish shop ‘Greenwoods’ where my mum worked in the evenings.
In my teen age dad supported my mum and Sam and me to give our time to being active in the Idle Salvation Army - My mum held bible classes at home and Sam and I played in the band. Dad was in the background all of our lives enabling us to do the things we did. I give thanks to God every morning for him. And so Fathers day is a special day. I would imagine that practically all who watch this video this morning will be able to thank God for the impact that your father has had on your lives.
Thankfully - I think it’s great how we meet together every Sunday to thank God for being our Heavenly Father - with all that that means to each one of us.
One of the things that lots of people do in these days is check back through the available records to trace our ancestry - our fathers etc. What is so amazing is that the bible does this and if we believe what the bible says - and we do - we are all related.
Genesis tells us that in the beginning God created Adam and Eve and then starts to list the children born to them and so on. All through the bible man is traced back to Adam and inevitably God the creator of all. God is our Father - we are brothers and sisters in Christ - we are all members of the family of God.
Not surprisingly then is it that in the bible the term father is mentioned over 120 times - most of which refer to the awesome privilege that we all have of knowing that God is our Father -
In Deuteronomy Moses declares God to be our Father and to live in obedience to His commands - as we know. The ones that God had taken out of bondage and slavery and set them free and guided by Moses to walk through the sea into the promised land - even after all that - they rebelled and fell away from acknowledging God and His commands causing Moses to break the two stones on which the commands were written and accuse people in his day and age for being foolish and unwise. Even after God had again presented them with a new set of the ten Commandments - again written on stone which Moses placed into the ark he made - they still went against the Lord and as we read in ch 32 of Deuteronomy v6 referring to the rebellious way they are living their lives - Moses throws the challenge and asks ’is this the way you repay the Lord - is He not your father - your creator who made and formed you?’
Isaiah 9;6 when prophesying about the coming Messiah - Jesus we have a list of the names of the coming Messiah; For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
In the New Testament - Matthew 6;9 when Jesus teaches His disciples to pray He tells them and us to address God with the name Father; “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Look at John 10;30 here we see Jesus Himself who when challenged by His Jewish opponents declares ’I and the Father are one’ and again in to Mary at the tomb following His resurrection Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ “John 20;17 WOW!
And again in 1 John 3; 1-2 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
WOW! God - creator of the whole World - Almighty God is our Father and as such as we celibate Fathers Day and give thanks for our earthy fathers we have to also acknowledge our thanks to Almighty God for being our Heavenly father.
God is our Father. His word reminds us of that. Romans 8; 14 " All who are led by the Spirit of God, are Sons of God. We should behave like God's very own children, adopted into the bosom, the very heart of His family and calling Him 'Abba' which means Father. His Spirit speaks deep into our hearts and tells us that we are God's children, and because of that, we will share His treasures.
Today all over the country fellowships like ours will be celebrating Fathers Day and thanking God for the love, dedication and for many - the sacrifice our fathers made to bring us up to love and respect one another - but also as individuals brought together as brothers and sisters in Christ - for us as a family to thank God for His sacrificial love, that desires us to know Him as our Father - that’s Almighty God the creator of the Universe, the world, mankind - Almighty God wants us to know Him as our Father. WOW!
God sent Jesus to show us what He - the Father was really like - up to then God was seen as far beyond the reach of humanity - an Almighty God yes but up there in Heaven - beyond the reach of ordinary man.
When Jesus told His disciples that He was leaving them and going back to the Fathers to prepare a place for them to one day be with Him and His Father in Glory - Philip said ‘show us the Father’ to which Jesus answered ‘if you’ve seen Me - then you’ve seen the Father.
I can think of no better illustration of this that the one I use every fathers day. It was when Betty and John Matear, were leaving this Division to go to Territorial Headquarters, we all wondered who would come in their place. We had grown to know and love them both. They were good for this Division, and had served God well.
My son-in-law Tony Brown went to Balvonie, on a Salvation Army training course and while he was there met up with a young man called Duncan Parker. It turned out that this young man was the son of the new officers that were coming to Leeds to take John and Betty's place at DHQ. A couple of weeks later, Tony and I discussed the new officers, this was well before they came into the Division. Tony said, 'Well if they are anything like their son Duncan , they will be OK, He's a good lad' WOW! This is what Jesus is saying - if you’ve seen Me (Gods Son) then you have seen the Father. Jesus came to show us what the Father was really like.
When we look at babies, we look for the tell tale signs of whose child he or she is. Have they got their Father eyes or perhaps their mother's nose? As the child grows older, we not only see the reflection of the parents in the children looks, but they begin to take on some of the characteristics of their parents. The more time they spend with them, the more like them they become. The child becomes 'a chip off the old block' like Pinocchio, the image of his Father.
In just the same way, spiritually, the more time we spend with our Heavenly Father, the more it will show. We have been born again, adopted into His family, and the more time we spend in His presence, then the more like Him we become.
I wonder what people see when they meet up with you and me? Do they see some of the qualities and attributes of our Heavenly Father in us?
We sadly live in a world where mankind - Gods creation - are moving further away from what God our father intended for His children and seeking after worldy pleasures. A world where Gods creation - mankind seek pleasure, wealth, power at the expence of love, loyalty and togetherness with one another and with Father God.
Every fathers day I am reminded of one of my favourite stories as a child was about a woodcarver called Geppetto. Geppetto was a lonely old man who decided that to keep him company, he would make himself a puppet and so he lovingly carved the figure of a little boy who he called 'Pinocchio'.
That night, Geppetto looked into the night sky and with a great heartfelt sigh cried out, 'I wish my little Pinocchio was a real little boy'. When he woke up the next morning he found to his amazement that his puppet although still made of wood, didn't need strings any more, he could walk unaided, and he could talk.
At first all went well and Geppetto enjoyed his creation, that was until Pinocchio decided to go his own way and fell into bad company. He loved his freedom but unfortunately soon got attracted to the things of the world.
It wasn’t long became he became attracted to the wild side of life, left his creator and finished up on Pleasure Island with all the naughty boys. When he eventually came to his senses, he set off back home, but found that Geppetto wasn't there, - where was he - he'd gone looking for Pinocchio. The story ends happily however with Pinocchio becoming a real live boy. 'Father, I'm alive, he cried out in delight! 'This calls for a celebration, said Geppetto, and they had a party.
I wonder where the writer Carlo Lorenzi got his idea and inspiration from when he wrote the story in 1880. He had started his education at a theological college but then deciding he didn’t want to be a priest, he became a writer of Children’s stories. He would know all about Jesus and the stories that Jesus told. I can see a lot of Luke 15;11 in the story of Pinocchio.
It’s a story about a loving Father who's son, like Pinocchio, decided to leave home, and try to make his own way in life. He finished up eating food from the pig troughs and wished he was at home with his father.
Like Pinnochio, when the prodigal son came to his senses, he decided to go home, and where do we find his father? his father has set off to look for his son and seeing his son returning, runs out to meet him. 'This my son was dead, he cried, but now he is alive' and he organised a big party to celebrate. The stories are similar in the fact that the main characters are a loving forgiving father, and a wayward son who returns to the safety of his fathers love.
The story Jesus told is a picture of the Father love of God, who continued to love his creation even though mankind separated himself from his Fathers love by his disobedience.
A Father who loved his child so much that he was willing to forgive him, and accept him back into His Family.
A Father who loved his creation so much that He was willing to come to earth to seek his wayward child, and welcome him home.
A Father who offers forgiveness and new life - a fresh star - born again of the Spirit.
This is our Father, and we are His children, He loves us dearly and longs for man to forsake his waywardness, his rejection of Him, and come back into the fold and family.
Today - fathers Day - we not only pay tribute to our earthly fathers but also to our Heavenly Father for His love for each one of us. The loving Father who in Christ Jesus became man -came to earth to show us what He -God - was really like and how much He wanted His children back to enjoy a loving relationship with their heavenly Father.
That’s the father love of God for you and me - His children
In the Bible reading we started with John reminds and reassures us of this when he say's " How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God, and that's what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
The awesome truth is that just as Jesus promised His disciples before He went to the cross that if we love Him and live in obedience to Him that He and the Father would come and make their home within us. That’s now - that’s today and that’s forever.
To live within us to help us become more and more Christlike - so that the beauty of God the Father will be seen in His children - you and me.
As we read last week, when the scribes and accusers of Peter and John met together following Pentecost and the healing of the crippled man - they could tell that they had been with Jesus - it showed - they could see Christ manifest in the lives of His disciples
I pray that the people we meet today will be able to see the beauty of Jesus in you and me - John tells us that the Word of God became flesh in Jesus Christ which affirms the old Yorkshire saying which tells us that a picture speaks more than a thousand words = in other words the lives we live should reflect the word of God and the people we share our lives with should be able to see the beauty of Jesus in our lives.
In the same way that God didn’t just tell His creation that He loved them but showed them He loved them in Christ Jesus - so too we - as Children of our Father God should reflect His love in our own lives. Don’t just say you love one another but show it by your actions.
God is our Father - we are His children and as such are family - brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus
WOW! What a privilage - thank You Father lets live up to that and they will know we are Christians not by what we wear, but by our love - God love - the love of our Father in and through us.
Prayer
Songs Father God, I wonder how I managed to exist
Without the knowledge of your parenthood and your loving care.
But now I am your child, I am adopted in your family,
And I can never be alone,
'Cause Father God, you're there beside me.
I will sing your praises, I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises, Forever more. (Repeat both lines)
Written by Rev Ian Smale probably better known in the 70’and 80’as Ishmael gospel singer. In 2006 he was diagnosed with a serious cancer and following an operation and three year of chemotherapy which involved having his voice box taken out and operated on, he was told he would never sing again - even after all this he refused to let his terrible ordeal beat him, saying ‘nothing stops me speaking, preaching and singing’ – although he did admit to having a rest ‘for a while’ after the serious operation. As the singer Ishmael he has written and recorded more than 400 praise songs including ‘Father God I wonder’ since 1970 and released 40 albums.
He started life in the Elim Pentecostal Church and in 2007 joined the Anglican Church today he is licensed to Chichester Cathedral as a Missioner Deacon. He daily reports on his Facebook page under the name Ishmael Smale
Song Father I place into Your hands Jenny Hewer
Father, I place into Your hands the things I cannot do,
Father, I place into Your hands the times that I've been through.
Father, I place into Your hands the way that I should go,
For I know I always can trust You.
Father, I place into Your hands my friends and family.
Father, I place into Your hands the things that trouble me.
Father, I place into Your hands the person I would be,
For I know I always can trust You.
Father, we love to seek Your face, we love to hear Your voice.
Father, we love to sing Your praise and in Your name rejoice.
Father, we love to walk with You and in your presence rest,
For we know we always can trust You.
Father, I want to be with you and do the things You do.
Father, I want to speak the words that you are speaking too.
Father, I want to love the ones that you will draw to you,
For I know that I am one with you.
Today we celebrate Fathers day. Every Sunday is Fathers day in the church! The day set apart as a family of God to come together as a family to our Fathers house. We come to fellowship together as we meet with our Father. We come to celebrate His love for us, we come to tell Him that we love Him. We come to praise Him and thank Him for giving us life - real life in all it’s fullness.
We come to share our experiences of the last week, to talk to our Father. We come to listen to Him, to learn from Him, to seek His advice and hopefully to respond and act on His advice. We come to bring our needs to Him so that He can minister to us.
God is our Father. He loves us, we are precious to Him. He cares about us, He's concerned about the quality of our life, that's why He sent Jesus, to give us 'life in all it's fullness'. That's not about money, fast cars, a successful business career, it's about the quality of our lives, and the things that really matter.
1 John 3; 1-2 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Every morning I kneel at my bedside and during my prayer time thank God for the people in my life who are special to me and whom I love. I start with my family - my mum and dad who gave their all bringing me and my brother Sam up in a Christian home and were partly to thank for the way in which we today love and serve the Lord. I then move to Beryl my lovely wife, my children Kevin, Catherine and Steven then my church family - all individually by name - so many who have impacted my life and still do.
I was Born in 1940 - during the difficult times of the 2nd World War. The first time I saw my dad was when he came home on demob from the battlefront when I was two years old and I have a photo taken at Jerome’s. I can’t recall seeing him as a young child as he didn’t come home until the end of the war when I would be 6 years old.
When he eventually came home, he started work in the wool combing business on nights and so he was in bed all day until tea time when he got up to get ready to catch the bus to work at 6pm where he worked 12 hours for 6 nights. His sacrifice was for the family which paid the rent and put food on the table.
I’ll never forget how even in the school holiday time he worked for a few weeks at a local company that did animal shows in different parts of the country which meant he was away from home for nights on end. All to provide for his wife and his sons. We only went on holiday once and that was in a small caravan owned by the local fish shop ‘Greenwoods’ where my mum worked in the evenings.
In my teen age dad supported my mum and Sam and me to give our time to being active in the Idle Salvation Army - My mum held bible classes at home and Sam and I played in the band. Dad was in the background all of our lives enabling us to do the things we did. I give thanks to God every morning for him. And so Fathers day is a special day. I would imagine that practically all who watch this video this morning will be able to thank God for the impact that your father has had on your lives.
Thankfully - I think it’s great how we meet together every Sunday to thank God for being our Heavenly Father - with all that that means to each one of us.
One of the things that lots of people do in these days is check back through the available records to trace our ancestry - our fathers etc. What is so amazing is that the bible does this and if we believe what the bible says - and we do - we are all related.
Genesis tells us that in the beginning God created Adam and Eve and then starts to list the children born to them and so on. All through the bible man is traced back to Adam and inevitably God the creator of all. God is our Father - we are brothers and sisters in Christ - we are all members of the family of God.
Not surprisingly then is it that in the bible the term father is mentioned over 120 times - most of which refer to the awesome privilege that we all have of knowing that God is our Father -
In Deuteronomy Moses declares God to be our Father and to live in obedience to His commands - as we know. The ones that God had taken out of bondage and slavery and set them free and guided by Moses to walk through the sea into the promised land - even after all that - they rebelled and fell away from acknowledging God and His commands causing Moses to break the two stones on which the commands were written and accuse people in his day and age for being foolish and unwise. Even after God had again presented them with a new set of the ten Commandments - again written on stone which Moses placed into the ark he made - they still went against the Lord and as we read in ch 32 of Deuteronomy v6 referring to the rebellious way they are living their lives - Moses throws the challenge and asks ’is this the way you repay the Lord - is He not your father - your creator who made and formed you?’
Isaiah 9;6 when prophesying about the coming Messiah - Jesus we have a list of the names of the coming Messiah; For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
In the New Testament - Matthew 6;9 when Jesus teaches His disciples to pray He tells them and us to address God with the name Father; “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Look at John 10;30 here we see Jesus Himself who when challenged by His Jewish opponents declares ’I and the Father are one’ and again in to Mary at the tomb following His resurrection Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ “John 20;17 WOW!
And again in 1 John 3; 1-2 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
WOW! God - creator of the whole World - Almighty God is our Father and as such as we celibate Fathers Day and give thanks for our earthy fathers we have to also acknowledge our thanks to Almighty God for being our Heavenly father.
God is our Father. His word reminds us of that. Romans 8; 14 " All who are led by the Spirit of God, are Sons of God. We should behave like God's very own children, adopted into the bosom, the very heart of His family and calling Him 'Abba' which means Father. His Spirit speaks deep into our hearts and tells us that we are God's children, and because of that, we will share His treasures.
Today all over the country fellowships like ours will be celebrating Fathers Day and thanking God for the love, dedication and for many - the sacrifice our fathers made to bring us up to love and respect one another - but also as individuals brought together as brothers and sisters in Christ - for us as a family to thank God for His sacrificial love, that desires us to know Him as our Father - that’s Almighty God the creator of the Universe, the world, mankind - Almighty God wants us to know Him as our Father. WOW!
God sent Jesus to show us what He - the Father was really like - up to then God was seen as far beyond the reach of humanity - an Almighty God yes but up there in Heaven - beyond the reach of ordinary man.
When Jesus told His disciples that He was leaving them and going back to the Fathers to prepare a place for them to one day be with Him and His Father in Glory - Philip said ‘show us the Father’ to which Jesus answered ‘if you’ve seen Me - then you’ve seen the Father.
I can think of no better illustration of this that the one I use every fathers day. It was when Betty and John Matear, were leaving this Division to go to Territorial Headquarters, we all wondered who would come in their place. We had grown to know and love them both. They were good for this Division, and had served God well.
My son-in-law Tony Brown went to Balvonie, on a Salvation Army training course and while he was there met up with a young man called Duncan Parker. It turned out that this young man was the son of the new officers that were coming to Leeds to take John and Betty's place at DHQ. A couple of weeks later, Tony and I discussed the new officers, this was well before they came into the Division. Tony said, 'Well if they are anything like their son Duncan , they will be OK, He's a good lad' WOW! This is what Jesus is saying - if you’ve seen Me (Gods Son) then you have seen the Father. Jesus came to show us what the Father was really like.
When we look at babies, we look for the tell tale signs of whose child he or she is. Have they got their Father eyes or perhaps their mother's nose? As the child grows older, we not only see the reflection of the parents in the children looks, but they begin to take on some of the characteristics of their parents. The more time they spend with them, the more like them they become. The child becomes 'a chip off the old block' like Pinocchio, the image of his Father.
In just the same way, spiritually, the more time we spend with our Heavenly Father, the more it will show. We have been born again, adopted into His family, and the more time we spend in His presence, then the more like Him we become.
I wonder what people see when they meet up with you and me? Do they see some of the qualities and attributes of our Heavenly Father in us?
We sadly live in a world where mankind - Gods creation - are moving further away from what God our father intended for His children and seeking after worldy pleasures. A world where Gods creation - mankind seek pleasure, wealth, power at the expence of love, loyalty and togetherness with one another and with Father God.
Every fathers day I am reminded of one of my favourite stories as a child was about a woodcarver called Geppetto. Geppetto was a lonely old man who decided that to keep him company, he would make himself a puppet and so he lovingly carved the figure of a little boy who he called 'Pinocchio'.
That night, Geppetto looked into the night sky and with a great heartfelt sigh cried out, 'I wish my little Pinocchio was a real little boy'. When he woke up the next morning he found to his amazement that his puppet although still made of wood, didn't need strings any more, he could walk unaided, and he could talk.
At first all went well and Geppetto enjoyed his creation, that was until Pinocchio decided to go his own way and fell into bad company. He loved his freedom but unfortunately soon got attracted to the things of the world.
It wasn’t long became he became attracted to the wild side of life, left his creator and finished up on Pleasure Island with all the naughty boys. When he eventually came to his senses, he set off back home, but found that Geppetto wasn't there, - where was he - he'd gone looking for Pinocchio. The story ends happily however with Pinocchio becoming a real live boy. 'Father, I'm alive, he cried out in delight! 'This calls for a celebration, said Geppetto, and they had a party.
I wonder where the writer Carlo Lorenzi got his idea and inspiration from when he wrote the story in 1880. He had started his education at a theological college but then deciding he didn’t want to be a priest, he became a writer of Children’s stories. He would know all about Jesus and the stories that Jesus told. I can see a lot of Luke 15;11 in the story of Pinocchio.
It’s a story about a loving Father who's son, like Pinocchio, decided to leave home, and try to make his own way in life. He finished up eating food from the pig troughs and wished he was at home with his father.
Like Pinnochio, when the prodigal son came to his senses, he decided to go home, and where do we find his father? his father has set off to look for his son and seeing his son returning, runs out to meet him. 'This my son was dead, he cried, but now he is alive' and he organised a big party to celebrate. The stories are similar in the fact that the main characters are a loving forgiving father, and a wayward son who returns to the safety of his fathers love.
The story Jesus told is a picture of the Father love of God, who continued to love his creation even though mankind separated himself from his Fathers love by his disobedience.
A Father who loved his child so much that he was willing to forgive him, and accept him back into His Family.
A Father who loved his creation so much that He was willing to come to earth to seek his wayward child, and welcome him home.
A Father who offers forgiveness and new life - a fresh star - born again of the Spirit.
This is our Father, and we are His children, He loves us dearly and longs for man to forsake his waywardness, his rejection of Him, and come back into the fold and family.
Today - fathers Day - we not only pay tribute to our earthly fathers but also to our Heavenly Father for His love for each one of us. The loving Father who in Christ Jesus became man -came to earth to show us what He -God - was really like and how much He wanted His children back to enjoy a loving relationship with their heavenly Father.
That’s the father love of God for you and me - His children
In the Bible reading we started with John reminds and reassures us of this when he say's " How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God, and that's what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
The awesome truth is that just as Jesus promised His disciples before He went to the cross that if we love Him and live in obedience to Him that He and the Father would come and make their home within us. That’s now - that’s today and that’s forever.
To live within us to help us become more and more Christlike - so that the beauty of God the Father will be seen in His children - you and me.
As we read last week, when the scribes and accusers of Peter and John met together following Pentecost and the healing of the crippled man - they could tell that they had been with Jesus - it showed - they could see Christ manifest in the lives of His disciples
I pray that the people we meet today will be able to see the beauty of Jesus in you and me - John tells us that the Word of God became flesh in Jesus Christ which affirms the old Yorkshire saying which tells us that a picture speaks more than a thousand words = in other words the lives we live should reflect the word of God and the people we share our lives with should be able to see the beauty of Jesus in our lives.
In the same way that God didn’t just tell His creation that He loved them but showed them He loved them in Christ Jesus - so too we - as Children of our Father God should reflect His love in our own lives. Don’t just say you love one another but show it by your actions.
God is our Father - we are His children and as such are family - brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus
WOW! What a privilage - thank You Father lets live up to that and they will know we are Christians not by what we wear, but by our love - God love - the love of our Father in and through us.
Prayer
Songs Father God, I wonder how I managed to exist
Without the knowledge of your parenthood and your loving care.
But now I am your child, I am adopted in your family,
And I can never be alone,
'Cause Father God, you're there beside me.
I will sing your praises, I will sing your praises,
I will sing your praises, Forever more. (Repeat both lines)
Written by Rev Ian Smale probably better known in the 70’and 80’as Ishmael gospel singer. In 2006 he was diagnosed with a serious cancer and following an operation and three year of chemotherapy which involved having his voice box taken out and operated on, he was told he would never sing again - even after all this he refused to let his terrible ordeal beat him, saying ‘nothing stops me speaking, preaching and singing’ – although he did admit to having a rest ‘for a while’ after the serious operation. As the singer Ishmael he has written and recorded more than 400 praise songs including ‘Father God I wonder’ since 1970 and released 40 albums.
He started life in the Elim Pentecostal Church and in 2007 joined the Anglican Church today he is licensed to Chichester Cathedral as a Missioner Deacon. He daily reports on his Facebook page under the name Ishmael Smale
Song Father I place into Your hands Jenny Hewer
Father, I place into Your hands the things I cannot do,
Father, I place into Your hands the times that I've been through.
Father, I place into Your hands the way that I should go,
For I know I always can trust You.
Father, I place into Your hands my friends and family.
Father, I place into Your hands the things that trouble me.
Father, I place into Your hands the person I would be,
For I know I always can trust You.
Father, we love to seek Your face, we love to hear Your voice.
Father, we love to sing Your praise and in Your name rejoice.
Father, we love to walk with You and in your presence rest,
For we know we always can trust You.
Father, I want to be with you and do the things You do.
Father, I want to speak the words that you are speaking too.
Father, I want to love the ones that you will draw to you,
For I know that I am one with you.
Message 14 June 2020 also available on You tube ( Billy Cowgill)
Last week we looked at what happened to both the disciples and the 3000 who were saved at Pentecost - we read Acts 2; 41-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
WOW three thousand converted and filled with the Holy Spirit - and as I said last week, it’s been happening ever since - I shared how God filled me with His Holy Spirit and the miraculous things that we have seen happening in our fellowship ever since that day. Well - what we are going to share today is an exciting continuation of what happened following Pentecost 2000 years ago when Peter, John and the other disciples were filled with the Spirit and empowered to ’be like Jesus’ and even - as promised by Jesus - see the Holy Spirit do miraculous things in their lives and see a large increase in the number of converts from 3000 to 5000 in a few days.
Just like we shared about Smith Wigglesworth who said that in the early days of the Christian Mission that became the Salvation Army, ‘we would join together pray and claim in faith fifty or a hundred souls every week and know that we would get them‘.
Lets read Acts 3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour and a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
It was time for prayer at the Temple - they had three specific times for prayer, 9am in the morning, 3pm in the afternoon and the third at sunset in the evening. Peter and John were going for the early morning prayer gathering at 9am. Outside was the lame man - who had been lame since birth and every day taken to the Temple gate to sit and beg.
WOW! What we have just read is almost a pattern of what we have seen happenning in our own fellowship - the first miracle we saw at Idle was a young lad who had to wear calipers on his legs all the time we knew him and whom following our prayers was amazed when the calipers were removed and he didn’t have to have the operation he feared he was going to have.
The next Sunday, he bounced through the door into the worship hall - no calipers on his legs - and with the biggest grin on his face he came to the front and told us that he had seen the specialist who had examined him and said he didn’t need the operation and even removed the calipers off his legs that he had been forced to wear for years. After he had shared this, he jumped up in the air and shouted ‘Jesus has healed me’ - there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.
Wow - In Acts we see a lame man - a cripple from birth - brought to the Temple to beg for money to see him through the day. I don’t think he would have expected the response he got from Peter and John when he asked for money. ‘We havn’t got any money’ - Peter told him - probably because as we have just read, they, like the others had been sharing what they had with one another and particularly with those in need.
That reply wouldn’t have pleased the cripple - but what Peter said next - was going to make an impact on the beggars life that he wouldn’t have been expecting.
‘We havn’t got any money’ , said Peter, but , ’’what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Wow! that was the response of the young lad at our Corps when he was healed - he leapt up in the air and shouted ‘Jesus has healed me’ - and as I said last week, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Back to the bible reading;
11 While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
He then did what he had done on the day of Pentecost earlier - gave them some home truths, that they wouldn’t like about the way they had treated Jesus - the Messiah
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of Life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
And His name—by faith in His name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Peter is telling the crowds that just as he and John were witnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus and His crucifixion they had also seen with their own eyes the risen Lord and just as they were witnesses to all this - so too were the crowds witnesses to what had happened to the lame man - it had happened before their very eyes
Wow - they couldn’t argue with that - then Peter continued; 17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He thus fulfilled.
Peter is reminding them how, albeit in ignorance they have rejected Jesus they needed to repent and ask forgiveness. You don’t hear a lot of this kind of teaching from the pulpits in these days do you - Preachers are very slow in saying things that they know won’t be liked even if they are true - and is possibly one of the reasons we don’t see the kind of growth in our churches that we used to.
When I was a lad, we had three meetings on a Sunday - the first at 11’o clock in the morning and was mainly for the fellowship - the ones who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour and were trying to live their lives in obedience to Him. It was therefore called the Holiness meeting where we came together to seek Gods presence in our lives and in the meetings that would follow in the afternoon and evening.
The afternoon meeting at 3pm was called the Praise meeting where again, it was mainly the fellowship and their families that gathered to sing praises to God and testify to His presence in their lives - These two meeting were to prepare the fellowship for the evening - which started with and evangelistic open -air on the green in Idle at 6pm where songs were sung and testimonies were given to attract the people gathered around to want to know more- and if they did- were then invited to follow the band after the open-air to march up to the hall in Walter Street for the evening meeting at 6.30 which was geared for the unbeliever and therefore called the Salvation Meeting.
It was in the Salvation Meeting that the gospel of Salvation was preached - there would be testimonies from those who had been saved recently to encourage the ones who had come following the open-air to look at their own lives and if needed ask God for forgiveness and start a new life with the Lord. That would form the essence of the sermon.
Following the sermon, the meeting then moved into a prayer time when the invitation was given to those who were challenged by the sermon to come and kneel at the penitent form at the front and ask forgiveness - which many did - so much so that we then followed with a final meeting at about 8pm which we called the Wind up which thankfully had a different meaning in those days. Today ‘a wind up’ often refers to the stirring up for an argument - then it was simply the winding up - the closing moments - of the day where we celebrated with the ones who had given their lives the Christ.
Wow! They were awesome - how times have changed.
Peter and John were on their way to what could be termed as their holiness meeting - a time of prayer at 9am in the morning - on the way they had played their part in the healing of the lame man who danced into the Temple Praising God - the praise meeting - this was then followed by Peter preached his Salvation sermon in Solomons Colonnade where he made the crowds aware that they needed to seek forgiveness for their sins and follows it with the invitation to as verse 19 says Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago.
Peter then quotes the words of the prophets that they knew and accepted as being men of God 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to Him in whatever He tells you.
And then the warning; And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
The results of Peters home truths impacted on the people who listened and I guess made them think about their own relationship with God and the way in which they had been blinded to the truth that had been prophesied by their prophets years before.
Once again, as well as impacting the people, it also got the Church leaders, the priests and their temple guards, the Saducees - which were a Jewish sect that didn’t believe in the ressurection or in a personal Messiah - it made them think again. Not knowing how to react they put Peter and John into prison for the evening hoping to stop them spreading what they were saying around the people.
But chapter 4v4 tells us that even after all this - the many who heard the message believed and the number of men grew to about 5000 - wow that another 2000 believers.
What did the rulers do then? Lets look at verse 5 of chapter 4 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is‘“the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’
How brave - to stand and condem your accusers. To tell them that this cripple was healed in the very name of Jesus who you have crucified - Jesus the foundation stone of the new Worldwide- all people embracing Church - Jesus the Saviour of both Jews and Gentiles.
I love what Luke tells us next - Acts 4; 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. I love that - the love of Jesus shone from them you could tell that from what they were doing and saying which far above the capabilites of unschooled - ordinary men and this astonished their accusers - the learned men - the priests and teachers.
One of the great lessons to be learned from our reading this morning is that the ways of God haven’t changed and that in just the same way as Peter and John impacted the lives of those around them, we too, who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour could impact the people we share our lives with by the way we live our lives in obedience to God and by so doing become vehicles through whom God can show His power and love to them.
I believe that that’s how God moves in the world today - in and through the lives of people like you and me. Ordinary folk like Peter and John who in seeking to live the Word like Jesus did - spend more time with Him and so become more Christlike - so that when we meet others in the world today - hopefully they, can see the impact that spending time with Jesus has made on our own lives.
When the scribes and Pharisees looked at Peter and John, they could see that - ordinary people that they were - they had been with Jesus - it showed in their lives and actions. That’s how God wants His church to act and so impact the world in which we live - as the song says, ‘we are witnesses for Jesus in the hall and in the mart.’
When the church starts to reflect the love and power of Almighty God - then revival will take place and God will add to the church those who are being saved - that’s what I believe God is showing His church today in these times of pandemic. He is stopping us inour misguided tracks and bringing us back to ACT2gether and build His church.
God promised through Jesus that He would empower the church by the presence of the Holy Spirit. In just the same way as Jesus showed us the right way when He began His ministry - to be washed clean and then filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit to enable and empower His church to move forward and build His Church.
Peter and John were filled with the Holy Spirit and the cripple was healed by the mighty power of God working through them so that the crowds and the priests could see the awesome power of God manifest before their very eyes. They could not argue with what their eyes had seen. That’s why we read in v14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. They were speachless so what did they do?
verse 15 tells us that they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. ‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.’ No chance Peter and John stood firm
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
Wow - for forty years that crippled man had had to beg and now with an encounter with Jesus through the faithful actions of Peter and John - he was healed and his healing resulted on another 2000 people being converted. That’s what can happen when people like you and me stand up passionately for what we believe - when we stand for Christ - when we are truly a together people.
Finally - our last verse 23 tells us that On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.
-And there prayer was; 29; enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ Now it’s time for the wind up After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
What a powerful reading of the exploits of the new Church that had now got it’s ACT2gether. Through them the power of God was seen in the same way it had been manifest through Jesus - the Holy Spirit empowered the new converts to enable them to continue to take the message of Salvation to the world.- with signs following,
Surely that should inspire us all to be as we said last week - A together people - working together to get back to being what God wants His church to be - which I believe is ‘the living body of Christ in the world today’ A people in whom the Word of God ‘Jesus’ lives - a people empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit that will enable us to bring Glory to Almighty God.
God is the same today as yesterday and wants His followers - His church - His fellowships to live lives that reflect His love for His creation and encourage others to repent their old selfish aimless lives and seek to know Him for themselves.
I really believe that God is relying on you and me to continue the work He began in Jesus and continued in the lives of people like the Pentecostal believers which is to bring people back into union with Him and one another so that one day we will live with Him in the Glorious new heaven that He has prepared for those who love Him, Love God and one another and live in harmony to His word.
God has done His part in making heaven a possibility for us all, it’s up to us how we respond to that, by loving God and making sure that we live our lives here on earth in obedience to Him and His word. Prayer and togetherness with one another and the Lord we love being the key.
In the same way that Peter closed his Salvation meeting with a call for people to look at the evidence, consider their own way of lives and if needs be to repent - Lets take the reading this morning as a starting point to look at our own lives and if needs be to ask God for forgiveness if we are not living up to His expectations and start again - ready for when we are able to get back together and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Lets pray
Father God
Thank You for your patience with us all -
Thank You for loving us with and everlasting love,
Thank You for Your word that inspires us as we read the testimonies of those who’s lives were transformed by Jesus
Thank You for sending Jesus to be our example and take our sins upon Himself so that we could be forgiven.
We are truly sorry Lord if in any way we have let You down and are not living the kind of life that you want us to - We ask for Your forgiveness and pray You will help us to change and become people of prayer, hungry for Your word and eager and able to share Your love with others
We bless You Lord and thank You for the way in which in these troubled times You are showing Your people how You want us to react to the needs of others in showing Your love and help.
We thank You for way in which the book of Acts is reminding Your churches in these last days how you want them to look at the way in which they spend their time and where needed to get back to devoting their time to prayer, to the reading of your word and to living the Word that will bring revival to both the church and to the world in which we live. To Your praise and Glory.
We thank You that You never change - that Your love remains the same toward Your people and that through those who are faithful to You, You will continue to show Your power and authority until Jesus comes again.
We pray this in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - Amen
I also included the song ‘ We are witnesses for Jesus’ and the chorus ‘Peter and John went to pray’
Last week we looked at what happened to both the disciples and the 3000 who were saved at Pentecost - we read Acts 2; 41-47 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
WOW three thousand converted and filled with the Holy Spirit - and as I said last week, it’s been happening ever since - I shared how God filled me with His Holy Spirit and the miraculous things that we have seen happening in our fellowship ever since that day. Well - what we are going to share today is an exciting continuation of what happened following Pentecost 2000 years ago when Peter, John and the other disciples were filled with the Spirit and empowered to ’be like Jesus’ and even - as promised by Jesus - see the Holy Spirit do miraculous things in their lives and see a large increase in the number of converts from 3000 to 5000 in a few days.
Just like we shared about Smith Wigglesworth who said that in the early days of the Christian Mission that became the Salvation Army, ‘we would join together pray and claim in faith fifty or a hundred souls every week and know that we would get them‘.
Lets read Acts 3 Now Peter and John were going up to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour and a man lame from birth was being carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple that is called the Beautiful Gate to ask alms of those entering the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked to receive alms. And Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John, and said, “Look at us.” And he fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong.
And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God, and recognized him as the one who sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, asking for alms. And they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.
It was time for prayer at the Temple - they had three specific times for prayer, 9am in the morning, 3pm in the afternoon and the third at sunset in the evening. Peter and John were going for the early morning prayer gathering at 9am. Outside was the lame man - who had been lame since birth and every day taken to the Temple gate to sit and beg.
WOW! What we have just read is almost a pattern of what we have seen happenning in our own fellowship - the first miracle we saw at Idle was a young lad who had to wear calipers on his legs all the time we knew him and whom following our prayers was amazed when the calipers were removed and he didn’t have to have the operation he feared he was going to have.
The next Sunday, he bounced through the door into the worship hall - no calipers on his legs - and with the biggest grin on his face he came to the front and told us that he had seen the specialist who had examined him and said he didn’t need the operation and even removed the calipers off his legs that he had been forced to wear for years. After he had shared this, he jumped up in the air and shouted ‘Jesus has healed me’ - there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.
Wow - In Acts we see a lame man - a cripple from birth - brought to the Temple to beg for money to see him through the day. I don’t think he would have expected the response he got from Peter and John when he asked for money. ‘We havn’t got any money’ - Peter told him - probably because as we have just read, they, like the others had been sharing what they had with one another and particularly with those in need.
That reply wouldn’t have pleased the cripple - but what Peter said next - was going to make an impact on the beggars life that he wouldn’t have been expecting.
‘We havn’t got any money’ , said Peter, but , ’’what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. And leaping up, he stood and began to walk, and entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.
Wow! that was the response of the young lad at our Corps when he was healed - he leapt up in the air and shouted ‘Jesus has healed me’ - and as I said last week, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place. Back to the bible reading;
11 While the man clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon's. And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk?
He then did what he had done on the day of Pentecost earlier - gave them some home truths, that they wouldn’t like about the way they had treated Jesus - the Messiah
The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of Life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
And His name—by faith in His name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Peter is telling the crowds that just as he and John were witnesses to the life and ministry of Jesus and His crucifixion they had also seen with their own eyes the risen Lord and just as they were witnesses to all this - so too were the crowds witnesses to what had happened to the lame man - it had happened before their very eyes
Wow - they couldn’t argue with that - then Peter continued; 17 “And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He thus fulfilled.
Peter is reminding them how, albeit in ignorance they have rejected Jesus they needed to repent and ask forgiveness. You don’t hear a lot of this kind of teaching from the pulpits in these days do you - Preachers are very slow in saying things that they know won’t be liked even if they are true - and is possibly one of the reasons we don’t see the kind of growth in our churches that we used to.
When I was a lad, we had three meetings on a Sunday - the first at 11’o clock in the morning and was mainly for the fellowship - the ones who have accepted Jesus as their Saviour and were trying to live their lives in obedience to Him. It was therefore called the Holiness meeting where we came together to seek Gods presence in our lives and in the meetings that would follow in the afternoon and evening.
The afternoon meeting at 3pm was called the Praise meeting where again, it was mainly the fellowship and their families that gathered to sing praises to God and testify to His presence in their lives - These two meeting were to prepare the fellowship for the evening - which started with and evangelistic open -air on the green in Idle at 6pm where songs were sung and testimonies were given to attract the people gathered around to want to know more- and if they did- were then invited to follow the band after the open-air to march up to the hall in Walter Street for the evening meeting at 6.30 which was geared for the unbeliever and therefore called the Salvation Meeting.
It was in the Salvation Meeting that the gospel of Salvation was preached - there would be testimonies from those who had been saved recently to encourage the ones who had come following the open-air to look at their own lives and if needed ask God for forgiveness and start a new life with the Lord. That would form the essence of the sermon.
Following the sermon, the meeting then moved into a prayer time when the invitation was given to those who were challenged by the sermon to come and kneel at the penitent form at the front and ask forgiveness - which many did - so much so that we then followed with a final meeting at about 8pm which we called the Wind up which thankfully had a different meaning in those days. Today ‘a wind up’ often refers to the stirring up for an argument - then it was simply the winding up - the closing moments - of the day where we celebrated with the ones who had given their lives the Christ.
Wow! They were awesome - how times have changed.
Peter and John were on their way to what could be termed as their holiness meeting - a time of prayer at 9am in the morning - on the way they had played their part in the healing of the lame man who danced into the Temple Praising God - the praise meeting - this was then followed by Peter preached his Salvation sermon in Solomons Colonnade where he made the crowds aware that they needed to seek forgiveness for their sins and follows it with the invitation to as verse 19 says Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago.
Peter then quotes the words of the prophets that they knew and accepted as being men of God 22 Moses said, ‘The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to Him in whatever He tells you.
And then the warning; And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people.’ And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days. You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ God, having raised up his servant, sent him to you first, to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness.”
The results of Peters home truths impacted on the people who listened and I guess made them think about their own relationship with God and the way in which they had been blinded to the truth that had been prophesied by their prophets years before.
Once again, as well as impacting the people, it also got the Church leaders, the priests and their temple guards, the Saducees - which were a Jewish sect that didn’t believe in the ressurection or in a personal Messiah - it made them think again. Not knowing how to react they put Peter and John into prison for the evening hoping to stop them spreading what they were saying around the people.
But chapter 4v4 tells us that even after all this - the many who heard the message believed and the number of men grew to about 5000 - wow that another 2000 believers.
What did the rulers do then? Lets look at verse 5 of chapter 4 The next day the rulers, the elders and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and others of the high priest’s family. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: ‘By what power or what name did you do this?’
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: ‘Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a man who was lame and are being asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Jesus is‘“the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.” Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.’
How brave - to stand and condem your accusers. To tell them that this cripple was healed in the very name of Jesus who you have crucified - Jesus the foundation stone of the new Worldwide- all people embracing Church - Jesus the Saviour of both Jews and Gentiles.
I love what Luke tells us next - Acts 4; 13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realised that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. I love that - the love of Jesus shone from them you could tell that from what they were doing and saying which far above the capabilites of unschooled - ordinary men and this astonished their accusers - the learned men - the priests and teachers.
One of the great lessons to be learned from our reading this morning is that the ways of God haven’t changed and that in just the same way as Peter and John impacted the lives of those around them, we too, who have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour could impact the people we share our lives with by the way we live our lives in obedience to God and by so doing become vehicles through whom God can show His power and love to them.
I believe that that’s how God moves in the world today - in and through the lives of people like you and me. Ordinary folk like Peter and John who in seeking to live the Word like Jesus did - spend more time with Him and so become more Christlike - so that when we meet others in the world today - hopefully they, can see the impact that spending time with Jesus has made on our own lives.
When the scribes and Pharisees looked at Peter and John, they could see that - ordinary people that they were - they had been with Jesus - it showed in their lives and actions. That’s how God wants His church to act and so impact the world in which we live - as the song says, ‘we are witnesses for Jesus in the hall and in the mart.’
When the church starts to reflect the love and power of Almighty God - then revival will take place and God will add to the church those who are being saved - that’s what I believe God is showing His church today in these times of pandemic. He is stopping us inour misguided tracks and bringing us back to ACT2gether and build His church.
God promised through Jesus that He would empower the church by the presence of the Holy Spirit. In just the same way as Jesus showed us the right way when He began His ministry - to be washed clean and then filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit to enable and empower His church to move forward and build His Church.
Peter and John were filled with the Holy Spirit and the cripple was healed by the mighty power of God working through them so that the crowds and the priests could see the awesome power of God manifest before their very eyes. They could not argue with what their eyes had seen. That’s why we read in v14 But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. They were speachless so what did they do?
verse 15 tells us that they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. ‘What are we going to do with these men?’ they asked. ‘Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they have performed a notable sign, and we cannot deny it. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them to speak no longer to anyone in this name.’ No chance Peter and John stood firm
18 Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, ‘Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to Him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.’ After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.
Wow - for forty years that crippled man had had to beg and now with an encounter with Jesus through the faithful actions of Peter and John - he was healed and his healing resulted on another 2000 people being converted. That’s what can happen when people like you and me stand up passionately for what we believe - when we stand for Christ - when we are truly a together people.
Finally - our last verse 23 tells us that On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God.
-And there prayer was; 29; enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ Now it’s time for the wind up After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
What a powerful reading of the exploits of the new Church that had now got it’s ACT2gether. Through them the power of God was seen in the same way it had been manifest through Jesus - the Holy Spirit empowered the new converts to enable them to continue to take the message of Salvation to the world.- with signs following,
Surely that should inspire us all to be as we said last week - A together people - working together to get back to being what God wants His church to be - which I believe is ‘the living body of Christ in the world today’ A people in whom the Word of God ‘Jesus’ lives - a people empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit that will enable us to bring Glory to Almighty God.
God is the same today as yesterday and wants His followers - His church - His fellowships to live lives that reflect His love for His creation and encourage others to repent their old selfish aimless lives and seek to know Him for themselves.
I really believe that God is relying on you and me to continue the work He began in Jesus and continued in the lives of people like the Pentecostal believers which is to bring people back into union with Him and one another so that one day we will live with Him in the Glorious new heaven that He has prepared for those who love Him, Love God and one another and live in harmony to His word.
God has done His part in making heaven a possibility for us all, it’s up to us how we respond to that, by loving God and making sure that we live our lives here on earth in obedience to Him and His word. Prayer and togetherness with one another and the Lord we love being the key.
In the same way that Peter closed his Salvation meeting with a call for people to look at the evidence, consider their own way of lives and if needs be to repent - Lets take the reading this morning as a starting point to look at our own lives and if needs be to ask God for forgiveness if we are not living up to His expectations and start again - ready for when we are able to get back together and worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Lets pray
Father God
Thank You for your patience with us all -
Thank You for loving us with and everlasting love,
Thank You for Your word that inspires us as we read the testimonies of those who’s lives were transformed by Jesus
Thank You for sending Jesus to be our example and take our sins upon Himself so that we could be forgiven.
We are truly sorry Lord if in any way we have let You down and are not living the kind of life that you want us to - We ask for Your forgiveness and pray You will help us to change and become people of prayer, hungry for Your word and eager and able to share Your love with others
We bless You Lord and thank You for the way in which in these troubled times You are showing Your people how You want us to react to the needs of others in showing Your love and help.
We thank You for way in which the book of Acts is reminding Your churches in these last days how you want them to look at the way in which they spend their time and where needed to get back to devoting their time to prayer, to the reading of your word and to living the Word that will bring revival to both the church and to the world in which we live. To Your praise and Glory.
We thank You that You never change - that Your love remains the same toward Your people and that through those who are faithful to You, You will continue to show Your power and authority until Jesus comes again.
We pray this in the precious name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ - Amen
I also included the song ‘ We are witnesses for Jesus’ and the chorus ‘Peter and John went to pray’
Message 7 June 2020 This can also be seen on Youtube under Billy Cowgill
Here we are - a week following Pentecost - the birthday of the Church. We had a great time last week sharing how Peter now filled with the Holy Spirit is empowered by God to preach a sermon that brought over 3000 people to repent, be cleansed from their sinful pasts and be filled with the Holy Spirit themselves - WOW it must have been an awesome occasion.
Up till that day, people had been baptised for forgiveness by people like John the Baptist -and the disciples - but this day was the fulfilment of the prophesy of Joel that in the last day, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people - your sons and daughters will see visions, your old men dream dreams, even on my servants, both men and women I will pour out My Spirit in those days - and they will prophesy.
WOW! And he talks about wonders in Heaven and signs on the earth belowand everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
And the awesome truth is that God’s been doing that ever since - all down through history - since Pentecost thousands have been filled with the Spirit and empowered to become Christlike in their lives and ministries
The Asuza revival, the meetings of Smith Wigglesworth - the Billy Graham Meetings and praise God, even the Salvation Army. I have a book about Smith Wigglesworth that tells of the early days of the Salvation Army in Bradford in the 1870’s He describes the meeting like this; 'We would have all nights of prayer where many would be prostrated under the power of the Holy Spirit , some times for as long as twenty-four hours at a time. We called that the baptism of the Holy Spirit in those days. We would join together and claim in faith fifty or a hundred souls every week and know that we would get them - the power of God rested upon the worst characters and they were saved. It reached every class, drunkards were saved right and left and the next day when they were put up on the platform to testify, their testimonies thrilled the place so that the power of God fell upon others who in turn became witnesses to the salvation of Christ.
He goes on; There was no such building large enough to hold the work. The meetings were in open market places where they put big wagons there for platforms where the people who were saved the night before would speak and the power of God would fall
Wow! The power of the Holy Spirit energising the believers to bring others into faith.
Today we’re going to look at what happened next to both the disciples and the 3000 who were saved.
Acts 2; 41-47 Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Three thousand - WOW what a sight that must have been - three thousand converted and filled with the Holy Spirit - and what did they do? They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching - they would be hungry to know about Jesus - whom the church of their day had crucified in an attempt to stifle the truth. The Messiah that they had been waiting for so long had been rejected by the Church but now after hearing the testimony of Peter and being called to repent for their foolishness they were hungry to learn about Him from Peter and those who had actually been with Jesus - so they devoted themselves - gave all their time and energy - to learn about Him.
When I accepted Jesus as my Saviour - I too promised to read my Bible and pray to learn more about my new way of life and how God wanted me to become Christlike in my attitudes and actions. I shared last week how I just went along with the crowd and needed to be shown by God the error of my ways.
He did that in 1971 by putting me in hospital with a serious kidney disease that He then through the prayer and laying on of hands by friends God miraculously healed me and in so doing made me realise that I was a veneer Christian and that He had plans for my life that would need me to repent of my past and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
That happened a few weeks later when I was fit enough to go to the hall every night, kneel at the mercy seat and cry out to God -’Father I want to know You really know You’ - As I said last week - It had taken a serious operation to show me that I didn’t really know God as He wanted me to know Him. I had just been going along with the crowds. What happened next was to change my life completely. As I knelt there, I felt the awesome presence of the Holy Spirit and my life was filled with light - I stood up - danced all the way home. From that moment on I wanted to get to really know Jesus and seek His direction for my life.
As well as being filled with the Holy Spirit I then experienced the same blessing that the crowds listening to Peter had experienced - it was in a mid-week prayer meeting at St Mathias Church in Armley Road Leeds where a lady prayed in tongues and I heard it all in plain English - just like the crowds in Acts 2.
I knew then that what God had done in my life was real and that what He was doing that evening was confirming it to me. That was the turning point in my life.
God led me to hire a building on outskirts of the Thorpe Edge estate and start a New Life Fellowship which became a vehicle for others whom God had spoken to from other denominations and for a couple of years we held services there. I never thought that a couple of years later, in 1995 God would call Beryl and myself to become the ministers, Commanding Officers of the Idle Corps. God is awesome!
As I said last week As I read Acts 2, it all comes flooding back - the awesome memories of the time that God filled me with His Holy Spirit and my life changed so dramatically - before - I thought I knew God and was doing what He wanted me to do - thankfully God showed me the truth and ACTS2 became a living reality in my life.
What does Acts 2 tell us that the new converts at Pentecost do next ? They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,
Fellowship - that’s what Church should be - a group of people who in their determination to grow in the Lord meet together. They became the new church of God which gave a new meaning to the breaking of bread that they were used to sharing in their thanksgiving services at Passover time. When Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples He told them that in future when they celebrated the Passover - the setting free of Gods people from the bondage of slavery - that they were to do it in remembrance of Him - as the new covenant - would set them free from slavery of Sin by dying on the cross.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Prayer - the vital powerful link that we have with Almighty God - WOW! A private personal relationship with God whereby we can talk to Him - Almighty God - Creator of the world and us - a personal audience with the King - that’s awesome. That’s probably why Luke tells us that; Everyone was filled with awe that’s a jaw dropping mouth wide open Awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
We’ll be looking at those miraculous times next week when we look at chapter 3.
It’s when the Holy Spirit comes to reside within us that I really believe that we become the vehicle through whom God can do His mighty acts of miracles.
I’m amazed when I look back and see the miraculous things that we in our fellowship have seen God do. The miraculous way in which God has healed so many and even provided all the money needed to build the fabric of His church here at Idle.
In addition to healing my kidneys at the start of my renewal. He showed His mighty power of healing when I was diagnosed with one of the deepest cancers the doctors had seen on my back in 2001. I went in to hospital and was operated on. My doctors received a note from the surgeon that says it was a deep cancer and that the long term prospects for this man are very poor. They didn’t follow the operation with any others treatment as they probably saw that as a waste of time.
Thankfully God gave Thelma my sister-in-law, a message one morning as she studied her bible. The message was that "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." John 11;4. That was nineteen years ago and after ten annual visits to the specialists they gave me the all-clear. I told them God had healed me - they just smiled and said ’they do say faith helps’
Then a few years ago I got a cancer on my face and had that removed at St Lukes where in an interview following the operation I was able to tell them that I had been healed by God of a large back cancer. There is a history of cancer in the Cowgill family, my grandfather died of a cancer on his forehead. My own father, who died a few years ago, had an operation for a large cancer on his forehead and I have a patch on my forehead in the same place as my dad and have been told not to worry about it - thankfully by Gods grace I’m still here. I know the power of Gods healing touch.
Now to the healings in our own church - my own fellowship know all about these but I feel it important to tell the wider audience of those who are watching these videos who do not know about them and give God the glory for them.
The first was a young lad who was a member of our fellowship who, because of a genetic bone disorder had to wear calipers on his legs. He came into church one Sunday morning looking really sad - when I asked him what the problem was, he came out to the front and said that he had an appointment with the specialist that Thursday who wanted to put a steel rod down his spine as his back was beginning to curve - he was really frightened. I called the fellowship to prayer and laid my hands on the young lad and prayed that God the Holy Spirit would heal him so that he didn‘t need the operation..
The next Sunday, he bounced through the door into our worship hall - no calipers on his legs - and with the biggest grin on his face he came to the front and told us that he had seen the specialist who had examined him and said he didn’t need the operation and even removed the calipers off his legs that he had been forced to wear for years. After he had shared this, he jumped up in the air and shouted ‘Jesus has healed me’ - there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.
In June 1999 a newcomer came to our meeting - I met her at the door - she looked so sad and when I asked her why, she explained that her grandson had just been born that week but had to be put into intensive care as his lungs were refusing to work. She told me that they didn’t expect him to pull through. I asked what his name was - she told me - Adam. Right I said - would you like me to pray for baby Adam - with tears in her eyes she said ‘oh yes please’.
I went into a side room and asked God for guidance as to how I should pray for baby Adam and then went into the main hall where I told the congregation about baby Adam and called them to join me in prayer for the baby and his family.
I stood and as I prayed I used the words that I believe God gave me - I prayed ‘ Lord I pray that in the same way you breathed new life into the first Adam that with the breath of the Holy Spirit you would breath new life into baby Adam and bring healing to His lungs. The following week when his grandmother came into our meeting - she had a large grin on her face and told us that in response to our prayers, baby Adam’s lungs had started to work and he was now safe at home. WOW!
The great thing is that as soon as Adam was well enough to be taken out, his mother and father asked if I would Baptise Adam. I explained that in the Salvation Army we dedicate children in the same way that Jesus was dedicated as a baby - they agreed and we held a service of dedication to a full hall on the 26th September 1999. Three years later his sister Lydia was born and we dedicated her too. Not long after that the whole family moved to the Manchester area. Today, Adam is very active as the Welfare and Community Officer at the University of Manchester
Our God is amazing - we have seen His power at work in our fellowship in the same way that Gods word tells us we would.
As well as healings we have also received financial help in amazing proportions A few years after taking over the leadership of this Corps, we found that the side walls were begining to seperate themselves from the balcony which was then in fear of collapse which meant we had to spend all the money we had in our funds about £40 000 to put that right and also address some of the other problems that needed attending to. After we had done this, we felt that we needed some new chairs and were given an estimate of around £6000 - but we had no money left - so I called a prayer meeting where we prayed about it.
The next morning I received and anonymous phone call from a man who was walking down Hollings Hill and felt the need to give some money to help the Salvation Army. I thanked him, gave him my address and within a week a bankers order came it was for £6000 - the exact money we had prayed for only the night before.
Shortly after the hall was re-opened I was given a vision to build a new Community hall at the side of our Worship Hall on the grounds where the air-raid shelters stood. We’d spent all our money on securing the balcony and refurbishing the hall and people asked ‘where are we going to get the money from to build a new hall? To which I replied ‘If God wants is then He will provide and He did - it cost £ 150 000, and all the money came.
Even more miraculous was when a few years ago we were told that the rood of our Worship Hall was in need of repair at a cost of £240 000 - WOW! We prayed about that too and the next day I had a telephone call from a solicitor in Shipley who said that a man who used to pick a lady up from our over sixty meetings when Beryl and I took over the Corps 20 years ago had just died and I was the executor of his will. I was told that as executor I needed to clear his flat, and arrange his funeral.
I didn’t really know that man apart from his weekly visits to pick his girl friend up and remember that on one occasion he had been to the post office and picked up a form of will that he asked me to sign for him as a witness - so I thought - but actually I had signed as an executor. The awesome things was that when I had cleared his flat in Underclife , given his television and bed to neighbours who lived opposite him I thought that was it until I received a form stating that he had left all his money to the Salvation Army. That money amounted to “£240 000 the full total for our new roof. God had provided that 20 years before we needed it. WOW!
Whatever we have needed God has provided - no need to borrow or mortgage any money. All in answers to prayer. Where many churches have had to go to the bank manager to get money to improve their buildings - all we’ve had to do is take our needs to God - Awesome That’s over £500 000 - and all provided.
What did we read happened at Pentecost? Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. That’s the power of the Holy Spirit and we today have seen His mighty power at work within and through us.
I believe that God is still the same today and that if we are obedient to Him, read and put His word into practice, Pray and read our bible as we said last week - seek |Gods plans for our fellowship then I believe we will have a revival. Gods ready - all we have to be is available.
Just look at the response of the new spirit filled believers at Pentecost; V 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. How important that is that we as a fellowship are a together people - no division - together. The very first verse of chapter 2 that preceeds the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples and enabled them to do what happened at Pentecost tells us that when the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place.
I believe that that was not just a physical togetherness but a Spiritual togetherness. It was not just where they were physically but where they were spiritually - a together people. And here we have it again; v 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
In other words, they shared what they had - and Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. Every day - Wow They shared meals together broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, and in all that praised God and enjoyed the favour of all the people.
Together - how important that is for His church today - it’s the devil who instigates and loves division in the church - when there is division in a church, that church will not grow. And we can see this happening in many places.
Paul wrote many times to the church at Corinth about the dangers of division in the church; 1 Corinthians 1;10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought
And again in Romans 16;17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. O how we need to be a together people
The Acts 2 Church was made up of people who cared about one another - a people who were prepared to give whatever was needed to help one another - that’s real church - real love. Togethernes -.and as a result of their togetherness with God and one another the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Lets close with the same verses we closed with last Sunday - Pauls letter to the Church at Ephesus Ephesians 3; 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
And listen to this - Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
His power within us - WOW! I believe that power is available for Gods people to receive today to help us accomplish all that God wants to do in these last days.
There’s a lovely song that we sing in church written in 1977 by Bob Gilman called Bind us together Lord
Bind us together Lord, bind us together
With chords that cannot be broken
Bind us together Lord bind us together,
Bind us together with Lore.
There is only one God -there is only one King
There is only one Body, that is why we sing
Made for the Glory of God
Purchased by His precious Son
Born with the right to be clean
For Jesus the victory has won
You are the family of God
You are the promise divine
You are God’s chosen desire
You are the glorious new wine
Bind us together Bind us together
With chords that cannot be broken
Bind us together Lord bind us together,
Bind us together with Love
Lets pray that He will do that in us and in our fellowships.
And if you don’t belong to a fellowship then you are welcome to join with us when this lock down is over
Here we are - a week following Pentecost - the birthday of the Church. We had a great time last week sharing how Peter now filled with the Holy Spirit is empowered by God to preach a sermon that brought over 3000 people to repent, be cleansed from their sinful pasts and be filled with the Holy Spirit themselves - WOW it must have been an awesome occasion.
Up till that day, people had been baptised for forgiveness by people like John the Baptist -and the disciples - but this day was the fulfilment of the prophesy of Joel that in the last day, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people - your sons and daughters will see visions, your old men dream dreams, even on my servants, both men and women I will pour out My Spirit in those days - and they will prophesy.
WOW! And he talks about wonders in Heaven and signs on the earth belowand everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
And the awesome truth is that God’s been doing that ever since - all down through history - since Pentecost thousands have been filled with the Spirit and empowered to become Christlike in their lives and ministries
The Asuza revival, the meetings of Smith Wigglesworth - the Billy Graham Meetings and praise God, even the Salvation Army. I have a book about Smith Wigglesworth that tells of the early days of the Salvation Army in Bradford in the 1870’s He describes the meeting like this; 'We would have all nights of prayer where many would be prostrated under the power of the Holy Spirit , some times for as long as twenty-four hours at a time. We called that the baptism of the Holy Spirit in those days. We would join together and claim in faith fifty or a hundred souls every week and know that we would get them - the power of God rested upon the worst characters and they were saved. It reached every class, drunkards were saved right and left and the next day when they were put up on the platform to testify, their testimonies thrilled the place so that the power of God fell upon others who in turn became witnesses to the salvation of Christ.
He goes on; There was no such building large enough to hold the work. The meetings were in open market places where they put big wagons there for platforms where the people who were saved the night before would speak and the power of God would fall
Wow! The power of the Holy Spirit energising the believers to bring others into faith.
Today we’re going to look at what happened next to both the disciples and the 3000 who were saved.
Acts 2; 41-47 Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Three thousand - WOW what a sight that must have been - three thousand converted and filled with the Holy Spirit - and what did they do? They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching - they would be hungry to know about Jesus - whom the church of their day had crucified in an attempt to stifle the truth. The Messiah that they had been waiting for so long had been rejected by the Church but now after hearing the testimony of Peter and being called to repent for their foolishness they were hungry to learn about Him from Peter and those who had actually been with Jesus - so they devoted themselves - gave all their time and energy - to learn about Him.
When I accepted Jesus as my Saviour - I too promised to read my Bible and pray to learn more about my new way of life and how God wanted me to become Christlike in my attitudes and actions. I shared last week how I just went along with the crowd and needed to be shown by God the error of my ways.
He did that in 1971 by putting me in hospital with a serious kidney disease that He then through the prayer and laying on of hands by friends God miraculously healed me and in so doing made me realise that I was a veneer Christian and that He had plans for my life that would need me to repent of my past and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
That happened a few weeks later when I was fit enough to go to the hall every night, kneel at the mercy seat and cry out to God -’Father I want to know You really know You’ - As I said last week - It had taken a serious operation to show me that I didn’t really know God as He wanted me to know Him. I had just been going along with the crowds. What happened next was to change my life completely. As I knelt there, I felt the awesome presence of the Holy Spirit and my life was filled with light - I stood up - danced all the way home. From that moment on I wanted to get to really know Jesus and seek His direction for my life.
As well as being filled with the Holy Spirit I then experienced the same blessing that the crowds listening to Peter had experienced - it was in a mid-week prayer meeting at St Mathias Church in Armley Road Leeds where a lady prayed in tongues and I heard it all in plain English - just like the crowds in Acts 2.
I knew then that what God had done in my life was real and that what He was doing that evening was confirming it to me. That was the turning point in my life.
God led me to hire a building on outskirts of the Thorpe Edge estate and start a New Life Fellowship which became a vehicle for others whom God had spoken to from other denominations and for a couple of years we held services there. I never thought that a couple of years later, in 1995 God would call Beryl and myself to become the ministers, Commanding Officers of the Idle Corps. God is awesome!
As I said last week As I read Acts 2, it all comes flooding back - the awesome memories of the time that God filled me with His Holy Spirit and my life changed so dramatically - before - I thought I knew God and was doing what He wanted me to do - thankfully God showed me the truth and ACTS2 became a living reality in my life.
What does Acts 2 tell us that the new converts at Pentecost do next ? They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship,
Fellowship - that’s what Church should be - a group of people who in their determination to grow in the Lord meet together. They became the new church of God which gave a new meaning to the breaking of bread that they were used to sharing in their thanksgiving services at Passover time. When Jesus shared the Passover meal with His disciples He told them that in future when they celebrated the Passover - the setting free of Gods people from the bondage of slavery - that they were to do it in remembrance of Him - as the new covenant - would set them free from slavery of Sin by dying on the cross.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Prayer - the vital powerful link that we have with Almighty God - WOW! A private personal relationship with God whereby we can talk to Him - Almighty God - Creator of the world and us - a personal audience with the King - that’s awesome. That’s probably why Luke tells us that; Everyone was filled with awe that’s a jaw dropping mouth wide open Awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles.
We’ll be looking at those miraculous times next week when we look at chapter 3.
It’s when the Holy Spirit comes to reside within us that I really believe that we become the vehicle through whom God can do His mighty acts of miracles.
I’m amazed when I look back and see the miraculous things that we in our fellowship have seen God do. The miraculous way in which God has healed so many and even provided all the money needed to build the fabric of His church here at Idle.
In addition to healing my kidneys at the start of my renewal. He showed His mighty power of healing when I was diagnosed with one of the deepest cancers the doctors had seen on my back in 2001. I went in to hospital and was operated on. My doctors received a note from the surgeon that says it was a deep cancer and that the long term prospects for this man are very poor. They didn’t follow the operation with any others treatment as they probably saw that as a waste of time.
Thankfully God gave Thelma my sister-in-law, a message one morning as she studied her bible. The message was that "This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God's glory so that God's Son may be glorified through it." John 11;4. That was nineteen years ago and after ten annual visits to the specialists they gave me the all-clear. I told them God had healed me - they just smiled and said ’they do say faith helps’
Then a few years ago I got a cancer on my face and had that removed at St Lukes where in an interview following the operation I was able to tell them that I had been healed by God of a large back cancer. There is a history of cancer in the Cowgill family, my grandfather died of a cancer on his forehead. My own father, who died a few years ago, had an operation for a large cancer on his forehead and I have a patch on my forehead in the same place as my dad and have been told not to worry about it - thankfully by Gods grace I’m still here. I know the power of Gods healing touch.
Now to the healings in our own church - my own fellowship know all about these but I feel it important to tell the wider audience of those who are watching these videos who do not know about them and give God the glory for them.
The first was a young lad who was a member of our fellowship who, because of a genetic bone disorder had to wear calipers on his legs. He came into church one Sunday morning looking really sad - when I asked him what the problem was, he came out to the front and said that he had an appointment with the specialist that Thursday who wanted to put a steel rod down his spine as his back was beginning to curve - he was really frightened. I called the fellowship to prayer and laid my hands on the young lad and prayed that God the Holy Spirit would heal him so that he didn‘t need the operation..
The next Sunday, he bounced through the door into our worship hall - no calipers on his legs - and with the biggest grin on his face he came to the front and told us that he had seen the specialist who had examined him and said he didn’t need the operation and even removed the calipers off his legs that he had been forced to wear for years. After he had shared this, he jumped up in the air and shouted ‘Jesus has healed me’ - there wasn’t a dry eye in the place.
In June 1999 a newcomer came to our meeting - I met her at the door - she looked so sad and when I asked her why, she explained that her grandson had just been born that week but had to be put into intensive care as his lungs were refusing to work. She told me that they didn’t expect him to pull through. I asked what his name was - she told me - Adam. Right I said - would you like me to pray for baby Adam - with tears in her eyes she said ‘oh yes please’.
I went into a side room and asked God for guidance as to how I should pray for baby Adam and then went into the main hall where I told the congregation about baby Adam and called them to join me in prayer for the baby and his family.
I stood and as I prayed I used the words that I believe God gave me - I prayed ‘ Lord I pray that in the same way you breathed new life into the first Adam that with the breath of the Holy Spirit you would breath new life into baby Adam and bring healing to His lungs. The following week when his grandmother came into our meeting - she had a large grin on her face and told us that in response to our prayers, baby Adam’s lungs had started to work and he was now safe at home. WOW!
The great thing is that as soon as Adam was well enough to be taken out, his mother and father asked if I would Baptise Adam. I explained that in the Salvation Army we dedicate children in the same way that Jesus was dedicated as a baby - they agreed and we held a service of dedication to a full hall on the 26th September 1999. Three years later his sister Lydia was born and we dedicated her too. Not long after that the whole family moved to the Manchester area. Today, Adam is very active as the Welfare and Community Officer at the University of Manchester
Our God is amazing - we have seen His power at work in our fellowship in the same way that Gods word tells us we would.
As well as healings we have also received financial help in amazing proportions A few years after taking over the leadership of this Corps, we found that the side walls were begining to seperate themselves from the balcony which was then in fear of collapse which meant we had to spend all the money we had in our funds about £40 000 to put that right and also address some of the other problems that needed attending to. After we had done this, we felt that we needed some new chairs and were given an estimate of around £6000 - but we had no money left - so I called a prayer meeting where we prayed about it.
The next morning I received and anonymous phone call from a man who was walking down Hollings Hill and felt the need to give some money to help the Salvation Army. I thanked him, gave him my address and within a week a bankers order came it was for £6000 - the exact money we had prayed for only the night before.
Shortly after the hall was re-opened I was given a vision to build a new Community hall at the side of our Worship Hall on the grounds where the air-raid shelters stood. We’d spent all our money on securing the balcony and refurbishing the hall and people asked ‘where are we going to get the money from to build a new hall? To which I replied ‘If God wants is then He will provide and He did - it cost £ 150 000, and all the money came.
Even more miraculous was when a few years ago we were told that the rood of our Worship Hall was in need of repair at a cost of £240 000 - WOW! We prayed about that too and the next day I had a telephone call from a solicitor in Shipley who said that a man who used to pick a lady up from our over sixty meetings when Beryl and I took over the Corps 20 years ago had just died and I was the executor of his will. I was told that as executor I needed to clear his flat, and arrange his funeral.
I didn’t really know that man apart from his weekly visits to pick his girl friend up and remember that on one occasion he had been to the post office and picked up a form of will that he asked me to sign for him as a witness - so I thought - but actually I had signed as an executor. The awesome things was that when I had cleared his flat in Underclife , given his television and bed to neighbours who lived opposite him I thought that was it until I received a form stating that he had left all his money to the Salvation Army. That money amounted to “£240 000 the full total for our new roof. God had provided that 20 years before we needed it. WOW!
Whatever we have needed God has provided - no need to borrow or mortgage any money. All in answers to prayer. Where many churches have had to go to the bank manager to get money to improve their buildings - all we’ve had to do is take our needs to God - Awesome That’s over £500 000 - and all provided.
What did we read happened at Pentecost? Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. That’s the power of the Holy Spirit and we today have seen His mighty power at work within and through us.
I believe that God is still the same today and that if we are obedient to Him, read and put His word into practice, Pray and read our bible as we said last week - seek |Gods plans for our fellowship then I believe we will have a revival. Gods ready - all we have to be is available.
Just look at the response of the new spirit filled believers at Pentecost; V 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. How important that is that we as a fellowship are a together people - no division - together. The very first verse of chapter 2 that preceeds the coming of the Holy Spirit on the disciples and enabled them to do what happened at Pentecost tells us that when the day of Pentecost came they were all together in one place.
I believe that that was not just a physical togetherness but a Spiritual togetherness. It was not just where they were physically but where they were spiritually - a together people. And here we have it again; v 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.
In other words, they shared what they had - and Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. Every day - Wow They shared meals together broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, and in all that praised God and enjoyed the favour of all the people.
Together - how important that is for His church today - it’s the devil who instigates and loves division in the church - when there is division in a church, that church will not grow. And we can see this happening in many places.
Paul wrote many times to the church at Corinth about the dangers of division in the church; 1 Corinthians 1;10 I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought
And again in Romans 16;17 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. O how we need to be a together people
The Acts 2 Church was made up of people who cared about one another - a people who were prepared to give whatever was needed to help one another - that’s real church - real love. Togethernes -.and as a result of their togetherness with God and one another the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
Lets close with the same verses we closed with last Sunday - Pauls letter to the Church at Ephesus Ephesians 3; 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
And listen to this - Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
His power within us - WOW! I believe that power is available for Gods people to receive today to help us accomplish all that God wants to do in these last days.
There’s a lovely song that we sing in church written in 1977 by Bob Gilman called Bind us together Lord
Bind us together Lord, bind us together
With chords that cannot be broken
Bind us together Lord bind us together,
Bind us together with Lore.
There is only one God -there is only one King
There is only one Body, that is why we sing
Made for the Glory of God
Purchased by His precious Son
Born with the right to be clean
For Jesus the victory has won
You are the family of God
You are the promise divine
You are God’s chosen desire
You are the glorious new wine
Bind us together Bind us together
With chords that cannot be broken
Bind us together Lord bind us together,
Bind us together with Love
Lets pray that He will do that in us and in our fellowships.
And if you don’t belong to a fellowship then you are welcome to join with us when this lock down is over
Message for Pentecost 2020 This can also be seen on Youtube under Billy Cowgill
The birthday of the church - I closed last week by saying; Next week could - for each one of us - and the church worldwide - could be the new beginning of Gods plan and purpose for His people to become Christlike and take the message to the world that God is giving them what could be their last chance to repent, say sorry for what they acknowledge to be the wrong things in their lives and ask God to forgive them - accept the truth that Jesus died on the cross to bring forgiveness to those who aknowledge their sin and to receive that forgiveness that will enable them to escape the judgement and be welcomed into the Fathers Kingdom.
I believe that God is calling us all - part of His church - to put the past behind us and be born again - to be Filled with His Holy Spirit that will enable them to again mirror the events of Acts 2 and get back into line with Gods plans for His people and Church.
I look forward to next week when we can meet together - in Spirit - and experience the awesomness of what Pentecost is all about - until then - take care - keep praying and reading Gods word and WOW! be prepared to be empowered by God’s Holy Spirit as the disciples were.
Well - here we are - todays the day - for months before this aweful Corona pandemic came upon us - I have been saying that we as Gods people and the Church worldwide today need to get our AC2gether - stressing that the church has gone a long way from what I believe God intended it to be - a fellowship of believers who as we see in the book of Acts have been empowered by the Spirit to become more like Jesus.
One with God and one another - Infilled with the Holy Spirit of God that would enable them to accomplish what God wants His people to do which is to live the Word - let the Word of God become flesh in us and in that way, spread the good news of forgiveness and reconciliation - and build His church.
As I look back at what I’ve been saying over the months before the March shutdown
I really believe that God has been urging me to share with everyone that God wants His Church to Get it’s ACT2gether" and what He has been saying to us was a prelude to what we’ve been experiencing these last three months. The more I think about it -
The more I am overwhelmed and amazed.
Looking back to when I was a young lad growing up in the Salvation Army I remember the awesome times that we shared along with all the other churches in Idle in the celebration of Pentecost - or Whitsuntide as it was called in those days. Whitsuntide when all the churches in Idle met on the green and held a united service - thousands were there - I have a picture on display in the hall today of the Telegraph report for Pentecost which states that over 3000 people gathered on Idle green to celebrate Whitsuntide.
All the Sunday schools of all the churches were sat on seats aboard a finely dressed wagon - some pulled by a horse suitably attired with bows and ribbons and following the Service we would enjoy a short trip around the village before going back to our respective churches for a picnic.On Whit Monday we went on a Whit Monday walk, down Ainsbury Avenue and along the canal to Shipley Glen - quite a walk. Our parents even saved their clothing coupons and bought us new clothes for Whit - it was a really special family and Church time.
The last time the United meeting on the green at Pentecost was recorded in our History book was June 10 1983 - 37 years ago - and then nothing until 1991 when instead we went to the Holy Trinity Church for a United Pentecostal Day Meeting. What happened and more importantly, what happens today?
I was saddened last year when I checked at how the different churches in Idle and Bradford had celebrated Pentecost to find that not all of them had even mentioned Pentecost. Even the country we live in has changed the Christian Holy-days not only have the re-named them Bank holidays -by taking the Y ‘Yahweh - God’ out of the name and replacing it with the selfish ‘I’ but moved them to the week before our Christian festivals. Last Monday was the holiday - seven days before the Holy day.. As I’ve been saying for a long time - today the Church needs to take a good look at the way it is heading and do something about it - for if they don’t then God will and I believe is doing.
Today many top leaders in the church are doing exactly what the Bible foretells they will do - changing the gospel - or ‘bringing it up to date’ they would say to fit the world in which we live. The church - which should be the living body of Christ in the world today - is becoming more like the world instead of it being the other way round and the World becoming more Christ like.
That’s the downside of what Church should be in todays world. Lets look at what Luke tells us happened at Pentecost - Shavuot -- the 50 days following the death and ressurection of our Saviour Jesus. The day when the promised Holy Spirit was given.The Ruach HaKodesh - Holy Spirit.
Acts 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. They - probably meaning the 12 disciples and maybe also the 120 mentioned earlier in Chapter 1. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. . They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them Peter and the other disciples are now filled with the Holy Spirit - empowered by God then look at what happenned
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Peter then - having been appointed by Jesus following his denials and forgiveness Peter is now empowered by the Holy Spirit and starts to tell them some home truths as to what happened 50 days ago when they crucified Jesus. He again quotes from the prophets of their own scriptures who prophesy about the coming Messiah - whom they have not recognised as being Jesus.
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.
Peter then shares more of what the prophet David said about Jesus- emphasising the fact that all that happened to Jesus was all prophesied years ago .
V 31 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
WOW! Here they are - an awesome crowd who had heard the sound of the mighty wind and in their curiosity crowded round the disciples to try find out what it was all about. Peter then tells them
34; For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
WOW! Peter - now empowered by God preaches sermon that resulted in those that heard him accepted the message about Jesus being their Messiah, and repenting of their sins, were forgiven and filled with the Holy Spirit themselves - 3000 WOW!
That’s what it used to be like in our Sunday evening meeting that was called the Salvation Meeting Salvation Meeting when I was a lad - the Gospel, was preached and people convicted of their sins came and knelt at the penitent form and were saved.
I believe that God wants His churches to get back to that.
I wonder how all this effects you when you read about Pentecost and the way in which God birthed His church when the fire of the Holy Spirit set them ablaze.
I look back to the time when I became a young soldier in the Idle Corps when I was 7. When I was 14 I was enrolled as a senior soldier and promised to pray and to read my bible - looking back - I remember attending the various meetings where we learned from the bible - Sunday School and later corps cadets - I can’t remember reading my bible at home or indeed spending time in prayer at home. At home we said grace before our meals but that was it.
I grew up in our Church and following Nellie Oates became the leader of the singing Company - a young choir - then Songster Leader - the older choir, Youth club leader then bandmaster - I played an active role in the Corps and thought I was OK and doing what the Lord wanted me to do. I met and married Beryl and settled down in Thackley. I thought everything was OK as far as my spiritual life was concerned until God started to tell me different and start to change my life dramatically.
It was 1971 when I was diagnosed with a serious kidney complaint that needed an operation. The doctors said that it was over 30 years since they had done this operation. I had the operation and was taken back to the ward. Over the next few days my kidney refused to respond and I was attached to a pump that filtered my kidneys. It was very noisy and disturbed the whole ward.
A week later it was decided that the kidney wasn’t going to function and it was decided to take me down again for another operation. They put a 'nil orally' sign above my bed, placed a white gown on the bedside table all ready for me to go down the following morning. That evening, when Beryl came and asked me if I had prayed about it to which I replied ’ What’s the point, there’s no one listening to me out there’.
Shortly after that, the new Salvation Army officers who had just been appointed to be the ministers at our Church, Lieutenants David and Dorothy Murden came to see me and asked if they could lay hands on me and pray for Gods healing. I said ’yes’ and that’s what they did. I was not prepared for what would happen next which was to change my life completely.
The next morning I awoke to an eerie silence in the ward - the pump had been switched off and removed during the night. The white gown and the 'nil orally' sign had been taken down. I asked what was going on and was told that much to their surprise, my kidney had started to work during the night and so they had turned the pump off as I didn’t need the operation.
Wow! Instead of feeling elated I felt ashamed of myself and cried out to God to forgive me. I realised then that I didn't know God as much as I thought I did. I was a kind of 'veneer Christian' that once you pierced the surface and got down into the real me I wasn't all that I appeared to be. I was not only fooling the world but myself as well.
A few weeks later I was allowed home and when I was fit enough went to the hall every night, knelt at the mercy seat and cried out to God -’Father I want to know You like David and Dorothy know You’ - the same prayer that years later I realised Paul in his letter to the Philippians church had cried out to God - ‘I want to know Christ‘.
( Philippians 3;10)
It had taken a serious operation to show me that I didn’t really know God as He wanted me to know Him. I had just been going along with the crowds. What happened next was to change my life completely. As I knelt there, I felt the awesome presence of the Holy Spirit and my life was filled with light - I stood up - danced all the way home. From that moment on I wanted to get to really know Jesus and seek His direction for my life. This was in the early 70’s when God was moving in a powerful way in His church and I was greatly inspired by the work of the Fountain Trust led by Rev Michael Harper and subscribed to their magazine 'Renewal'.
I remember going to a mid-week prayer meeting at St Mathias Church in Armley Road Leeds led by Rev Harry Cooke. During the prayer time a lady prayed in tongues and I heard it all in plain English - just like the crowds in Acts 2. I said to the Lord ‘not me Lord - I daren’t stand up and give the interpretation - what if I’m imagining it all’ and I sat there for what seemed a long time until another person stood and gave the interpretation which was the same that I had heard in my own language. I knew then that what God had done in my life was real and that what He was doing that evening was confirming it. That was the turning point in my life.
In one of my previous messages I told you what happened next that led me to resigning as bandmaster and sit with the rest of the congregation - as I sat there, God led me to read Jeremiah 29 which said that He was taking me out but one day would bring me back ‘I know the plans I have for you they are for good‘- I didn’t understand what it was all about - but that’s exactly what happened.
We were now in the 80;s when I started a New Life fellowship using a hall on the outskirts of Thorpe Edge. It became a meeting place for other people whom God had called out of their different churches to come together with like minded Christians who were open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives. People from the Holy Trinity Idle, The Baptist Church in Undercliffe, the Salvation Army in Holmewood and a few others.
About a couple of years later - what I now realise was the second part of Gods plan started to take effect - I found myself in hospital again - just for a short time this time after which some of us were led back to the Idle Salvation Army which by now only had a few people attending. I remembered the bible reading God had given me from Jeremiah - it would seem that now was the time for Him to bring us back to the Salvation Army only this time there were more of us.
In May 1995 God called Beryl and I to become Divisional Envoys and in June were appointed as officers of Idle Corps.
As I read Acts 2, it all comes flooding back - the awesome memories of the time that God filled me with His Holy Spirit and my life changed so dramatically - before - I thought I knew God and was doing what He wanted me to do - thankfully God showed me the truth and ACTS2 became a living reality in my life.
I believe that what we are celebrating today is Gods reminder to His church of all that He wants to do in the life of His Church today. Over the last few months, we have been called out of our respective places of worship and placed in a position where we have been able to take time to take an honest look at our relationship with God and one another - I firmly believe that God in these last days is calling His church back into relationship with Him and one another to enable us to move on in the next step which will be the restoration and renewal of His Church
Make no mistake - these are serious times - Jesus is getting ready to come back again and gather all those who He sees to be the living - active body of Christ - His Church - in the world today to live in harmony and peace with Him and one another.
I just pray that today as the message of Pentecost is preached that the church - and that includes you and I - will respond and if needs be repent so that as Gods forgiven renewed followers He can empower us all with His Holy Spirit to work with us to bring the truth of Gods word to our families, friends , neighbours - and in fact anyone He calls us to get alongside - A time for His church to get our ACT2gether.
Listen to the words Paul the converted Jew to the church at Ephesus telling them that the Messiah came for them - the Gentiles too
Ephesians 3; 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
And listen to this - Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
His power within us - WOW! Today's the day for Gods people to receive that power that will work within us to accomplish all that God wants to do in these last days.
In the last few moments of this time together I am going to pray that God will once again release His Holy Spirit to come and reside within each one of those who are ready and eager to avail themselves to Almighty God and receive the power that will transform not only us but the fellowship we belong to.
I believe that the same mighty power that came at Pentecost is waiting to be poured on His church - you and me - today - now - this morning.
The Holy Spirit that transformed Peter and the other disciples and empowered them to win 3000 converts is the same mighty power that filled Samuel Logan Brengle as he walked across the London Common, the same mighty power that filled Gypsy Smith to become a Salvation Army evangelist, the same mighty power that filled Smith Wigglesworth to open the powerful church in Manning ham - the same mighty power that I believe transformed my life is available today - ready and waiting to fill and empower each one of you who are watching this video - lets believe that as we pray.
We then closed with the song that our founder William Booth wrote that says ’ Look down and see this waiting host - give us the promised Holy Ghost - we want another Pentecost - Send the fire today
Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame, Send the fire!
Thy blood-bought gift today we claim, Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host, Give us the promised Holy Ghost,
We want another Pentecost, Send the fire!
God of Elijah, hear our cry: Send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die, Send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin, To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin, Send the fire!
‘Tis fire we want, for fire we plead, Send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need, Send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right, For grace to conquer in the fight,
For power to walk the world in white, Send the fire!
To make our weak hearts strong and brave, Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save, Send the fire!
O see us on thy altar lay Our lives, our all, this very day,
To crown the offering now we pray, Send the fire!
I then prayed a prayer that invited those who felt they had let God down to repent and ask forgiveness - we then prayed for those knew that they had just been going along with the crowd in their Christian lives to be filled with the Holy Spirit - the prayers of Passover -Repent, be washed in the blood of Jesus and be baptised in the Holy Spirit. = AMEN
The birthday of the church - I closed last week by saying; Next week could - for each one of us - and the church worldwide - could be the new beginning of Gods plan and purpose for His people to become Christlike and take the message to the world that God is giving them what could be their last chance to repent, say sorry for what they acknowledge to be the wrong things in their lives and ask God to forgive them - accept the truth that Jesus died on the cross to bring forgiveness to those who aknowledge their sin and to receive that forgiveness that will enable them to escape the judgement and be welcomed into the Fathers Kingdom.
I believe that God is calling us all - part of His church - to put the past behind us and be born again - to be Filled with His Holy Spirit that will enable them to again mirror the events of Acts 2 and get back into line with Gods plans for His people and Church.
I look forward to next week when we can meet together - in Spirit - and experience the awesomness of what Pentecost is all about - until then - take care - keep praying and reading Gods word and WOW! be prepared to be empowered by God’s Holy Spirit as the disciples were.
Well - here we are - todays the day - for months before this aweful Corona pandemic came upon us - I have been saying that we as Gods people and the Church worldwide today need to get our AC2gether - stressing that the church has gone a long way from what I believe God intended it to be - a fellowship of believers who as we see in the book of Acts have been empowered by the Spirit to become more like Jesus.
One with God and one another - Infilled with the Holy Spirit of God that would enable them to accomplish what God wants His people to do which is to live the Word - let the Word of God become flesh in us and in that way, spread the good news of forgiveness and reconciliation - and build His church.
As I look back at what I’ve been saying over the months before the March shutdown
I really believe that God has been urging me to share with everyone that God wants His Church to Get it’s ACT2gether" and what He has been saying to us was a prelude to what we’ve been experiencing these last three months. The more I think about it -
The more I am overwhelmed and amazed.
Looking back to when I was a young lad growing up in the Salvation Army I remember the awesome times that we shared along with all the other churches in Idle in the celebration of Pentecost - or Whitsuntide as it was called in those days. Whitsuntide when all the churches in Idle met on the green and held a united service - thousands were there - I have a picture on display in the hall today of the Telegraph report for Pentecost which states that over 3000 people gathered on Idle green to celebrate Whitsuntide.
All the Sunday schools of all the churches were sat on seats aboard a finely dressed wagon - some pulled by a horse suitably attired with bows and ribbons and following the Service we would enjoy a short trip around the village before going back to our respective churches for a picnic.On Whit Monday we went on a Whit Monday walk, down Ainsbury Avenue and along the canal to Shipley Glen - quite a walk. Our parents even saved their clothing coupons and bought us new clothes for Whit - it was a really special family and Church time.
The last time the United meeting on the green at Pentecost was recorded in our History book was June 10 1983 - 37 years ago - and then nothing until 1991 when instead we went to the Holy Trinity Church for a United Pentecostal Day Meeting. What happened and more importantly, what happens today?
I was saddened last year when I checked at how the different churches in Idle and Bradford had celebrated Pentecost to find that not all of them had even mentioned Pentecost. Even the country we live in has changed the Christian Holy-days not only have the re-named them Bank holidays -by taking the Y ‘Yahweh - God’ out of the name and replacing it with the selfish ‘I’ but moved them to the week before our Christian festivals. Last Monday was the holiday - seven days before the Holy day.. As I’ve been saying for a long time - today the Church needs to take a good look at the way it is heading and do something about it - for if they don’t then God will and I believe is doing.
Today many top leaders in the church are doing exactly what the Bible foretells they will do - changing the gospel - or ‘bringing it up to date’ they would say to fit the world in which we live. The church - which should be the living body of Christ in the world today - is becoming more like the world instead of it being the other way round and the World becoming more Christ like.
That’s the downside of what Church should be in todays world. Lets look at what Luke tells us happened at Pentecost - Shavuot -- the 50 days following the death and ressurection of our Saviour Jesus. The day when the promised Holy Spirit was given.The Ruach HaKodesh - Holy Spirit.
Acts 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. They - probably meaning the 12 disciples and maybe also the 120 mentioned earlier in Chapter 1. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. . They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them Peter and the other disciples are now filled with the Holy Spirit - empowered by God then look at what happenned
5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken.
Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.”
Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My servants, both men and women, I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’
Peter then - having been appointed by Jesus following his denials and forgiveness Peter is now empowered by the Holy Spirit and starts to tell them some home truths as to what happened 50 days ago when they crucified Jesus. He again quotes from the prophets of their own scriptures who prophesy about the coming Messiah - whom they have not recognised as being Jesus.
“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.
Peter then shares more of what the prophet David said about Jesus- emphasising the fact that all that happened to Jesus was all prophesied years ago .
V 31 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear.
WOW! Here they are - an awesome crowd who had heard the sound of the mighty wind and in their curiosity crowded round the disciples to try find out what it was all about. Peter then tells them
34; For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,“‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
WOW! Peter - now empowered by God preaches sermon that resulted in those that heard him accepted the message about Jesus being their Messiah, and repenting of their sins, were forgiven and filled with the Holy Spirit themselves - 3000 WOW!
That’s what it used to be like in our Sunday evening meeting that was called the Salvation Meeting Salvation Meeting when I was a lad - the Gospel, was preached and people convicted of their sins came and knelt at the penitent form and were saved.
I believe that God wants His churches to get back to that.
I wonder how all this effects you when you read about Pentecost and the way in which God birthed His church when the fire of the Holy Spirit set them ablaze.
I look back to the time when I became a young soldier in the Idle Corps when I was 7. When I was 14 I was enrolled as a senior soldier and promised to pray and to read my bible - looking back - I remember attending the various meetings where we learned from the bible - Sunday School and later corps cadets - I can’t remember reading my bible at home or indeed spending time in prayer at home. At home we said grace before our meals but that was it.
I grew up in our Church and following Nellie Oates became the leader of the singing Company - a young choir - then Songster Leader - the older choir, Youth club leader then bandmaster - I played an active role in the Corps and thought I was OK and doing what the Lord wanted me to do. I met and married Beryl and settled down in Thackley. I thought everything was OK as far as my spiritual life was concerned until God started to tell me different and start to change my life dramatically.
It was 1971 when I was diagnosed with a serious kidney complaint that needed an operation. The doctors said that it was over 30 years since they had done this operation. I had the operation and was taken back to the ward. Over the next few days my kidney refused to respond and I was attached to a pump that filtered my kidneys. It was very noisy and disturbed the whole ward.
A week later it was decided that the kidney wasn’t going to function and it was decided to take me down again for another operation. They put a 'nil orally' sign above my bed, placed a white gown on the bedside table all ready for me to go down the following morning. That evening, when Beryl came and asked me if I had prayed about it to which I replied ’ What’s the point, there’s no one listening to me out there’.
Shortly after that, the new Salvation Army officers who had just been appointed to be the ministers at our Church, Lieutenants David and Dorothy Murden came to see me and asked if they could lay hands on me and pray for Gods healing. I said ’yes’ and that’s what they did. I was not prepared for what would happen next which was to change my life completely.
The next morning I awoke to an eerie silence in the ward - the pump had been switched off and removed during the night. The white gown and the 'nil orally' sign had been taken down. I asked what was going on and was told that much to their surprise, my kidney had started to work during the night and so they had turned the pump off as I didn’t need the operation.
Wow! Instead of feeling elated I felt ashamed of myself and cried out to God to forgive me. I realised then that I didn't know God as much as I thought I did. I was a kind of 'veneer Christian' that once you pierced the surface and got down into the real me I wasn't all that I appeared to be. I was not only fooling the world but myself as well.
A few weeks later I was allowed home and when I was fit enough went to the hall every night, knelt at the mercy seat and cried out to God -’Father I want to know You like David and Dorothy know You’ - the same prayer that years later I realised Paul in his letter to the Philippians church had cried out to God - ‘I want to know Christ‘.
( Philippians 3;10)
It had taken a serious operation to show me that I didn’t really know God as He wanted me to know Him. I had just been going along with the crowds. What happened next was to change my life completely. As I knelt there, I felt the awesome presence of the Holy Spirit and my life was filled with light - I stood up - danced all the way home. From that moment on I wanted to get to really know Jesus and seek His direction for my life. This was in the early 70’s when God was moving in a powerful way in His church and I was greatly inspired by the work of the Fountain Trust led by Rev Michael Harper and subscribed to their magazine 'Renewal'.
I remember going to a mid-week prayer meeting at St Mathias Church in Armley Road Leeds led by Rev Harry Cooke. During the prayer time a lady prayed in tongues and I heard it all in plain English - just like the crowds in Acts 2. I said to the Lord ‘not me Lord - I daren’t stand up and give the interpretation - what if I’m imagining it all’ and I sat there for what seemed a long time until another person stood and gave the interpretation which was the same that I had heard in my own language. I knew then that what God had done in my life was real and that what He was doing that evening was confirming it. That was the turning point in my life.
In one of my previous messages I told you what happened next that led me to resigning as bandmaster and sit with the rest of the congregation - as I sat there, God led me to read Jeremiah 29 which said that He was taking me out but one day would bring me back ‘I know the plans I have for you they are for good‘- I didn’t understand what it was all about - but that’s exactly what happened.
We were now in the 80;s when I started a New Life fellowship using a hall on the outskirts of Thorpe Edge. It became a meeting place for other people whom God had called out of their different churches to come together with like minded Christians who were open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives. People from the Holy Trinity Idle, The Baptist Church in Undercliffe, the Salvation Army in Holmewood and a few others.
About a couple of years later - what I now realise was the second part of Gods plan started to take effect - I found myself in hospital again - just for a short time this time after which some of us were led back to the Idle Salvation Army which by now only had a few people attending. I remembered the bible reading God had given me from Jeremiah - it would seem that now was the time for Him to bring us back to the Salvation Army only this time there were more of us.
In May 1995 God called Beryl and I to become Divisional Envoys and in June were appointed as officers of Idle Corps.
As I read Acts 2, it all comes flooding back - the awesome memories of the time that God filled me with His Holy Spirit and my life changed so dramatically - before - I thought I knew God and was doing what He wanted me to do - thankfully God showed me the truth and ACTS2 became a living reality in my life.
I believe that what we are celebrating today is Gods reminder to His church of all that He wants to do in the life of His Church today. Over the last few months, we have been called out of our respective places of worship and placed in a position where we have been able to take time to take an honest look at our relationship with God and one another - I firmly believe that God in these last days is calling His church back into relationship with Him and one another to enable us to move on in the next step which will be the restoration and renewal of His Church
Make no mistake - these are serious times - Jesus is getting ready to come back again and gather all those who He sees to be the living - active body of Christ - His Church - in the world today to live in harmony and peace with Him and one another.
I just pray that today as the message of Pentecost is preached that the church - and that includes you and I - will respond and if needs be repent so that as Gods forgiven renewed followers He can empower us all with His Holy Spirit to work with us to bring the truth of Gods word to our families, friends , neighbours - and in fact anyone He calls us to get alongside - A time for His church to get our ACT2gether.
Listen to the words Paul the converted Jew to the church at Ephesus telling them that the Messiah came for them - the Gentiles too
Ephesians 3; 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
And listen to this - Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
His power within us - WOW! Today's the day for Gods people to receive that power that will work within us to accomplish all that God wants to do in these last days.
In the last few moments of this time together I am going to pray that God will once again release His Holy Spirit to come and reside within each one of those who are ready and eager to avail themselves to Almighty God and receive the power that will transform not only us but the fellowship we belong to.
I believe that the same mighty power that came at Pentecost is waiting to be poured on His church - you and me - today - now - this morning.
The Holy Spirit that transformed Peter and the other disciples and empowered them to win 3000 converts is the same mighty power that filled Samuel Logan Brengle as he walked across the London Common, the same mighty power that filled Gypsy Smith to become a Salvation Army evangelist, the same mighty power that filled Smith Wigglesworth to open the powerful church in Manning ham - the same mighty power that I believe transformed my life is available today - ready and waiting to fill and empower each one of you who are watching this video - lets believe that as we pray.
We then closed with the song that our founder William Booth wrote that says ’ Look down and see this waiting host - give us the promised Holy Ghost - we want another Pentecost - Send the fire today
Thou Christ of burning, cleansing flame, Send the fire!
Thy blood-bought gift today we claim, Send the fire!
Look down and see this waiting host, Give us the promised Holy Ghost,
We want another Pentecost, Send the fire!
God of Elijah, hear our cry: Send the fire!
To make us fit to live or die, Send the fire!
To burn up every trace of sin, To bring the light and glory in,
The revolution now begin, Send the fire!
‘Tis fire we want, for fire we plead, Send the fire!
The fire will meet our every need, Send the fire!
For strength to ever do the right, For grace to conquer in the fight,
For power to walk the world in white, Send the fire!
To make our weak hearts strong and brave, Send the fire!
To live a dying world to save, Send the fire!
O see us on thy altar lay Our lives, our all, this very day,
To crown the offering now we pray, Send the fire!
I then prayed a prayer that invited those who felt they had let God down to repent and ask forgiveness - we then prayed for those knew that they had just been going along with the crowd in their Christian lives to be filled with the Holy Spirit - the prayers of Passover -Repent, be washed in the blood of Jesus and be baptised in the Holy Spirit. = AMEN
Message for Sunday 24 May 2020
Here we are just a week away from I see as the most exciting account of the birth of the Christian Church - Pentecost - when God enabled His disciples to continue the work that Jesus had begun by empowering them with His Holy Spirit - just as God had done with Jesus before He started His ministry. John Baptised Jesus in the water but then God baptised Him with the Holy Spirit.
That’s what we will be looking at next Sunday - this week we are going to look at the last recorded event in the life of the disciples following the ascension of Jesus at the Mount of Olives that we looked at on Thursday.
Lets read from Acts 1;12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city
I was curious as to what the distance was between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem and what would be expected to make a Sabbath days distance - bearing in mind that they were restricted as to how far they should walk on the Sabbath. As far as I can make out it’s about 4.5 kilometres which is about 2. 6 Miles and would take over an hour to walk. The first 20 minutes is quite steep -downhill -from the top of the mount
I’ve been doing a lot of walking since this shutdown started - I must admit that I’ve enjoyed every minute of it - even though some of it was up quite steep grassland. I’ve been walking about 4 miles every day and taking on average about 2 and a half hours.
On Thursday for the first time, my daughter Catherine, her husband Tony and daughter Bethany called and asked me it I would like to go with them on a short walk. I said yes - kept my distance of course - and we set off to walk up to the Idle Moor Wrose Cliffe Grove pathway - it was rather steep for them all so we took the path through the woods and down the Catstone steps and then a cross country path over to Westroyd - it took us about 1 and a half hours to cover roughly about 2 miles - about the same distance the disciples walked from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem.
When they arrived in Jerusalem they went upstairs to the room where they were staying and if they were anything like us they would be tired and in need of a drink.. Luke tells us that there was Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the zealot and Judas ( son of James) also Jesus’s mother Mary and His brothers plus other women.
All the Eleven disciples. Peter is now taking a lead and establishing himself as their spokeman following him being commission by Jesus to take care of the flock- after Jesus forgave him for his three denials. So Luke affirms this when he tells us that in those days Peter stood up amongst the believers who by now totalled over 120 and I guess spoke with his new God given authority.
Peter started by reminding them about Judas, one of their own group who betrayed Jesus and with the money he got for betraying Jesus bought a field where he killed himself. Peter then quoted scripture = Psalm 69;25 that said this place would be deserted with no-one to live in it. And then Psalm 109;8 that talked about replacing Judas to bring the number of disciples back up to twelve. ‘May another take his place of leadership’. So the next step was to bring their number back up to twelve .
As I read what Peter had said I thought there was a slight contradiction here between Peter’s account of what happened following the betrayal of Judas and how Matthew explains it. . On one hand Peter tells them that With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; where he then killed himself. Slightly different from Matthews account.
Matthew ch 27 v 3 tells us that when Judas saw that Jesus was condemned to death was filled with remorse and tried to give the thirty pieces of silver back saying ‘I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood’ ‘What’s that to us’ said the chief priests ‘ that’s your responsibility’. Hearing that Judas threw the money into the Temple and went away and hanged himself.
Matthew then tells us that the chief priests picked up the coins and said ‘it’s against the law for us to put this money into the treasury since it is blood money’ so they decided to use the money to buy the potters field as a burial place for foreigners and that’s why it is has been called the field of blood to this day. Matthew even goes to substantiate this by reminding us that this fulfils the prophesy of Jeremiah.
Slight differencies which scholars today say is not really a contradiction -for in reality whoever purchased the field paid for it with the money Judas had recieved for betraying Jesus so regardless of whoever handed over the money -it was Judas’s money.
Either way - what Peter is leading up to say is that Judas was one of the twelve and so they needed to make their number up again and choose someone to take his place and proposed two of the men who had been with them from the beginning of Jesus’s ministry - Barnabbas and Matthias. - how did they decide which one it would be? They prayed about it asking God to reveal to them who He would choose to fill the gap. They then cast lots to see who it was.
This is not a gamble like today - there was no money to be won -casting lots then was a way of finding out what Gods intentions will was following prayer and this is the last time scripture talks about the use of casting lots to make decisions.
Prayer the only way to keep in touch with God and make sure that what we do is in response to His leading. I just hope that over the last few weeks of seperation from one another - Gods people have turned their attention to God in prayer and in that way have found His presence to be such a comfort and blessing. Untied from the activities of the world and united with our Father.
You know I like playing with words -well the truth is that its where we place the ‘I’ in the word ‘UNTIED’ that makes all the difference. I believe that over the last few weeks God has been showing the church that over the years they have moved away from being the Fellowship that God intended His church to be - as seen in Acts 2- and become more worldly. UNTIED and that He is using this lockdown to get His people, the church back to prayer and the reading of His word - to get His people back and UNITED with Himself to enable then to move forward to accomplish all that He intends His Church to do which is to get back to full strength and empower and equip us to do all that He has in store for His church in these last days.
It’s where we place the ‘I’ that you and me - where we are at this moment in time. Untied or United
That why Peter following the trauma of the last few weeks that He and the disciples had been through - why Peter saw the need to get back to full strength - 12 disciples as they were before Jesus was crucified - in readiness for the next step in Gods unfolding plan - the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the new birth of the Christian Church.
Looking at the church today I would think that when all this trouble of the lockdown is over and we can start getting back to meeting again and look at the next phase of our Christian Journey we will need to make sure we get back to full strength - make sure everyone is ready to move forward and begin the exciting task of strengthening our fellowships and being obedient to how God wants to build His church.
I believe that we will have all learned different lessons since we last met in March and if we have learned anything from our experience it will serve to strengthen us in our resolve to live in obedience to Gods will for our lives and the life of His church. We will come through it stronger than we were when it all began On Thursday we looked at how Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the empowering of the Holy Spirit cane to start them on the next important phase of their Christian Journey which was to build His church.
Wait was the instruction - and I believe that that’s what they did when they got back to Jerusalem- as they waited verse 14 tells us that they all joined together constantly in Prayer - all of them - the disciples and probably their wives, as we know, Peter was married for as Mark tells us it was Peter’s mother-In-law that Jesus healed of a fever, The others who were there were Mary the mother of Jesus together with the brothers of Jesus - Quite a crowd and as we said - they all joined together constantly in prayer.
That was how they spent their waiting time - in prayer. That’s why in my message on Thursday, three days ago, I suggested we should be doing - in the ten days that lead to Pentecost - the outpouring of the Holy Spirit - the birth of the Church.
The disciples were ready and eagerly waiting for Gods promise. They had spent most of their waiting time in prayer and were now back up to strength as far as their numbers were concerned - they were READY - WILLING and waiting on the Lords empowering that would make them ABLE to move forward, make disciples and build the church.
The first verse of the next chapter of Acts which we shall be looking at next week says it all - when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together - united - to receive from God and move forward in victory and power. United with God - Infilled with the Holy Spirit of God that wuld enable the, to accomplish what God wants His people to do which is to spread the good news of forgiveness and reconciliation - and to build His church - and - as I’ve been saying all this year enable her to Get her ACT2gether”
That’s what Acts2 is all about and I’m so looking forward to Next week - Pentecost Sunday - I pray that even though we are still apart UNTIED at the moment that we will all seek and feel the indwelling awesome presence of God as we are re-UNITED through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
I believe that Pentecost can be a special time for us all to realise that God is not just with us but within us and that there is a future in store for our fellowship and the churches around us to move forward and start a new chapter. Until next week I pray that we, - like the disciples, will spend our waiting time in prayer as v14 of our bible reading tells us the disciples did -
I pray that in our prayer times we will ask God to help us see where we are at spiritually and if needs be take whatever steps we need to, to make sure that we are ready - and willing to move forward and seek the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to get our ACT2 gether
Next week could - for each one of us - and the church worldwide - the new beginning of Gods plan and purpose for His people to become Christlike and take the message to the world that God is giving them what could be their last chance to repent, say sorry for what they accnowledge to be the wrong things in their lives and ask God to forgive them - accept the truth that Jesus died on the cross to bring forgiveness to those who acnowledge their sin and to receive that forgiveness that will enable them to escape the judgement and be welcomed into the Fathers Kingdom.
I believe that God is calling us all - part of His church - to put the past behind us and be born again - to be Filled with His Holy Spirit that will enable them to again mirror the events of Acts 2 and get back into line with Gods plans for His people and Church.
I look forward to next week when we can meet together - in Spirit - and experience the awesomness of what Pentecost is all about - until then - take care - keep praying and reading Gods word and WOW! be prepared to be empowered by God’s Holy Spirit as the disciples were.
The song I put on my video was ‘Let’s have a revival’ sung by the Hemphills https://youtu.be/7X2GfBcrxmM
Here we are just a week away from I see as the most exciting account of the birth of the Christian Church - Pentecost - when God enabled His disciples to continue the work that Jesus had begun by empowering them with His Holy Spirit - just as God had done with Jesus before He started His ministry. John Baptised Jesus in the water but then God baptised Him with the Holy Spirit.
That’s what we will be looking at next Sunday - this week we are going to look at the last recorded event in the life of the disciples following the ascension of Jesus at the Mount of Olives that we looked at on Thursday.
Lets read from Acts 1;12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, “Brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. He was one of our number and shared in our ministry.”(With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)“For,” said Peter, “it is written in the Book of Psalms: “‘May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,’and, “‘May another take his place of leadership.’
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, beginning from John’s baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, “Lord, you know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs.” Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city
I was curious as to what the distance was between the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem and what would be expected to make a Sabbath days distance - bearing in mind that they were restricted as to how far they should walk on the Sabbath. As far as I can make out it’s about 4.5 kilometres which is about 2. 6 Miles and would take over an hour to walk. The first 20 minutes is quite steep -downhill -from the top of the mount
I’ve been doing a lot of walking since this shutdown started - I must admit that I’ve enjoyed every minute of it - even though some of it was up quite steep grassland. I’ve been walking about 4 miles every day and taking on average about 2 and a half hours.
On Thursday for the first time, my daughter Catherine, her husband Tony and daughter Bethany called and asked me it I would like to go with them on a short walk. I said yes - kept my distance of course - and we set off to walk up to the Idle Moor Wrose Cliffe Grove pathway - it was rather steep for them all so we took the path through the woods and down the Catstone steps and then a cross country path over to Westroyd - it took us about 1 and a half hours to cover roughly about 2 miles - about the same distance the disciples walked from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem.
When they arrived in Jerusalem they went upstairs to the room where they were staying and if they were anything like us they would be tired and in need of a drink.. Luke tells us that there was Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the zealot and Judas ( son of James) also Jesus’s mother Mary and His brothers plus other women.
All the Eleven disciples. Peter is now taking a lead and establishing himself as their spokeman following him being commission by Jesus to take care of the flock- after Jesus forgave him for his three denials. So Luke affirms this when he tells us that in those days Peter stood up amongst the believers who by now totalled over 120 and I guess spoke with his new God given authority.
Peter started by reminding them about Judas, one of their own group who betrayed Jesus and with the money he got for betraying Jesus bought a field where he killed himself. Peter then quoted scripture = Psalm 69;25 that said this place would be deserted with no-one to live in it. And then Psalm 109;8 that talked about replacing Judas to bring the number of disciples back up to twelve. ‘May another take his place of leadership’. So the next step was to bring their number back up to twelve .
As I read what Peter had said I thought there was a slight contradiction here between Peter’s account of what happened following the betrayal of Judas and how Matthew explains it. . On one hand Peter tells them that With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; where he then killed himself. Slightly different from Matthews account.
Matthew ch 27 v 3 tells us that when Judas saw that Jesus was condemned to death was filled with remorse and tried to give the thirty pieces of silver back saying ‘I have sinned for I have betrayed innocent blood’ ‘What’s that to us’ said the chief priests ‘ that’s your responsibility’. Hearing that Judas threw the money into the Temple and went away and hanged himself.
Matthew then tells us that the chief priests picked up the coins and said ‘it’s against the law for us to put this money into the treasury since it is blood money’ so they decided to use the money to buy the potters field as a burial place for foreigners and that’s why it is has been called the field of blood to this day. Matthew even goes to substantiate this by reminding us that this fulfils the prophesy of Jeremiah.
Slight differencies which scholars today say is not really a contradiction -for in reality whoever purchased the field paid for it with the money Judas had recieved for betraying Jesus so regardless of whoever handed over the money -it was Judas’s money.
Either way - what Peter is leading up to say is that Judas was one of the twelve and so they needed to make their number up again and choose someone to take his place and proposed two of the men who had been with them from the beginning of Jesus’s ministry - Barnabbas and Matthias. - how did they decide which one it would be? They prayed about it asking God to reveal to them who He would choose to fill the gap. They then cast lots to see who it was.
This is not a gamble like today - there was no money to be won -casting lots then was a way of finding out what Gods intentions will was following prayer and this is the last time scripture talks about the use of casting lots to make decisions.
Prayer the only way to keep in touch with God and make sure that what we do is in response to His leading. I just hope that over the last few weeks of seperation from one another - Gods people have turned their attention to God in prayer and in that way have found His presence to be such a comfort and blessing. Untied from the activities of the world and united with our Father.
You know I like playing with words -well the truth is that its where we place the ‘I’ in the word ‘UNTIED’ that makes all the difference. I believe that over the last few weeks God has been showing the church that over the years they have moved away from being the Fellowship that God intended His church to be - as seen in Acts 2- and become more worldly. UNTIED and that He is using this lockdown to get His people, the church back to prayer and the reading of His word - to get His people back and UNITED with Himself to enable then to move forward to accomplish all that He intends His Church to do which is to get back to full strength and empower and equip us to do all that He has in store for His church in these last days.
It’s where we place the ‘I’ that you and me - where we are at this moment in time. Untied or United
That why Peter following the trauma of the last few weeks that He and the disciples had been through - why Peter saw the need to get back to full strength - 12 disciples as they were before Jesus was crucified - in readiness for the next step in Gods unfolding plan - the baptism of the Holy Spirit and the new birth of the Christian Church.
Looking at the church today I would think that when all this trouble of the lockdown is over and we can start getting back to meeting again and look at the next phase of our Christian Journey we will need to make sure we get back to full strength - make sure everyone is ready to move forward and begin the exciting task of strengthening our fellowships and being obedient to how God wants to build His church.
I believe that we will have all learned different lessons since we last met in March and if we have learned anything from our experience it will serve to strengthen us in our resolve to live in obedience to Gods will for our lives and the life of His church. We will come through it stronger than we were when it all began On Thursday we looked at how Jesus commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until the empowering of the Holy Spirit cane to start them on the next important phase of their Christian Journey which was to build His church.
Wait was the instruction - and I believe that that’s what they did when they got back to Jerusalem- as they waited verse 14 tells us that they all joined together constantly in Prayer - all of them - the disciples and probably their wives, as we know, Peter was married for as Mark tells us it was Peter’s mother-In-law that Jesus healed of a fever, The others who were there were Mary the mother of Jesus together with the brothers of Jesus - Quite a crowd and as we said - they all joined together constantly in prayer.
That was how they spent their waiting time - in prayer. That’s why in my message on Thursday, three days ago, I suggested we should be doing - in the ten days that lead to Pentecost - the outpouring of the Holy Spirit - the birth of the Church.
The disciples were ready and eagerly waiting for Gods promise. They had spent most of their waiting time in prayer and were now back up to strength as far as their numbers were concerned - they were READY - WILLING and waiting on the Lords empowering that would make them ABLE to move forward, make disciples and build the church.
The first verse of the next chapter of Acts which we shall be looking at next week says it all - when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together - united - to receive from God and move forward in victory and power. United with God - Infilled with the Holy Spirit of God that wuld enable the, to accomplish what God wants His people to do which is to spread the good news of forgiveness and reconciliation - and to build His church - and - as I’ve been saying all this year enable her to Get her ACT2gether”
That’s what Acts2 is all about and I’m so looking forward to Next week - Pentecost Sunday - I pray that even though we are still apart UNTIED at the moment that we will all seek and feel the indwelling awesome presence of God as we are re-UNITED through the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
I believe that Pentecost can be a special time for us all to realise that God is not just with us but within us and that there is a future in store for our fellowship and the churches around us to move forward and start a new chapter. Until next week I pray that we, - like the disciples, will spend our waiting time in prayer as v14 of our bible reading tells us the disciples did -
I pray that in our prayer times we will ask God to help us see where we are at spiritually and if needs be take whatever steps we need to, to make sure that we are ready - and willing to move forward and seek the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to get our ACT2 gether
Next week could - for each one of us - and the church worldwide - the new beginning of Gods plan and purpose for His people to become Christlike and take the message to the world that God is giving them what could be their last chance to repent, say sorry for what they accnowledge to be the wrong things in their lives and ask God to forgive them - accept the truth that Jesus died on the cross to bring forgiveness to those who acnowledge their sin and to receive that forgiveness that will enable them to escape the judgement and be welcomed into the Fathers Kingdom.
I believe that God is calling us all - part of His church - to put the past behind us and be born again - to be Filled with His Holy Spirit that will enable them to again mirror the events of Acts 2 and get back into line with Gods plans for His people and Church.
I look forward to next week when we can meet together - in Spirit - and experience the awesomness of what Pentecost is all about - until then - take care - keep praying and reading Gods word and WOW! be prepared to be empowered by God’s Holy Spirit as the disciples were.
The song I put on my video was ‘Let’s have a revival’ sung by the Hemphills https://youtu.be/7X2GfBcrxmM
.
Message for Ascension Day 21 May
Today is Ascension Day - the day Jesus went back home to be with the Father after three years of sharing Gods love and message of forgiveness and reconciliation for Gods people through the sacrificial love of Jesus dying on the cross as a guilt offering to atone for the sins of the world.
This was the only way that the Jews would understand and accept that their sins could be forgiven by taking a sacrificial lamb to the priests as a guilt offering - which was the only way they would understand they could be forgiven. Jesus became that sacrificial lamb and was sacrificed on the cross for the sins of mankind then and today.
The disciples had had as Luke reminds us, many convincing proofs that Jesus had indeed arisen from the dead and appeared to all of them over the last 40 days and here they were gathered together at the mount of Olives to see the ascension of Jesus. It would have been a time of mixed emotions - Jesus their Lord and Master had been with them for three years - He’s been their teacher, their guide and their inspiration. Now they were to witness His departure - back Home to the Father - how would they cope.
They had been busy for three years doing the Lords work - how would they cope now that He was going. Lets read that;
Acts 1;1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? ”He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
The key to what I want us to share this morning is what Jesus said to them - v 4; Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Wow! Wait - I guess that what I think the Lord is saying is you’ve been active for the last three years - we’ve worked together - I’m going back to the Father but just as I promised - if you love me and are obedient to me then I and the Father will come and make Our home with you John 14;23
Wait - it’s that word wait that often causes the problem. We are not very good at waiting - we don’t have the patience many times to just hang in their and wait. We busy ourselves - we fill our time with lots of different things. Some spend a lot of time watching other people live their lives by watching TV.
Over the last few months we’ve had no choice - we’ve been forced into isolation - not being able to meet together and that’s been hard - especially for those who live alone. We have been forced into a time of waiting for the forced isolation to be lifted and get back to the way we were before. Thankfully, that’s not going to happen - things will never be the same again -
Go back home ( Jerusalem) and wait, said Jesus wait for the gift My Father promised.
I wonder how they spent their time of ‘Waiting’. How have you spent the last few months of waiting? We said last week that the waiting time should be a time for us to reflect over our lives and commitment to God and be honest - if needs be - say sorry to God for filling our lives with activities that have stopped us giving more time to prayer and bible study.
I think the church itself has been brought to a forced time of waiting upon the Lord for re-direction and a revelation of how God wants us all to get back on course with Gods intention for the future of His church.
Go back - said Jesus and wait. The word ‘wait’ can be use two different and almost opposite ways. One is an inactive way and the other an active way
The inactive Wait is when we stop in our tracks, stop what we are doing and wait patiently for whatever God has in store for us - In many cases to stop doing it our way - and get back to seeking to do it Gods way. The active Wait is when we wait upon the needs of others. To wait means to Serve. I guess for many years the church has concentrated its efforts of serving the community as an expression of their service to God - as Jesus said John 13;35 By this (love) everyone will know that you are my disciples’ we sing - ‘they will know we are Christians by our love - as we in Yorkshire say ‘It’s better felt than telt’
That’s good - but sadly in many places the quietly ‘waiting’ on the Lord in prayer has been pushed into the background and very often neglected - and I believe is one of the reasons why the last few months of lockdown due to the Corona Virus has been a way that God has called His church to stop - and to wait upon Him for His direction for the way ahead for His Church. To wait upon the needs of our brothers and sisters is good but we also need to get back to waiting on the Lord.
The disciples had been busy with the Lord in proclaiming the Truth and bringing people to a newer understanding of God and His plan for mankind - now between the departure of Jesus at His ascension and the fulfilment of His promise that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit which will enable them to move forward in greater power make disciples and so build His Church as happened when we read Acts 2
This advice of Jesus would be for a time to wait upon the Lord until the time they are strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
God through Isaiah had said Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint KJV Isaiah 40:30-31.
O how we need to take notice of what Jesus is saying to His disciples.
I believe that this time of waiting that we as Gods people - His Church have been forced to do over the last few months will have been a time of re-awakening - a time of refreshing - a time for renewal - a time for us all to wait upon the Lord in prayer and bible study and wait expectantly for I believe is the next step - the empowering of the Holy Spirit which we will celebrate in ten days time on the day of Pentecost.
I pray that we will review our Christian lives - what we have been doing up to this enforced waiting time we have been experiencing over the last three months and spend the next ten days waiting on the Lord and seeking to adapt to His ways.
Finally a word from Psalm 27;14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
On Sunday we will be looking at the last recorded things that the disciples did before Pentecost.
Message for Ascension Day 21 May
Today is Ascension Day - the day Jesus went back home to be with the Father after three years of sharing Gods love and message of forgiveness and reconciliation for Gods people through the sacrificial love of Jesus dying on the cross as a guilt offering to atone for the sins of the world.
This was the only way that the Jews would understand and accept that their sins could be forgiven by taking a sacrificial lamb to the priests as a guilt offering - which was the only way they would understand they could be forgiven. Jesus became that sacrificial lamb and was sacrificed on the cross for the sins of mankind then and today.
The disciples had had as Luke reminds us, many convincing proofs that Jesus had indeed arisen from the dead and appeared to all of them over the last 40 days and here they were gathered together at the mount of Olives to see the ascension of Jesus. It would have been a time of mixed emotions - Jesus their Lord and Master had been with them for three years - He’s been their teacher, their guide and their inspiration. Now they were to witness His departure - back Home to the Father - how would they cope.
They had been busy for three years doing the Lords work - how would they cope now that He was going. Lets read that;
Acts 1;1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel? ”He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
The key to what I want us to share this morning is what Jesus said to them - v 4; Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Wow! Wait - I guess that what I think the Lord is saying is you’ve been active for the last three years - we’ve worked together - I’m going back to the Father but just as I promised - if you love me and are obedient to me then I and the Father will come and make Our home with you John 14;23
Wait - it’s that word wait that often causes the problem. We are not very good at waiting - we don’t have the patience many times to just hang in their and wait. We busy ourselves - we fill our time with lots of different things. Some spend a lot of time watching other people live their lives by watching TV.
Over the last few months we’ve had no choice - we’ve been forced into isolation - not being able to meet together and that’s been hard - especially for those who live alone. We have been forced into a time of waiting for the forced isolation to be lifted and get back to the way we were before. Thankfully, that’s not going to happen - things will never be the same again -
Go back home ( Jerusalem) and wait, said Jesus wait for the gift My Father promised.
I wonder how they spent their time of ‘Waiting’. How have you spent the last few months of waiting? We said last week that the waiting time should be a time for us to reflect over our lives and commitment to God and be honest - if needs be - say sorry to God for filling our lives with activities that have stopped us giving more time to prayer and bible study.
I think the church itself has been brought to a forced time of waiting upon the Lord for re-direction and a revelation of how God wants us all to get back on course with Gods intention for the future of His church.
Go back - said Jesus and wait. The word ‘wait’ can be use two different and almost opposite ways. One is an inactive way and the other an active way
The inactive Wait is when we stop in our tracks, stop what we are doing and wait patiently for whatever God has in store for us - In many cases to stop doing it our way - and get back to seeking to do it Gods way. The active Wait is when we wait upon the needs of others. To wait means to Serve. I guess for many years the church has concentrated its efforts of serving the community as an expression of their service to God - as Jesus said John 13;35 By this (love) everyone will know that you are my disciples’ we sing - ‘they will know we are Christians by our love - as we in Yorkshire say ‘It’s better felt than telt’
That’s good - but sadly in many places the quietly ‘waiting’ on the Lord in prayer has been pushed into the background and very often neglected - and I believe is one of the reasons why the last few months of lockdown due to the Corona Virus has been a way that God has called His church to stop - and to wait upon Him for His direction for the way ahead for His Church. To wait upon the needs of our brothers and sisters is good but we also need to get back to waiting on the Lord.
The disciples had been busy with the Lord in proclaiming the Truth and bringing people to a newer understanding of God and His plan for mankind - now between the departure of Jesus at His ascension and the fulfilment of His promise that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit which will enable them to move forward in greater power make disciples and so build His Church as happened when we read Acts 2
This advice of Jesus would be for a time to wait upon the Lord until the time they are strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
God through Isaiah had said Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint KJV Isaiah 40:30-31.
O how we need to take notice of what Jesus is saying to His disciples.
I believe that this time of waiting that we as Gods people - His Church have been forced to do over the last few months will have been a time of re-awakening - a time of refreshing - a time for renewal - a time for us all to wait upon the Lord in prayer and bible study and wait expectantly for I believe is the next step - the empowering of the Holy Spirit which we will celebrate in ten days time on the day of Pentecost.
I pray that we will review our Christian lives - what we have been doing up to this enforced waiting time we have been experiencing over the last three months and spend the next ten days waiting on the Lord and seeking to adapt to His ways.
Finally a word from Psalm 27;14 Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.
On Sunday we will be looking at the last recorded things that the disciples did before Pentecost.
All 14 messages during the lockdown can be seen on Youtube under the heading Billy Cowgill
Message 17 May 2020
Hello - here we are again - no sign to the end of our physical seperation - thank God that we can meet in this way and because of our faith in the risen Lord, are united by His spirit - Just now - we- are together. As the chorus says; we are one in the spirit, we are one with the Lord and pray that our unity will one day be restored - until that time - lets as we said over the last few weeks - re-commit our lives to our Lord
become more Christlike in our whole being - which is made possible when we seek to know Him through both His word and in prayer. and as a result- begin to reflect the beauty of Jesus in the way we act towards others - our neighbours - our families - to let them see difference the love of God in us makes and, as the Word and the chorus says - they will know we are Christian by our love.
The disciples - like us today - were having to come to terms with the fact that Jesus was not alongside them any more as He had gone back to the Father - they had to start to live a different lifestyle to what they had been accustomed to.
But unlike them - whilst we are physically separated from one another - they were able to be together - but again, unlike them - whist they would feel the sadness of being separated from Jesus - we in these last few weeks are experiencing the joy of being closer to our Saviour.
They were told to wait for the blessing and empowering of the Holy Spirit who would empower them to go and take the good news to the whole world. Next Thursday, the church universal will be celebrating the ascension of our Lord - the time when He says His physical goodbye and ascend into Heaven.
Like so many events of the ressurection of Jesus not all of the gospel writers mention the ascension. Matthew has just 4 verses,
Matthew 28; 16-20 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark tells us that this was the time following the Emmaus appearance to the two disciples, the time when Jesus appeared to the eleven whilst they were eating and after commissioning them - was taken up into heaven. This is how Mark tells it;
Mark 16; 14-20 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after he had risen. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.
That’s Mark - Luke mentions the ascension in just three verses after telling us about how Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the Emmaus walk and then to the eleven.
Luke 24;50-53 When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
As for John, he doesn’t even mention the ascension - his last chapter is all about the reinstating of Peter. So this morning, lets look at Lukes more detailed account as recorded in the first chapter of the book of Acts
Acts 1;1-14 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
Wow! here is the command of Jesus to His disciples - “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” The promised infilling of the Holy Spirit - that happened a few days later at Pentecost and so empower Peter that he spoke a powerful sermon and about 3000 people were added to the disciples.
We’ll be looking at that in a couple of weeks time but for now we think of what happens this Thursday when before His ascension, Jesus commissioned His disciples
I love the way that the gospel of Matthew 28 v16 is headed The Great Commission for that’s what it was - the time when the disciples were commissioned to go and make disciples with the assurance that He - Jesus - would be with them. WOW!
That’s what God has been doing ever since that time - making disciples and commissioning them to go and spread the good news that God loves everyone and His greatest desire is that they learn to love Him and one another and begin to live lives in obedience to God. To acknowledge their sinfulness, say sorry for the past and be born again to become more Christlike. To be disciples - that simply means come under the discipline of God and in living in obedience to His word, take up the challenge of being commissioned by Him to go and make more disciples.
That’s the next step for the disciples of Jesus when He commissions them to be His evangelists. Tomorrow is a very special day for me - 18th of May when in 1995, Beryl and I were commissioned by Robin Forsyth as Divisional Envoys and appointed to the Bradford Idle Corps as it’s Commanding Officers. That’s 25 years ago tomorrow. WOW!
It all came about when Betty Matear was our officer and amazingly saw something in us that inspired her to ask us if we would consider being the Officers - I said we would go home and pray about it - which we did - asking God if that was what He wanted - I gave Betty the answer a few days later which was ‘yes‘.
This was all in the plan of God - I knew this as a few years earlier God had spoken to me during one of the afternoon meetings by drawing my attention to a book I had never really read up to that time - Jeremiah 29 starting at v 11
I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Whilst this was Gods word to the exiles in Babylon in their situation - I believe that God used it to speak to me in my situation.
I had been Bandmaster up to only a few weeks earlier and decided to leave the band and sit in the congregation due to the fact that when I tried to introduce a short bible reading in the middle of the band practice which was what the Salvation Army expected us to have, I was told by one member ‘ we’ve come to practice our music not to read the bible - we do that on Sunday’.
Here I was - a week later sat in the congregation - and I believe that God spoke to me then from the words of Jeremiah. I know the plans I have for you Billy Cowgill
Shortly after that I started the New Life Fellowship on the edge of Thorpe Edge it was about the time of the Charismatic Renewal that was sweeping the churches at that time and I was joined by many members of other churches who had felt the need to get together and experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their worship.
We had a meeting on Sunday morning and in the afternoon I went to the Army with the rest of my family. During that time - I dedicated a little baby, led a local hairdresser to Christ and organised a feeding programme for the lonely on Christmas Day. That time of ministry in Thorpe Edge was Gods way of taking me out of the familiar that I had been brought up in and opening my mind to a wider experience. Just like I believe God is doing to many of His followers today. Taking us out of the familiar and opening our eyes to the world around us.
In the words I read from the book of Jeremiah God told him to tell his people that God would take them out of the situation they were in and then one day bring them back to the place from which they came - of course God was speaking about a different situation but I feel He was using these words to show me what He was going to do in my life. And that’s exactly what He did
After a few years, God brought me and some of the other members of my Fellowship, Ray and Pamela Powell, David Barrett, Julia Barrans and others back to worship here at Idle Salvation Army - the place from which I had come. The officer then was Lieutenant Steven Joselyn who was not finding it easy as the congregation was now just a handful. and so he asked if I would share the platform and do some of the meetings which I agreed to do. I was also preaching at Methodist Churches around the Burnsall Abbey area having been asked by the man who lived next door to me at that time - Frank Winn
As I said earlier, a few years later Betty Matear became our Commanding officer at Idle for a short while and knowing that she would be leaving soon, - asked me to become the Commanding Officer along with Beryl - WOW - so this was the plan God had for my life to be commissioned .
Commissioned - WOW as I read the stories of the ascension and the fact that this was the time when Jesus commissioned His disciples - it was made even more meaningful when I remembered that it was my 25th year after being commissioned in 1995.
Wow! Here I am just one day away from celebrating the fact that 25 years ago God commissioned me and Beryl to spread the good news and Here we are just 4 days away from celebrating the Ascension of Jesus when He commissioned His disciples to start to spread the good news.
Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift that God had promised and that Jesus had told them about - then He told them that whilst John the Baptist baptised with water - in a few days time - you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit .
WOW! On Thursday this week we celebrate the time Jesus commissioned His disciples to continue to do the work that He had begun and ten days later at Pentecost would empower them with the baptism of the Holy Spirit to make disciples.
Back to our bible reading - it would appear that the disciples were expecting Jesus to do what they were expecting the Messiah to do -which was restore Israel from foreign domination. Lets read that; Acts 1; 6
When they met together they asked Him, “Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. Then Jesus assures them But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Again Jesus told His disciples to hold fire and wait - a kind of lockdown for the time being - a time of preparation for something greater than what they had experienced before - whereas before they had done things in their own strength, now God was going to fill them with the Holy Spirit and empower them for even greater things.
I really do believe that just as we are in a kind of forced waiting time - that God is using this time for us to re-assess our commitment to Him and one another and for people all around us- to prepare us for what He has in store for us as His fellowship.
How are you using this time? I hope its been in the way that we have talked about over the last few weeks since it all began - In reading His word - In praying and asking God to help us to grow to be more Christ like. To feed on Gods word and share the love of God with our families, neighbours and our friends.
I believe that Gods plan for His body - the church - you and me is that we will become more effective in our witnessing and if He hasn’t already done so - is wanting to commission those who comprise His church - you and me - to be more effective in the winning others for the Kingdom.
As we approach the Ascension, the time Jesus commissioned His disciples for the work He wanted them to do- I pray that those who belong to the church - the living body of Christ in the world today - will seek to be more effective in their Christian living and take up the commission as the disciples did and become witnesses for Him. I believe that when that happens and God knows that His people are eager and ready to do what He wants them to do, that He will then fill them with His Holy Spirit as He did at Pentecost and equips His church to be Co-workers for the Kingdom.
V 8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be My witnesses in all Judea ( that’s locally) and Samaria ( that’s a little bit further) and to all the earth ( Wow - there’s no limits)
Finally v 9 After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
As we all know, Jesus is coming again, and I believe that will be soon - and that He is making what could be- a last chance - for His people to show His love - through them - to the world in an attempt to get them - you and me to spread the truth about Jesus to the world at large - those around us.
I pray that His church - and that includes you and I will take heed to what God is saying to us all in these days and like the disciples accept His commission to take His message of love, forgiveness and reconciliation to those around us. God promised through Jesus that if we did - He would be with us all the way and more than that - within us by the power of the Holy Spirit and so empower us to accomplish His will.
I’ll never forget the day I was baptised in the Holy Spirit and the difference it made to my life - and the plans He had for my life. But more of that at Pentecost.
Message 17 May 2020
Hello - here we are again - no sign to the end of our physical seperation - thank God that we can meet in this way and because of our faith in the risen Lord, are united by His spirit - Just now - we- are together. As the chorus says; we are one in the spirit, we are one with the Lord and pray that our unity will one day be restored - until that time - lets as we said over the last few weeks - re-commit our lives to our Lord
become more Christlike in our whole being - which is made possible when we seek to know Him through both His word and in prayer. and as a result- begin to reflect the beauty of Jesus in the way we act towards others - our neighbours - our families - to let them see difference the love of God in us makes and, as the Word and the chorus says - they will know we are Christian by our love.
The disciples - like us today - were having to come to terms with the fact that Jesus was not alongside them any more as He had gone back to the Father - they had to start to live a different lifestyle to what they had been accustomed to.
But unlike them - whilst we are physically separated from one another - they were able to be together - but again, unlike them - whist they would feel the sadness of being separated from Jesus - we in these last few weeks are experiencing the joy of being closer to our Saviour.
They were told to wait for the blessing and empowering of the Holy Spirit who would empower them to go and take the good news to the whole world. Next Thursday, the church universal will be celebrating the ascension of our Lord - the time when He says His physical goodbye and ascend into Heaven.
Like so many events of the ressurection of Jesus not all of the gospel writers mention the ascension. Matthew has just 4 verses,
Matthew 28; 16-20 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Mark tells us that this was the time following the Emmaus appearance to the two disciples, the time when Jesus appeared to the eleven whilst they were eating and after commissioning them - was taken up into heaven. This is how Mark tells it;
Mark 16; 14-20 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; He rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after he had risen. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed His word by the signs that accompanied it.
That’s Mark - Luke mentions the ascension in just three verses after telling us about how Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the Emmaus walk and then to the eleven.
Luke 24;50-53 When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped Him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
As for John, he doesn’t even mention the ascension - his last chapter is all about the reinstating of Peter. So this morning, lets look at Lukes more detailed account as recorded in the first chapter of the book of Acts
Acts 1;1-14 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After His suffering, He presented Himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around Him and asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
Wow! here is the command of Jesus to His disciples - “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” The promised infilling of the Holy Spirit - that happened a few days later at Pentecost and so empower Peter that he spoke a powerful sermon and about 3000 people were added to the disciples.
We’ll be looking at that in a couple of weeks time but for now we think of what happens this Thursday when before His ascension, Jesus commissioned His disciples
I love the way that the gospel of Matthew 28 v16 is headed The Great Commission for that’s what it was - the time when the disciples were commissioned to go and make disciples with the assurance that He - Jesus - would be with them. WOW!
That’s what God has been doing ever since that time - making disciples and commissioning them to go and spread the good news that God loves everyone and His greatest desire is that they learn to love Him and one another and begin to live lives in obedience to God. To acknowledge their sinfulness, say sorry for the past and be born again to become more Christlike. To be disciples - that simply means come under the discipline of God and in living in obedience to His word, take up the challenge of being commissioned by Him to go and make more disciples.
That’s the next step for the disciples of Jesus when He commissions them to be His evangelists. Tomorrow is a very special day for me - 18th of May when in 1995, Beryl and I were commissioned by Robin Forsyth as Divisional Envoys and appointed to the Bradford Idle Corps as it’s Commanding Officers. That’s 25 years ago tomorrow. WOW!
It all came about when Betty Matear was our officer and amazingly saw something in us that inspired her to ask us if we would consider being the Officers - I said we would go home and pray about it - which we did - asking God if that was what He wanted - I gave Betty the answer a few days later which was ‘yes‘.
This was all in the plan of God - I knew this as a few years earlier God had spoken to me during one of the afternoon meetings by drawing my attention to a book I had never really read up to that time - Jeremiah 29 starting at v 11
I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Whilst this was Gods word to the exiles in Babylon in their situation - I believe that God used it to speak to me in my situation.
I had been Bandmaster up to only a few weeks earlier and decided to leave the band and sit in the congregation due to the fact that when I tried to introduce a short bible reading in the middle of the band practice which was what the Salvation Army expected us to have, I was told by one member ‘ we’ve come to practice our music not to read the bible - we do that on Sunday’.
Here I was - a week later sat in the congregation - and I believe that God spoke to me then from the words of Jeremiah. I know the plans I have for you Billy Cowgill
Shortly after that I started the New Life Fellowship on the edge of Thorpe Edge it was about the time of the Charismatic Renewal that was sweeping the churches at that time and I was joined by many members of other churches who had felt the need to get together and experience the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their worship.
We had a meeting on Sunday morning and in the afternoon I went to the Army with the rest of my family. During that time - I dedicated a little baby, led a local hairdresser to Christ and organised a feeding programme for the lonely on Christmas Day. That time of ministry in Thorpe Edge was Gods way of taking me out of the familiar that I had been brought up in and opening my mind to a wider experience. Just like I believe God is doing to many of His followers today. Taking us out of the familiar and opening our eyes to the world around us.
In the words I read from the book of Jeremiah God told him to tell his people that God would take them out of the situation they were in and then one day bring them back to the place from which they came - of course God was speaking about a different situation but I feel He was using these words to show me what He was going to do in my life. And that’s exactly what He did
After a few years, God brought me and some of the other members of my Fellowship, Ray and Pamela Powell, David Barrett, Julia Barrans and others back to worship here at Idle Salvation Army - the place from which I had come. The officer then was Lieutenant Steven Joselyn who was not finding it easy as the congregation was now just a handful. and so he asked if I would share the platform and do some of the meetings which I agreed to do. I was also preaching at Methodist Churches around the Burnsall Abbey area having been asked by the man who lived next door to me at that time - Frank Winn
As I said earlier, a few years later Betty Matear became our Commanding officer at Idle for a short while and knowing that she would be leaving soon, - asked me to become the Commanding Officer along with Beryl - WOW - so this was the plan God had for my life to be commissioned .
Commissioned - WOW as I read the stories of the ascension and the fact that this was the time when Jesus commissioned His disciples - it was made even more meaningful when I remembered that it was my 25th year after being commissioned in 1995.
Wow! Here I am just one day away from celebrating the fact that 25 years ago God commissioned me and Beryl to spread the good news and Here we are just 4 days away from celebrating the Ascension of Jesus when He commissioned His disciples to start to spread the good news.
Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem for the gift that God had promised and that Jesus had told them about - then He told them that whilst John the Baptist baptised with water - in a few days time - you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit .
WOW! On Thursday this week we celebrate the time Jesus commissioned His disciples to continue to do the work that He had begun and ten days later at Pentecost would empower them with the baptism of the Holy Spirit to make disciples.
Back to our bible reading - it would appear that the disciples were expecting Jesus to do what they were expecting the Messiah to do -which was restore Israel from foreign domination. Lets read that; Acts 1; 6
When they met together they asked Him, “Lord, are You at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. Then Jesus assures them But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
Again Jesus told His disciples to hold fire and wait - a kind of lockdown for the time being - a time of preparation for something greater than what they had experienced before - whereas before they had done things in their own strength, now God was going to fill them with the Holy Spirit and empower them for even greater things.
I really do believe that just as we are in a kind of forced waiting time - that God is using this time for us to re-assess our commitment to Him and one another and for people all around us- to prepare us for what He has in store for us as His fellowship.
How are you using this time? I hope its been in the way that we have talked about over the last few weeks since it all began - In reading His word - In praying and asking God to help us to grow to be more Christ like. To feed on Gods word and share the love of God with our families, neighbours and our friends.
I believe that Gods plan for His body - the church - you and me is that we will become more effective in our witnessing and if He hasn’t already done so - is wanting to commission those who comprise His church - you and me - to be more effective in the winning others for the Kingdom.
As we approach the Ascension, the time Jesus commissioned His disciples for the work He wanted them to do- I pray that those who belong to the church - the living body of Christ in the world today - will seek to be more effective in their Christian living and take up the commission as the disciples did and become witnesses for Him. I believe that when that happens and God knows that His people are eager and ready to do what He wants them to do, that He will then fill them with His Holy Spirit as He did at Pentecost and equips His church to be Co-workers for the Kingdom.
V 8 You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you and you will be My witnesses in all Judea ( that’s locally) and Samaria ( that’s a little bit further) and to all the earth ( Wow - there’s no limits)
Finally v 9 After He said this, He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”
As we all know, Jesus is coming again, and I believe that will be soon - and that He is making what could be- a last chance - for His people to show His love - through them - to the world in an attempt to get them - you and me to spread the truth about Jesus to the world at large - those around us.
I pray that His church - and that includes you and I will take heed to what God is saying to us all in these days and like the disciples accept His commission to take His message of love, forgiveness and reconciliation to those around us. God promised through Jesus that if we did - He would be with us all the way and more than that - within us by the power of the Holy Spirit and so empower us to accomplish His will.
I’ll never forget the day I was baptised in the Holy Spirit and the difference it made to my life - and the plans He had for my life. But more of that at Pentecost.
Message 10 May 2020
Last week I said I wondered what the disciples did between the last appearance of Jesus and His ascension weeks later - thinking about this I was directed to look at Luke 24 that tells us about what happened to two of the disciples following the resurection of Jesus - it would appear that they were leaving Jerusalem and heading home to Emmaus - a very disillusioned couple - who as well as being grieved at what had happened to their friend Jesus - were finding it hard to piece it all together and make sense of what had happened to the one they spent so much time with, got to know and to love
They had been with Jesus for three years and during that time there hopes were built up that Jesus was the Messiah they had all been waiting for the one that their scriptures, the part we know as the Old Testament, told them about.
It would appear that even being with the Lord - the first Christians - they failed to understand the full depth of what their own scriptures said about the Messiah and how Jesus fit into all that. I guess there were many in those days who fell short of fully understanding what their scripture really had to say about the promised Messiah.
I would guess that today, many have found that they have had time during the last couple of months to look into the word of God and gain a deeper understanding of what their relationship with God and one another should be like.
With that in mind I believe I was led to look more deeply into what happened when Jesus appeared to the two disciples after His ressurection - It was while they were on the road to Emmaus that Jesus met them and openned up the minds of two who had been with Him and shared much of His earthly ministry but yet when calamity came were found to be in the dark as to why these things had happened and how it all related to what the prophets of old had said centuries before.
Luke tells us in 24;37 That Jesus when Jesus drew alongside them He began to explain to them what Moses and the prophets had said concerning Himself; Lets read
Read Luke 24; 13-49 Now that same day ( the day of the Ressurection) two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” He asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.
When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Here they are - two of Jesus’s disciples who as I said earlier were a very disillusioned couple who as well as being grieved at what had happened to their friend Jesus - were finding it hard to piece it all together and make sense of what had happened to the one they thought was supposed to be the Messiah who had come to redeem Israel.
I love the way in which Jesus, not wanting to lose any of His friends was keen to draw alongside them to bring comfort and reassurance and restore their faith that would strengthen them for the years ahead. Just like I believe He is doing today through the difficult times we are all going through - Jesus wants to reassure us all that we serve a risen Lord who wants to take us deeper in our faith and prepare us for what is ahead. Jesus is reassuring and strengthening the Church - you and me - for the task of being true disciples and bringing others into the faith.
Jesus drew near to the two of them and they were kept from recognising who He was. He asked them what they had been discussing which shocked them as they assumed that what had happened to Jesus and the rumours that had followed His death about His dissapearance from the tomb - would be the talking point of the whole area.
One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” Jesus asked. - “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.He was a prophet, powerful in what He said and did and yet they crucified Him; we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what’s more, its three days since all this took place. They then told Him about how Mary had been to the tomb and found that the body of Jesus wasn’t there and an angel told them that He was alive and that amazed them - then some of their companions went to the tomb and they found it just as the women had said, Jesus wasn’t there.”As you read it you can almost see the shock and amazement and sense of disbelief.
And then Jesus said to them “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.
How can they ignore what Isaiah said in chapter 53;3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
What Jesus is showing them is that it was all there in scripture and yet they had been ‘slow to believe’ and so He gave them a scripture lesson about the things the prophets had said. I wonder how they felt now, here was a stranger telling them what they should have known and opening their minds to the awesomness of what it said and how it had become true in the last few days - the beginning of a new era - the birth and growth of the Christian faith and way of life.
I love the way Luke tells us how Jesus revealed Himself to them As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” WOW - He must have made a great impression on them for them to ask Him to stay So He went in to stay with them.
When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. This was exactly what He had done in the upper room at the last supper - the impact of which was that Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him,
WOW! I can almost imagine the look on their faces of amazement and shock - here He was - the risen Lord - the stranger who had impressed them so much that they had asked Him to stay with them WOW - but He disappeared from their sight. I can just imagine the look on their faces as they said , Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
What an awesome time that would have been - Jesus, knowing He had further things for His chosen ones to do - wanted to increase their knowledge and understanding of who He was from Scripture in preperation for the tasks ahead.
Lets look at what happened next - the excitement of this appearance of Jesus impacted them so much that they head back to Jerusalem to meet up with their friends, the other disciples who would be just as excited to tell them about their experience and how the stories about His ressurection were all true - that Jesus had indeed appeared to Peter who had come back to share his experience with the rest of the disciples - you can almost imagine the excitement as they all got together and collaborated on all their different accounts of the ressurection of Jesus.
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread.
Wow then look at what happened - While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
I find their reaction strange - after all that had happened ; They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then Just as He had done with the two on the road to Emmaus - He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Wow - I guess one of the things they did would begin to discuss the various scripture for themselves about what the prophets said about the coming Messiah , but unlike before, they now had a deeper God given understanding of what the scriptures said.
I said last week that one of the blessings of the lockdown has been that we now have more time to read the scriptures and try to get right in there and begin to understand the truths that are in many cases have been unread or hidden there.
When you look at the Prophesies in the OT regarding Jesus and the full account of the fufilment of those prophesies it is difficult to understand how many in the world today don’t accept that Jesus is the Son of God or that He died on a cross to save us from our sins. Even today many Jews fail to believe it - and yet all the things we read in both the OT and the NT go so far as to write about things that whilst they could not have understood in those days - are being proved today.
Gods word tells us that Jesus was crucified on the evening of Passover in Jerusalem with two criminals crucified either side of him. The religious leaders asked to break the legs of the crucified, in order to speed up their death, since they didn’t want their bodies to be left hanging on the cross during the Sabbath. When the soldiers reached Jesus, they saw that he was already dead so they didn‘t need to break His legs.
In the New Testament, John tells us this: “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (Jn. 19:34). John here indicated that blood and water came out of Jesus as a result of the piercing, although it wasn’t clear why he bothered to mention this. Blood and water?
But it’s amazing -today, apparently we know that when a person dies, the blood in their body separates into two - one is a a clear liquid and the other into red blood cells which proves that that person really is dead. John would have no idea why that happened because this scientific knowledge didn’t exist in his time. Amazing - here we are in 2020 reading accounts of the sacrificial death of Jesus written 2000 years ago that gives undeniable proof that Jesus is the Messiah. Even today - God is opening up the minds of those who don’t believe, to begin to accept the truth - even the Jews.
One of the most important aspects of our reading this morning is the way that Jesus opened the minds of the two and later the whole lot of the disciples to help them understand what they would have read. This just goes to show the importance of Bible reading and Bible study today.
I must admit, I’ve read the Old testament through and whilst not understanding a lot of the conflicting things I have read there spent more time reading the New Testament that I believe explains a lot of the Old Testament and helps us to concentrate on the new revelation that the Holy Spirit brings to us concerning it.
During the weeks before Jesus appearance for the last time at the ascension they would have had, like us, time to reflect on their faith and what they believe God wants them to do in the future. One of the important aspects of the commission of Jesus was that they stay in Jerusalem until the Ascension when God tells them that in a few days from then - He will fill them with His holy Spirit and empower and equip them for the work He has appointed them to do which is to Continue the work Jesus began and share the truth with the whole world. That was fulfilled at Pentecost when the Christian church was born and empowerd to continue the work that Jesus had begun.
One of the things that the Holy Spirit does is open our minds to understand the truths that are in Gods word. Paul says that many times In his letters. He talks about the Holy Spirit giving us a deeper understanding of Gods word - transforming us to become more like Jesus. WOW - like Jesus that’s awesome
Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us this; And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Wow - we sing don’t we, ‘To be like Jesus, this hope posseses me’ That’s why the Lord wants us to really get to know Him through searching His word. That’s why Jesus brought the word of God to the attention of the disciples’ so that they could accept the Lordship of Christ and the need to become like Him.
That’s one of the great things that happens at Pentecost when God gave the Holy Spirit who would lead mankind into all truths and empower and equip them to share the truth with their friends and acquaintances, their families and neighbour.
Paul says in Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ‘To be like Jesus - this hope posseses me’
Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
And because of this Paul writes to the church in Rome Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will..
And finally words from Peter 2 Peter 1:1-9 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
So what God is saying to us is - get to really know Me by reading my Word - sharing and discussing the bible in greater depth and in so doing seek to be transformed by the renewing of your minds to become more Christlike in your relationships with one another and the world out there.
Gods word says that that is possible and that is what God wants for you and me. These last few weeks of isolation and being home bound has given us time to look at our lives - how we busied ourselves before - I believe that our vision of how we should spend our time has been challenged to accept the new ways opened up to us. I believe that these last weeks have openned our minds to a new world in readiness for what God has planned for us when things get back to normal.
The disciples were challenged to re-think and adjust during the few weeks they had to spend without Jesus - a time to prepare them for what He had in store for them in a couple of weeks time - this was a time of preparation for the challenging days that lay ahead. The next step in their discipleship - the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the empowering to not only become more Christlike but to be embodied by Christ Himself and enabled to do the things that he did.
That promise is available for you and I today - if we havn’t already received it - to be filled with the Spirit - to be and do the things that Jesus did - to let the Word become flesh in us - I pray that that will be your desire and that God will be glorified in you.
Ten days to the ascension and then another ten days to Pentecost - Wow - I can’t wait
Prayer
Forgive us Lord is we have failed to make time in our daily lives to read Your word. Give us a hunger for your Word
Help us to discipline ourselves to read your word and share it with one another
Help us to please You by seeking to know Jesus more and so become more like Him in our attitudes and responses to one another
Thank You for Jesus and thank You for the Holy Spirit who fills and empowers us to become Christlike - to Your praise and Glory
Amen
Last week I said I wondered what the disciples did between the last appearance of Jesus and His ascension weeks later - thinking about this I was directed to look at Luke 24 that tells us about what happened to two of the disciples following the resurection of Jesus - it would appear that they were leaving Jerusalem and heading home to Emmaus - a very disillusioned couple - who as well as being grieved at what had happened to their friend Jesus - were finding it hard to piece it all together and make sense of what had happened to the one they spent so much time with, got to know and to love
They had been with Jesus for three years and during that time there hopes were built up that Jesus was the Messiah they had all been waiting for the one that their scriptures, the part we know as the Old Testament, told them about.
It would appear that even being with the Lord - the first Christians - they failed to understand the full depth of what their own scriptures said about the Messiah and how Jesus fit into all that. I guess there were many in those days who fell short of fully understanding what their scripture really had to say about the promised Messiah.
I would guess that today, many have found that they have had time during the last couple of months to look into the word of God and gain a deeper understanding of what their relationship with God and one another should be like.
With that in mind I believe I was led to look more deeply into what happened when Jesus appeared to the two disciples after His ressurection - It was while they were on the road to Emmaus that Jesus met them and openned up the minds of two who had been with Him and shared much of His earthly ministry but yet when calamity came were found to be in the dark as to why these things had happened and how it all related to what the prophets of old had said centuries before.
Luke tells us in 24;37 That Jesus when Jesus drew alongside them He began to explain to them what Moses and the prophets had said concerning Himself; Lets read
Read Luke 24; 13-49 Now that same day ( the day of the Ressurection) two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus Himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing Him.
He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” He asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.
As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them.
When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, and He disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
Here they are - two of Jesus’s disciples who as I said earlier were a very disillusioned couple who as well as being grieved at what had happened to their friend Jesus - were finding it hard to piece it all together and make sense of what had happened to the one they thought was supposed to be the Messiah who had come to redeem Israel.
I love the way in which Jesus, not wanting to lose any of His friends was keen to draw alongside them to bring comfort and reassurance and restore their faith that would strengthen them for the years ahead. Just like I believe He is doing today through the difficult times we are all going through - Jesus wants to reassure us all that we serve a risen Lord who wants to take us deeper in our faith and prepare us for what is ahead. Jesus is reassuring and strengthening the Church - you and me - for the task of being true disciples and bringing others into the faith.
Jesus drew near to the two of them and they were kept from recognising who He was. He asked them what they had been discussing which shocked them as they assumed that what had happened to Jesus and the rumours that had followed His death about His dissapearance from the tomb - would be the talking point of the whole area.
One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” Jesus asked. - “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.He was a prophet, powerful in what He said and did and yet they crucified Him; we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what’s more, its three days since all this took place. They then told Him about how Mary had been to the tomb and found that the body of Jesus wasn’t there and an angel told them that He was alive and that amazed them - then some of their companions went to the tomb and they found it just as the women had said, Jesus wasn’t there.”As you read it you can almost see the shock and amazement and sense of disbelief.
And then Jesus said to them “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.
How can they ignore what Isaiah said in chapter 53;3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
What Jesus is showing them is that it was all there in scripture and yet they had been ‘slow to believe’ and so He gave them a scripture lesson about the things the prophets had said. I wonder how they felt now, here was a stranger telling them what they should have known and opening their minds to the awesomness of what it said and how it had become true in the last few days - the beginning of a new era - the birth and growth of the Christian faith and way of life.
I love the way Luke tells us how Jesus revealed Himself to them As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if He were going farther. But they urged Him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” WOW - He must have made a great impression on them for them to ask Him to stay So He went in to stay with them.
When He was at the table with them, He took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. This was exactly what He had done in the upper room at the last supper - the impact of which was that Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him,
WOW! I can almost imagine the look on their faces of amazement and shock - here He was - the risen Lord - the stranger who had impressed them so much that they had asked Him to stay with them WOW - but He disappeared from their sight. I can just imagine the look on their faces as they said , Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
What an awesome time that would have been - Jesus, knowing He had further things for His chosen ones to do - wanted to increase their knowledge and understanding of who He was from Scripture in preperation for the tasks ahead.
Lets look at what happened next - the excitement of this appearance of Jesus impacted them so much that they head back to Jerusalem to meet up with their friends, the other disciples who would be just as excited to tell them about their experience and how the stories about His ressurection were all true - that Jesus had indeed appeared to Peter who had come back to share his experience with the rest of the disciples - you can almost imagine the excitement as they all got together and collaborated on all their different accounts of the ressurection of Jesus.
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread.
Wow then look at what happened - While they were still talking about this, Jesus Himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
I find their reaction strange - after all that had happened ; They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
When He had said this, He showed them His hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.”
Then Just as He had done with the two on the road to Emmaus - He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what My Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
Wow - I guess one of the things they did would begin to discuss the various scripture for themselves about what the prophets said about the coming Messiah , but unlike before, they now had a deeper God given understanding of what the scriptures said.
I said last week that one of the blessings of the lockdown has been that we now have more time to read the scriptures and try to get right in there and begin to understand the truths that are in many cases have been unread or hidden there.
When you look at the Prophesies in the OT regarding Jesus and the full account of the fufilment of those prophesies it is difficult to understand how many in the world today don’t accept that Jesus is the Son of God or that He died on a cross to save us from our sins. Even today many Jews fail to believe it - and yet all the things we read in both the OT and the NT go so far as to write about things that whilst they could not have understood in those days - are being proved today.
Gods word tells us that Jesus was crucified on the evening of Passover in Jerusalem with two criminals crucified either side of him. The religious leaders asked to break the legs of the crucified, in order to speed up their death, since they didn’t want their bodies to be left hanging on the cross during the Sabbath. When the soldiers reached Jesus, they saw that he was already dead so they didn‘t need to break His legs.
In the New Testament, John tells us this: “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water” (Jn. 19:34). John here indicated that blood and water came out of Jesus as a result of the piercing, although it wasn’t clear why he bothered to mention this. Blood and water?
But it’s amazing -today, apparently we know that when a person dies, the blood in their body separates into two - one is a a clear liquid and the other into red blood cells which proves that that person really is dead. John would have no idea why that happened because this scientific knowledge didn’t exist in his time. Amazing - here we are in 2020 reading accounts of the sacrificial death of Jesus written 2000 years ago that gives undeniable proof that Jesus is the Messiah. Even today - God is opening up the minds of those who don’t believe, to begin to accept the truth - even the Jews.
One of the most important aspects of our reading this morning is the way that Jesus opened the minds of the two and later the whole lot of the disciples to help them understand what they would have read. This just goes to show the importance of Bible reading and Bible study today.
I must admit, I’ve read the Old testament through and whilst not understanding a lot of the conflicting things I have read there spent more time reading the New Testament that I believe explains a lot of the Old Testament and helps us to concentrate on the new revelation that the Holy Spirit brings to us concerning it.
During the weeks before Jesus appearance for the last time at the ascension they would have had, like us, time to reflect on their faith and what they believe God wants them to do in the future. One of the important aspects of the commission of Jesus was that they stay in Jerusalem until the Ascension when God tells them that in a few days from then - He will fill them with His holy Spirit and empower and equip them for the work He has appointed them to do which is to Continue the work Jesus began and share the truth with the whole world. That was fulfilled at Pentecost when the Christian church was born and empowerd to continue the work that Jesus had begun.
One of the things that the Holy Spirit does is open our minds to understand the truths that are in Gods word. Paul says that many times In his letters. He talks about the Holy Spirit giving us a deeper understanding of Gods word - transforming us to become more like Jesus. WOW - like Jesus that’s awesome
Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:18 tells us this; And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
Wow - we sing don’t we, ‘To be like Jesus, this hope posseses me’ That’s why the Lord wants us to really get to know Him through searching His word. That’s why Jesus brought the word of God to the attention of the disciples’ so that they could accept the Lordship of Christ and the need to become like Him.
That’s one of the great things that happens at Pentecost when God gave the Holy Spirit who would lead mankind into all truths and empower and equip them to share the truth with their friends and acquaintances, their families and neighbour.
Paul says in Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ‘To be like Jesus - this hope posseses me’
Ephesians 4:22-24 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
And because of this Paul writes to the church in Rome Romans 12:2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will..
And finally words from Peter 2 Peter 1:1-9 His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
So what God is saying to us is - get to really know Me by reading my Word - sharing and discussing the bible in greater depth and in so doing seek to be transformed by the renewing of your minds to become more Christlike in your relationships with one another and the world out there.
Gods word says that that is possible and that is what God wants for you and me. These last few weeks of isolation and being home bound has given us time to look at our lives - how we busied ourselves before - I believe that our vision of how we should spend our time has been challenged to accept the new ways opened up to us. I believe that these last weeks have openned our minds to a new world in readiness for what God has planned for us when things get back to normal.
The disciples were challenged to re-think and adjust during the few weeks they had to spend without Jesus - a time to prepare them for what He had in store for them in a couple of weeks time - this was a time of preparation for the challenging days that lay ahead. The next step in their discipleship - the baptism in the Holy Spirit and the empowering to not only become more Christlike but to be embodied by Christ Himself and enabled to do the things that he did.
That promise is available for you and I today - if we havn’t already received it - to be filled with the Spirit - to be and do the things that Jesus did - to let the Word become flesh in us - I pray that that will be your desire and that God will be glorified in you.
Ten days to the ascension and then another ten days to Pentecost - Wow - I can’t wait
Prayer
Forgive us Lord is we have failed to make time in our daily lives to read Your word. Give us a hunger for your Word
Help us to discipline ourselves to read your word and share it with one another
Help us to please You by seeking to know Jesus more and so become more like Him in our attitudes and responses to one another
Thank You for Jesus and thank You for the Holy Spirit who fills and empowers us to become Christlike - to Your praise and Glory
Amen
Sunday 3 May 2020
Here we are this morning - three weeks after the ressurection of Jesus and just 18 days away from to the next recorded appearance of Jesus which is at His Ascension. I wonder what happened between that time, the 40 days between His resurection and the ascension - we do know that His last appearance to the disciples whilst they were fishing when the Lord forgave Peter for his denials and commissioned him to continue the work that Jesus had begun - that was just one week after the ressurection.
I wonder how they spent their time? They had a lot to think about - They’d spent three years with Jesus - seeing how loving and gracious He Jesus - seeing His miraculous power - being taught by example how they should live their lives - all good positive things and then having to watch Him be arrested and nailed to a cruel cross -
- their friend - their Saviour - goodness how grieved they would be.
Then the awesome appearances of the Risen Lord that would make their hearts leap with joy - just three weeks ago - I wonder what happened since then and the time until His last appearance at His ascension. They’d have a lot to think about - time to take an honest look at their own lives and their relationship with their Lord
As I thought about this I wondered what effect all this has had on you and me. Easter has been especially difficult for us all this year what with the Lockdown that closed our churches and stopped our meeting together. The disciples had 40 days between Jesus’s last appearance and their next meeting on Ascension Day.
The lockdown in the UK that has affected all of us began 23 March - that’s 40 days from then to today - like the disciples we’ve had 40 days to re-adjust to a different lifestyle and plenty of free time to think about our relationship with God and one another - especially our relationship with the people around us in the world today.
What has been our experience over the last 40 days? - how has this time affected us - we like the disciples have had a lot of time to think about and adjust where needs be our relationship to God and one another.
Thinking about this I was drawn to look at what Gods word tells us about how we should respond to our relationship with God, our fellowship, one another and the world around us.
In the New Testament, following the four gospels Matthew Mark, Luke and John we have, Acts where we read about the birth of the Christian Church empowered by the Holy Spirit and the conversion and ministry of Paul. We then have the Nine letters of Paul to the various churches and individuals. There then follows a section called the General Letters written by just three of the Lords disciples - James, Peter, and John and James’s brother Jude who were brothers of Jesus. They bulk of their letters were not written to any individual of Christian fellowship but to a universal audience.
I believe that that audience includes you and me today.
The first is James - a brother of Jesus who writes ; Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I must admit that the last few weeks have been difficult trials for us all - not being able to go our usual way - having to keep away from our loved ones - being limited in what we can and can’t do because of the Government Lockdown due to the Corona Virus. I can’t say that I’ve considered it to be a real Joy - although thinking about it - I have started to do things that I didn’t have time to do before like going for long walks and seeing the beauty of the landscape of where we live - Buck woods, the canal etc.
I’ll certainly make sure I make time to enjoy those things when the crisis is over.
I’ve also found more time to look at Gods word - not that I didn’t do that before - but more time to look deeper into the good book and be made aware of things I probably overlooked before. And so I have to agree that the last few weeks whilst not being a test of my faith - have made me look at my way of life. I believe that through it all my faith and understanding of the ways of God has been strengthened and opened up to me new ways of communicating my faith to others and hopefully bring me to a maturity of mind that as James says ‘is not lacking in my understanding and outworking to respond to the ways of God.
James goes on 5; If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Good advice and I must admit I have been calling on God to help me understand His word as He wants me to. I didn’t doubt His word before but I do believe that my understanding of it has been strengthened and confirmed even more by what is happenning in the world at this time. I really believe that God is using what we are going through in these days to bring us to a deeper understanding of God, ourselves and Gods plan and purpose for His people and how we need to get into Gods word more and then out and share His word in practical ways with others.
V 12 says this Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. WOW! Through it all there’s this wonderful blessing to look forward to.
This is James - the eldest of the younger brothers of Jesus - he would have grown up with Jesus and I guess would have been told all about the miraculous birth, the visits of the wise men and the shepherds. I don’t suppose he would have fully understood it all, that Jesus really was - Gods son - the Messiah - It‘s difficult to imagine how his other brothers and sisters would have responded to Jesus as they were growing up.
WE do know that James grew up to become the leader of the Council of Jerusalem and that he had a great deal of influence on that council as seen when he spoke up in defence of Paul and Barnabus who were seeking acceptance for the Gentiles who were turning to God - Luke tells us all about this in Acts 15
James here is saying that everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak or become angry - in fact what he’s saying here is don’t just listen to the word of God but do what it says listen to this;
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. In other words - Watch what your saying - actions speak louder than words - don’t just read the word of God - DO IT - put it into action..
And then about Faith without works he adds 2;14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? He then gives an example Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
In the writings of James we have more practical advice on how we should act and live our lives as Christians - submit to God - be patient in times of difficulty and then ends with advice on how we should exercise our faith in prayer and evangelism.
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Good advice
Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. I guess that an easy one
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
I can personally testify to that in my own life. God healed my Kidneys through the prayers of Lieut David and Dorothy Murden our officers at that time. Years later a deep cancer when I was told that the long term prospects for me was poor - healed nearly 20 years ago. Baby Adam whose lungs wouldn’t work - healed. A lame boy who wore calipers and who was told he might have to have an operation on his spine that showed signs of curvature - we laid hands on him and prayed and the following week he came to church, came to the front - jumped up with real joy on his face and said ‘ Jesus has healed me’ his calipers had been removed - he could now wear pumps which he not been able to before. WOW awesome!
And then about faithful evangelism James writes - My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. Wow another good reason for living it and sharing our love of God with one another and others.
Then there’s Peter, who as we know had denied even knowing Jesus but was forgiven and appointed by Jesus to share the good news - now he does just that and addresses his letter to those he calls Gods elect - Gods chosen people - both Jews and Gentiles who because of their new birth have become strangers to the world.
This is how he starts; 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, I love that - Born again Just like Jesus said
,, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. A New life to come
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.
In know that many of us in our fellowship at Idle have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. The loss of loved ones - for me personally, the death of my lovely wife Beryl, my son Kevin and his baby Victoria - tragic - without faith in God I or any of us would not be able to cope. He has been and still is, with us and will see us through.
Paul then goes on to say; Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Unlike Peter and John - the ones Peter writes to havn’t had the privilage of actually seeing Jesus but because they have accepted what they have learned about Him- they have grown to love Him and really believe in Him - as a result they are filled with an inexpressible and glorious Joy -
WOW! I love it - is that how you feel this morning - I hope so - for as I said earlier, I believe that that letter is applies to you and me today.
Therefore Peter says; 13 with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
WOW! Be Holy - as we said earlier - Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holy Living.
The rest of the first letter goes on to explain what our lives should be like - to live for God. The second letter of Peter is about the future and end times Peter could write is this way because of His experience with the Lord, the mighty way he had been able to talk to the thousands at Pentecost and experience the awesome coming and infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Next we have John - a cousin of Jesus - the disciple whom Jesus loved - starts his letter by confirming that Jesus is indeed the son of God and is assured of this because he has seen Jesus, even touched Jesus -the light of the world and John tells us that through fellowship with Jesus we too can walk in the light.
John stresses that whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did’ another way of saying you can’t just ‘talk the talk’ you’ve got to ‘walk the walk‘. Don’t love the things of the world - love God and live according to His word.
John delights in the truth that those who love God and accept Jesus are themselves children of God and He is our father. Ch 3 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called Children of God - and that’s what we are. Jesus died for our sins so don’t let anyone lead you astray. V 23 reminds us that we are commanded to Love Jesus and love one another.
He stresses this further in chapter 4; 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
John knows what he’s talking about - he was the one that Jesus loved and was given into the care of Mary the mother of Jesus as Jesus was dying on the cross. John was there when Jesus told His disciples that if they love Him and live in obedience to Him then He and the father would come and live within them.
Then lastly there’s Jude the other brother of Jesus- just one chapter and in it a warning for the church then and I believe for the church today. He speaks about the way in which false teachers have slipped into their fellowships and were distorting the truth for their own gain. Just like so many false teachers today.
The last few verses talk about persevering ; 17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
All good advice for us all today . Avoid the false teachings that have begun to infiltrate our churches - seek to know God through reading HIS word and praying to HIM for wisdom. - Be built up in the true faith and pray in the Holy Spirit - stand true and firm in the love of God - be gentle with those of your friends and acquaintances have doubts - share your love of God with them and by so doing you will be Gods channel through whom He will be able to save them.
As I said at the beginning, Peter, John, James and Jude would have had a lot to think about in the time between the death and resurrection of Jesus and the 40 days leading to His ascension. I believe that today - you and I - as well as the church universal have been given time to sit back - re-assess our own commitment to God and one another and be encouraged, I believe from Gods word, to look at our own lives and the lives of those around us - our loved ones, family and friends and re-adjust our lives and commitment to God if needs be.
We have been given a lot to think about over the last few weeks and my prayer is that we will take the opportunity that God has afforded us to look at our own lives - our allegiance to one another and our commitment to God so that when this trouble time that we are all going through is over, we can get back to worshipping together and see the difference that this has made to each one of us in our determination to look at how we do church and seek to do it Gods way.
I prayed last week that other people who have been sharing these messages and who probably have no allegiance to any other church, may decide that they would like to come on board - get to know us all, share the Love of Jesus with us and maybe become a part of our fellowship.
I believe that the temporary closure of our church building has served to open up new opportunities of bringing others into fellowship with Jesus. So finally lets take comfort from the heart of Jude the brother of Jesus who closes his letter with a doxology
V 24 To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore - Amen
Prayer; Lord thank You for the advice we have just shared from your faithful servants, Help us to put it into practice and show us the ways that you want us to go to bring us closer to You and to one another and be strengthened and encouraged to share what we have received from you with others - our friends and neighbours so that they too wil seek to know You and grow in their faith and understanding of Your word.
Forgive us Lord for the times we may have let You down or held back from sharing your love with others - I pray that this time of Isolation will have proved to be helpful to help us all grow to become more like Jesus our Saviour. I pray that we will all begin to Worship You Lord in the beauty of Holy Lives - to you be all the Glory and the praise.
We pray this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - Amen
Sunday 26 April 2020
Hello again I trust that you are all keeping well and managing to cope with the lockdown. The last few weeks have been very different from the way we have lived our lives up to this time. Before many of us were busy getting on with our everyday lives - meeting with one another, spending time together with friends - travelling in the car or bus, getting out and about - busy!
For the last few weeks I have done more walking than I have ever done before. Enjoying the beautiful place we live in - exploring places I’ve not really seen before. Iv’e walked the length of the canal from the bottom of Buck Woods near Esholt to Shipley many times and back along the country lanes between Windhill and Bracken dale - tiring but enlightening.
Speaking to neighbours- at a distance - I’ve been told that they have managed to get things done at home or in the garden that have been needed doing for a long time.
As well as my walks I’ve had more time to study my Bible, pray, write and record messages to you all on a weekly basis to keep in touch - it’s been strange to have to adapt to a different way of life to what we have been used to up to the 23rd of March when lockdown began and I guess that it will be just as difficult to re-adjust to life when things get back to normal.
Easter this year was so different to other years - not being able to meet together for Haggadah ( the last supper) Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday but as I’ve said I believe that God is using all this to get His church to take a good look at it’self and see if it is in fact living in obedience to Gods word - doing it His way - or doing it it’s own way . It’s a time of reassesment, of seeking God will and direction for the time ahead. Gods timing is perfect - Easter the time we celebrate the sacrificial love of God in sending Jesus to give His life on the cross tand make forgiveness available for all who repent and in accepting Him as their Lord and Saviour, commit their future into His hands and start to live a New life - be born again - spiritually.
In these last days, many churches have been taken over under new leadership by false teachers Other churches, having failed in their mission to gain new converts, are changing their gospel to make it more acceptable by comply with worldly values.
Just like the bible tells us will happen in the last days. God wants His church - His people, back.
I have spoken about this in the messages I have shared with you - the first being 27 March, 4 days after shutdown was announced when I said that ‘in these troubled times people who don’t know Christ as we do are living in fear whilst thankfully we who know Christ have the peaceful assurance that whatever we face - Gods word assures us that ‘when you go through the problems in life fear not for I am with you because I love you and you are precious to me’. I believe that that’s not just with you -but within You - by the power of the Spirit
We looked at Romans 8;18 where Paul assures the Christians that the problems we face are not worth thinking about when compared with blessing of Gods provision.
Then the assurance that whatever we face in life - whatever the outcome of this present problem of the Corona virus we are assured that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
He will see us through because He is our Father and He loves us. Nothing will separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus
March 29 We looked at how the church is not a building but people -you and me UR in the centre surrounded by Christ Himself that’s true CH UR CH The only way to get the world back on track and inline with Gods intention is for us as the Church to get out ACT2 together
3 April we looked at what 1 Peter 4;7 where Peter wrote about the last days and how we as Christians aught to live our lives; The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
On Palm Sunday we read how Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem amidst the praises of the crowds shouting their Hossanas but who tomorrow will be shouting ‘Crucify Him’. We looked at how easy it is to follow the crowds. We looked at how Jesus went into the Temple and overturned the money lenders saying they had changed His fathers house from a place of prayer into a den of Thieves.
We looked at how over the last few years we in our own country have seen how many in the churches have started to follow the worlds programmes and allowed the world to come in and take possession of their churches instead of it being how God intended it to be. We looked at how Jesus told His disciples that one of the signs of the end days will be the rise of wars, famines earthquakes - pestilence - persecution of Christians, False prophets and eventually after the gospel has reached all lands through the witness of the faithful few - then the end will come.
I said then that I believe that the trials that we are going through today make us aware of the awesomness of His love to those who believe and give us opportunity to reach out in love to the world around us and show what faithfulness to God can achieve in the lives of those who love Him and try to live in obedience to His word.
On Thursday 9 April we looked at how Jesus shared His last meal with the disciples and how before doing so He washed His disciples feet - a sign of real humility, a physical sign of how we should respect and value each other - to love one another and help one another -Jesus said "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Good Friday Jesus gave His life for you to pay the price for our sins and that we will have our sins forgiven if we acknowledge we have sinned, confess and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. A time to reflect on our commitment to Jesus - how far are we prepared to go in this world to let the love of Jesus be seen in us.
My prayer was that the events of Good Friday - will move us to examine our own hearts and make sure that we are living in obedience to His Word. We prayed that If there have been times when we have let God down that we will ask for forgiveness and determine in our lives to try to live in accordance to His will and let His love shine through us out into the darkness of this world - that we would feel His presence, and place our complete faith and trust in Him - and help us to help others through this difficult time also.
Easter Sunday The two Marys at the tomb of Jesus and the guards who were also there when the angel opened the tomb and set Jesus free - The Marys were sent to tell the faithful followers that He was alive whilst the guards, they went to tell the Chief Priest who paid them to go and tell people they had seen His disciples take the body. Thomas who had to see before He would believe. We are called to tell the world He is risen whilst the world don’t accept that and go their own way.
April 17 We talked about how God calls all people regardless of their position in life, Male or female, Jew of Gentile to seek to know the risen Lord and make Him known to others. We looked at how Paul a strongly passionate Jew was completely transformed by the love of God. What he had before he considered was nothing compared with the surpassing greatness of Knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. I said then that this shows us that God doesn’t want anyone to miss out on what it means to really know Him -
19 April We looked at how Jesus appeared to his disciples whilst they were out fishing and showed them what true obedience to what He says achieves. He did this by a repeat of their first calling - cast your nets on the right side and you will achieve your goal. They did and through obedience to Jesus their empty nets were filled with a large catch of fish. Gods way of saying ‘stop doing it your own way - do it My way and you will achieve what you set out to do. A great lesson for the church today who tend to do their own thing and have moved along way of even doing what God brought them in to being to do and that is to make converts. The ways of the world are expressed in the song that Frank Sinatra sang with the boast- ‘I did it my way’
I ended by saying that I believe that in these last days, God is calling His church to take a good look at itself and say sorry for the way it has started to ’do it their own way’ and by so doing, fail to grow and make true disciples of the living Lord. I also believe that God is calling us to take a step back and take an honest look at our own lives to see if we have fallen away from what we were called to do and that is to become Christ like and bring others to know Him too.
It’s a time to be honest with ourselves and if needs be to ask God to forgive us for doing our way and commit our future to doing it His way.
The last thing that the Matthew , Mark and Luke tell us occurs 40 days after the ressurection when Jesus appears to the disciples on the mount of Olives at Bethany. The last occasion was two weeks after the ressurection when Thomas was there.
The disciples went back to Jerusalem and spent 26 days before the ascension. I guess that during those 26 days they would share their experiences of Jesus and start to think what knowing Him meant to them - what impact had knowing Jesus made to their lives- how would they spend the rest of their lives.
40 days - that’s a special number if the Bible and is mentioned 157 times. It signifies a period of testing - The flood lasted 40 days and nights, The Israelites spent 40 years and nights in the desert before entering the promised land - plenty of time to take at look at their commitment to God - Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days - a time to come to terms with who He was and what His mission in life was.
From the ressurection to the next appearance of Jesus at the ascension there was 40 days. I wander how the last few weeks of looking at the Easter message has meant to us - you and me - here we are with just 26 days left before we look at the next appearance of Jesus - His commissioning of His disciples and then 10 days later the empowering of the Holy Spirit. How has this time of isolation which has given us lots of time to think - how has that affected our lives and commitment to God?
With all that in mind I sought God to ask what He wanted us to share this week and I was led to Pauls letter to the Colossians - a church that had been started by one of Pauls converts from the three years he was in Ephesus - a man called Epaphras who following his conversion took his new found faith to Colosse and started a young church there. This church became the target of heretical attacks and so fierce were they that Epaphras went back to Paul who then wrote this letter to the Church at Colosse to encourage them to stay true to their new found faith and not be drawn away by the heretical views of the opposition.
The main problems were the same that Paul had before his conversion. Strict observance of what were traditional ceremonies, so called religious practices such as Circumcision, what foods to eat and what foods not to eat, so many strictly Jewish laws that place more emphasis on tradition and mans ideas of what is acceptable to God and what isn’t - and the start of agnostic ideas. An Agnostic is a person who claims that it is impossible for anyone to know for sure the existance of God or know anything about how the universe was created or even if divine beings exist.
Paul wrote this letter to try straighten out the Colossians heresy by showing the truth about Jesus being the embodiment of God the creator so that faith in Jesus will open their minds to the truth about creation and the existence of God.
Colossians s a great book to begin to show others the awesomness of God and the person of Jesus. If anyone you know doubts the existence of God and the fact that Jesus was the embodiment of God then this is the book to read.
Paul starts in chapter one by assuring the church that he knows their faithfulness to the gospel and their love of Jesus. He upholds them in prayer asking God to fill them with the knowledge of His will enabling them to live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way - bearing fruit in their work and growing in their knowledge and understanding about God.
Paul prays that they will be strengthened with Gods power to enable them to endure patiently and joyfully all that they are facing in the opposition -giving thanks to the father who has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light.
Colossians 1 ;13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Creator The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Head of the Church And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Saviour Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Wow that should strengthen them in their stand against the agnostics - the ones who cannot accept anyone could ever know who created the world.
Paul goes onto acknowledge that God sent Jesus to bring people back into the truth and put straight the misunderstandings of those who profess to know and live in obedience to God - the Jews and that He - Paul has been called by God to make this known to his own people, the Jews and to the non-Jews, the Gentiles
Paul says; I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The whole of the next chapter talks about how Jesus by his death on the cross offers His faithful followers freedom from human regulations and traditions - circumcision, the regulations that have their roots in the Mosaic law - what foods are forgiven etc
By His death on the cross Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities.
Paul goes on v16; Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ
Chapter 3 gives us the rules for Holy Living Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Paul then gives a list of the things that we are not to do - things that are of an earthly nature; sexual immorality, lust, impurity, evil desires, greed anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language and lying and put on the new self.
Then the positives - the things we should do 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Chapter 4 ;2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Compassionate, Like Jesus have a heart of love
Kind Like Jesus
Humble Like Jesus Who washed His disciples feet
Gentle Like Jesus who Responds in love. Jesus told His disciples ‘Don’t stop the little children coming to me
Patient. Like Jesus I think we could all do with more of that
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.
In the world we live in today - a world powered by greed, selfishness, powerseeking, and forceful leaders - we need to show the loving nature of Almighty God and stand against the injustices.
The same in the church today we need to stand for Gods word to be respected and upheld. We need to let the world see the beauty of the Lord in the way that we live our lives - to Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness. That was the text that was on the front of our Church worship Hall for years and inspired me on many occasions.
As I said earlier, during the last recorded appearance of Jesus to His disciples and the ascension - the would have had a couple of weeks to look at how knowing Jesus had transformed their lives from humble fishermen to witnesses of the truth of God in Christ Jesus.
We too have been given a lot to think about over the last few weeks and my prayer is that we will take the opportunity that God has afforded us to look at our own lives - our allegiance to one another and our commitment to God so that when this trouble is all over and we can get back to worshipping together we will see the difference that this has made to each one of us and be determined to look at our church and seek to do it Gods way.
I pray too that other people who have been sharing these messages and who probably have no allegiance to any other church may decide that they would like to come on board - get to know us all, share the Love of Jesus with us and maybe become a part of our fellowship.
I believe that the temporary closure of our church building has served to open up new opportunities of bringing others into fellowship with Jesus
Here we are this morning - three weeks after the ressurection of Jesus and just 18 days away from to the next recorded appearance of Jesus which is at His Ascension. I wonder what happened between that time, the 40 days between His resurection and the ascension - we do know that His last appearance to the disciples whilst they were fishing when the Lord forgave Peter for his denials and commissioned him to continue the work that Jesus had begun - that was just one week after the ressurection.
I wonder how they spent their time? They had a lot to think about - They’d spent three years with Jesus - seeing how loving and gracious He Jesus - seeing His miraculous power - being taught by example how they should live their lives - all good positive things and then having to watch Him be arrested and nailed to a cruel cross -
- their friend - their Saviour - goodness how grieved they would be.
Then the awesome appearances of the Risen Lord that would make their hearts leap with joy - just three weeks ago - I wonder what happened since then and the time until His last appearance at His ascension. They’d have a lot to think about - time to take an honest look at their own lives and their relationship with their Lord
As I thought about this I wondered what effect all this has had on you and me. Easter has been especially difficult for us all this year what with the Lockdown that closed our churches and stopped our meeting together. The disciples had 40 days between Jesus’s last appearance and their next meeting on Ascension Day.
The lockdown in the UK that has affected all of us began 23 March - that’s 40 days from then to today - like the disciples we’ve had 40 days to re-adjust to a different lifestyle and plenty of free time to think about our relationship with God and one another - especially our relationship with the people around us in the world today.
What has been our experience over the last 40 days? - how has this time affected us - we like the disciples have had a lot of time to think about and adjust where needs be our relationship to God and one another.
Thinking about this I was drawn to look at what Gods word tells us about how we should respond to our relationship with God, our fellowship, one another and the world around us.
In the New Testament, following the four gospels Matthew Mark, Luke and John we have, Acts where we read about the birth of the Christian Church empowered by the Holy Spirit and the conversion and ministry of Paul. We then have the Nine letters of Paul to the various churches and individuals. There then follows a section called the General Letters written by just three of the Lords disciples - James, Peter, and John and James’s brother Jude who were brothers of Jesus. They bulk of their letters were not written to any individual of Christian fellowship but to a universal audience.
I believe that that audience includes you and me today.
The first is James - a brother of Jesus who writes ; Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
I must admit that the last few weeks have been difficult trials for us all - not being able to go our usual way - having to keep away from our loved ones - being limited in what we can and can’t do because of the Government Lockdown due to the Corona Virus. I can’t say that I’ve considered it to be a real Joy - although thinking about it - I have started to do things that I didn’t have time to do before like going for long walks and seeing the beauty of the landscape of where we live - Buck woods, the canal etc.
I’ll certainly make sure I make time to enjoy those things when the crisis is over.
I’ve also found more time to look at Gods word - not that I didn’t do that before - but more time to look deeper into the good book and be made aware of things I probably overlooked before. And so I have to agree that the last few weeks whilst not being a test of my faith - have made me look at my way of life. I believe that through it all my faith and understanding of the ways of God has been strengthened and opened up to me new ways of communicating my faith to others and hopefully bring me to a maturity of mind that as James says ‘is not lacking in my understanding and outworking to respond to the ways of God.
James goes on 5; If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Good advice and I must admit I have been calling on God to help me understand His word as He wants me to. I didn’t doubt His word before but I do believe that my understanding of it has been strengthened and confirmed even more by what is happenning in the world at this time. I really believe that God is using what we are going through in these days to bring us to a deeper understanding of God, ourselves and Gods plan and purpose for His people and how we need to get into Gods word more and then out and share His word in practical ways with others.
V 12 says this Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. WOW! Through it all there’s this wonderful blessing to look forward to.
This is James - the eldest of the younger brothers of Jesus - he would have grown up with Jesus and I guess would have been told all about the miraculous birth, the visits of the wise men and the shepherds. I don’t suppose he would have fully understood it all, that Jesus really was - Gods son - the Messiah - It‘s difficult to imagine how his other brothers and sisters would have responded to Jesus as they were growing up.
WE do know that James grew up to become the leader of the Council of Jerusalem and that he had a great deal of influence on that council as seen when he spoke up in defence of Paul and Barnabus who were seeking acceptance for the Gentiles who were turning to God - Luke tells us all about this in Acts 15
James here is saying that everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak or become angry - in fact what he’s saying here is don’t just listen to the word of God but do what it says listen to this;
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. In other words - Watch what your saying - actions speak louder than words - don’t just read the word of God - DO IT - put it into action..
And then about Faith without works he adds 2;14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? He then gives an example Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
In the writings of James we have more practical advice on how we should act and live our lives as Christians - submit to God - be patient in times of difficulty and then ends with advice on how we should exercise our faith in prayer and evangelism.
Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Good advice
Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. I guess that an easy one
Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
I can personally testify to that in my own life. God healed my Kidneys through the prayers of Lieut David and Dorothy Murden our officers at that time. Years later a deep cancer when I was told that the long term prospects for me was poor - healed nearly 20 years ago. Baby Adam whose lungs wouldn’t work - healed. A lame boy who wore calipers and who was told he might have to have an operation on his spine that showed signs of curvature - we laid hands on him and prayed and the following week he came to church, came to the front - jumped up with real joy on his face and said ‘ Jesus has healed me’ his calipers had been removed - he could now wear pumps which he not been able to before. WOW awesome!
And then about faithful evangelism James writes - My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. Wow another good reason for living it and sharing our love of God with one another and others.
Then there’s Peter, who as we know had denied even knowing Jesus but was forgiven and appointed by Jesus to share the good news - now he does just that and addresses his letter to those he calls Gods elect - Gods chosen people - both Jews and Gentiles who because of their new birth have become strangers to the world.
This is how he starts; 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, I love that - Born again Just like Jesus said
,, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. A New life to come
In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.
In know that many of us in our fellowship at Idle have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. The loss of loved ones - for me personally, the death of my lovely wife Beryl, my son Kevin and his baby Victoria - tragic - without faith in God I or any of us would not be able to cope. He has been and still is, with us and will see us through.
Paul then goes on to say; Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Unlike Peter and John - the ones Peter writes to havn’t had the privilage of actually seeing Jesus but because they have accepted what they have learned about Him- they have grown to love Him and really believe in Him - as a result they are filled with an inexpressible and glorious Joy -
WOW! I love it - is that how you feel this morning - I hope so - for as I said earlier, I believe that that letter is applies to you and me today.
Therefore Peter says; 13 with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
WOW! Be Holy - as we said earlier - Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holy Living.
The rest of the first letter goes on to explain what our lives should be like - to live for God. The second letter of Peter is about the future and end times Peter could write is this way because of His experience with the Lord, the mighty way he had been able to talk to the thousands at Pentecost and experience the awesome coming and infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Next we have John - a cousin of Jesus - the disciple whom Jesus loved - starts his letter by confirming that Jesus is indeed the son of God and is assured of this because he has seen Jesus, even touched Jesus -the light of the world and John tells us that through fellowship with Jesus we too can walk in the light.
John stresses that whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did’ another way of saying you can’t just ‘talk the talk’ you’ve got to ‘walk the walk‘. Don’t love the things of the world - love God and live according to His word.
John delights in the truth that those who love God and accept Jesus are themselves children of God and He is our father. Ch 3 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called Children of God - and that’s what we are. Jesus died for our sins so don’t let anyone lead you astray. V 23 reminds us that we are commanded to Love Jesus and love one another.
He stresses this further in chapter 4; 7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. This is how we know that we live in him and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
John knows what he’s talking about - he was the one that Jesus loved and was given into the care of Mary the mother of Jesus as Jesus was dying on the cross. John was there when Jesus told His disciples that if they love Him and live in obedience to Him then He and the father would come and live within them.
Then lastly there’s Jude the other brother of Jesus- just one chapter and in it a warning for the church then and I believe for the church today. He speaks about the way in which false teachers have slipped into their fellowships and were distorting the truth for their own gain. Just like so many false teachers today.
The last few verses talk about persevering ; 17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
All good advice for us all today . Avoid the false teachings that have begun to infiltrate our churches - seek to know God through reading HIS word and praying to HIM for wisdom. - Be built up in the true faith and pray in the Holy Spirit - stand true and firm in the love of God - be gentle with those of your friends and acquaintances have doubts - share your love of God with them and by so doing you will be Gods channel through whom He will be able to save them.
As I said at the beginning, Peter, John, James and Jude would have had a lot to think about in the time between the death and resurrection of Jesus and the 40 days leading to His ascension. I believe that today - you and I - as well as the church universal have been given time to sit back - re-assess our own commitment to God and one another and be encouraged, I believe from Gods word, to look at our own lives and the lives of those around us - our loved ones, family and friends and re-adjust our lives and commitment to God if needs be.
We have been given a lot to think about over the last few weeks and my prayer is that we will take the opportunity that God has afforded us to look at our own lives - our allegiance to one another and our commitment to God so that when this trouble time that we are all going through is over, we can get back to worshipping together and see the difference that this has made to each one of us in our determination to look at how we do church and seek to do it Gods way.
I prayed last week that other people who have been sharing these messages and who probably have no allegiance to any other church, may decide that they would like to come on board - get to know us all, share the Love of Jesus with us and maybe become a part of our fellowship.
I believe that the temporary closure of our church building has served to open up new opportunities of bringing others into fellowship with Jesus. So finally lets take comfort from the heart of Jude the brother of Jesus who closes his letter with a doxology
V 24 To Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy— to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore - Amen
Prayer; Lord thank You for the advice we have just shared from your faithful servants, Help us to put it into practice and show us the ways that you want us to go to bring us closer to You and to one another and be strengthened and encouraged to share what we have received from you with others - our friends and neighbours so that they too wil seek to know You and grow in their faith and understanding of Your word.
Forgive us Lord for the times we may have let You down or held back from sharing your love with others - I pray that this time of Isolation will have proved to be helpful to help us all grow to become more like Jesus our Saviour. I pray that we will all begin to Worship You Lord in the beauty of Holy Lives - to you be all the Glory and the praise.
We pray this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit - Amen
Sunday 26 April 2020
Hello again I trust that you are all keeping well and managing to cope with the lockdown. The last few weeks have been very different from the way we have lived our lives up to this time. Before many of us were busy getting on with our everyday lives - meeting with one another, spending time together with friends - travelling in the car or bus, getting out and about - busy!
For the last few weeks I have done more walking than I have ever done before. Enjoying the beautiful place we live in - exploring places I’ve not really seen before. Iv’e walked the length of the canal from the bottom of Buck Woods near Esholt to Shipley many times and back along the country lanes between Windhill and Bracken dale - tiring but enlightening.
Speaking to neighbours- at a distance - I’ve been told that they have managed to get things done at home or in the garden that have been needed doing for a long time.
As well as my walks I’ve had more time to study my Bible, pray, write and record messages to you all on a weekly basis to keep in touch - it’s been strange to have to adapt to a different way of life to what we have been used to up to the 23rd of March when lockdown began and I guess that it will be just as difficult to re-adjust to life when things get back to normal.
Easter this year was so different to other years - not being able to meet together for Haggadah ( the last supper) Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday but as I’ve said I believe that God is using all this to get His church to take a good look at it’self and see if it is in fact living in obedience to Gods word - doing it His way - or doing it it’s own way . It’s a time of reassesment, of seeking God will and direction for the time ahead. Gods timing is perfect - Easter the time we celebrate the sacrificial love of God in sending Jesus to give His life on the cross tand make forgiveness available for all who repent and in accepting Him as their Lord and Saviour, commit their future into His hands and start to live a New life - be born again - spiritually.
In these last days, many churches have been taken over under new leadership by false teachers Other churches, having failed in their mission to gain new converts, are changing their gospel to make it more acceptable by comply with worldly values.
Just like the bible tells us will happen in the last days. God wants His church - His people, back.
I have spoken about this in the messages I have shared with you - the first being 27 March, 4 days after shutdown was announced when I said that ‘in these troubled times people who don’t know Christ as we do are living in fear whilst thankfully we who know Christ have the peaceful assurance that whatever we face - Gods word assures us that ‘when you go through the problems in life fear not for I am with you because I love you and you are precious to me’. I believe that that’s not just with you -but within You - by the power of the Spirit
We looked at Romans 8;18 where Paul assures the Christians that the problems we face are not worth thinking about when compared with blessing of Gods provision.
Then the assurance that whatever we face in life - whatever the outcome of this present problem of the Corona virus we are assured that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
He will see us through because He is our Father and He loves us. Nothing will separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus
March 29 We looked at how the church is not a building but people -you and me UR in the centre surrounded by Christ Himself that’s true CH UR CH The only way to get the world back on track and inline with Gods intention is for us as the Church to get out ACT2 together
3 April we looked at what 1 Peter 4;7 where Peter wrote about the last days and how we as Christians aught to live our lives; The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
On Palm Sunday we read how Jesus rode triumphantly into Jerusalem amidst the praises of the crowds shouting their Hossanas but who tomorrow will be shouting ‘Crucify Him’. We looked at how easy it is to follow the crowds. We looked at how Jesus went into the Temple and overturned the money lenders saying they had changed His fathers house from a place of prayer into a den of Thieves.
We looked at how over the last few years we in our own country have seen how many in the churches have started to follow the worlds programmes and allowed the world to come in and take possession of their churches instead of it being how God intended it to be. We looked at how Jesus told His disciples that one of the signs of the end days will be the rise of wars, famines earthquakes - pestilence - persecution of Christians, False prophets and eventually after the gospel has reached all lands through the witness of the faithful few - then the end will come.
I said then that I believe that the trials that we are going through today make us aware of the awesomness of His love to those who believe and give us opportunity to reach out in love to the world around us and show what faithfulness to God can achieve in the lives of those who love Him and try to live in obedience to His word.
On Thursday 9 April we looked at how Jesus shared His last meal with the disciples and how before doing so He washed His disciples feet - a sign of real humility, a physical sign of how we should respect and value each other - to love one another and help one another -Jesus said "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Good Friday Jesus gave His life for you to pay the price for our sins and that we will have our sins forgiven if we acknowledge we have sinned, confess and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour. A time to reflect on our commitment to Jesus - how far are we prepared to go in this world to let the love of Jesus be seen in us.
My prayer was that the events of Good Friday - will move us to examine our own hearts and make sure that we are living in obedience to His Word. We prayed that If there have been times when we have let God down that we will ask for forgiveness and determine in our lives to try to live in accordance to His will and let His love shine through us out into the darkness of this world - that we would feel His presence, and place our complete faith and trust in Him - and help us to help others through this difficult time also.
Easter Sunday The two Marys at the tomb of Jesus and the guards who were also there when the angel opened the tomb and set Jesus free - The Marys were sent to tell the faithful followers that He was alive whilst the guards, they went to tell the Chief Priest who paid them to go and tell people they had seen His disciples take the body. Thomas who had to see before He would believe. We are called to tell the world He is risen whilst the world don’t accept that and go their own way.
April 17 We talked about how God calls all people regardless of their position in life, Male or female, Jew of Gentile to seek to know the risen Lord and make Him known to others. We looked at how Paul a strongly passionate Jew was completely transformed by the love of God. What he had before he considered was nothing compared with the surpassing greatness of Knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. I said then that this shows us that God doesn’t want anyone to miss out on what it means to really know Him -
19 April We looked at how Jesus appeared to his disciples whilst they were out fishing and showed them what true obedience to what He says achieves. He did this by a repeat of their first calling - cast your nets on the right side and you will achieve your goal. They did and through obedience to Jesus their empty nets were filled with a large catch of fish. Gods way of saying ‘stop doing it your own way - do it My way and you will achieve what you set out to do. A great lesson for the church today who tend to do their own thing and have moved along way of even doing what God brought them in to being to do and that is to make converts. The ways of the world are expressed in the song that Frank Sinatra sang with the boast- ‘I did it my way’
I ended by saying that I believe that in these last days, God is calling His church to take a good look at itself and say sorry for the way it has started to ’do it their own way’ and by so doing, fail to grow and make true disciples of the living Lord. I also believe that God is calling us to take a step back and take an honest look at our own lives to see if we have fallen away from what we were called to do and that is to become Christ like and bring others to know Him too.
It’s a time to be honest with ourselves and if needs be to ask God to forgive us for doing our way and commit our future to doing it His way.
The last thing that the Matthew , Mark and Luke tell us occurs 40 days after the ressurection when Jesus appears to the disciples on the mount of Olives at Bethany. The last occasion was two weeks after the ressurection when Thomas was there.
The disciples went back to Jerusalem and spent 26 days before the ascension. I guess that during those 26 days they would share their experiences of Jesus and start to think what knowing Him meant to them - what impact had knowing Jesus made to their lives- how would they spend the rest of their lives.
40 days - that’s a special number if the Bible and is mentioned 157 times. It signifies a period of testing - The flood lasted 40 days and nights, The Israelites spent 40 years and nights in the desert before entering the promised land - plenty of time to take at look at their commitment to God - Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days - a time to come to terms with who He was and what His mission in life was.
From the ressurection to the next appearance of Jesus at the ascension there was 40 days. I wander how the last few weeks of looking at the Easter message has meant to us - you and me - here we are with just 26 days left before we look at the next appearance of Jesus - His commissioning of His disciples and then 10 days later the empowering of the Holy Spirit. How has this time of isolation which has given us lots of time to think - how has that affected our lives and commitment to God?
With all that in mind I sought God to ask what He wanted us to share this week and I was led to Pauls letter to the Colossians - a church that had been started by one of Pauls converts from the three years he was in Ephesus - a man called Epaphras who following his conversion took his new found faith to Colosse and started a young church there. This church became the target of heretical attacks and so fierce were they that Epaphras went back to Paul who then wrote this letter to the Church at Colosse to encourage them to stay true to their new found faith and not be drawn away by the heretical views of the opposition.
The main problems were the same that Paul had before his conversion. Strict observance of what were traditional ceremonies, so called religious practices such as Circumcision, what foods to eat and what foods not to eat, so many strictly Jewish laws that place more emphasis on tradition and mans ideas of what is acceptable to God and what isn’t - and the start of agnostic ideas. An Agnostic is a person who claims that it is impossible for anyone to know for sure the existance of God or know anything about how the universe was created or even if divine beings exist.
Paul wrote this letter to try straighten out the Colossians heresy by showing the truth about Jesus being the embodiment of God the creator so that faith in Jesus will open their minds to the truth about creation and the existence of God.
Colossians s a great book to begin to show others the awesomness of God and the person of Jesus. If anyone you know doubts the existence of God and the fact that Jesus was the embodiment of God then this is the book to read.
Paul starts in chapter one by assuring the church that he knows their faithfulness to the gospel and their love of Jesus. He upholds them in prayer asking God to fill them with the knowledge of His will enabling them to live a life worthy of the Lord and please Him in every way - bearing fruit in their work and growing in their knowledge and understanding about God.
Paul prays that they will be strengthened with Gods power to enable them to endure patiently and joyfully all that they are facing in the opposition -giving thanks to the father who has qualified them to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light.
Colossians 1 ;13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Creator The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
Head of the Church And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
Saviour Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
Wow that should strengthen them in their stand against the agnostics - the ones who cannot accept anyone could ever know who created the world.
Paul goes onto acknowledge that God sent Jesus to bring people back into the truth and put straight the misunderstandings of those who profess to know and live in obedience to God - the Jews and that He - Paul has been called by God to make this known to his own people, the Jews and to the non-Jews, the Gentiles
Paul says; I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
The whole of the next chapter talks about how Jesus by his death on the cross offers His faithful followers freedom from human regulations and traditions - circumcision, the regulations that have their roots in the Mosaic law - what foods are forgiven etc
By His death on the cross Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities.
Paul goes on v16; Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ
Chapter 3 gives us the rules for Holy Living Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Paul then gives a list of the things that we are not to do - things that are of an earthly nature; sexual immorality, lust, impurity, evil desires, greed anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy language and lying and put on the new self.
Then the positives - the things we should do 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Chapter 4 ;2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Compassionate, Like Jesus have a heart of love
Kind Like Jesus
Humble Like Jesus Who washed His disciples feet
Gentle Like Jesus who Responds in love. Jesus told His disciples ‘Don’t stop the little children coming to me
Patient. Like Jesus I think we could all do with more of that
Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.
In the world we live in today - a world powered by greed, selfishness, powerseeking, and forceful leaders - we need to show the loving nature of Almighty God and stand against the injustices.
The same in the church today we need to stand for Gods word to be respected and upheld. We need to let the world see the beauty of the Lord in the way that we live our lives - to Worship the Lord in the beauty of Holiness. That was the text that was on the front of our Church worship Hall for years and inspired me on many occasions.
As I said earlier, during the last recorded appearance of Jesus to His disciples and the ascension - the would have had a couple of weeks to look at how knowing Jesus had transformed their lives from humble fishermen to witnesses of the truth of God in Christ Jesus.
We too have been given a lot to think about over the last few weeks and my prayer is that we will take the opportunity that God has afforded us to look at our own lives - our allegiance to one another and our commitment to God so that when this trouble is all over and we can get back to worshipping together we will see the difference that this has made to each one of us and be determined to look at our church and seek to do it Gods way.
I pray too that other people who have been sharing these messages and who probably have no allegiance to any other church may decide that they would like to come on board - get to know us all, share the Love of Jesus with us and maybe become a part of our fellowship.
I believe that the temporary closure of our church building has served to open up new opportunities of bringing others into fellowship with Jesus
Sunday 19 April 2020 I have put the message for Friday17 April after this one - so please read that one first)
It’s been a week now since the awesome resurrection our Lord and the many appearances he made to reassure His friends and disciples that He was alive. As I said yesterday - no one was left out - He wanted to make sure everyone knew He had risen and that His sacrificial death on the cross was not the end of His mission but the beginning of a new chapter when He would enthuse and empower His faithful followers to continue the ministry that He had begun. Jesus would - from Heaven - indwell His followers and through them, birth the Christian Fellowships that would reach out to the whole world - way outside Jerusalem where it all started and to the utter most parts of the world.
The Bible reading we are looking at today is - like so many of the ones we have read this week - only to be found in John’s gospel - and I love it. The other gospels tell us of the way in which Jesus called His disciples together when He started out on His earthy ministry Luke tells it this way
Luke ch 5 v 1-11 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Wow! - the calling of His helpers - not the learned not the cleverest people but the fishermen, the working class of His day.
Jesus called them to be fishers of men - Wow! And the only way they would achieve that was by being obedient to God and doing it His way.
This is the Bible reading that I used when I commissioned my first soldiers in 1996 - Brian and Shirley Aldous - I told everyone then that the only way they and all of us would be successful in wining others for Christ - which is the soldiers duty - would be if they and we lived lives in obedience to the word of God which is what the first doctrine of the Salvation Army says -
We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by divine inspiration of God and that they only- constitute th Divine rule of Christian faith and practice’. That’s why when we sign our articles of war ‘we promise to pray and read our bibles’.
The disciples stopped doing it their way, the way they had always done it and started to do it Gods way and cast their nets on the other side.
They disciples then spent three years living and learning from Jesus - how to live lives in obedience to Him. Then as we have just shared over the last week - they had to let Jesus go - there they were - left on their own - so they thought - that was until Jesus came back and as the gospel of John shows us - and remind them of their first calling and what it really meant now that Jesus was no longer physically with them.
John 21;1-14 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved ( John) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Amazing that the other gospel writers don’t tell us this - I find it so important to the way in which Jesus is going to commission His followers to take over the earthly ministry in calling men and women to know and accept Jesus as their saviour.
As we read it - it’s almost a repeat performance of the first calling of the disciples - ‘Have you caught any fish?’ - ‘No’ - ‘Then cast your nets on the other side and you will’ - and I believe that it was done this way as a reminder to the disciples of that first calling and what Jesus said to them then.
Today I see it as a stark reminder from God for His church - that includes you and me - calling us to stand back for a moment and ask ourselves that same question - have we caught any fish - have we influenced anyone else to leave their sinful past behind and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour . Have you?
I believe that God is today using the difficult situation that the church finds itself in having to close their doors to their members and the public and make the best of the situation by looking for other ways to reach out to others with the good news. Inother words stop doing the way you’ve always done it before which is usually ‘our way’ by casting our nets on the other side and start doing it His way.
We were called - like the disciples = to begin to get to really Know Jesus which they did in their three year apprenticship - and then go and make Him known to others. Not to do it our way but to do it His way. I believe that over the last few years, many churches have started to do what they think is their ministry - their own way -. Even changing what the bible says to make it more acceptable to the world we live in - compromising the word of God - I believe the time has come for the church to get back to doing it His way - which is how it started.
As the rest of the chapter tells us - Jesus is ready to forgive us our failings and give us the opportunity to start again - He does it through the experience of Peter who when the testing time came let Jesus down by stating strongly, when challenged by the woman who said she saw Peter with Jesus, that He’d not been with Jesus and went so far as to say ‘He didn’t even know the man’ not ones but three times. Lets read that;
John 21;15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Forgiveness - that’s what Peter needed - Jesus knew that what Peter had done was through fear for his own life and understood that - and because of His great love was ready to not only forgive Peter but also to reinstate him to continue to do what Jesus had called him and the others to do which was to be a fisher of men.
I believe that in these last days, God is calling His church to take a good look at itself and say sorry for the way it has started to ’do it their own way’ and by so doing, fail to grow and make true disciples of the living Lord. I also believe that God is calling us to take a step back and take an honest look at our own lives to see if we have fallen away from what we were called to do and that is to become Christlike and bring others to know Him too.
It’s a time to be honest with ourselves and if needs be to ask God to forgive us for doing our way and commit our future to doing it His way.
Peter did that and was commissioned to go and make disciples and spread the good news to feed the young with the truth and to take care of the adults by feeding them with the truth of Gods word which he went on to do.
In a few weeks time we will see how God used Peter to bring the truth home to thousands who gathered to hear him and then filled them with the Holy Spirit empowering them all to go and bring others into the truth. Pentecost
I hope that as we have shared Johns account of how God reminded His followers of their calling and forgave Peter for the way he denied Jesus that we will examine our own lives and if needed - determine to ask God to forgive us for our failings and reinstate us to be His faithful followers to bring the truth of the gospel to our friends, relations, neighbours - the world.
God bless you all
It’s been a week now since the awesome resurrection our Lord and the many appearances he made to reassure His friends and disciples that He was alive. As I said yesterday - no one was left out - He wanted to make sure everyone knew He had risen and that His sacrificial death on the cross was not the end of His mission but the beginning of a new chapter when He would enthuse and empower His faithful followers to continue the ministry that He had begun. Jesus would - from Heaven - indwell His followers and through them, birth the Christian Fellowships that would reach out to the whole world - way outside Jerusalem where it all started and to the utter most parts of the world.
The Bible reading we are looking at today is - like so many of the ones we have read this week - only to be found in John’s gospel - and I love it. The other gospels tell us of the way in which Jesus called His disciples together when He started out on His earthy ministry Luke tells it this way
Luke ch 5 v 1-11 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.
Wow! - the calling of His helpers - not the learned not the cleverest people but the fishermen, the working class of His day.
Jesus called them to be fishers of men - Wow! And the only way they would achieve that was by being obedient to God and doing it His way.
This is the Bible reading that I used when I commissioned my first soldiers in 1996 - Brian and Shirley Aldous - I told everyone then that the only way they and all of us would be successful in wining others for Christ - which is the soldiers duty - would be if they and we lived lives in obedience to the word of God which is what the first doctrine of the Salvation Army says -
We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments were given by divine inspiration of God and that they only- constitute th Divine rule of Christian faith and practice’. That’s why when we sign our articles of war ‘we promise to pray and read our bibles’.
The disciples stopped doing it their way, the way they had always done it and started to do it Gods way and cast their nets on the other side.
They disciples then spent three years living and learning from Jesus - how to live lives in obedience to Him. Then as we have just shared over the last week - they had to let Jesus go - there they were - left on their own - so they thought - that was until Jesus came back and as the gospel of John shows us - and remind them of their first calling and what it really meant now that Jesus was no longer physically with them.
John 21;1-14 Afterward Jesus appeared again to his disciples, by the Sea of Galilee. It happened this way: Simon Peter, Thomas (also known as Didymus), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
Then the disciple whom Jesus loved ( John) said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Amazing that the other gospel writers don’t tell us this - I find it so important to the way in which Jesus is going to commission His followers to take over the earthly ministry in calling men and women to know and accept Jesus as their saviour.
As we read it - it’s almost a repeat performance of the first calling of the disciples - ‘Have you caught any fish?’ - ‘No’ - ‘Then cast your nets on the other side and you will’ - and I believe that it was done this way as a reminder to the disciples of that first calling and what Jesus said to them then.
Today I see it as a stark reminder from God for His church - that includes you and me - calling us to stand back for a moment and ask ourselves that same question - have we caught any fish - have we influenced anyone else to leave their sinful past behind and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour . Have you?
I believe that God is today using the difficult situation that the church finds itself in having to close their doors to their members and the public and make the best of the situation by looking for other ways to reach out to others with the good news. Inother words stop doing the way you’ve always done it before which is usually ‘our way’ by casting our nets on the other side and start doing it His way.
We were called - like the disciples = to begin to get to really Know Jesus which they did in their three year apprenticship - and then go and make Him known to others. Not to do it our way but to do it His way. I believe that over the last few years, many churches have started to do what they think is their ministry - their own way -. Even changing what the bible says to make it more acceptable to the world we live in - compromising the word of God - I believe the time has come for the church to get back to doing it His way - which is how it started.
As the rest of the chapter tells us - Jesus is ready to forgive us our failings and give us the opportunity to start again - He does it through the experience of Peter who when the testing time came let Jesus down by stating strongly, when challenged by the woman who said she saw Peter with Jesus, that He’d not been with Jesus and went so far as to say ‘He didn’t even know the man’ not ones but three times. Lets read that;
John 21;15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep.
Forgiveness - that’s what Peter needed - Jesus knew that what Peter had done was through fear for his own life and understood that - and because of His great love was ready to not only forgive Peter but also to reinstate him to continue to do what Jesus had called him and the others to do which was to be a fisher of men.
I believe that in these last days, God is calling His church to take a good look at itself and say sorry for the way it has started to ’do it their own way’ and by so doing, fail to grow and make true disciples of the living Lord. I also believe that God is calling us to take a step back and take an honest look at our own lives to see if we have fallen away from what we were called to do and that is to become Christlike and bring others to know Him too.
It’s a time to be honest with ourselves and if needs be to ask God to forgive us for doing our way and commit our future to doing it His way.
Peter did that and was commissioned to go and make disciples and spread the good news to feed the young with the truth and to take care of the adults by feeding them with the truth of Gods word which he went on to do.
In a few weeks time we will see how God used Peter to bring the truth home to thousands who gathered to hear him and then filled them with the Holy Spirit empowering them all to go and bring others into the truth. Pentecost
I hope that as we have shared Johns account of how God reminded His followers of their calling and forgave Peter for the way he denied Jesus that we will examine our own lives and if needed - determine to ask God to forgive us for our failings and reinstate us to be His faithful followers to bring the truth of the gospel to our friends, relations, neighbours - the world.
God bless you all
Message Friday 17 April 2020
Last week we celebrated the ressurection of our Lord Jesus and read from Matthew 27 about the way wealthy Joseph of Arimathea, one of the Lords converts came and took the body of Jesus and laid it in a tomb he had purchased. We read how the guards went to Pilate and told him how before they had even arrested Jesus they had heard Him say that after three days He would arise from the dead. They suggested to Pilate that with this in mind, the disciples of Jesus might come along at night, steal the body and then start the rumour going that He had arisen exactly like He’d said He would. So the soldiers asked for permission to go and guard the tomb which they did.
We then read the awesome account of how there was a violent earthquake and an angel appeared telling the two Mary’s that Jesus had arisen and to go and tell the disciples- which frightened the guards who then ran to tell the Chief Priest all they had seen and heard. On hearing this, the priests paid the guards a large amount of money to go and tell everyone that His disciples had indeed come and taken the body to make it look as if He had arisen as He said He would.
Amazingly Matthew is the only gospel writer to tell us this - in fact Matthew is the only one who tells us how the two Mary’s found an angel at the empty tomb who told them to go and tell the disciples and as they went to do that Jesus Himself appeared to them and told them to tell His disciples He had risen and that they must go to Galilee and there they will see Him for themselves.
Matthew ends his gospel telling us how they did as they were told and went to Galilee up a mountain where they saw Jesus who then commissioned them to go and tell the world, make disciples . He then empowered them with the Holy Spirit to do all that He had commanded them to do. Matthew then tell us that Jesus promised to be with them to the end of the age. WOW! The last promise Jesus made Matthew 28;20
Mark - in just one chapter ( ch 16) tells us about the ressurection and appearances of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, the disciples, then the two on the road to Emmaus then to the eleven when He commissioned them to go into all the world and spread the good news. Jesus told them then- that whoever believes and is baptised will be saved and those who don’t believe will be condemned. Jesus then gives them the news that they will do the most awesome things that only Jesus had done - heal the sick, cast out demons etc
Luke - again in just one chapter tells us about the Mary’s, the two on the road to Emmaus who go back and tell the other disciples who confirm that Jesus has arisen and appeared to Peter - Luke ends with the ascension of Jesus
It appears that John is the gospel writer who give us the most information about the appearances of Jesus in chapter 20 and 21 in fact chapter - 21 is the only one where we are how Jesus appears to His disciples while they are out fishing - the amazing catch of fish when they do as Jesus tells them and then how Jesus forgives and reinstates Peter - which we will look at on Sunday - as this happened one week after the ressurection
Lets look at what John tells us in Ch 20; 26-31 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel is explained in v30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
As we read last week ; Thomas wasn’t with the other disciples the first time He appeared to them and showed them that really was Him by showing them the nail prints in His hands and the wound in His side. But this week He is and Jesus - not wanting to leave anyone of His disciples out, showed Thomas exactly what Thomas had said he would need to see for himself f he was to believe that Jesus was alive.
Thankfully John tells us of this second appearance of Jesus to His disciples just shows the extent of Gods love for those who put their trust in Him and follow Him - No one is to be left out - God loves us all and will go to any length to show us that. God doesn’t want to leave anyone out - He wants us all to have the same opportunity to know Him, Love Him receive from Him if we strive to live in obedience to His word.
God loves you and God love me and will go to great lengths to show us that. The appearances of Jesus show us how much He cared for and loved those who had taken up their cross to follow Him. Everyone of them were equal to God -
God showed us that - I believe - in the way that Jesus appeared first to the women - unheard of to the culture of the time.
Women were regarded a little lower than the men - yet God chose to let the women be the first witnesses to the risen Lord.
It was the same when Jesus was born - the first people to see Him were the humble shepherds who went away to tell everyone else - unheard of in that day - a shepherd was not allowed to be a witness in a court of law - they were not of the right class and intellect - Yet they were the first to witness the birth of the Messiah. The greatest testimony of all time. We are all equal in Gods eyes - all one in Christ.
Paul tells us that in Galatians 3;28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus Paul tells us that; we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.
Here Paul is saying that in Christ - we are all equal - of course there are Jews and Gentiles, people of different cultures and race just as there are Male and Female two different sexes but what Paul is pointing out is that as far as salvation goes - God has no favourites - we are all equal and I believe that God went to great lengths to show mankind that.
The first witnesses to the birth of |Jesus - were the humble shepherds,
He first witnesses to the resurrection Christ - were women -
We are all equal in the eyes of God and that’s why no one is left out - Jesus Christ came to save the lost sinners - of every race, culture because He loves us all.
Look at Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth 1 Corinthians 15;
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
Wow look at the emphasis Paul a Jew made to the fact that everything that happened to Jesus was recorded centuries earlier in their own scripture and so there should be no doubt that Jesus is the Messiah. He died for our sins according to the scripture - He was buried and raised on the third day according to scripture and that He rose from the grave.
Paul then tells us; After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
The first time we heard about Paul (known as Saul) was at the stoning of Stephen Acts 7 and the next time when Saul was on his way to Damascus to kill the new Christians there Acts 9. Saul who was the Christian Churches biggest enemy amazingly became Gods choice to be one of His greatest evangelists when on the road to Damascus to kill the Christians, Jesus appeared and converted Saul - gave him a new Christian name - Paul who wrote most of the books of the New Testament books
Paul wrote to the church at Philippi about who he was before his conversion saying He was a Hebrew of Hebrews; and in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in a Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
God loves us all - Jew, Gentile, Male, Female, Old, Young - God loves us all equally
All the appearances of Jesus after His ressurection show the extent of Gods love to you and me in that He wants us all to share the good news - the awesome truth that He lives today and that He wants to make His home in you and me - As I said in my first message a couple of weeks ago, the dwelling place of God is not confined to the building - the church - its you and me - we are the temples of the living God
Jesus is alive in you and me - or that’s what He wants to be - that’s the only way that others in the world who don’t know or believe in Him will come to know Him - through the living testimony of the living presence of God in you and me.
The only way that people around us will come to believe is when they see the love of Jesus lived out in you and me. As Jesus said to Thomas “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
You and I havn’t seen Jesus but we believe through faith and so we are blessed by God. It’s not about seeing its all about knowing Him - that’s why Paul said ‘I want to know Christ ‘ that’s what Graham Kendrick meant when he wrote the song ‘Knowing You Jesus’ and the way to get to know Him is through reading His word and speaking to Him in prayer - and being aware of His presence - what a privileged people we are.
God doesn’t want anyone to miss out on what it means to really know Him -
I can’t wait for the time when we will be able to meet together and share the love of God with one another
I went to the Hall on Wednesday - It was a strange feeling being there alone - but then I realised I wasn’t alone that Jesus lives in me and I believe that together we shared the experience of being there. As I looked around I looked forward to the time when we can all be together again. One of the awesome things I saw whilst I was there is that the flowers in the worship hall looked great - just like they did when they were put there four weeks ago.
Brilliant - hold on to the truth that Jesus is alive and that He wants us all to know that.
Jesus is alive in you and me - unlike the disciples, unlike Thomas we havn’t seen Him physically but know He lives within us and I believe that His desire is that we share that love with others.
God bless
Last week we celebrated the ressurection of our Lord Jesus and read from Matthew 27 about the way wealthy Joseph of Arimathea, one of the Lords converts came and took the body of Jesus and laid it in a tomb he had purchased. We read how the guards went to Pilate and told him how before they had even arrested Jesus they had heard Him say that after three days He would arise from the dead. They suggested to Pilate that with this in mind, the disciples of Jesus might come along at night, steal the body and then start the rumour going that He had arisen exactly like He’d said He would. So the soldiers asked for permission to go and guard the tomb which they did.
We then read the awesome account of how there was a violent earthquake and an angel appeared telling the two Mary’s that Jesus had arisen and to go and tell the disciples- which frightened the guards who then ran to tell the Chief Priest all they had seen and heard. On hearing this, the priests paid the guards a large amount of money to go and tell everyone that His disciples had indeed come and taken the body to make it look as if He had arisen as He said He would.
Amazingly Matthew is the only gospel writer to tell us this - in fact Matthew is the only one who tells us how the two Mary’s found an angel at the empty tomb who told them to go and tell the disciples and as they went to do that Jesus Himself appeared to them and told them to tell His disciples He had risen and that they must go to Galilee and there they will see Him for themselves.
Matthew ends his gospel telling us how they did as they were told and went to Galilee up a mountain where they saw Jesus who then commissioned them to go and tell the world, make disciples . He then empowered them with the Holy Spirit to do all that He had commanded them to do. Matthew then tell us that Jesus promised to be with them to the end of the age. WOW! The last promise Jesus made Matthew 28;20
Mark - in just one chapter ( ch 16) tells us about the ressurection and appearances of Jesus to Mary Magdalene, the disciples, then the two on the road to Emmaus then to the eleven when He commissioned them to go into all the world and spread the good news. Jesus told them then- that whoever believes and is baptised will be saved and those who don’t believe will be condemned. Jesus then gives them the news that they will do the most awesome things that only Jesus had done - heal the sick, cast out demons etc
Luke - again in just one chapter tells us about the Mary’s, the two on the road to Emmaus who go back and tell the other disciples who confirm that Jesus has arisen and appeared to Peter - Luke ends with the ascension of Jesus
It appears that John is the gospel writer who give us the most information about the appearances of Jesus in chapter 20 and 21 in fact chapter - 21 is the only one where we are how Jesus appears to His disciples while they are out fishing - the amazing catch of fish when they do as Jesus tells them and then how Jesus forgives and reinstates Peter - which we will look at on Sunday - as this happened one week after the ressurection
Lets look at what John tells us in Ch 20; 26-31 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
The Purpose of John’s Gospel is explained in v30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
As we read last week ; Thomas wasn’t with the other disciples the first time He appeared to them and showed them that really was Him by showing them the nail prints in His hands and the wound in His side. But this week He is and Jesus - not wanting to leave anyone of His disciples out, showed Thomas exactly what Thomas had said he would need to see for himself f he was to believe that Jesus was alive.
Thankfully John tells us of this second appearance of Jesus to His disciples just shows the extent of Gods love for those who put their trust in Him and follow Him - No one is to be left out - God loves us all and will go to any length to show us that. God doesn’t want to leave anyone out - He wants us all to have the same opportunity to know Him, Love Him receive from Him if we strive to live in obedience to His word.
God loves you and God love me and will go to great lengths to show us that. The appearances of Jesus show us how much He cared for and loved those who had taken up their cross to follow Him. Everyone of them were equal to God -
God showed us that - I believe - in the way that Jesus appeared first to the women - unheard of to the culture of the time.
Women were regarded a little lower than the men - yet God chose to let the women be the first witnesses to the risen Lord.
It was the same when Jesus was born - the first people to see Him were the humble shepherds who went away to tell everyone else - unheard of in that day - a shepherd was not allowed to be a witness in a court of law - they were not of the right class and intellect - Yet they were the first to witness the birth of the Messiah. The greatest testimony of all time. We are all equal in Gods eyes - all one in Christ.
Paul tells us that in Galatians 3;28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus Paul tells us that; we are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.
Here Paul is saying that in Christ - we are all equal - of course there are Jews and Gentiles, people of different cultures and race just as there are Male and Female two different sexes but what Paul is pointing out is that as far as salvation goes - God has no favourites - we are all equal and I believe that God went to great lengths to show mankind that.
The first witnesses to the birth of |Jesus - were the humble shepherds,
He first witnesses to the resurrection Christ - were women -
We are all equal in the eyes of God and that’s why no one is left out - Jesus Christ came to save the lost sinners - of every race, culture because He loves us all.
Look at Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth 1 Corinthians 15;
Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.
Wow look at the emphasis Paul a Jew made to the fact that everything that happened to Jesus was recorded centuries earlier in their own scripture and so there should be no doubt that Jesus is the Messiah. He died for our sins according to the scripture - He was buried and raised on the third day according to scripture and that He rose from the grave.
Paul then tells us; After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
The first time we heard about Paul (known as Saul) was at the stoning of Stephen Acts 7 and the next time when Saul was on his way to Damascus to kill the new Christians there Acts 9. Saul who was the Christian Churches biggest enemy amazingly became Gods choice to be one of His greatest evangelists when on the road to Damascus to kill the Christians, Jesus appeared and converted Saul - gave him a new Christian name - Paul who wrote most of the books of the New Testament books
Paul wrote to the church at Philippi about who he was before his conversion saying He was a Hebrew of Hebrews; and in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.
But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in a Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
God loves us all - Jew, Gentile, Male, Female, Old, Young - God loves us all equally
All the appearances of Jesus after His ressurection show the extent of Gods love to you and me in that He wants us all to share the good news - the awesome truth that He lives today and that He wants to make His home in you and me - As I said in my first message a couple of weeks ago, the dwelling place of God is not confined to the building - the church - its you and me - we are the temples of the living God
Jesus is alive in you and me - or that’s what He wants to be - that’s the only way that others in the world who don’t know or believe in Him will come to know Him - through the living testimony of the living presence of God in you and me.
The only way that people around us will come to believe is when they see the love of Jesus lived out in you and me. As Jesus said to Thomas “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
You and I havn’t seen Jesus but we believe through faith and so we are blessed by God. It’s not about seeing its all about knowing Him - that’s why Paul said ‘I want to know Christ ‘ that’s what Graham Kendrick meant when he wrote the song ‘Knowing You Jesus’ and the way to get to know Him is through reading His word and speaking to Him in prayer - and being aware of His presence - what a privileged people we are.
God doesn’t want anyone to miss out on what it means to really know Him -
I can’t wait for the time when we will be able to meet together and share the love of God with one another
I went to the Hall on Wednesday - It was a strange feeling being there alone - but then I realised I wasn’t alone that Jesus lives in me and I believe that together we shared the experience of being there. As I looked around I looked forward to the time when we can all be together again. One of the awesome things I saw whilst I was there is that the flowers in the worship hall looked great - just like they did when they were put there four weeks ago.
Brilliant - hold on to the truth that Jesus is alive and that He wants us all to know that.
Jesus is alive in you and me - unlike the disciples, unlike Thomas we havn’t seen Him physically but know He lives within us and I believe that His desire is that we share that love with others.
God bless
The following are the seven messages that I recorded and put on my facebook pages when the Corona virus lockdown started. It is a difficult time for us all having to close the Church and not meet together - and I wanted us to all be together in Spirit as we shared the words of God. I have put them on here in the order I gave them starting with my message 27 March 2020
This was my first message from the confines of home to all my friends at church and on face book. We had just been told by the Government that meetings of any kind had to cease and we were advised to stay at home - not go out and meet others for fear of passing on or catching the deadly Corona virus that is plaguing our world.
I want to assure you that through all the problems and difficulties that this brings to us all - that we are not alone for God is with us and will see us through the hard times that we are experiencing.
I’ve been blessed this week for when I asked the Lord what He wanted me to share with you all - what portion of scripture He wanted us to share He told me - Romans 8. So I opened my bible and WOW! Was I blessed. And then a couple of days later tI received a message from my friend Brian Lancaster that had a video message on it based on Romans 8. Awesome - No coincidence - I took it as a conformation from God Himself. I thought WOW! God really wants us to share this God wants to speak to us - and I believe will speak to us as we share it together.
Romans 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
How many times have we said, when faced with a difficult decision that ‘I’m in two minds as to what to do’ The one mind is our human response - how the world would expect us to respond - the other is a more caring response, the response that we know as a Christian we should take.
Paul emphasises this in many of his letters - none more so than Philippians 2 where he says; if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature a God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature b of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In these troubled times people who don’t know Christ as we do are living in fear whilst thankfully we who know Christ have the peaceful assurance that whatever we face - God is with us and will see us through. God said ‘when you go through the problems in life fear not for I am with you because I love you and you are precious to me’. I believe that that’s not just with you -but within You - by the power of the Spirit.
Romans 2; 6 The mind that is governed by the flesh is death. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. But then in contrast to that, half way through verse six Paul stresses - but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. That’s a big ‘if’
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
I love this next verse that reminds us that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we leave the old way of life - the way of the flesh - behind us and become a new creation - born again. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Born again of the Spirit - that makes us Gods children and as our heavenly Father He will see us through whatever difficulties we face in this life.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. verse 26 for the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Then the assurance that whatever we face in life - whatever the outcome of this present problem of the Corona virus we are assured that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. He will see us through because He is our Father and He loves us. He wants us to become like Jesus - 29 conformed to the likeness of His Son to think and act like Jesus in obedience to God. We are brothers and sisters in the family of God
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Then finally v 28 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
If we are one with the Lord and the Spirit of God lives within us then be assured that God will see us through all the troubles of these days
We might not be able to meet together physically but we can join together spiritually and unite together in prayer to Almighty God our Father. Take heart - hang in there - hold to the faith and enjoy the presence of the indwelling Christ
This was my first message from the confines of home to all my friends at church and on face book. We had just been told by the Government that meetings of any kind had to cease and we were advised to stay at home - not go out and meet others for fear of passing on or catching the deadly Corona virus that is plaguing our world.
I want to assure you that through all the problems and difficulties that this brings to us all - that we are not alone for God is with us and will see us through the hard times that we are experiencing.
I’ve been blessed this week for when I asked the Lord what He wanted me to share with you all - what portion of scripture He wanted us to share He told me - Romans 8. So I opened my bible and WOW! Was I blessed. And then a couple of days later tI received a message from my friend Brian Lancaster that had a video message on it based on Romans 8. Awesome - No coincidence - I took it as a conformation from God Himself. I thought WOW! God really wants us to share this God wants to speak to us - and I believe will speak to us as we share it together.
Romans 8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
How many times have we said, when faced with a difficult decision that ‘I’m in two minds as to what to do’ The one mind is our human response - how the world would expect us to respond - the other is a more caring response, the response that we know as a Christian we should take.
Paul emphasises this in many of his letters - none more so than Philippians 2 where he says; if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature a God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature b of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
In these troubled times people who don’t know Christ as we do are living in fear whilst thankfully we who know Christ have the peaceful assurance that whatever we face - God is with us and will see us through. God said ‘when you go through the problems in life fear not for I am with you because I love you and you are precious to me’. I believe that that’s not just with you -but within You - by the power of the Spirit.
Romans 2; 6 The mind that is governed by the flesh is death. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. But then in contrast to that, half way through verse six Paul stresses - but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. That’s a big ‘if’
And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
I love this next verse that reminds us that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we leave the old way of life - the way of the flesh - behind us and become a new creation - born again. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Born again of the Spirit - that makes us Gods children and as our heavenly Father He will see us through whatever difficulties we face in this life.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. verse 26 for the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Then the assurance that whatever we face in life - whatever the outcome of this present problem of the Corona virus we are assured that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. He will see us through because He is our Father and He loves us. He wants us to become like Jesus - 29 conformed to the likeness of His Son to think and act like Jesus in obedience to God. We are brothers and sisters in the family of God
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
Then finally v 28 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord
If we are one with the Lord and the Spirit of God lives within us then be assured that God will see us through all the troubles of these days
We might not be able to meet together physically but we can join together spiritually and unite together in prayer to Almighty God our Father. Take heart - hang in there - hold to the faith and enjoy the presence of the indwelling Christ
Message 29 March 2020.
One of my favourite books in the bible is 1 Peter - the Apostle of Jesus. He speaks with such passion and authority - This is Peter the disciple who on one occasion proclaimed Jesus as the Son of the Living God and then when Jesus is arrested Peter disowns Him. Lets look at that first occasion
Matthew 16;13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
WOW Jesus declares Peter to be the Rock on which He will build His church - now look at what happened when Jesus was arrested
Matthew 26; 69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Of Course after the ressurection, The Apostle John tells us that Jesus forgave Peter for each denial and re-instated him. I guess why I like Peter is the fact that if even Peter who lived so closely to Jesus could make mistakes and sometimes fail how much more will God forgive me when I fall back and make mistakes.
Peter became a powerhouse for God and encouraged others to know Christ - to be forgiven of their sins and be born again. Peter the Rock even went on to say that those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour become living stones themselves.
1 Peter 2;4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
WOW! that’s awesome - As I read that it just emphasises my thoughts that we - you and I
Are the Church - it’s not a building - it’s you and me - flesh and blood - living stones who are being built into a spiritual, house - the Living Church - the living Body of Christ in the world today - offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus - WOW
And then v 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
WOW! when you look at that and what we as Gods children were chosen and called to be and look at it alongside what the church has become -- it makes you think. The emphasis here is on what should be seen as the true Church
In these troubled days when our churches are closed because of the fear of spreading the virus I believe that God is showing the church that for too long many churches if not all of them have become very insular, loosing contact with the fallen world - the devil is having a hey day as churches that once proclaimed the gospel and made converts have fallen prey to the world and lost contact with the very people it was designed to attract with a message of unselfish - caring love. Many churches have opened their doors to allow the attractions of the world to come and take over the premises instead of sharing the truth of the gospel.
Church is not a building - although that’s what it has become over the years = Church is meant to be the living body of Christ in the world today - that’s you and me - Church is not a building it’s the people of God in whom the Word needs to become flesh.
1 Look at the word CHURCH the two letters in the centre are UR
You are ( UR) the centre of the Church
surrounded and indwelt by Christ Himself (CH)
CH UR CH
2 Take the L (Hell) out of the Wor L d and when that happens we are left with the WORD which like Jesus - we are called to Live. The Word became flesh in Christ so too Christ - the word desires to become flesh in us. As Peter says - you and I are being built into a spiritual house CHURCH
You only have to read Acts 2 to see how Peter preached a great sermon that brought the body together to form a spirit filled living Church - church as I believe God intended it to be. A people who didn’t just meet together one day a week but spent most of the week together sharing their testimonies with one another - spending time together in worship and ministering to one anothers needs - this was the birth of the real church as I believe God intended it to be.
3 The only way to get the world back on track and inline with Gods intention is for us as the Church to get out ACT2 together - That’s what true church is all about and I believe that God is using the present world crisis to make the church look at itself and find new ways of getting it’s ACT2ogether to put the church back in touch with the fallen people in the world who need to hear and see the truth of the gospel in the lives of people like you and me. the church today
Our founder William Booth was shown that in a vision that he had whilst travelling on a train and gazing through the window, he started to think about the world in which he lived and how sadly many people were just going about their daily lives selfishly disregarding others. People who were living carelessly in the most open and shameless rebellion against God, without a thought for their eternal welfare.
He writes; As I looked out of the window, I seemed to see them all... millions of people all around me given up to their drink and their pleasure, their dancing and their music, their business and their anxieties, their politics and their troubles. Ignorant- willfully ignorant in many cases- and in other instances knowing all about the truth and not caring at all. But all of them, the whole mass of them, sweeping on and up in their blasphemies and devilries to the Throne of God. While my mind was thus engaged, I had a vision.
I saw a dark and stormy ocean and in it saw hundreds of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.
He then saw a mighty rock rise up out of the ocean and around the base of this great rock was a platform on which he saw some of the poor struggling, drowning wretches climbing out of the angry ocean and a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping others in the ocean climb out to a place of safety.
Some actually jumped into the water, regardless of the consequences in their efforts to "rescue the perishing." Looking closely he saw that of those who were safe on the platform only a few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea.
What puzzled Booth was that even though all of them had been rescued at one time or another didn’t seem to care about the poor perishing ones who were still struggling and drowning right before their very eyes... many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and even their own children.
Suprisingly many of them even went regularly to hear lectures and sermons in which the awful state of these poor drowning creatures was described but tragically they were too busy trading and getting on with their businesses to make gain, storing up their savings in boxes, safes and the like. Even when the one who had given His life to save them - Jesus - asked them to go and help Him to save the lost ones - they paid no heed - they were too busy doing their own things.
This inspired Booth to begin to preach Salvation to the lost sinner and call upon them to become an Army that would themselves become life savers by dedicating their own lives to rescue the perishing - that Army became the Salvation Army
I believe that God is showing us today that the church needs to get back to what He started it for in the first place - to take the truth out of its building and into the world to influence the lives of the dying millions who need to hear the gospel of Salvation.
Its up to you and me to get our ACT2gether and become the active living body of Christ in the fallen world to let people see that the gospel works by the way knowing Christ affects our lives.
4 We need to get our ACT2gether and start top live the WORD and by so doing put LOVE back into the World.
The only way to get the world back on track and in line with Gods intention
is for us as the Church to get our ACT2 gether
That’s what true church is all about, people like you and me meeting together
not just on Sundays but throughout the week
to share our experiences with one another and grow Christlike
to LIVE the WORD and put Gods Love back into the WORLD
One of my favourite books in the bible is 1 Peter - the Apostle of Jesus. He speaks with such passion and authority - This is Peter the disciple who on one occasion proclaimed Jesus as the Son of the Living God and then when Jesus is arrested Peter disowns Him. Lets look at that first occasion
Matthew 16;13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.
WOW Jesus declares Peter to be the Rock on which He will build His church - now look at what happened when Jesus was arrested
Matthew 26; 69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Of Course after the ressurection, The Apostle John tells us that Jesus forgave Peter for each denial and re-instated him. I guess why I like Peter is the fact that if even Peter who lived so closely to Jesus could make mistakes and sometimes fail how much more will God forgive me when I fall back and make mistakes.
Peter became a powerhouse for God and encouraged others to know Christ - to be forgiven of their sins and be born again. Peter the Rock even went on to say that those who accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour become living stones themselves.
1 Peter 2;4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
WOW! that’s awesome - As I read that it just emphasises my thoughts that we - you and I
Are the Church - it’s not a building - it’s you and me - flesh and blood - living stones who are being built into a spiritual, house - the Living Church - the living Body of Christ in the world today - offering spiritual sacrifices to God through Jesus - WOW
And then v 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
WOW! when you look at that and what we as Gods children were chosen and called to be and look at it alongside what the church has become -- it makes you think. The emphasis here is on what should be seen as the true Church
In these troubled days when our churches are closed because of the fear of spreading the virus I believe that God is showing the church that for too long many churches if not all of them have become very insular, loosing contact with the fallen world - the devil is having a hey day as churches that once proclaimed the gospel and made converts have fallen prey to the world and lost contact with the very people it was designed to attract with a message of unselfish - caring love. Many churches have opened their doors to allow the attractions of the world to come and take over the premises instead of sharing the truth of the gospel.
Church is not a building - although that’s what it has become over the years = Church is meant to be the living body of Christ in the world today - that’s you and me - Church is not a building it’s the people of God in whom the Word needs to become flesh.
1 Look at the word CHURCH the two letters in the centre are UR
You are ( UR) the centre of the Church
surrounded and indwelt by Christ Himself (CH)
CH UR CH
2 Take the L (Hell) out of the Wor L d and when that happens we are left with the WORD which like Jesus - we are called to Live. The Word became flesh in Christ so too Christ - the word desires to become flesh in us. As Peter says - you and I are being built into a spiritual house CHURCH
You only have to read Acts 2 to see how Peter preached a great sermon that brought the body together to form a spirit filled living Church - church as I believe God intended it to be. A people who didn’t just meet together one day a week but spent most of the week together sharing their testimonies with one another - spending time together in worship and ministering to one anothers needs - this was the birth of the real church as I believe God intended it to be.
3 The only way to get the world back on track and inline with Gods intention is for us as the Church to get out ACT2 together - That’s what true church is all about and I believe that God is using the present world crisis to make the church look at itself and find new ways of getting it’s ACT2ogether to put the church back in touch with the fallen people in the world who need to hear and see the truth of the gospel in the lives of people like you and me. the church today
Our founder William Booth was shown that in a vision that he had whilst travelling on a train and gazing through the window, he started to think about the world in which he lived and how sadly many people were just going about their daily lives selfishly disregarding others. People who were living carelessly in the most open and shameless rebellion against God, without a thought for their eternal welfare.
He writes; As I looked out of the window, I seemed to see them all... millions of people all around me given up to their drink and their pleasure, their dancing and their music, their business and their anxieties, their politics and their troubles. Ignorant- willfully ignorant in many cases- and in other instances knowing all about the truth and not caring at all. But all of them, the whole mass of them, sweeping on and up in their blasphemies and devilries to the Throne of God. While my mind was thus engaged, I had a vision.
I saw a dark and stormy ocean and in it saw hundreds of poor human beings plunging and floating, shouting and shrieking, cursing and struggling and drowning; and as they cursed and screamed they rose and shrieked again, and then some sank to rise no more.
He then saw a mighty rock rise up out of the ocean and around the base of this great rock was a platform on which he saw some of the poor struggling, drowning wretches climbing out of the angry ocean and a few of those who were already safe on the platform were helping others in the ocean climb out to a place of safety.
Some actually jumped into the water, regardless of the consequences in their efforts to "rescue the perishing." Looking closely he saw that of those who were safe on the platform only a few of them seemed to make it their business to get the people out of the sea.
What puzzled Booth was that even though all of them had been rescued at one time or another didn’t seem to care about the poor perishing ones who were still struggling and drowning right before their very eyes... many of whom were their own husbands and wives, brothers and sisters and even their own children.
Suprisingly many of them even went regularly to hear lectures and sermons in which the awful state of these poor drowning creatures was described but tragically they were too busy trading and getting on with their businesses to make gain, storing up their savings in boxes, safes and the like. Even when the one who had given His life to save them - Jesus - asked them to go and help Him to save the lost ones - they paid no heed - they were too busy doing their own things.
This inspired Booth to begin to preach Salvation to the lost sinner and call upon them to become an Army that would themselves become life savers by dedicating their own lives to rescue the perishing - that Army became the Salvation Army
I believe that God is showing us today that the church needs to get back to what He started it for in the first place - to take the truth out of its building and into the world to influence the lives of the dying millions who need to hear the gospel of Salvation.
Its up to you and me to get our ACT2gether and become the active living body of Christ in the fallen world to let people see that the gospel works by the way knowing Christ affects our lives.
4 We need to get our ACT2gether and start top live the WORD and by so doing put LOVE back into the World.
The only way to get the world back on track and in line with Gods intention
is for us as the Church to get our ACT2 gether
That’s what true church is all about, people like you and me meeting together
not just on Sundays but throughout the week
to share our experiences with one another and grow Christlike
to LIVE the WORD and put Gods Love back into the WORLD
Sunday 3 April 2020
Following on from last Sundays reading from 1 Peter 2 where Peter reminds his hearers that the way they live their lives should let their neighbours, the people they spend their lives with, see the beauty of knowing the Lord who helps us when we go through difficult times - as we are indeed doing in these days.
Nor being able to go out and meet with others makes you realise what those who are housebound face every day.
I said then, the Church is not a building its US you and I embodied in Christ Himself CH UR CH and as such we need to work together in these difficult days when our building are closed, to let them see the CHURCH in action by opening up to those around us in the world to show the active love of God to them and in so doing help take the influence of satan our of the world.
As I said last week, we need to work together to remove the powers of L from the Wor L d so that when that happens we are left with a world that God intended - where the L of satan is replaced by Love of God as we live lives in accordance to His WORD.
Peter’s already said that we are the living church - the living stones that have become the temple of the Living God and that we are a chosen people God’s special possession, so that you may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Today we are going to continue to look at Peters letter and the advice he gives.
1 Peter 2;11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Peter then tells wives that maybe have husbands who don’t know the Lord to let them see the beauty of Jesus in the way they respond to their loved ones = a picture speaks more than a thousand words. Also , to the husbands Peter says - in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 2; 9 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing - another way of saying ‘turn the other cheek’
Not easy to be like that is it - but then I don’t think it would have been easy for Jesus to forgive those who tortured Him and then nailed Him to a wooden Cross - Yet whilst hanging there in agony He cried to God - Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing’. In the same way - People living worldly lives don’t realise what they are doing and need to come to Know Christ for themselves.
The Christian life is not always an easy one especially if we live it according to Gods word - loving those who are against us, turning the other cheek to those who hurt us, it’s not easy - that’s possibly why so many Christians fail and grow cold in their faith.
I believe that in the present climate we have the opportunity to stand up and be counted and live lives that let others see that it is our faith in God that keeps us going.
I looked at a newsletter that I sent to my friends local and around the world at Christmas time 2011. I shared how life was very difficult looking after my wife Beryl who, because of her advancing Altzheimers could do nothing for herself - it was a 7am job that carried on through the day and evening until I managed to get her to bed at around 11pm - I then had to prepare the meetings .
This was a time when we were facing very difficult times in our Corps by having to have the ceiling replaced - it was a very hectic and trying time in every way. Kevin had stopped coming to the Army following an unkind remark said to him by a foolish member of church following the death of his baby Victoria - it was a difficult time that I acknowledged to my friends I would not have been able to face without my faith in God and their prayers.
Little did I realise that within two weeks of sending that letter, Kevin died and his funeral was the day after Boxing day. In the letter I said that ‘I tell them this to show how through it all, God has shown me that He can even use the hardships of our everyday lives God can use what we are going through to show the world what true Christian love is and that He is faithful to us all in His promise to never leave us or forsake us when we go through the hardships of our lives. - that people will know that you are Christian by your love/
I closed by saying that through it all - Iv’e learned to trust Him more. That’s what I believe God is doing today through the lives of Christians today.
Keep strong for the Lord your God is with you and through it all - you will realise how much you need His presence to see you through and by that, grow closer to Him.
Two of my favourite songs are ‘Through it all’ by Andre Crouch and ‘Through the fire’ written by Gerald Crabb
Through it all Andre Crouch
I've had many tears and sorrows, I've had questions for tomorrow,
there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.
Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word.
Through the fire Gerald Crabb
So many times I question the certain circumstances
And things I could not understand.
Many times in trials my weakness blurs my vision
And that's when my frustration gets so out of hand.
It's then I am reminded, I've never been forsaken.
I've never had to stand one test alone.
As I look at all the victories, the Spirit rises up in me.
And It's through the fire my weakness is made strong.
He never promised that the cross would not get heavy
And the hill would not be hard to climb.
He never offered a victory without fighting.
He said help would always come in time.
Just remember when you're standing in the valley of decision
And the advisory says give in, Just hold on. Our Lord will show up
And He will take you through the fire again
I know within myself that I would surly perish
If I trust the hand of God, He'll shield the flame again.
1 Peter 4;7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Stay strong - Hold fast to the truth of Gods promise that He is with us - we are precious to Him - He loves us and will see us through.
God bless you all
Prayer Thank You Lord for your presence - that you are here with us around us and within us and you will help us through it all. I pray for Your protection Lord and that we will all experience your love at this difficult time.
Help us Lord to show Your love to others around us who do not know You as we do and by so doing let them see what You are doing in our lives and seek to know You for themselves.
Lord keep us faithful to You and live lives according to You word - I pray that just as the Word became flesh in Christ that so too, The Word -Christ -will become flesh in us
Lord we open up our lives to You this week that daily through us You will be able to minister to the needs of those around us and in so doing lead them into all truth.
We ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost
To You Lord be the Glory and the praise in Jesus name Amen
Following on from last Sundays reading from 1 Peter 2 where Peter reminds his hearers that the way they live their lives should let their neighbours, the people they spend their lives with, see the beauty of knowing the Lord who helps us when we go through difficult times - as we are indeed doing in these days.
Nor being able to go out and meet with others makes you realise what those who are housebound face every day.
I said then, the Church is not a building its US you and I embodied in Christ Himself CH UR CH and as such we need to work together in these difficult days when our building are closed, to let them see the CHURCH in action by opening up to those around us in the world to show the active love of God to them and in so doing help take the influence of satan our of the world.
As I said last week, we need to work together to remove the powers of L from the Wor L d so that when that happens we are left with a world that God intended - where the L of satan is replaced by Love of God as we live lives in accordance to His WORD.
Peter’s already said that we are the living church - the living stones that have become the temple of the Living God and that we are a chosen people God’s special possession, so that you may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Today we are going to continue to look at Peters letter and the advice he gives.
1 Peter 2;11 Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. "He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." For "you were like sheep going astray," but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Peter then tells wives that maybe have husbands who don’t know the Lord to let them see the beauty of Jesus in the way they respond to their loved ones = a picture speaks more than a thousand words. Also , to the husbands Peter says - in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.
1 Peter 2; 9 Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing - another way of saying ‘turn the other cheek’
Not easy to be like that is it - but then I don’t think it would have been easy for Jesus to forgive those who tortured Him and then nailed Him to a wooden Cross - Yet whilst hanging there in agony He cried to God - Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing’. In the same way - People living worldly lives don’t realise what they are doing and need to come to Know Christ for themselves.
The Christian life is not always an easy one especially if we live it according to Gods word - loving those who are against us, turning the other cheek to those who hurt us, it’s not easy - that’s possibly why so many Christians fail and grow cold in their faith.
I believe that in the present climate we have the opportunity to stand up and be counted and live lives that let others see that it is our faith in God that keeps us going.
I looked at a newsletter that I sent to my friends local and around the world at Christmas time 2011. I shared how life was very difficult looking after my wife Beryl who, because of her advancing Altzheimers could do nothing for herself - it was a 7am job that carried on through the day and evening until I managed to get her to bed at around 11pm - I then had to prepare the meetings .
This was a time when we were facing very difficult times in our Corps by having to have the ceiling replaced - it was a very hectic and trying time in every way. Kevin had stopped coming to the Army following an unkind remark said to him by a foolish member of church following the death of his baby Victoria - it was a difficult time that I acknowledged to my friends I would not have been able to face without my faith in God and their prayers.
Little did I realise that within two weeks of sending that letter, Kevin died and his funeral was the day after Boxing day. In the letter I said that ‘I tell them this to show how through it all, God has shown me that He can even use the hardships of our everyday lives God can use what we are going through to show the world what true Christian love is and that He is faithful to us all in His promise to never leave us or forsake us when we go through the hardships of our lives. - that people will know that you are Christian by your love/
I closed by saying that through it all - Iv’e learned to trust Him more. That’s what I believe God is doing today through the lives of Christians today.
Keep strong for the Lord your God is with you and through it all - you will realise how much you need His presence to see you through and by that, grow closer to Him.
Two of my favourite songs are ‘Through it all’ by Andre Crouch and ‘Through the fire’ written by Gerald Crabb
Through it all Andre Crouch
I've had many tears and sorrows, I've had questions for tomorrow,
there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.
Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all, through it all, I've learned to depend upon His Word.
Through the fire Gerald Crabb
So many times I question the certain circumstances
And things I could not understand.
Many times in trials my weakness blurs my vision
And that's when my frustration gets so out of hand.
It's then I am reminded, I've never been forsaken.
I've never had to stand one test alone.
As I look at all the victories, the Spirit rises up in me.
And It's through the fire my weakness is made strong.
He never promised that the cross would not get heavy
And the hill would not be hard to climb.
He never offered a victory without fighting.
He said help would always come in time.
Just remember when you're standing in the valley of decision
And the advisory says give in, Just hold on. Our Lord will show up
And He will take you through the fire again
I know within myself that I would surly perish
If I trust the hand of God, He'll shield the flame again.
1 Peter 4;7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Stay strong - Hold fast to the truth of Gods promise that He is with us - we are precious to Him - He loves us and will see us through.
God bless you all
Prayer Thank You Lord for your presence - that you are here with us around us and within us and you will help us through it all. I pray for Your protection Lord and that we will all experience your love at this difficult time.
Help us Lord to show Your love to others around us who do not know You as we do and by so doing let them see what You are doing in our lives and seek to know You for themselves.
Lord keep us faithful to You and live lives according to You word - I pray that just as the Word became flesh in Christ that so too, The Word -Christ -will become flesh in us
Lord we open up our lives to You this week that daily through us You will be able to minister to the needs of those around us and in so doing lead them into all truth.
We ask this in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost
To You Lord be the Glory and the praise in Jesus name Amen
Message 5 April 2020 Palm Sunday
In my last message during the week, we looked at what Peter wrote about the last days and how we as Christians aught to live our lives;
1 Peter 4;7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I believe that we are today - living in the end times - that there are signs all around us that point to the second coming of Jesus. I also believe that what we are experiencing today is just as the Tribulation is described in Gods word. The tribulation being the seven years period prior to the Lords return.
Gods word calls us to Stay strong - Hold fast to the truth of Gods promise that He is with us - we are precious to Him - He loves us and will see us through
Today is Palm Sunday - the day that we as His Church celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As a child I used to love reading how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey as the crowd who had gathered there to celebrate the Jewish Passover laid palm branches in the donkeys path and shouted their Hossanah’s.
This is one of the occassions that we find in all of the four gospels. Matthew 21, Mark11, Luke 19 and John 12. Matthew and Mark are almost identical to what Luke tells us - so lets read Luke’s account
Luke 19; 28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
John 12 tells the same story but with slight differences. Where Matthew. Mark and Luke tell us disciples were told to go find the young donkey and what to say to the owners, John tells us that when Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem the crowds took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting,“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” and it was then that Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
We then get a bit more information Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
What an awesome time this must have been for both the disciples and the crowds - here is Jesus - the long awaited Messiah who they are welcoming with open hearts
For Jesus it must have been a difficult time - a time of mixed emotions. On the one hand He would enjoy the adulation of th crowds but His heart would be fearful knowing the terrible events that are to come when He will be arrested, tortures and crucified.
In Matthew 21 We are told that following His triumphant entry into Jerusalem that Jesus then made His way to the Temple - the church of His day - and showed His dissapointment and anger at the way the church had moved away from Gods intention and become a very inward body that instead of reaching out to the world with the gospel of truth had over the years let the ideals of the world into the church and take prominance with it’s power seeking wealth orientated practices.
Instead of the Church reaching out to the convert the world - the world had come and taken over the church. Jesus enters the temple - overturns the tables of the money lenders and accuses them of turning Gods house of prayer into a den of thieves. Matthew tells us that even then, the blind and the lame approached Jesus at the Temple and He healed them which enraged the priests. Mark says that this was another reason that the priests looked for ways to kill Jesus. Luke tells us that they couldn’t find a way to do this as all the people began to hang on the word of Jesus.
The first three gospel writers are united in telling us about these last days of Jesus but then go on to tell us what Jesus said about the end days that will come in future years.
In Matthew 24 and Mark 13 Jesus tells His disciples that one of the signs of the end days will be the rise of wars, famines earthquakes - persecution of Christians, False prophets and eventually after the gospel has reached all lands through the witness of the faithful few - then the end will come. Even though they asked ‘When will this happen’ Jesus told them that no one but the Father knows the exact time.
Luke 21; 10 Nations will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilence in various places and fearful events and great signs from Heaven.
v20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
Today we are surrounded by all these signs. Wars, Earthquakes - famines, pestilence -that’s infectious diseases like the one we are experiencing now - and look at whats happened in Jerusalem over the last couple of years.
Could this be the times of Tribulation - the seven years that will herald the return of Jesus? We don’t know but whatever! In Matt 24;44 Jesus urges His loved ones to be ready
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
I think more than ever, the strongest sign that we are experiencing the events othat signify the end times is the failure of the Church to be the church that God intended it to be - a place of love that reaches out to share that love - the love of God with others.
Instead in many places it has become a burden to God. That why Jesus talked about the Temple in His day when He told His disciples that ‘ in the last days the stones will crumble and fall’ - That’s happening today Churches are being pulled down today or taken over by businesses because of dwindling congregations. That is one of the signs that Jesus talks about.
In Revelation the first thing that John is shows is the state of the seven churches in his day.
To the church at Ephesus, The angel applauds their perseveres to hold to the truth and reject the false - but is disappointed in the way that despite all this they have moved away from their first love - God - and is told ‘you’ve got to change or else I will have to remove the lamp stand’ - the source of light from your church..
The church at Smyrna are applauded for their faithfulness in holding true to the Christian doctrine amidst a largely populated Jewish presence. They are being persecuted but told to hold firm - be faithful and God will give them the crown of eternal life.
The church at Pergumum Has people who hold to the teachings of the devil - repent.
The church at Thyatira has a woman who tolerates evil pagan sexual practices that involve many others in the church - to those who have nothing to do with her evil practices God says Hang on until I come.
The church at Sardis that gives the appearance of being an alive church when in reality it’s dead’ The advice is ‘Wake up’ thankfully there are a few who are faithful.
Thankfully the church at Philadelphia is seen as a faithful one and one that will not have to face the hour of trial.
Lastly the church at Laodicea - a church that would be full of wealthy people - bankers and the like who see riches as something to be sought after. is a luke warm church - neither hot nor cold - ‘I wish you were either one or the other’
Makes you look at your own church - that’s US - you and me and see if we are living lives that please God by holding to the truth of His Word. A place of true worship and observance to the Word of God that interacts through the lives of each of us to the Glory of God.
One of the signs of the end times is the way in which the leaders of the world are seeking to form a One World Alliance - where they could work together to bring about a united world that thinks and acts the same - this started with the United Nations and developed into the Brexit that thankfully we have come out of.
Even some of todays church leaders are seeking to form a One world religion. The Pope is at the very root of all this even saying that Christs life ended in failure as He was nailed to the cross - That’s not what the bible says or what Christians believe - the cross was Christ’s victory over the powers of sin.
Today - Palm Sunday we thank God for His awesome love for you and me in sending Jesus to pay the price for mans sin and make the opportunity available for all who accept Jesus as their saviour to be born again - a second chance - with the promise of claiming an inheritance that can never fail - to live with Christ in Heaven.
I believe that the trials that we are going through today are being used by God to show the awesomness of His love to those who believe and create an opportunity where we can reach out in love to the world around us and show what faithfulness to God can achieve in the lives of those who love Him and try to live in obedience to His word.
No matter what tomorrow brings God is with you and me today and will still be with us tomorrow. Today Commissioner Harry Read put this poem he’d written on my face book page
He will not let me struggle on alone.
Nor face the hostile world without his aid;
He knows how weak I am when on my own,
Bewildered, apprehensive and afraid.
Just when it seems the darkness deeper grows,
and courage seems to be in short supply
He comes to me – he comes, because
he knows I need him; he has heard my silent cry.
He comes with comfort to uplift my soul,
He comes with strength and his enabling grace;
He comes my fears and tensions to control;
He comes and puts a smile back on my face.
The Saviour promised, “I will come to you” And history has proved his promise true.
John 14: 18, 19 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me any-more, but you will see me. Because I live you also will live.”
How true that is - as Bill Gaither writes - Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Palm Sunday and Easter are Gods way of showing us how precious we are to Him and how He wants us to stand firm - whatever - and Be His obedient loving Child - whatever tomorrow brings.
Another one of my favourite songs by Bill Gaither is ‘ I then shall live’
In my last message during the week, we looked at what Peter wrote about the last days and how we as Christians aught to live our lives;
1 Peter 4;7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.
If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
I believe that we are today - living in the end times - that there are signs all around us that point to the second coming of Jesus. I also believe that what we are experiencing today is just as the Tribulation is described in Gods word. The tribulation being the seven years period prior to the Lords return.
Gods word calls us to Stay strong - Hold fast to the truth of Gods promise that He is with us - we are precious to Him - He loves us and will see us through
Today is Palm Sunday - the day that we as His Church celebrate Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem. As a child I used to love reading how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey as the crowd who had gathered there to celebrate the Jewish Passover laid palm branches in the donkeys path and shouted their Hossanah’s.
This is one of the occassions that we find in all of the four gospels. Matthew 21, Mark11, Luke 19 and John 12. Matthew and Mark are almost identical to what Luke tells us - so lets read Luke’s account
Luke 19; 28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them,“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”
John 12 tells the same story but with slight differences. Where Matthew. Mark and Luke tell us disciples were told to go find the young donkey and what to say to the owners, John tells us that when Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem the crowds took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting,“Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!” and it was then that Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.
We then get a bit more information Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”
Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.”
Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?” Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
What an awesome time this must have been for both the disciples and the crowds - here is Jesus - the long awaited Messiah who they are welcoming with open hearts
For Jesus it must have been a difficult time - a time of mixed emotions. On the one hand He would enjoy the adulation of th crowds but His heart would be fearful knowing the terrible events that are to come when He will be arrested, tortures and crucified.
In Matthew 21 We are told that following His triumphant entry into Jerusalem that Jesus then made His way to the Temple - the church of His day - and showed His dissapointment and anger at the way the church had moved away from Gods intention and become a very inward body that instead of reaching out to the world with the gospel of truth had over the years let the ideals of the world into the church and take prominance with it’s power seeking wealth orientated practices.
Instead of the Church reaching out to the convert the world - the world had come and taken over the church. Jesus enters the temple - overturns the tables of the money lenders and accuses them of turning Gods house of prayer into a den of thieves. Matthew tells us that even then, the blind and the lame approached Jesus at the Temple and He healed them which enraged the priests. Mark says that this was another reason that the priests looked for ways to kill Jesus. Luke tells us that they couldn’t find a way to do this as all the people began to hang on the word of Jesus.
The first three gospel writers are united in telling us about these last days of Jesus but then go on to tell us what Jesus said about the end days that will come in future years.
In Matthew 24 and Mark 13 Jesus tells His disciples that one of the signs of the end days will be the rise of wars, famines earthquakes - persecution of Christians, False prophets and eventually after the gospel has reached all lands through the witness of the faithful few - then the end will come. Even though they asked ‘When will this happen’ Jesus told them that no one but the Father knows the exact time.
Luke 21; 10 Nations will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilence in various places and fearful events and great signs from Heaven.
v20 “When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken.
Today we are surrounded by all these signs. Wars, Earthquakes - famines, pestilence -that’s infectious diseases like the one we are experiencing now - and look at whats happened in Jerusalem over the last couple of years.
Could this be the times of Tribulation - the seven years that will herald the return of Jesus? We don’t know but whatever! In Matt 24;44 Jesus urges His loved ones to be ready
At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
I think more than ever, the strongest sign that we are experiencing the events othat signify the end times is the failure of the Church to be the church that God intended it to be - a place of love that reaches out to share that love - the love of God with others.
Instead in many places it has become a burden to God. That why Jesus talked about the Temple in His day when He told His disciples that ‘ in the last days the stones will crumble and fall’ - That’s happening today Churches are being pulled down today or taken over by businesses because of dwindling congregations. That is one of the signs that Jesus talks about.
In Revelation the first thing that John is shows is the state of the seven churches in his day.
To the church at Ephesus, The angel applauds their perseveres to hold to the truth and reject the false - but is disappointed in the way that despite all this they have moved away from their first love - God - and is told ‘you’ve got to change or else I will have to remove the lamp stand’ - the source of light from your church..
The church at Smyrna are applauded for their faithfulness in holding true to the Christian doctrine amidst a largely populated Jewish presence. They are being persecuted but told to hold firm - be faithful and God will give them the crown of eternal life.
The church at Pergumum Has people who hold to the teachings of the devil - repent.
The church at Thyatira has a woman who tolerates evil pagan sexual practices that involve many others in the church - to those who have nothing to do with her evil practices God says Hang on until I come.
The church at Sardis that gives the appearance of being an alive church when in reality it’s dead’ The advice is ‘Wake up’ thankfully there are a few who are faithful.
Thankfully the church at Philadelphia is seen as a faithful one and one that will not have to face the hour of trial.
Lastly the church at Laodicea - a church that would be full of wealthy people - bankers and the like who see riches as something to be sought after. is a luke warm church - neither hot nor cold - ‘I wish you were either one or the other’
Makes you look at your own church - that’s US - you and me and see if we are living lives that please God by holding to the truth of His Word. A place of true worship and observance to the Word of God that interacts through the lives of each of us to the Glory of God.
One of the signs of the end times is the way in which the leaders of the world are seeking to form a One World Alliance - where they could work together to bring about a united world that thinks and acts the same - this started with the United Nations and developed into the Brexit that thankfully we have come out of.
Even some of todays church leaders are seeking to form a One world religion. The Pope is at the very root of all this even saying that Christs life ended in failure as He was nailed to the cross - That’s not what the bible says or what Christians believe - the cross was Christ’s victory over the powers of sin.
Today - Palm Sunday we thank God for His awesome love for you and me in sending Jesus to pay the price for mans sin and make the opportunity available for all who accept Jesus as their saviour to be born again - a second chance - with the promise of claiming an inheritance that can never fail - to live with Christ in Heaven.
I believe that the trials that we are going through today are being used by God to show the awesomness of His love to those who believe and create an opportunity where we can reach out in love to the world around us and show what faithfulness to God can achieve in the lives of those who love Him and try to live in obedience to His word.
No matter what tomorrow brings God is with you and me today and will still be with us tomorrow. Today Commissioner Harry Read put this poem he’d written on my face book page
He will not let me struggle on alone.
Nor face the hostile world without his aid;
He knows how weak I am when on my own,
Bewildered, apprehensive and afraid.
Just when it seems the darkness deeper grows,
and courage seems to be in short supply
He comes to me – he comes, because
he knows I need him; he has heard my silent cry.
He comes with comfort to uplift my soul,
He comes with strength and his enabling grace;
He comes my fears and tensions to control;
He comes and puts a smile back on my face.
The Saviour promised, “I will come to you” And history has proved his promise true.
John 14: 18, 19 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me any-more, but you will see me. Because I live you also will live.”
How true that is - as Bill Gaither writes - Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Palm Sunday and Easter are Gods way of showing us how precious we are to Him and how He wants us to stand firm - whatever - and Be His obedient loving Child - whatever tomorrow brings.
Another one of my favourite songs by Bill Gaither is ‘ I then shall live’
Message 9 April 2020
Today is the Thursday of Holy Week - I just wish we could all be together at this important time in the churches calendar. I just pray that as you watch this video in your own home you will sense the awesome presence of God who will unite us together to share this time.
Last Sunday we celebrated the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to the tumultuous cries of the crowds who acclaimed Him and the Blessed one who comes in the name of the Lord. We looked at how one minute they are shouting His praise, the next, a few days later they are crying for His blood - as they shout ‘Crucify Him’
We looked at how Jesus went into the Temple, the church of His day and and showed His anger and dissapointment at the way the church had moved away from Gods intentions and become a church that was infiltrated by the world with its greed and His response was to overturn the tables of the money lenders and accuse them of turning His Fathers house of prayer into a den of thieves.
We went on to look at what Jesus said regarding the end days when signs of His second coming would be seen and experienced - Wars, pestilence, nations led by greedy leaders who seek for power - a people who are influenced more by the world than the church. This included the infiltration of the church in future days by false teachers - a time ready for the intervention of God to expose the powers of darkness and bring the chosen ones out of bondage to satan to claim freedom through Christ.
That’s why Jesus came in the first place to bring people out of the bondage of sin and set them free by His death on the cross. The timing of that first coming and sacrificial departure was almost like a reminder of how God had centuries earlier come and set His people free from bondage and set them on a path to freedom under the leadership of Moses to a new life in the promised land.
This week - Holy Week I really believe was planned and orchestrated by God to take place at the same time as the Passover celebrations of the Jewish people. That celebration is this week - and is commemorated by the Jews at a meal called the Haggadah.
Haggadah means 'telling' and is a retelling of the story of the Exodus of the Jewish people from slavery to freedom. It uses unleavened bread - Matza - to remember the bread that their ancestors ate in the desert as they hurried to leave Egypt - thy refer to it as the bread of sadness. They also use wine and use it to toast ‘Life’ Freedom and Peace and a then a fourth glass to toast Jerusalem. A fourth glass of wine - Elijah’s cup is not drunk but laid at an open door awaiting the return of the Messiah
Jesus shared the Passover meal and said that when you do this do it in remembrance of me 1 Corinthians 11; 23-27 Jesus who by His death on the cross bought our freedom from slavery to the devil to new life in Christ.
For many years, we at Idle have used the Haggadah meal on the Thursday of Easter week - just as Jesus and His disciples did. A few years ago I invited all the other churches in Idle to join us and were blessed when they did. The Rev David Johnson vicar and friends from Holy Trinity Idle shared a whole table as we gathered to share a love feast that included the sharing of the bread, the body of Christ and the wine ( red fruit juice) the blood of Christ - it was a special time for us all. Tony Brown, who was our sergeant major at that time wore a Jewish cap to make it more authentic.
Today is Maundy Thursday the evening of which as Christians we remember the Last Supper which was the final meal that, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus shared with His apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.
The four Gospels all state that the Last Supper took place towards the end of the week, after Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and that Jesus and his apostles shared this meal shortly before He was crucified at the end of that week. The three Synoptic Gospels and the First Epistle to the Corinthians tell us how Jesus takes bread, breaks it and gives it to others, saying "This is my body given to you".
This is where the idea of the Eucharist came from - Holy Communion. In fact the early Christians observed a ritual meal known as the "agape feast" These "love feasts" were apparently a full meal, with each participant bringing food, and with the meal eaten in a common room. They were held on Sundays, which then became known as the Lord's Day,
Unlike the first three gospels, the Gospel of John does not include this, instead John tells of how Jesus washed the feet of the apostles and gave the new commandment "to love one another as I have loved you". John then goes on give a detailed farewell discourse by Jesus, calling the apostles who follow his teachings "friends and not servants", as he prepares them for his departure.
The Last Supper is recorded in all the four gospels but only John tells us that before they shared the meal, Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles after He tells them that by doing this He has set them an example for them to do the same as He has done.
And that is the account Read John 13; 1-17 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John tells us that the Apostle Peter objects and does not want to allow Jesus to wash his feet, but Jesus answers him, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me", after which Peter agrees.
John then tells how Jesus ‘troubled in spirit’ tells His disciples that one of them is going to betray Him. His disciples were gob smacked - Peter asked who is it to which Jesus said ‘ It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish’ after which He handed it to Judas and as soon as Judas took the bread John tells us that ‘ satan entered into him’.
Following the departure of Judas from the Last Supper, Jesus tells his remaining disciples that He will be with them for only a short time, then gives them a New Commandment, stating: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Jesus says this again in John 15:12: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you", and John 15:17: "This is my command: Love each other."
This was the command that Jesus gave when He had washed His disciples feet - a sign of humility, a physical sign of how we should respect and value each other - to love one another and help one another -by showing the sacrificial love of our Father God.
The whole of the Easter message is the revelation of the extent of Gods love for you and me. The love that was seen in Jesus. Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends - you are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you - and what was that command - love one another as I have loved you.
Look at what John tells us Jesus said after Judas had left them. John 13; 31-38 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
What a shock that would be to Peter and the other disciples - when you consider how earlier in the ministry of Jesus, God used Peter to tell everyone who Jesus was ‘ You are the Christ the Son of the living God’ Matthew 16;16
Peter had no problem with acknowledging His love for Jesus when the going was OK it was when the going got difficult and he faced the possibility of loosing his own life for confessing his love for Jesus.
All over the World there are people who are giving their lives for standing up for the truth of the gospel - God bless them - I wonder how we would react if in the same situation. Thankfully we are told that afterwards, Jesus gave Peter a chance to be forgiven for his three denials and God in His love showed the depth of His forgiveness in re-instating Peter to become one of the mainstays of the Christian Church - the one who preached at Pentecost the birthday of the church.
That’s the extent of Gods love for you and me. How many times have I said that we as a church need to get our ACT2 gether.
Lets close with the wonderful comforting words of Jesus
John 14 1-4 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
John 14;15-22 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
I guess we’ll all miss gathering together around the large cross in our hall on Good Friday morning, enjoying lunch together in the Community Hall and then travelling to Otley Chevin to gather around the gigantic cross there and sing our hymns and pray - accompanied by the people who have gathered there from other churches.
I pray that you will use this time at home to spend time in prayer and reading your bibles for I know that in so doing, God will presence Himself with you all and enjoy your worship. Tomorrow we will share together from John 16, 17 and 18.
We need to thank God for sending Jesus to redeem His people and save us from the penalty of sin - and more than that, as He promised - come and live within us by the power of His Holy Spirit - that was the promise Jesus gave to those who love Him and live in obedience to His commands. It thrills me to know that Jesus says because I live - you also will live - as the song says ‘He came to give us life in all it’s fulness’ and He does. I find it awesome to know that just as Jesus promised, Because He lives - so will we live and we will begin to realise that just as God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one, so too we are one with the Lord.
Keep His commands - stay true to Him and we will begin to feel the awesome love of God in our hearts - WOW! Thats the real warm feeling of deep love that we will feel in our hearts. Thank God for Easter and all that is means - Gods love manifest in Christ that desires to come and live within us to His praise and Glory. Then and only then will others around us know we are Christians by our love. I love you all
Today is the Thursday of Holy Week - I just wish we could all be together at this important time in the churches calendar. I just pray that as you watch this video in your own home you will sense the awesome presence of God who will unite us together to share this time.
Last Sunday we celebrated the entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to the tumultuous cries of the crowds who acclaimed Him and the Blessed one who comes in the name of the Lord. We looked at how one minute they are shouting His praise, the next, a few days later they are crying for His blood - as they shout ‘Crucify Him’
We looked at how Jesus went into the Temple, the church of His day and and showed His anger and dissapointment at the way the church had moved away from Gods intentions and become a church that was infiltrated by the world with its greed and His response was to overturn the tables of the money lenders and accuse them of turning His Fathers house of prayer into a den of thieves.
We went on to look at what Jesus said regarding the end days when signs of His second coming would be seen and experienced - Wars, pestilence, nations led by greedy leaders who seek for power - a people who are influenced more by the world than the church. This included the infiltration of the church in future days by false teachers - a time ready for the intervention of God to expose the powers of darkness and bring the chosen ones out of bondage to satan to claim freedom through Christ.
That’s why Jesus came in the first place to bring people out of the bondage of sin and set them free by His death on the cross. The timing of that first coming and sacrificial departure was almost like a reminder of how God had centuries earlier come and set His people free from bondage and set them on a path to freedom under the leadership of Moses to a new life in the promised land.
This week - Holy Week I really believe was planned and orchestrated by God to take place at the same time as the Passover celebrations of the Jewish people. That celebration is this week - and is commemorated by the Jews at a meal called the Haggadah.
Haggadah means 'telling' and is a retelling of the story of the Exodus of the Jewish people from slavery to freedom. It uses unleavened bread - Matza - to remember the bread that their ancestors ate in the desert as they hurried to leave Egypt - thy refer to it as the bread of sadness. They also use wine and use it to toast ‘Life’ Freedom and Peace and a then a fourth glass to toast Jerusalem. A fourth glass of wine - Elijah’s cup is not drunk but laid at an open door awaiting the return of the Messiah
Jesus shared the Passover meal and said that when you do this do it in remembrance of me 1 Corinthians 11; 23-27 Jesus who by His death on the cross bought our freedom from slavery to the devil to new life in Christ.
For many years, we at Idle have used the Haggadah meal on the Thursday of Easter week - just as Jesus and His disciples did. A few years ago I invited all the other churches in Idle to join us and were blessed when they did. The Rev David Johnson vicar and friends from Holy Trinity Idle shared a whole table as we gathered to share a love feast that included the sharing of the bread, the body of Christ and the wine ( red fruit juice) the blood of Christ - it was a special time for us all. Tony Brown, who was our sergeant major at that time wore a Jewish cap to make it more authentic.
Today is Maundy Thursday the evening of which as Christians we remember the Last Supper which was the final meal that, in the Gospel accounts, Jesus shared with His apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion.
The four Gospels all state that the Last Supper took place towards the end of the week, after Jesus's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and that Jesus and his apostles shared this meal shortly before He was crucified at the end of that week. The three Synoptic Gospels and the First Epistle to the Corinthians tell us how Jesus takes bread, breaks it and gives it to others, saying "This is my body given to you".
This is where the idea of the Eucharist came from - Holy Communion. In fact the early Christians observed a ritual meal known as the "agape feast" These "love feasts" were apparently a full meal, with each participant bringing food, and with the meal eaten in a common room. They were held on Sundays, which then became known as the Lord's Day,
Unlike the first three gospels, the Gospel of John does not include this, instead John tells of how Jesus washed the feet of the apostles and gave the new commandment "to love one another as I have loved you". John then goes on give a detailed farewell discourse by Jesus, calling the apostles who follow his teachings "friends and not servants", as he prepares them for his departure.
The Last Supper is recorded in all the four gospels but only John tells us that before they shared the meal, Jesus washed the feet of the Apostles after He tells them that by doing this He has set them an example for them to do the same as He has done.
And that is the account Read John 13; 1-17 It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
John tells us that the Apostle Peter objects and does not want to allow Jesus to wash his feet, but Jesus answers him, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me", after which Peter agrees.
John then tells how Jesus ‘troubled in spirit’ tells His disciples that one of them is going to betray Him. His disciples were gob smacked - Peter asked who is it to which Jesus said ‘ It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish’ after which He handed it to Judas and as soon as Judas took the bread John tells us that ‘ satan entered into him’.
Following the departure of Judas from the Last Supper, Jesus tells his remaining disciples that He will be with them for only a short time, then gives them a New Commandment, stating: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Jesus says this again in John 15:12: "My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you", and John 15:17: "This is my command: Love each other."
This was the command that Jesus gave when He had washed His disciples feet - a sign of humility, a physical sign of how we should respect and value each other - to love one another and help one another -by showing the sacrificial love of our Father God.
The whole of the Easter message is the revelation of the extent of Gods love for you and me. The love that was seen in Jesus. Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends - you are my friends if you do whatsoever I command you - and what was that command - love one another as I have loved you.
Look at what John tells us Jesus said after Judas had left them. John 13; 31-38 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
What a shock that would be to Peter and the other disciples - when you consider how earlier in the ministry of Jesus, God used Peter to tell everyone who Jesus was ‘ You are the Christ the Son of the living God’ Matthew 16;16
Peter had no problem with acknowledging His love for Jesus when the going was OK it was when the going got difficult and he faced the possibility of loosing his own life for confessing his love for Jesus.
All over the World there are people who are giving their lives for standing up for the truth of the gospel - God bless them - I wonder how we would react if in the same situation. Thankfully we are told that afterwards, Jesus gave Peter a chance to be forgiven for his three denials and God in His love showed the depth of His forgiveness in re-instating Peter to become one of the mainstays of the Christian Church - the one who preached at Pentecost the birthday of the church.
That’s the extent of Gods love for you and me. How many times have I said that we as a church need to get our ACT2 gether.
Lets close with the wonderful comforting words of Jesus
John 14 1-4 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
John 14;15-22 “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[c] in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”
I guess we’ll all miss gathering together around the large cross in our hall on Good Friday morning, enjoying lunch together in the Community Hall and then travelling to Otley Chevin to gather around the gigantic cross there and sing our hymns and pray - accompanied by the people who have gathered there from other churches.
I pray that you will use this time at home to spend time in prayer and reading your bibles for I know that in so doing, God will presence Himself with you all and enjoy your worship. Tomorrow we will share together from John 16, 17 and 18.
We need to thank God for sending Jesus to redeem His people and save us from the penalty of sin - and more than that, as He promised - come and live within us by the power of His Holy Spirit - that was the promise Jesus gave to those who love Him and live in obedience to His commands. It thrills me to know that Jesus says because I live - you also will live - as the song says ‘He came to give us life in all it’s fulness’ and He does. I find it awesome to know that just as Jesus promised, Because He lives - so will we live and we will begin to realise that just as God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one, so too we are one with the Lord.
Keep His commands - stay true to Him and we will begin to feel the awesome love of God in our hearts - WOW! Thats the real warm feeling of deep love that we will feel in our hearts. Thank God for Easter and all that is means - Gods love manifest in Christ that desires to come and live within us to His praise and Glory. Then and only then will others around us know we are Christians by our love. I love you all
Good Friday 2020
Yesterday morning we closed by looking at how Jesus comforted His disciples. We read from the gospel of John - 14 - the only one of the gospel writers who tells us about this.
Today, Good Friday - I want you to look at the following chapter John 17 which tells how Jesus goes to pray in the garden of Gethsemane - John is the only gospel writer who tells us the whole of Jesus’s prayer. He would know as Mark ch 14;32 tells us that Jesus told His disciples to sit down while He went to pray and took Peter, James and John along with Him - so John, it would seem - would be the only Gospel writer able to hear the whole of Jesus’s prayer
We are told that Jesus was deeply distressed and troubled as He told them His soul was filled with sorrow to the point of death and told them to stay and keep watch while He went just a little further to pray.
Jesus knew what was to going to happen to Him shortly - and started by asking His Father God if their was any way the cup of sorrow, pain and suffering could be taken from Him - but if there wasn’t - ad so Jesus ‘then thy will be done‘. Jesus then prays firstly for Himself, then His disciples and finally for those who will come to know Him through the testimonies of His disciples - that you and me.
Lets read that prayer from John 17; 1-26 Jesus prays for Himself After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus then Prays for His Disciples “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for you and me “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. That’s exactly what Jesus had told His disciples earlier and the closing words that we read together this morning from John 14;20
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
WOW! that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
That’s the prayer of Jesus for you and me -we sing it don’t we? that we might be one with each other and one with the Lord - that our unity be restored and then the world will know that we are Christians by our love by our love - they will know we are Christians by our love. That’s Christ in you and me. As I’ve always said, Just as the Word became flesh in Christ Jesus so Jesus needs to become flesh in us.
We are to both love the word and live the word. - That’s the prayer of Jesus for you and me today. I love that - Jesus showed His love and concern for His disciples and for those who will come to know Jesus through the testimonies and lives of the disciples - that’s you and me. Jesus prayed for you and me - that we might be one with each other and one with the Lord - bound together in love - that’s the message of Easter.
The three fold prayer of Jesus firstly for Himself, then His disciples, then you and me
1 The Love that Jesus had for His Father that was seen in the way He - Jesus - was prepared to give Himself in fulfilment to His Fathers
will’
2 The Love that Jesus had for His disciples when He shared the love of God with them and drew them into union with Himself and
Father God.
3 The Love that was lived out in Jesus when He gave His life on the cross for you and me.
Just think about that - Jesus prays for you and me - WOW! I thank Jesus every day for His unfailing love for me and you. Jesus gave His life on the cross for you and me so that we could live in union with Him and the Father and one day go to live with Him in Glory.
Following His prayers, we are told that Judas turned up with a detatchment of soldiers and the chief priest and Pharisees carrying torches and weapons - Jesus knew what was going on and played along with it by asking them who they were looking for; John 18; 5 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” ( the disciples) This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
What follows then is Jesus is arrested and taken by Caiaphas and handed over to Pilate - it was at this time that Peter denied even knowing Jesus - not once but three times. Pilate said he could find no basis to charge Jesus with and since it was a custom of the Passover to release one prisoner Pilate asked the people if they wanted him to release the King of the Jews - ‘No’ they replied ‘Not him, give us Barabbas‘.
Pilate then took Jesus, had Him flogged - put a crown of thorns on His head and a purple robe on Him - sent Him out to the crowds and the chief priest and other officials shouted ‘Crucify Him’.Pilate said ‘I find no reason to charge Him - so you take Him and crucify Him’ and that’s what happened to Jesus. Even on the cross - Jesus looked at the people gathered there, those who had cried ‘Crucify Him’ - the soldiers who had nailed Him to the cross and prayed to God ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’. Even then - in pain on the cross - Jesus showed the love of God
The cross is a symbol of Gods sacrificial love and shows His concern for you and me, our families, our neighbours, the world at large and through it offers forgiveness to those who repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. As Jesus said - there is no other name by which we could be saved - Its Jesus - Thank You Father for Jesus - help us to live lives in obedience to You and one day be together with You in Glory.
On this Good Friday - I pray that we will take time to reflect on our commitment to Jesus - how far are we prepared to go in this world to let the love of Jesus be seen in us. To ask forgiveness for the times we have let Him down and fallen short of what He expects us to be. Unlike the crowds of Jesus day - we have the full picture - the New Testament that as we read it leaves us in no doubt as to what God wants of us.
Unlike the ones who stood round the cross when Jesus died - we do know what we are doing - and even then God is still wiling to forgive us if we acknowledge our waywardness and seek His forgiveness.
Lets pray - Father I pray that the impact of sacrificial love of Jesus that we are remembering this Good Friday - will move us to examine our own hearts and make sure that we are living in obedience to Your Word. We pray that If there have been times Lord when we have let You down that we will ask Your forgiveness and determine in our lives to try to live in accordance to Your will and let Your love shine through us out into the darkness of this world.
I pray that You will be with each one of us in these difficult days - help us to feel Your presence and place our complete faith and trust in You - I pray that Lord You will fill us with Your love and help us to help others through this difficult time and that when we come together - in Spirit - this Sunday we will celebrate the awesomness of the ressurrection. To You be the Glory and the Praise in Jesus name Amen
I can’t wait for Sunday - to read about the many appearances that the Risen Lord made - to those He loved and who loved Him.
It will be difficult - for us all this Sunday separated as we are - but I pray that God will unite us together in Spirit and it will be a glorious day.
I look forward to speaking to you all then God bless - I love you all
Watch Fountainview Academy To God be the Glory
Yesterday morning we closed by looking at how Jesus comforted His disciples. We read from the gospel of John - 14 - the only one of the gospel writers who tells us about this.
Today, Good Friday - I want you to look at the following chapter John 17 which tells how Jesus goes to pray in the garden of Gethsemane - John is the only gospel writer who tells us the whole of Jesus’s prayer. He would know as Mark ch 14;32 tells us that Jesus told His disciples to sit down while He went to pray and took Peter, James and John along with Him - so John, it would seem - would be the only Gospel writer able to hear the whole of Jesus’s prayer
We are told that Jesus was deeply distressed and troubled as He told them His soul was filled with sorrow to the point of death and told them to stay and keep watch while He went just a little further to pray.
Jesus knew what was to going to happen to Him shortly - and started by asking His Father God if their was any way the cup of sorrow, pain and suffering could be taken from Him - but if there wasn’t - ad so Jesus ‘then thy will be done‘. Jesus then prays firstly for Himself, then His disciples and finally for those who will come to know Him through the testimonies of His disciples - that you and me.
Lets read that prayer from John 17; 1-26 Jesus prays for Himself After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:“Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
Jesus then Prays for His Disciples “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.
I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for you and me “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. That’s exactly what Jesus had told His disciples earlier and the closing words that we read together this morning from John 14;20
“Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.
WOW! that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
That’s the prayer of Jesus for you and me -we sing it don’t we? that we might be one with each other and one with the Lord - that our unity be restored and then the world will know that we are Christians by our love by our love - they will know we are Christians by our love. That’s Christ in you and me. As I’ve always said, Just as the Word became flesh in Christ Jesus so Jesus needs to become flesh in us.
We are to both love the word and live the word. - That’s the prayer of Jesus for you and me today. I love that - Jesus showed His love and concern for His disciples and for those who will come to know Jesus through the testimonies and lives of the disciples - that’s you and me. Jesus prayed for you and me - that we might be one with each other and one with the Lord - bound together in love - that’s the message of Easter.
The three fold prayer of Jesus firstly for Himself, then His disciples, then you and me
1 The Love that Jesus had for His Father that was seen in the way He - Jesus - was prepared to give Himself in fulfilment to His Fathers
will’
2 The Love that Jesus had for His disciples when He shared the love of God with them and drew them into union with Himself and
Father God.
3 The Love that was lived out in Jesus when He gave His life on the cross for you and me.
Just think about that - Jesus prays for you and me - WOW! I thank Jesus every day for His unfailing love for me and you. Jesus gave His life on the cross for you and me so that we could live in union with Him and the Father and one day go to live with Him in Glory.
Following His prayers, we are told that Judas turned up with a detatchment of soldiers and the chief priest and Pharisees carrying torches and weapons - Jesus knew what was going on and played along with it by asking them who they were looking for; John 18; 5 5 “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.. Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” ( the disciples) This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.) Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus. They bound him and brought him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jewish leaders that it would be good if one man died for the people.
What follows then is Jesus is arrested and taken by Caiaphas and handed over to Pilate - it was at this time that Peter denied even knowing Jesus - not once but three times. Pilate said he could find no basis to charge Jesus with and since it was a custom of the Passover to release one prisoner Pilate asked the people if they wanted him to release the King of the Jews - ‘No’ they replied ‘Not him, give us Barabbas‘.
Pilate then took Jesus, had Him flogged - put a crown of thorns on His head and a purple robe on Him - sent Him out to the crowds and the chief priest and other officials shouted ‘Crucify Him’.Pilate said ‘I find no reason to charge Him - so you take Him and crucify Him’ and that’s what happened to Jesus. Even on the cross - Jesus looked at the people gathered there, those who had cried ‘Crucify Him’ - the soldiers who had nailed Him to the cross and prayed to God ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do’. Even then - in pain on the cross - Jesus showed the love of God
The cross is a symbol of Gods sacrificial love and shows His concern for you and me, our families, our neighbours, the world at large and through it offers forgiveness to those who repent and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. As Jesus said - there is no other name by which we could be saved - Its Jesus - Thank You Father for Jesus - help us to live lives in obedience to You and one day be together with You in Glory.
On this Good Friday - I pray that we will take time to reflect on our commitment to Jesus - how far are we prepared to go in this world to let the love of Jesus be seen in us. To ask forgiveness for the times we have let Him down and fallen short of what He expects us to be. Unlike the crowds of Jesus day - we have the full picture - the New Testament that as we read it leaves us in no doubt as to what God wants of us.
Unlike the ones who stood round the cross when Jesus died - we do know what we are doing - and even then God is still wiling to forgive us if we acknowledge our waywardness and seek His forgiveness.
Lets pray - Father I pray that the impact of sacrificial love of Jesus that we are remembering this Good Friday - will move us to examine our own hearts and make sure that we are living in obedience to Your Word. We pray that If there have been times Lord when we have let You down that we will ask Your forgiveness and determine in our lives to try to live in accordance to Your will and let Your love shine through us out into the darkness of this world.
I pray that You will be with each one of us in these difficult days - help us to feel Your presence and place our complete faith and trust in You - I pray that Lord You will fill us with Your love and help us to help others through this difficult time and that when we come together - in Spirit - this Sunday we will celebrate the awesomness of the ressurrection. To You be the Glory and the Praise in Jesus name Amen
I can’t wait for Sunday - to read about the many appearances that the Risen Lord made - to those He loved and who loved Him.
It will be difficult - for us all this Sunday separated as we are - but I pray that God will unite us together in Spirit and it will be a glorious day.
I look forward to speaking to you all then God bless - I love you all
Watch Fountainview Academy To God be the Glory
Message Easter Sunday 2020
Hello everyone - He is risen - Hallelujah - what a great day this is - what a great shame it is that we can’t meet together physically and celebrate the resurrection our Lord - but then, as I’ve said over the last few days - thank God we can met in spirit together and feel the presence of the Living Lord - our Saviour Jesus is with us this morning.
We’re going to share together the excitement that those who saw Him first would have experienced and how excited they were that they couldn’t wait to spread the news to others. I hope we feel like that this morning - Our Lord is alive in you and me.
When Jesus dies on the cross, they took His body down and Matthew 27 tells us that a wealthy man - Joseph of Arimathea who had become a new disciple of Jesus went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus as he had purchased a new tomb for it. Pilate agreed, Joseph wrapped the body of Jesus in clean linen and placed it in the tomb that had been cut out of the rock, rolled a large stone over it and went his way.
Matthew adds a detail that the other gospel writers don’t mention and that is that the guards who had been with Jesus had heard Him say that He would rise again on the third day - this alarmed them and so they went to Pilate and persuaded him to let them guard the tomb as they feared that the disciples of Jesus might come - steal the body and then spread lies that He had risen. Pilate agreed and they went and sealed the tomb and stood guard.
Lets look at what happened next ; Matthew 28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
WOW and now look what Matthew tells us that the guards did; 11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Apart from this exclusive report about the guards from Matthew, the other gospel writers are pretty unanimous in the events of the ressurrection and in Mark 16v 9 to 19 we have a condensed account of the appearances that was not included in the earliest manuscripts f Mark and tells of how Jesus was seen by Mary Magdalene who went to tell the disciples -who didn‘t believe them- then Jesus appeared to the two disciples, on the Emmaus road, who went back to tell the other disciples but were still not believed. Mark then tells us that Jesus appeared to the disciples and rebuked them for not believing- and commisions them to go into all the World with the good news saying ‘whoever believes and is baptised will be saved but whoever doesn’t will be condemned. He talks about the many signs that will accompany those who believe as they do the things that only Jesus was able to do, cast out demons, heal the sick. Mark closes with ascension - all this in just 10 verses.
Thankfully the other gospel writers go into more details taking a few chapters.
What an amazing time this was as Jesus appeared to those who had been His friends and followers - Jesus wanted them to know without a doubt that He had arisen - was alive - and had come back to reassure them of the things He had promised before His death on the cross.
I love the way the loving heart of Jesus is evidenced by His concern for those who had been with Him in His earthy ministry - His love for His friends - was so real. When you look at how Jesus appeared to Mary when she thought she was speaking to the gardener, John 20 v 15 -
Woman he said ;why are you weeping - who is it you are looking for? Thinking it was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him and I will go to Him’ and this is the part I love
Jesus turned to her ‘ Mary’ She turned towards Him and cried out in Aramaic ‘Rabboni’ which means teacher.
Jesus said ‘ do not hold on to me for I have not yet returned to the Father - go instead to my brothers and tell them ‘I am returning to My Father and your Father, to my God and your God.
And that’s what she did - I can just imagine the joy and excitement that would be written all over her face as she told them ‘I ve seen the Lord’ and then told them all that He had said to her.
We are then told - that evening when the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid that the Jews would come after them - Jesus appeared and stood amongst them WOW! Imagine how they must have felt then seeing their Lord alive. Peace be with you - He said - and then proceeded to show them His hands and His side - the nail prints, the mark of the sword - not surprisingly their response to all that was that they were overjoyed when they saw the Lord
Then Jesus repeated His initial greeting Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me - I am sending you. And with that He breathed on them and said ‘Receive the Holy Spirit
Thomas wasn’t there at that time and when the disciples told him he wouldn’t believe them - until I see the nail marks in His hands and put my fingers where the nails were and put my hand into His side I will not believe it
I love the way too that Jesus who didn’t want to leave any of the disciples out appeared again to the disciples and this time Thomas was with them and invited Thomas to do what Thomas had said would be the proof that he needed to believe.
Jesus said to Thomas ‘ put your fingers here - see my hands - reach out your hand and put it into my side - stop doubting and believe’ To which Thomas replied ‘My Lord and my God’ Jesus told him ‘Because you have seen me you have believed, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
John ends chapter 20 by telling us that Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in His name. Hallelujah
Jesus is alive - we serve a risen Saviour - he’s in the world today - I know that He is living whatever men may say. We can see His hand of mercy and hear His voice of cheer - and just the time we need Him - He’s always near - He lives - He lives Christ Jesus lives today - how do we know - because He walks with us - He talks with us along the narrow way - He live - He lives - Salvation to impart - when people ask you how you know he lives - tell them - tell them I know He lives because He lives within my heart,
That’s the message of Easter Day - that’s why Jesus came to show us the love of God by living it and that’s what He wants us to do - become like Jesus and live the good news and in so doing let others See the power and love of God in our lives.
What better time is there than this - a time when through lockdown - the church is shut - the great thing is that God is never on lockdown that the presence and power of Almighty God is alive and well and needs to be seen in the lives of people like you and me. We need to continue to tell the story of Gods love.
I love the Fairview Academy choir and the sincerity that can be seen in their faces as they sing. There are over 160 of those songs available for you to enjoy on youtube.
On Good Friday I included the song ‘To God be the Glory’ Great things He hath done with the awesome truth that God so loved the world that He gave us His son - who yielded His life an atonement for sin and opened the life gates that all may go in - Praise the Lord - that the message of Easter that we need to share with others.
Today I have put a song from one of my favourite Bill Gaither videos - it’s a song sung by Sandi Patti and Larnelle Harris it’s called ‘I’ve just seen Jesus and tells of the excitement that Mary had when she ran to tell the other disciples - Oh that we would be filled with that same joy when we tell others that Jesus is alive.
Next week we will be looking at how Jesus commissioned His disciples and I believe that includes you and me - to continue the work that He had begun - not in our own strength - but with the indwelling Christ within us who, by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, would enable us and empower us when needed, to minister to the needs of others.
Hello everyone - He is risen - Hallelujah - what a great day this is - what a great shame it is that we can’t meet together physically and celebrate the resurrection our Lord - but then, as I’ve said over the last few days - thank God we can met in spirit together and feel the presence of the Living Lord - our Saviour Jesus is with us this morning.
We’re going to share together the excitement that those who saw Him first would have experienced and how excited they were that they couldn’t wait to spread the news to others. I hope we feel like that this morning - Our Lord is alive in you and me.
When Jesus dies on the cross, they took His body down and Matthew 27 tells us that a wealthy man - Joseph of Arimathea who had become a new disciple of Jesus went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus as he had purchased a new tomb for it. Pilate agreed, Joseph wrapped the body of Jesus in clean linen and placed it in the tomb that had been cut out of the rock, rolled a large stone over it and went his way.
Matthew adds a detail that the other gospel writers don’t mention and that is that the guards who had been with Jesus had heard Him say that He would rise again on the third day - this alarmed them and so they went to Pilate and persuaded him to let them guard the tomb as they feared that the disciples of Jesus might come - steal the body and then spread lies that He had risen. Pilate agreed and they went and sealed the tomb and stood guard.
Lets look at what happened next ; Matthew 28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
WOW and now look what Matthew tells us that the guards did; 11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Apart from this exclusive report about the guards from Matthew, the other gospel writers are pretty unanimous in the events of the ressurrection and in Mark 16v 9 to 19 we have a condensed account of the appearances that was not included in the earliest manuscripts f Mark and tells of how Jesus was seen by Mary Magdalene who went to tell the disciples -who didn‘t believe them- then Jesus appeared to the two disciples, on the Emmaus road, who went back to tell the other disciples but were still not believed. Mark then tells us that Jesus appeared to the disciples and rebuked them for not believing- and commisions them to go into all the World with the good news saying ‘whoever believes and is baptised will be saved but whoever doesn’t will be condemned. He talks about the many signs that will accompany those who believe as they do the things that only Jesus was able to do, cast out demons, heal the sick. Mark closes with ascension - all this in just 10 verses.
Thankfully the other gospel writers go into more details taking a few chapters.
What an amazing time this was as Jesus appeared to those who had been His friends and followers - Jesus wanted them to know without a doubt that He had arisen - was alive - and had come back to reassure them of the things He had promised before His death on the cross.
I love the way the loving heart of Jesus is evidenced by His concern for those who had been with Him in His earthy ministry - His love for His friends - was so real. When you look at how Jesus appeared to Mary when she thought she was speaking to the gardener, John 20 v 15 -
Woman he said ;why are you weeping - who is it you are looking for? Thinking it was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him and I will go to Him’ and this is the part I love
Jesus turned to her ‘ Mary’ She turned towards Him and cried out in Aramaic ‘Rabboni’ which means teacher.
Jesus said ‘ do not hold on to me for I have not yet returned to the Father - go instead to my brothers and tell them ‘I am returning to My Father and your Father, to my God and your God.
And that’s what she did - I can just imagine the joy and excitement that would be written all over her face as she told them ‘I ve seen the Lord’ and then told them all that He had said to her.
We are then told - that evening when the disciples were together behind locked doors because they were afraid that the Jews would come after them - Jesus appeared and stood amongst them WOW! Imagine how they must have felt then seeing their Lord alive. Peace be with you - He said - and then proceeded to show them His hands and His side - the nail prints, the mark of the sword - not surprisingly their response to all that was that they were overjoyed when they saw the Lord
Then Jesus repeated His initial greeting Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me - I am sending you. And with that He breathed on them and said ‘Receive the Holy Spirit
Thomas wasn’t there at that time and when the disciples told him he wouldn’t believe them - until I see the nail marks in His hands and put my fingers where the nails were and put my hand into His side I will not believe it
I love the way too that Jesus who didn’t want to leave any of the disciples out appeared again to the disciples and this time Thomas was with them and invited Thomas to do what Thomas had said would be the proof that he needed to believe.
Jesus said to Thomas ‘ put your fingers here - see my hands - reach out your hand and put it into my side - stop doubting and believe’ To which Thomas replied ‘My Lord and my God’ Jesus told him ‘Because you have seen me you have believed, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.
John ends chapter 20 by telling us that Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing you may have life in His name. Hallelujah
Jesus is alive - we serve a risen Saviour - he’s in the world today - I know that He is living whatever men may say. We can see His hand of mercy and hear His voice of cheer - and just the time we need Him - He’s always near - He lives - He lives Christ Jesus lives today - how do we know - because He walks with us - He talks with us along the narrow way - He live - He lives - Salvation to impart - when people ask you how you know he lives - tell them - tell them I know He lives because He lives within my heart,
That’s the message of Easter Day - that’s why Jesus came to show us the love of God by living it and that’s what He wants us to do - become like Jesus and live the good news and in so doing let others See the power and love of God in our lives.
What better time is there than this - a time when through lockdown - the church is shut - the great thing is that God is never on lockdown that the presence and power of Almighty God is alive and well and needs to be seen in the lives of people like you and me. We need to continue to tell the story of Gods love.
I love the Fairview Academy choir and the sincerity that can be seen in their faces as they sing. There are over 160 of those songs available for you to enjoy on youtube.
On Good Friday I included the song ‘To God be the Glory’ Great things He hath done with the awesome truth that God so loved the world that He gave us His son - who yielded His life an atonement for sin and opened the life gates that all may go in - Praise the Lord - that the message of Easter that we need to share with others.
Today I have put a song from one of my favourite Bill Gaither videos - it’s a song sung by Sandi Patti and Larnelle Harris it’s called ‘I’ve just seen Jesus and tells of the excitement that Mary had when she ran to tell the other disciples - Oh that we would be filled with that same joy when we tell others that Jesus is alive.
Next week we will be looking at how Jesus commissioned His disciples and I believe that includes you and me - to continue the work that He had begun - not in our own strength - but with the indwelling Christ within us who, by the power of the Holy Spirit within us, would enable us and empower us when needed, to minister to the needs of others.
MM 22 March 2020 Mothers day
Today is Mothers Day. The day that we as a family, thank God for that one special person that we all love, and that's mother. Sadly we are not allowed to worship together because of the restriction put on us due to the Coranvirus. I suggested therefore that whilst we are at home we use the time to worship God through our own Bible devotions and prayer' To help with that here are a few words that I would normally have shared on Mothers Day and pray that this will help you in your private worship.
There are many remarkable insights to the qualities of a good mum in the Bible, one of my favourites is the mother of Timothy. We are told of the depth of her love when Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him to let that love within him to flow out into the lives of others. As we read it we can see the effect of motherly love as handed down through three generations to Timothy who in Pauls eyes had become the man he was because of the devotion and teachings of his mother and her mother before her.
This is what Paul wrote to Timothy; Paul wrote to Timothy 2 Timothy 1;5 I have been reminded of your ‘sincere faith’, which first ‘lived in’ your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now ‘lives in you also’. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Timothy became the man he was, a man of sincere faith, through the influence of his mother Eunice who herself must have felt the influence from her own mother Lois. Two good mothers who passed their faith down to their children.
The Bible tells us of many mothers who loved their children so much that they were willing to sacrifice anything to give them the best start in life.
The mother of Moses is just one of them We don’t even know her name- all we know is that she was a Levite who along with her husband and all the other Israelites lived as slaves under bondage to the Egyptians. Because the Levite population was overrunning that of the Egyptians, the Pharoah ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all the new born baby boys. Because some of the midwives feared God and didn’t follow the cruel law. Pharoah then commanded them to throw them into the River Nile. Exodus 1;22
When this particular Levite mothers baby boy was born she hid him for three months until she could hide him no longer - she then made a papyrus basket, coated it with tar and after putting her baby in it, laid it gently among the reeds in the Nile. Ex 2; 1-10 The baby’s sister Miriam, hid in the reeds to see if he would be discovered. When Pharaohs daughter went to the river to bathe, she found the baby, took a looking to him and felt sorry for him. Realising that it must be one of the Hebrew babies - she would know what had happened. Miriam seized the opportunity to suggest to Pharaohs daughter that she find a Hebrew nurse and promptly went for the babies mother.
She nursed her own son right their in the enemy camp until he was old enough to be looked after by Pharaohs daughter - then, for his own safety, she had to leave him there. That’s the sacrificial love of a mother who was prepared to risk her own life when she decided she would not kill her baby at birth. Who for his own safety, was left in Pharaohs court to be brought up by another woman.
Then there’s Hannah the mother of Samuel. Hannahs husband Elkanah had two wives; Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Whenever Hannah went to the temple to pray she would ask that one day she would be able to have children.
On one occasion, Eli the priest was sitting by the door of the temple. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow that if God would bless her with a son, she would give him to the LORD for all the days of his life. Eli the priest saw her and couldn’t understand why her lips were moving, she was crying and yet no sound came out of her mouth. Hannah told him "I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. praying here out of my great anguish and grief." Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him."
Thankfully God answered her prayer and she gave birth to a son whom she called Samuel, which means, "Because I asked the LORD for him." 1 Samuel 1 v 21-23 When Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfil his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always." "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
Samuel was so special to Hannah, He was an answer to prayer. Not having children, she had withstood the taunts of her husbands other wife for many years, and in her desperation had cried out to God for a baby. Hannah's promised God that if He blessed her with a child, she would one day give him back to God in His service. Who knows, perhaps Hannah thought that what she asked of God was impossible and in her desperation made the deal. You can almost sense the turmoil in Hannah's heart, for when her husband went on his annual visit to the Temple, she held back, and would not go, until the day when she knew she would have to leave Samuel there. "I'm not going this year,' she said, to Elkanah, ''I'll go next year,' holding off that fateful day. So Hannah stayed at home until he was ready.
You can almost sense the turmoil in Hannah's heart, for when her husband went on his annual visit to the Temple, she held back, and stayed at home until her son Samuel was ready. And that’s what she did - 1 Samuel 1; 26 she brought the boy to Eli, and said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he shall be given over to the LORD." And he worshipped the LORD there.
Her heart would be heavy, when the time came for that visit to the Temple, but she honoured her promise, and presented Samuel to the priest Eli. Hannah had no way of knowing that the young child Samuel would be used mightily in the plan of God and be the mouthpiece of God to a rebellious nation.
When I think of my own grandchildren, I find it impossible to believe that anyone could give their child away like Hannah did, or indeed the mother of Moses - but they did it because they loved their babies. They sacrificed everything they had lived for so that their children would live, and have all the best that life could offer.
One of the lovely things about the two mothers we have mentioned is that they showed great sacrificial love, and that’s exactly what the third mother we will look at did. ( 1Kings 3) This mother was distraught when another woman claimed that her baby was hers, to settle the dispute we are told how Solomon in his wisdom said he would cut the baby in two and give a part to each of the women obviously realising that the baby’s true mother would not let that happen and so when she said no - give the baby to the other woman - he knew straight away who the real mother was and she was reunited with her baby. It was the unselfish mothers love that won through.
I guess that many of us, particularly those of us who were born during the war years, can think of the ways that our mothers, unselfishly showed their sacrificial love in the way in which they were prepared to go without, so that we could wouldn't have to. I well remember the hardships that my mum endured, during and after the war, when ration books were needed to get food and clothes. We always had enough coupons, but we didn't have enough money to use the coupons. She decided that her boy's would be as well dressed at Whitsuntide, as those wealthy folk up Westfield Lane, so she sat up into the early hours, knitting pullovers for Sam and me, and still get up early to go to work in the mill to supplement my Dads income. That’s love - that real love
Even though Hannah had had to give up her son Samuel, she never ceased to love him and continued to show the spirit of caring as each year, she made her son a little robe and took it to him, when she visited him in the temple.
Lastly we look at Mary the mother of our Lord who after 30 years of loving, caring, and supporting her son finds herself having to stand helplessly by, as the authorities led Him away to death on a cruel cross. She watched as they nailed her son to a cross. She had stood by Him through the good and through the bad times.
We could never imagine what Mary felt the day she saw Him hanging on a cross. Just as Mary loved her son, Jesus loved her too, so much that He looked down from the cross, and looking at John, the disciple who was probably the closest to Jesus, said to His mother, "Dear woman, here is your son, and to John, He said, "here is your mother", and from that time on, John took Mary the mother of Jesus into his home. Jesus loved his mother and would know the pain that she felt at this time loosing one of her beloved sons, and wanted to make sure that was given the love that she deserved.
Our Father God so often illustrates the power, and extent of His love for His children, in terms of 'Motherly Love'." How often I have wanted to shelter you under the safety of my arms, as a mother hen with her chicks. God's love is seen in no better way, than in the love of a mother for her children. When we thank God for mother, we really thank Him for the love that she showed, His love, His sacrificial love.
The greatest commandment Jesus said, is that you" love one another, as I have loved you. "If only man would look at the mess that he is making of the world, learn the lesson that God showed us in Jesus, of the need for sacrificial love. "Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, you are My friends if you do whatsoever I command you". You see God was the first to show His love to mankind. God gave His Only Son, for your sake, and mine, so that "whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
What’s your response Gods love ?
Mothers day is a celebration of love. Love that gives without any thought for itself. The mothers we have looked at all showed real love by giving their best for their children because they loved them -
Mary showed her great love and faith in her son Jesus. At His birth, she sang of His greatness. She knew the heartache of loosing Him when He was only 12 years of age. When He began His earthly ministry, she showed her faith in Him when at the wedding of Canaan, to show the power of God in His first miracle, she told the disciples to ‘do whatever He commands you’. When He suffered on the cross, she would feel the pain When He died - something of herself would die also One can only imagine her joy, when He rose again from the tomb in Victory
In a mother we see what love is really all about - unselfish devotion. The mother of Moses was willing to give him up for his own safety,
The mother of Samuel was so thankful to God for answering her prayer that she was willing to give him into the service of the Lord.
Mary - she loved and honoured her son so much that she encouraged others to ‘do whatever He tells you to’.
The mother of Timothy however didn’t do anything more spectacular than simply be there for her son and pass on the faith that she had gained from her own mother. That in itself is the best that mother can do - be a spiritual influence to her children and share the deep deep love of God with them. Mothers Day is a day to celebrate that Love
Some of us are privileged to have our own family units close by - others are separated by miles. The good thing is that as Christians, we have two families. One related by physical birth and the other related by a Spiritual New birth, we may not be together physically this morning but through our own private devotions at home we are bound together as Gods family by the love of Jesus, that unites us as the family of God.
As family, we are called to support, help, encourage and be there for one another in just the same way that our natural brothers and sisters - sometimes, even more so. God calls us together and says to us - this is your brother, this is your sister, as you love them, so you love Me, As you love Me, so you love them. Together we are Gods children - the family of God and when we love, respect and honour one another - when we walk humbly with others and share the love of God with others as Christ did, we have everything that a person can have.
We are one in Christ Jesus. We are the family of God - I pray that the love we have for one another will grow and that the love we have for those who there will grow too.
Just as a mothers love is passed on to her children, so too the love of God is passed on through His children - you and me - out into a world of spiritual orphans - folk who don’t realise the love of their real Father - God - and it’s up to us to show them His love.
What better opportunity could we possibly have than the situation we find ourselves in today with the devastation that is being caused by the Coronavirus. There are people all round us who need love and support in practical ways - what better way to show the love of God to them by sharing that love with them.
I pray that over the next few months we will use that opportunity to help others by letting the love of God flow through us to let the WORD become flesh in and through us. The church - you and I need to get our ACT2gether and let the world see what the true church should be - Love in ACTion. Read Acts 2 - that’s how the early church responded to the Word of God - they lived it.
Today is Mothers Day. The day that we as a family, thank God for that one special person that we all love, and that's mother. Sadly we are not allowed to worship together because of the restriction put on us due to the Coranvirus. I suggested therefore that whilst we are at home we use the time to worship God through our own Bible devotions and prayer' To help with that here are a few words that I would normally have shared on Mothers Day and pray that this will help you in your private worship.
There are many remarkable insights to the qualities of a good mum in the Bible, one of my favourites is the mother of Timothy. We are told of the depth of her love when Paul wrote to Timothy to encourage him to let that love within him to flow out into the lives of others. As we read it we can see the effect of motherly love as handed down through three generations to Timothy who in Pauls eyes had become the man he was because of the devotion and teachings of his mother and her mother before her.
This is what Paul wrote to Timothy; Paul wrote to Timothy 2 Timothy 1;5 I have been reminded of your ‘sincere faith’, which first ‘lived in’ your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now ‘lives in you also’. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Timothy became the man he was, a man of sincere faith, through the influence of his mother Eunice who herself must have felt the influence from her own mother Lois. Two good mothers who passed their faith down to their children.
The Bible tells us of many mothers who loved their children so much that they were willing to sacrifice anything to give them the best start in life.
The mother of Moses is just one of them We don’t even know her name- all we know is that she was a Levite who along with her husband and all the other Israelites lived as slaves under bondage to the Egyptians. Because the Levite population was overrunning that of the Egyptians, the Pharoah ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill all the new born baby boys. Because some of the midwives feared God and didn’t follow the cruel law. Pharoah then commanded them to throw them into the River Nile. Exodus 1;22
When this particular Levite mothers baby boy was born she hid him for three months until she could hide him no longer - she then made a papyrus basket, coated it with tar and after putting her baby in it, laid it gently among the reeds in the Nile. Ex 2; 1-10 The baby’s sister Miriam, hid in the reeds to see if he would be discovered. When Pharaohs daughter went to the river to bathe, she found the baby, took a looking to him and felt sorry for him. Realising that it must be one of the Hebrew babies - she would know what had happened. Miriam seized the opportunity to suggest to Pharaohs daughter that she find a Hebrew nurse and promptly went for the babies mother.
She nursed her own son right their in the enemy camp until he was old enough to be looked after by Pharaohs daughter - then, for his own safety, she had to leave him there. That’s the sacrificial love of a mother who was prepared to risk her own life when she decided she would not kill her baby at birth. Who for his own safety, was left in Pharaohs court to be brought up by another woman.
Then there’s Hannah the mother of Samuel. Hannahs husband Elkanah had two wives; Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none. Whenever Hannah went to the temple to pray she would ask that one day she would be able to have children.
On one occasion, Eli the priest was sitting by the door of the temple. In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow that if God would bless her with a son, she would give him to the LORD for all the days of his life. Eli the priest saw her and couldn’t understand why her lips were moving, she was crying and yet no sound came out of her mouth. Hannah told him "I was pouring out my soul to the LORD. praying here out of my great anguish and grief." Eli answered, "Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him."
Thankfully God answered her prayer and she gave birth to a son whom she called Samuel, which means, "Because I asked the LORD for him." 1 Samuel 1 v 21-23 When Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfil his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always." "Do what seems best to you," Elkanah her husband told her. "Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word." So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.
Samuel was so special to Hannah, He was an answer to prayer. Not having children, she had withstood the taunts of her husbands other wife for many years, and in her desperation had cried out to God for a baby. Hannah's promised God that if He blessed her with a child, she would one day give him back to God in His service. Who knows, perhaps Hannah thought that what she asked of God was impossible and in her desperation made the deal. You can almost sense the turmoil in Hannah's heart, for when her husband went on his annual visit to the Temple, she held back, and would not go, until the day when she knew she would have to leave Samuel there. "I'm not going this year,' she said, to Elkanah, ''I'll go next year,' holding off that fateful day. So Hannah stayed at home until he was ready.
You can almost sense the turmoil in Hannah's heart, for when her husband went on his annual visit to the Temple, she held back, and stayed at home until her son Samuel was ready. And that’s what she did - 1 Samuel 1; 26 she brought the boy to Eli, and said to him, "As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he shall be given over to the LORD." And he worshipped the LORD there.
Her heart would be heavy, when the time came for that visit to the Temple, but she honoured her promise, and presented Samuel to the priest Eli. Hannah had no way of knowing that the young child Samuel would be used mightily in the plan of God and be the mouthpiece of God to a rebellious nation.
When I think of my own grandchildren, I find it impossible to believe that anyone could give their child away like Hannah did, or indeed the mother of Moses - but they did it because they loved their babies. They sacrificed everything they had lived for so that their children would live, and have all the best that life could offer.
One of the lovely things about the two mothers we have mentioned is that they showed great sacrificial love, and that’s exactly what the third mother we will look at did. ( 1Kings 3) This mother was distraught when another woman claimed that her baby was hers, to settle the dispute we are told how Solomon in his wisdom said he would cut the baby in two and give a part to each of the women obviously realising that the baby’s true mother would not let that happen and so when she said no - give the baby to the other woman - he knew straight away who the real mother was and she was reunited with her baby. It was the unselfish mothers love that won through.
I guess that many of us, particularly those of us who were born during the war years, can think of the ways that our mothers, unselfishly showed their sacrificial love in the way in which they were prepared to go without, so that we could wouldn't have to. I well remember the hardships that my mum endured, during and after the war, when ration books were needed to get food and clothes. We always had enough coupons, but we didn't have enough money to use the coupons. She decided that her boy's would be as well dressed at Whitsuntide, as those wealthy folk up Westfield Lane, so she sat up into the early hours, knitting pullovers for Sam and me, and still get up early to go to work in the mill to supplement my Dads income. That’s love - that real love
Even though Hannah had had to give up her son Samuel, she never ceased to love him and continued to show the spirit of caring as each year, she made her son a little robe and took it to him, when she visited him in the temple.
Lastly we look at Mary the mother of our Lord who after 30 years of loving, caring, and supporting her son finds herself having to stand helplessly by, as the authorities led Him away to death on a cruel cross. She watched as they nailed her son to a cross. She had stood by Him through the good and through the bad times.
We could never imagine what Mary felt the day she saw Him hanging on a cross. Just as Mary loved her son, Jesus loved her too, so much that He looked down from the cross, and looking at John, the disciple who was probably the closest to Jesus, said to His mother, "Dear woman, here is your son, and to John, He said, "here is your mother", and from that time on, John took Mary the mother of Jesus into his home. Jesus loved his mother and would know the pain that she felt at this time loosing one of her beloved sons, and wanted to make sure that was given the love that she deserved.
Our Father God so often illustrates the power, and extent of His love for His children, in terms of 'Motherly Love'." How often I have wanted to shelter you under the safety of my arms, as a mother hen with her chicks. God's love is seen in no better way, than in the love of a mother for her children. When we thank God for mother, we really thank Him for the love that she showed, His love, His sacrificial love.
The greatest commandment Jesus said, is that you" love one another, as I have loved you. "If only man would look at the mess that he is making of the world, learn the lesson that God showed us in Jesus, of the need for sacrificial love. "Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends, you are My friends if you do whatsoever I command you". You see God was the first to show His love to mankind. God gave His Only Son, for your sake, and mine, so that "whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
What’s your response Gods love ?
Mothers day is a celebration of love. Love that gives without any thought for itself. The mothers we have looked at all showed real love by giving their best for their children because they loved them -
Mary showed her great love and faith in her son Jesus. At His birth, she sang of His greatness. She knew the heartache of loosing Him when He was only 12 years of age. When He began His earthly ministry, she showed her faith in Him when at the wedding of Canaan, to show the power of God in His first miracle, she told the disciples to ‘do whatever He commands you’. When He suffered on the cross, she would feel the pain When He died - something of herself would die also One can only imagine her joy, when He rose again from the tomb in Victory
In a mother we see what love is really all about - unselfish devotion. The mother of Moses was willing to give him up for his own safety,
The mother of Samuel was so thankful to God for answering her prayer that she was willing to give him into the service of the Lord.
Mary - she loved and honoured her son so much that she encouraged others to ‘do whatever He tells you to’.
The mother of Timothy however didn’t do anything more spectacular than simply be there for her son and pass on the faith that she had gained from her own mother. That in itself is the best that mother can do - be a spiritual influence to her children and share the deep deep love of God with them. Mothers Day is a day to celebrate that Love
Some of us are privileged to have our own family units close by - others are separated by miles. The good thing is that as Christians, we have two families. One related by physical birth and the other related by a Spiritual New birth, we may not be together physically this morning but through our own private devotions at home we are bound together as Gods family by the love of Jesus, that unites us as the family of God.
As family, we are called to support, help, encourage and be there for one another in just the same way that our natural brothers and sisters - sometimes, even more so. God calls us together and says to us - this is your brother, this is your sister, as you love them, so you love Me, As you love Me, so you love them. Together we are Gods children - the family of God and when we love, respect and honour one another - when we walk humbly with others and share the love of God with others as Christ did, we have everything that a person can have.
We are one in Christ Jesus. We are the family of God - I pray that the love we have for one another will grow and that the love we have for those who there will grow too.
Just as a mothers love is passed on to her children, so too the love of God is passed on through His children - you and me - out into a world of spiritual orphans - folk who don’t realise the love of their real Father - God - and it’s up to us to show them His love.
What better opportunity could we possibly have than the situation we find ourselves in today with the devastation that is being caused by the Coronavirus. There are people all round us who need love and support in practical ways - what better way to show the love of God to them by sharing that love with them.
I pray that over the next few months we will use that opportunity to help others by letting the love of God flow through us to let the WORD become flesh in and through us. The church - you and I need to get our ACT2gether and let the world see what the true church should be - Love in ACTion. Read Acts 2 - that’s how the early church responded to the Word of God - they lived it.
MM 15 March 2020
Last week we continued looking at Lukes account of the ministry of Jesus. We read how the crowds were attracted to Him not just by the things He said but by the miraculous things He did . As the Apostle John tells us in his gospels - The Word truly became flesh in Jesus and we saw it’
We read from Luke 6; 17 where we are told Jesus went down with His disciples and stood on a level place where a great number of people from all around had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. And they weren’t disappointed and as the people reached out to touch him, because they could feel the power coming from Him and healing them all - the sick and those troubled by impure spirits = all were cured,
We then read the sermon - the one that Matthew also writes about that speaks hope for the poor, the sad - the new hope that He had come to bring them by paying sins price on the cross and making New Life possible - a chance to start again - a chance to be re-born.
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Real hope for the oppressed - the downtrodden - then in stark contrast Jesus talks says
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
He then addresses those in the congregation who think they are OK and don’t need Jesus - particularily the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers of the Law who they are happy just as they are
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Then to those who He knows will accept Him and His teachings and who because they do will be scorned and rejected by others
Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.
For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
Jesus is telling the disciples and the other people who have gathered to hear Him the right attitudes to embrace and the benefits, rewards of living in obedience to the will of God.
God calls us to love Him and love one another not just in words but in action. God - who Is Love - wants His followers to posses that same kind of love and to make that possible even promised to come and live in the hearts of His followers so that the love we share - is God love.
We are called to let the Love and power of Jesus be seen in us today. -You might be blessed with the gift of healing but we can all love with the love of Jesus.
Then finally we read how Jesus told His followers the full extent of how their love should be - He starts by saying to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you only do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. But love your enemies, then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
There is a real need in the world today for Gods people to listen to what Jesus is saying here and to respond in the only way that they should - to show love - whatever that costs - to others - its Love that will change the world. People will respond to the word of God when they see it lived out in the lives of those who profess to be His followers.
After looking at this last Sunday - what’s this last week been like in your life? How responsive have you been to what Jesus is saying. We are called to be does of the word and not just hearers only. We are called not just to read His word but to live it
There are people out there who need to hear the good news that Jesus loves them and wants them to respond to that love by getting to know Him and love Him too in the way in which they will begin to live their lives.
Jesus really gets to grip with the problems of the church in His day by drawing their attention to their lifestyles, their lack of mission. Today more than ever the world needs to See the love of God in people like you and me. We need to be a people who live and express the Positives attitudes that Jesus is teaching His disciples here.
I closed last Sundays meeting with the song People need the Lord and they do.That’s one of the reasons Gods people meet together like this on a Sunday - to Worship God - and to thank Him for the way in which He has been with us throughout the week .
We meet together to share the truth from His word and the ask God to empower and equip us to take that good news out into the world - to take every opportunity we can in the next week to LIVE IT and by so doing encourage others to come to know Jesus for themselves.
This week we are going to look at how Jesus prepared Himself to live the life He did and minister to others. The first thing Jesus did before He spent the day sharing with others- was spend time in prayer before He began the day. He did this as we read last week before He chose His disciples and before He gave the sermon on the mount. Luke 6; 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
He also did this before He was arrested by the authorities and sent to the cross.
John 17 Firstly Jesus prayed for Himself “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Wow! Eternal life is attained by Knowing Him - God in Christ Jesus
I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
WOW! Here Jesus is maintaining that He was there at the beginning - as John says later - In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God - and the Word was God. The pure word of God that was only spoiled when the evil one came to bring temptation into the world. Hell (L) came into the Wor L d
Jesus then Prayed for His Disciples 6 “I have revealed You to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. Completely One as Jesus and God are.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Enabled and empowered to continue the work Jesus began of sharing the truth by physically living the Word.
Jesus then Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, WOW! That’s you and meFather, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be
brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Unity - together in mind and deed
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them.”
WOW! Prayer - how important it is. Jesus prayed and even taught His disciples how to pray - we call it - Today we know it as the Lord’s prayer
I couldn’t start the day - without kneeling at my bedside to talk to God. I wouldn’t dare face the day without first seeking His presence and guidance for that day - I need to know that I am doing what He wants me to do and not just what I want to do.
I use the Lord’s prayer as a guide for what I need to pray for. The Lord’s prayer is found in just two of the gospels, Matthew and John
Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
John 11; One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
Today we express the Lords prayer as found in the Anglican book of Prayer 1662 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the
glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The difference between the Matthew and Luke prayer and how we pray today is that we add the doxology. This can be found in the original King James 1611 translation where it ends by saying ‘For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen.
It is also the prayer of David the Psalmist found in 1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
I use the Lord’s prayer every morning as a pattern - a guide for my own prayers starting with the awesome acknowledgment of who it is I am praying to - the awesome fact that I can speak straight to God as if He is there - and Yes I believe He is.
My Father - Wow in saying that I am acknowledging the fact that I have been born again - not physically but born of the Spirit which means I am now a child of God and That He is my Heavenly Father WOW!
Which art in Heaven - That’s where He is and so for the short time I am praying - Heaven is around me. WOW!
Hallowed be Thy name I then address Him personally as YAHWEH - God has many names all descriptive of who He is and what He does.
Thy Kingdom Come longing for the day when His Kingdom will be established here on earth so that His Will be done here on earth as it is in Heaven. The day when He -in Christ - will come back to earth as promised and begin to build a place where His word is lived.
Give us this day our daily bread when I pray this I’m not asking that He will take care of all my physical needs - food etc because I know He does and will continue to do so - I always add, Lord look after me spiritually and emotionally - and He does. I want to be led and inspired by Him Spiritually so that I can share His love with others that I will meet that day.
I want Him to help me cope with my emotional needs, my grief at loosing my lovely wife Beryl and son Kevin - it hurts and always will - but thank God I know they are safe in Heaven and one day we will be together again.
And forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me. I like everyone else know my faults , my failings and how easy it is to fall into temptation - but thank God I know that He will continue to forgive me for them if I am sincere in my asking.
It has been one of my greatest joys to gain the freedom of mind that I now have in knowing that whatever anyone says of does to hurt me - even though they mean it and don’t ask for forgiveness - that I don’t hold it against them - and have found that this attitude has helped me to feel secure in the love of God. This is exactly what Jesus is talking about in His sermon on the mount when He says don’t judge, don’t condemn others - be ready to forgive.
And lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil - Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted in order to help Him find strength within Himself to face even greater trials that were ahead. Thankfully we have the assurance that when we go through trials God has promised to be with us - the waters the fire. Fear not for I am with you says the Lord God Almighty - for you are precious to me.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the Glory - for ever and ever. Jesus proved this when He was tempted in the desert - God showed Him the power of the Word that the devil used against Jesus.
One day the world will be re-claimed by God and He will once again reign in power and Glory - the time is ripe - all the signs are that that day is coming - and we need to be ready for that day by Living true to the Word of God which can only be achieved by making time to read His word and by making time to speak to Him in prayer.
What a privilage is ours - don’t waste it.
Lets close by singing and believing that in our prayer we can ‘Be still for the presence of the Lord’ is here now
Last week we continued looking at Lukes account of the ministry of Jesus. We read how the crowds were attracted to Him not just by the things He said but by the miraculous things He did . As the Apostle John tells us in his gospels - The Word truly became flesh in Jesus and we saw it’
We read from Luke 6; 17 where we are told Jesus went down with His disciples and stood on a level place where a great number of people from all around had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases. And they weren’t disappointed and as the people reached out to touch him, because they could feel the power coming from Him and healing them all - the sick and those troubled by impure spirits = all were cured,
We then read the sermon - the one that Matthew also writes about that speaks hope for the poor, the sad - the new hope that He had come to bring them by paying sins price on the cross and making New Life possible - a chance to start again - a chance to be re-born.
Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.
Real hope for the oppressed - the downtrodden - then in stark contrast Jesus talks says
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.
Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.
He then addresses those in the congregation who think they are OK and don’t need Jesus - particularily the scribes and Pharisees, the teachers of the Law who they are happy just as they are
Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
Then to those who He knows will accept Him and His teachings and who because they do will be scorned and rejected by others
Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.
“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.
For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
Jesus is telling the disciples and the other people who have gathered to hear Him the right attitudes to embrace and the benefits, rewards of living in obedience to the will of God.
God calls us to love Him and love one another not just in words but in action. God - who Is Love - wants His followers to posses that same kind of love and to make that possible even promised to come and live in the hearts of His followers so that the love we share - is God love.
We are called to let the Love and power of Jesus be seen in us today. -You might be blessed with the gift of healing but we can all love with the love of Jesus.
Then finally we read how Jesus told His followers the full extent of how their love should be - He starts by saying to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you only do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. But love your enemies, then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
There is a real need in the world today for Gods people to listen to what Jesus is saying here and to respond in the only way that they should - to show love - whatever that costs - to others - its Love that will change the world. People will respond to the word of God when they see it lived out in the lives of those who profess to be His followers.
After looking at this last Sunday - what’s this last week been like in your life? How responsive have you been to what Jesus is saying. We are called to be does of the word and not just hearers only. We are called not just to read His word but to live it
There are people out there who need to hear the good news that Jesus loves them and wants them to respond to that love by getting to know Him and love Him too in the way in which they will begin to live their lives.
Jesus really gets to grip with the problems of the church in His day by drawing their attention to their lifestyles, their lack of mission. Today more than ever the world needs to See the love of God in people like you and me. We need to be a people who live and express the Positives attitudes that Jesus is teaching His disciples here.
I closed last Sundays meeting with the song People need the Lord and they do.That’s one of the reasons Gods people meet together like this on a Sunday - to Worship God - and to thank Him for the way in which He has been with us throughout the week .
We meet together to share the truth from His word and the ask God to empower and equip us to take that good news out into the world - to take every opportunity we can in the next week to LIVE IT and by so doing encourage others to come to know Jesus for themselves.
This week we are going to look at how Jesus prepared Himself to live the life He did and minister to others. The first thing Jesus did before He spent the day sharing with others- was spend time in prayer before He began the day. He did this as we read last week before He chose His disciples and before He gave the sermon on the mount. Luke 6; 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
He also did this before He was arrested by the authorities and sent to the cross.
John 17 Firstly Jesus prayed for Himself “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Wow! Eternal life is attained by Knowing Him - God in Christ Jesus
I have brought you glory on earth by finishing the work you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
WOW! Here Jesus is maintaining that He was there at the beginning - as John says later - In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God - and the Word was God. The pure word of God that was only spoiled when the evil one came to bring temptation into the world. Hell (L) came into the Wor L d
Jesus then Prayed for His Disciples 6 “I have revealed You to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.
All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. Completely One as Jesus and God are.
13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Enabled and empowered to continue the work Jesus began of sharing the truth by physically living the Word.
Jesus then Prays for All Believers
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, WOW! That’s you and meFather, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be
brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Unity - together in mind and deed
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.
25 “Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made You known to them, and will continue to make You known in order that the love You have for Me may be in them and that I Myself may be in them.”
WOW! Prayer - how important it is. Jesus prayed and even taught His disciples how to pray - we call it - Today we know it as the Lord’s prayer
I couldn’t start the day - without kneeling at my bedside to talk to God. I wouldn’t dare face the day without first seeking His presence and guidance for that day - I need to know that I am doing what He wants me to do and not just what I want to do.
I use the Lord’s prayer as a guide for what I need to pray for. The Lord’s prayer is found in just two of the gospels, Matthew and John
Matthew 6:9-13 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
John 11; One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”He said to them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”
Today we express the Lords prayer as found in the Anglican book of Prayer 1662 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the
glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
The difference between the Matthew and Luke prayer and how we pray today is that we add the doxology. This can be found in the original King James 1611 translation where it ends by saying ‘For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen.
It is also the prayer of David the Psalmist found in 1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.
I use the Lord’s prayer every morning as a pattern - a guide for my own prayers starting with the awesome acknowledgment of who it is I am praying to - the awesome fact that I can speak straight to God as if He is there - and Yes I believe He is.
My Father - Wow in saying that I am acknowledging the fact that I have been born again - not physically but born of the Spirit which means I am now a child of God and That He is my Heavenly Father WOW!
Which art in Heaven - That’s where He is and so for the short time I am praying - Heaven is around me. WOW!
Hallowed be Thy name I then address Him personally as YAHWEH - God has many names all descriptive of who He is and what He does.
Thy Kingdom Come longing for the day when His Kingdom will be established here on earth so that His Will be done here on earth as it is in Heaven. The day when He -in Christ - will come back to earth as promised and begin to build a place where His word is lived.
Give us this day our daily bread when I pray this I’m not asking that He will take care of all my physical needs - food etc because I know He does and will continue to do so - I always add, Lord look after me spiritually and emotionally - and He does. I want to be led and inspired by Him Spiritually so that I can share His love with others that I will meet that day.
I want Him to help me cope with my emotional needs, my grief at loosing my lovely wife Beryl and son Kevin - it hurts and always will - but thank God I know they are safe in Heaven and one day we will be together again.
And forgive me my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me. I like everyone else know my faults , my failings and how easy it is to fall into temptation - but thank God I know that He will continue to forgive me for them if I am sincere in my asking.
It has been one of my greatest joys to gain the freedom of mind that I now have in knowing that whatever anyone says of does to hurt me - even though they mean it and don’t ask for forgiveness - that I don’t hold it against them - and have found that this attitude has helped me to feel secure in the love of God. This is exactly what Jesus is talking about in His sermon on the mount when He says don’t judge, don’t condemn others - be ready to forgive.
And lead me not into temptation but deliver me from evil - Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted in order to help Him find strength within Himself to face even greater trials that were ahead. Thankfully we have the assurance that when we go through trials God has promised to be with us - the waters the fire. Fear not for I am with you says the Lord God Almighty - for you are precious to me.
For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the Glory - for ever and ever. Jesus proved this when He was tempted in the desert - God showed Him the power of the Word that the devil used against Jesus.
One day the world will be re-claimed by God and He will once again reign in power and Glory - the time is ripe - all the signs are that that day is coming - and we need to be ready for that day by Living true to the Word of God which can only be achieved by making time to read His word and by making time to speak to Him in prayer.
What a privilage is ours - don’t waste it.
Lets close by singing and believing that in our prayer we can ‘Be still for the presence of the Lord’ is here now
MM 8 March 2020
Last week we continued looking at the Ministry of Jesus and how He was prepared for the great task that was set before Him - How just 30 years old, He was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and nights being tested and tempted by the devil.
God sent Jesus to show mankind the folly of their ways, to stop people in their tracks and get them to look at their relationship with God in light of their teachings of the church in their day and to make them aware of how far they had moved away from Gods intention for mankind and by His sacrificial death on the cross provide a way in which they could be reconciled back to God
God so loved the world that He gave His only son so that whoever believed in Him would have eternal life. Yet many rejected Him and could not accept that Here He was - the promised Messiah.
Last week we looked at how God chose 12 Apostles - to come under His discipline and in the three years that He was with them - teach and train them how best they could serve Him and when He had gone back to Heaven - continue to take His message to the world.
Today we look at some of the essence of His teachings to them and others who gathered round Him to hear about and see the mighty miraculous things that He was doing in healing and casting out demons.
Luke 6; 17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
Then in contrast to the blessings He continues to tell them the reverse side - the woes
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
When you read the sermon in Matthew he relates the sermon in a more spiritual contex
Its not about monetary wealth but spiritual.
Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven - Blessed are those who weep will, be comforted -
Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy, Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God -
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall, be called the sons of God, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of their righteous way of life for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus is telling the disciples and the other people who have gathered to hear Him the right attitudes to embrace and the benefits, rewards of living in obedience to the will of God.
God calls us to love Him and love one another not just in words but in action. God - who as we said last week - Is Love - wants His followers to posses that same kind of love and in able to make that possible has even promised to come and live in the hearts of His followers so that the love we share - is God love.
We are called to let the Love and power of Jesus be seen in us today. -You might not be blessed with the gift of healing but we can all love with the love of Jesus.
The poor in Jesus’s time were looked down on whilst the rich had the best of everything - Jesus came to show that there idea of rich as being seen just in monetary terms is not right - the financially poor who accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour will soon realise how rich their new lives have become whilst those who extol their riches will come to realise how poor they are in terms of fulfilment in life.
God wants His people to find fulfilment in life through the riches of His Grace. A sharp contrast to the foolishness of the teaching in many of todays churches who see prosperity in financial gain as a blessing from God. Whilst Jesus was born in a humble stable - many false teachers today live in Mansions.
Whilst Jesus rode a donkey - a borrowed one - into Jerusalem - they ride round in their own Cadilacs and private jets. The leaders of many churches in these last days are in stark contrast to the ways of God. Jesus set the record straight when He came to earth to try bring Hid people back into line with the true gospel which is to love God and love one another.
Even those who don’t understand your way of life and would be seen as enemies of the Kingdom. That’s why Jesus continues; - and note His emphasis - to those who are listening to what I’m saying
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
He then continues to share what should be obvious to them
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Then Jesus addresses the consequences of Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
There is a real need in the world today for Gods people to listen to what Jesus is saying here and to respond in the only way that they should - to show love - whatever that costs - to others - its Love that will change the world.
People will respond to the word of God when they see it lived out in the lives of those who profess to be His followers.
When I was preparing what I was going to share this morning - I was drawn to think about an incident I was involved in a few years ago.
It was a time when all of the Officers in Yorkshire were expected to go to a meeting in London - I couldn’t go because of my commitment to Beryl who was in the early days of her illness. The telephone rang and it was a lady from who’s son had just died - aged 33. She had phoned the Salvation Army but was told there was no one available - she had phoned Leeds Headquarters and was told to ring me as I was the only Officer available at the time.
She was very distraught and needed to speak to someone as soon as possible - it turns out that her son had committed suicide and she wanted the Salvation Army to do the funeral. I arranged meet her and her family to discuss this with them. When I met them - It came as a great surprise to learn that I had done the funeral of this ladies father a few years earlier. It would seem that it was no mere chance that there was no one available to do the funeral of her son and that God wanted me to do it.
I agreed to do the funeral the following week. On the day of the funeral, I was amazed to so many young people - the boys friends - and how upset they all were.
Let me share a little of what I said then- ( In respect to the family I have taken out his name and the names of his mother and his family)
We are here this morning to reflect over the life of a young man you all loved and pray that God in His mercy will take him in His arms and love Him..
The events of the last few days have been tragic and many of you will be finding it hard to come to terms with what has happened. Lets realise that we need to be here for one another in support and love. It’s so easy to point a finger and pass judgement in circumstances like this when what is really needed is understanding and compassion’
It’s also easy when a tragedy like this happens to someone you dearly love- to start to blame yourself - and the nagging questions ‘could I have done more?’ or the ‘If only’s’ start to eat at your conscience and won’t go away. I pray that this mornings service will help you to come to terms with those thoughts and bring comfort and peace.
There might be those here this morning who feel that you have in some way failed your friend - let him down - not been there for him - if thats how you feel this morning -why not, in the silence of your own heart lay those feelings of guilt to rest by saying your sorry to God and to your friend, and leave this place with the peace and healing that only Jesus can give to start life afresh.
I wasn’t privileged to know him as you do but in talking to his mum and family - I think I have a pretty good idea of the kind of person he was. Friendly, caring, loving, thoughtful - popular - loved to be with people and was a reliable friend. Yet deep inside was a young man yearning for love and acceptance and searching for the meaning and purpose in life.
Unfortunately, he got caught up in drugs as a schoolboy and then on in to his teenage years. It was this that began to ruin his adult life but with the loving care of his mother and his family, he eventually came out of the drug scene and had been clean for a long while. Sadly that was not for long as he was then introduced to that other demon, Alcohol.
His mum and family shared their own thoughts about him and said that he was Thoughtful, Caring, Reliable, Witty, Fun loving, had lots of friends, hated the thought of hurting people - wouldn’t even hurt a fly.
Whilst I was at his mums home, I listened to one of his favourite songs - a haunting song that reveals much of the turmoil and desperation that haunted his mind - a song that gives you a glimpse into the mind of a young man who was searching.
We’re going to listen to that song - in it you will hear the Inner yearnings of a young man who wanted things to be different but couldn’t find a way.
As we listened to the song I could sense the pain of ‘ I wish I could have been more understanding’ The song started with the words
I'm so alone tonight - my bed feels larger than when I was small. Lost in memories - Lost in all the sheets and old pillows. So alone tonight
The song then describes how he saw that the life he had been leading had been influenced by the evil one getting at him and tempting him to take comfort in drugs and alcohol. Once again they are all out to get you once again Insecure, what you gonna do - Feel so small they could step on you
The song then went on to say ‘I Called you up, all I got was answering machine - when the human touch is what is need - What I need Is you - I need you' Looked in the mirror, I don't know who I am anymore. The face is familiar but the eyes, the eyes give it all away. They're all out to get you - once again they're all out to get you. Here they come again I feel so small they could step on you
And then again the part of the song that cried out from the heart of the young lad who had committed suicide I Called you up, all I got was an answering machine when the human touch is what I need What I need , What I need Is you
This was a song that he played over and over again and the song he wanted playing at his funeral - I believe it lays bare the mind of a desperate tormented young man crying out for love and acceptance but all the time, fearing the dreaded demons that plague his life and keep returning to pull him back into their grasp.
The sad reality is that while we are here mourning the loss of a young man who found it hard to cope with the pressures of the world - there are thousands of young men and women out there- even now as I speak - going through the same turmoil of life.
Young people today face many pressures by our modern society that can so often take them off the rails as they seek escapist activities. The pressures to get on in this world and make something of themselves no matter what it costs.
We live in a society that judges success by wealth and position. A society that sees power and the accumulation of wealth as something to be sought after at any cost.
A greedy, selfish world where if the kids can’t keep pace with the expectations that the world or people around expect of them, they find themselves escaping into drugs, drink, anything that will take them out of the trauma of life for a short time. Clutching at straws, they sadly look in the wrong direction and seek short term transient pleasures that do nothing more than bring lifelong misery.
Like many in this world today - this young man was seeking - he had his own bible which he read - he tried in his own way to as best he could under the circumstances - to be good and love and care for others - sadly - he was looking in the wrong places.
Surely if there is to be any good come out of this tragedy it will be for someone to find the truth that he was searching for - the truth about Jesus, the good shepherd, the Saviour who died, so that we might have life in all its fullness. Jesus the way the truth and the life
When Jesus died, He was the same age as this young man - 33 and like Mary the mother of Jesus this young mans mother would know the agony of grief. Mary and all Jesus’s close friends who stood helpless at His tomb would have had all kinds of feelings running through their mind the what ifs? the - ‘I wish I’d done that or said this’ - Mary loved her son, the disciples loved their friend. In the same way that you
loved your friend.
When I had finished I could sense that many of the young people there needed to find release for their guilt, forgiveness to enable them to get on with their lives. Before we came away I gathered them all round the coffin and prayed that God would bring peace into their lives and set them free for their guilt.The undertaker was just about to come in but I beckoned her to wait until the young people had said their final farewells.
Just as there was a great need for the disciples and the people around Jesus to take on board what He was saying to them - to let the love of God flow through their veins and flow out from them into the needy selfish world.
Sadly, in the same way that people had not been available to respond to the desperate needs of the young man - there would be those around Jesus at the time of His sermon who would walk away rejecting what He was saying in favour of their greedy financially motivated lifestyles and fail to respond to the call of Jesus. People too busy getting on with their own lives to care about the souls of people around them.
Its so easy to judge others and fail to see our own faults. Its so easy to get on with the lifestyles we have become accustomed to and fill them with things that stop us giving time to the things of God.
Its so easy to be so busy living our own lives that we don’t hear the cries of those around us - what did the young man say? I Called you up, all I got was an answering machine when the human touch is what I need What I need , What I need Is you
There are people out there who need to hear the good news that Jesus loves them and wants them to respond to that love by getting to know Him and love Him too in the way in which they will begin to live their lives.
Jesus really gets to grip with the problems of the church in His day by drawing their attention to their lifestyles, their lack of mission. Today more than ever the world need the Lord today’ to See the love of God in people like you and me. We need to be a people who live and express the Positives attitudes that Jesus is teaching His disciples here.
Matthew 5 in sharing the same concerns of Jesus calls the things He is saying the BE-Attitudes - the positive attitudes that Gods people should have for one another and the world at large. To show the Love of God in the way we live our lives.
As the song says, ‘People need the Lord’ That’s a song I used to sing every
where I went as a young singer.
Last week we continued looking at the Ministry of Jesus and how He was prepared for the great task that was set before Him - How just 30 years old, He was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and nights being tested and tempted by the devil.
God sent Jesus to show mankind the folly of their ways, to stop people in their tracks and get them to look at their relationship with God in light of their teachings of the church in their day and to make them aware of how far they had moved away from Gods intention for mankind and by His sacrificial death on the cross provide a way in which they could be reconciled back to God
God so loved the world that He gave His only son so that whoever believed in Him would have eternal life. Yet many rejected Him and could not accept that Here He was - the promised Messiah.
Last week we looked at how God chose 12 Apostles - to come under His discipline and in the three years that He was with them - teach and train them how best they could serve Him and when He had gone back to Heaven - continue to take His message to the world.
Today we look at some of the essence of His teachings to them and others who gathered round Him to hear about and see the mighty miraculous things that He was doing in healing and casting out demons.
Luke 6; 17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
20 Looking at his disciples, he said:“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.
Then in contrast to the blessings He continues to tell them the reverse side - the woes
24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry
Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep.Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.
When you read the sermon in Matthew he relates the sermon in a more spiritual contex
Its not about monetary wealth but spiritual.
Blessed are the poor in Spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven - Blessed are those who weep will, be comforted -
Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy, Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God -
Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall, be called the sons of God, Blessed are those who are persecuted because of their righteous way of life for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus is telling the disciples and the other people who have gathered to hear Him the right attitudes to embrace and the benefits, rewards of living in obedience to the will of God.
God calls us to love Him and love one another not just in words but in action. God - who as we said last week - Is Love - wants His followers to posses that same kind of love and in able to make that possible has even promised to come and live in the hearts of His followers so that the love we share - is God love.
We are called to let the Love and power of Jesus be seen in us today. -You might not be blessed with the gift of healing but we can all love with the love of Jesus.
The poor in Jesus’s time were looked down on whilst the rich had the best of everything - Jesus came to show that there idea of rich as being seen just in monetary terms is not right - the financially poor who accept Jesus as their Lord and saviour will soon realise how rich their new lives have become whilst those who extol their riches will come to realise how poor they are in terms of fulfilment in life.
God wants His people to find fulfilment in life through the riches of His Grace. A sharp contrast to the foolishness of the teaching in many of todays churches who see prosperity in financial gain as a blessing from God. Whilst Jesus was born in a humble stable - many false teachers today live in Mansions.
Whilst Jesus rode a donkey - a borrowed one - into Jerusalem - they ride round in their own Cadilacs and private jets. The leaders of many churches in these last days are in stark contrast to the ways of God. Jesus set the record straight when He came to earth to try bring Hid people back into line with the true gospel which is to love God and love one another.
Even those who don’t understand your way of life and would be seen as enemies of the Kingdom. That’s why Jesus continues; - and note His emphasis - to those who are listening to what I’m saying
27 “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.
He then continues to share what should be obvious to them
32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Then Jesus addresses the consequences of Judging Others
37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
There is a real need in the world today for Gods people to listen to what Jesus is saying here and to respond in the only way that they should - to show love - whatever that costs - to others - its Love that will change the world.
People will respond to the word of God when they see it lived out in the lives of those who profess to be His followers.
When I was preparing what I was going to share this morning - I was drawn to think about an incident I was involved in a few years ago.
It was a time when all of the Officers in Yorkshire were expected to go to a meeting in London - I couldn’t go because of my commitment to Beryl who was in the early days of her illness. The telephone rang and it was a lady from who’s son had just died - aged 33. She had phoned the Salvation Army but was told there was no one available - she had phoned Leeds Headquarters and was told to ring me as I was the only Officer available at the time.
She was very distraught and needed to speak to someone as soon as possible - it turns out that her son had committed suicide and she wanted the Salvation Army to do the funeral. I arranged meet her and her family to discuss this with them. When I met them - It came as a great surprise to learn that I had done the funeral of this ladies father a few years earlier. It would seem that it was no mere chance that there was no one available to do the funeral of her son and that God wanted me to do it.
I agreed to do the funeral the following week. On the day of the funeral, I was amazed to so many young people - the boys friends - and how upset they all were.
Let me share a little of what I said then- ( In respect to the family I have taken out his name and the names of his mother and his family)
We are here this morning to reflect over the life of a young man you all loved and pray that God in His mercy will take him in His arms and love Him..
The events of the last few days have been tragic and many of you will be finding it hard to come to terms with what has happened. Lets realise that we need to be here for one another in support and love. It’s so easy to point a finger and pass judgement in circumstances like this when what is really needed is understanding and compassion’
It’s also easy when a tragedy like this happens to someone you dearly love- to start to blame yourself - and the nagging questions ‘could I have done more?’ or the ‘If only’s’ start to eat at your conscience and won’t go away. I pray that this mornings service will help you to come to terms with those thoughts and bring comfort and peace.
There might be those here this morning who feel that you have in some way failed your friend - let him down - not been there for him - if thats how you feel this morning -why not, in the silence of your own heart lay those feelings of guilt to rest by saying your sorry to God and to your friend, and leave this place with the peace and healing that only Jesus can give to start life afresh.
I wasn’t privileged to know him as you do but in talking to his mum and family - I think I have a pretty good idea of the kind of person he was. Friendly, caring, loving, thoughtful - popular - loved to be with people and was a reliable friend. Yet deep inside was a young man yearning for love and acceptance and searching for the meaning and purpose in life.
Unfortunately, he got caught up in drugs as a schoolboy and then on in to his teenage years. It was this that began to ruin his adult life but with the loving care of his mother and his family, he eventually came out of the drug scene and had been clean for a long while. Sadly that was not for long as he was then introduced to that other demon, Alcohol.
His mum and family shared their own thoughts about him and said that he was Thoughtful, Caring, Reliable, Witty, Fun loving, had lots of friends, hated the thought of hurting people - wouldn’t even hurt a fly.
Whilst I was at his mums home, I listened to one of his favourite songs - a haunting song that reveals much of the turmoil and desperation that haunted his mind - a song that gives you a glimpse into the mind of a young man who was searching.
We’re going to listen to that song - in it you will hear the Inner yearnings of a young man who wanted things to be different but couldn’t find a way.
As we listened to the song I could sense the pain of ‘ I wish I could have been more understanding’ The song started with the words
I'm so alone tonight - my bed feels larger than when I was small. Lost in memories - Lost in all the sheets and old pillows. So alone tonight
The song then describes how he saw that the life he had been leading had been influenced by the evil one getting at him and tempting him to take comfort in drugs and alcohol. Once again they are all out to get you once again Insecure, what you gonna do - Feel so small they could step on you
The song then went on to say ‘I Called you up, all I got was answering machine - when the human touch is what is need - What I need Is you - I need you' Looked in the mirror, I don't know who I am anymore. The face is familiar but the eyes, the eyes give it all away. They're all out to get you - once again they're all out to get you. Here they come again I feel so small they could step on you
And then again the part of the song that cried out from the heart of the young lad who had committed suicide I Called you up, all I got was an answering machine when the human touch is what I need What I need , What I need Is you
This was a song that he played over and over again and the song he wanted playing at his funeral - I believe it lays bare the mind of a desperate tormented young man crying out for love and acceptance but all the time, fearing the dreaded demons that plague his life and keep returning to pull him back into their grasp.
The sad reality is that while we are here mourning the loss of a young man who found it hard to cope with the pressures of the world - there are thousands of young men and women out there- even now as I speak - going through the same turmoil of life.
Young people today face many pressures by our modern society that can so often take them off the rails as they seek escapist activities. The pressures to get on in this world and make something of themselves no matter what it costs.
We live in a society that judges success by wealth and position. A society that sees power and the accumulation of wealth as something to be sought after at any cost.
A greedy, selfish world where if the kids can’t keep pace with the expectations that the world or people around expect of them, they find themselves escaping into drugs, drink, anything that will take them out of the trauma of life for a short time. Clutching at straws, they sadly look in the wrong direction and seek short term transient pleasures that do nothing more than bring lifelong misery.
Like many in this world today - this young man was seeking - he had his own bible which he read - he tried in his own way to as best he could under the circumstances - to be good and love and care for others - sadly - he was looking in the wrong places.
Surely if there is to be any good come out of this tragedy it will be for someone to find the truth that he was searching for - the truth about Jesus, the good shepherd, the Saviour who died, so that we might have life in all its fullness. Jesus the way the truth and the life
When Jesus died, He was the same age as this young man - 33 and like Mary the mother of Jesus this young mans mother would know the agony of grief. Mary and all Jesus’s close friends who stood helpless at His tomb would have had all kinds of feelings running through their mind the what ifs? the - ‘I wish I’d done that or said this’ - Mary loved her son, the disciples loved their friend. In the same way that you
loved your friend.
When I had finished I could sense that many of the young people there needed to find release for their guilt, forgiveness to enable them to get on with their lives. Before we came away I gathered them all round the coffin and prayed that God would bring peace into their lives and set them free for their guilt.The undertaker was just about to come in but I beckoned her to wait until the young people had said their final farewells.
Just as there was a great need for the disciples and the people around Jesus to take on board what He was saying to them - to let the love of God flow through their veins and flow out from them into the needy selfish world.
Sadly, in the same way that people had not been available to respond to the desperate needs of the young man - there would be those around Jesus at the time of His sermon who would walk away rejecting what He was saying in favour of their greedy financially motivated lifestyles and fail to respond to the call of Jesus. People too busy getting on with their own lives to care about the souls of people around them.
Its so easy to judge others and fail to see our own faults. Its so easy to get on with the lifestyles we have become accustomed to and fill them with things that stop us giving time to the things of God.
Its so easy to be so busy living our own lives that we don’t hear the cries of those around us - what did the young man say? I Called you up, all I got was an answering machine when the human touch is what I need What I need , What I need Is you
There are people out there who need to hear the good news that Jesus loves them and wants them to respond to that love by getting to know Him and love Him too in the way in which they will begin to live their lives.
Jesus really gets to grip with the problems of the church in His day by drawing their attention to their lifestyles, their lack of mission. Today more than ever the world need the Lord today’ to See the love of God in people like you and me. We need to be a people who live and express the Positives attitudes that Jesus is teaching His disciples here.
Matthew 5 in sharing the same concerns of Jesus calls the things He is saying the BE-Attitudes - the positive attitudes that Gods people should have for one another and the world at large. To show the Love of God in the way we live our lives.
As the song says, ‘People need the Lord’ That’s a song I used to sing every
where I went as a young singer.
MM 1 March 2020
Last week we talked about Lent as being the 40 days leading up to Easter. The time when as a church, we prepare our thoughts for Easter. Forty days to the most important date in the church calendar. I said then that already the Easter eggs are in the shops, as the commercial world gets ready for what they hope will be a bumper Easter, big sales, big profits. If they have seen the need to get their house in order by preparing early, then all the more reason for the church to be ready, after all it is our celebration.
We looked at how in preparation for the great task that was set before Him - Jesus was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and nights being tested and tempted by the devil. The reason God sent Jesus was to show mankind the folly of their ways, to stop people in their tracks and get them to look at their relationship with God in light of their teachings of the church in their day. To let them see how far they had moved away from Gods intention for mankind and to provide a way in which they could be reconciled with God by Himself becoming the sacrificial lamb - to give His life on the cross as an atonement for their sins.
Over the last few weeks we have been looking at the way Jesus was prepared for the mission that He had been sent and how his greatest opposition was from the very establishment that was looking forward to the Messiah coming in fulfilment of the prophesies in their Holy Book - the Church of His time - God’s chosen people - God Creation. We saw how Jesus, following His temptations in the wilderness presented Himself in the Temple as the Messiah prophesied in the book of Isaiah and how the leaders rejected Him and tried to get rid of Him even before He had begun His lifes work. As Scripture tells us; He came unto His own but His own received Him not -
No wonder the first place Jesus went to following His time in the wilderness was right into the synagogue - their place of worship - showing the way in which the devil had infiltrated even the church. The last place Jesus went to before He went to the cross was again the synagogue where He saw the evil one had infiltrated the church causing mankind to turn His Fathers house into a den of thieves.
The church of His day in its teachings was prioritising the works of man and elevating them to become essential rituals designed to make man more acceptable to God. Jesus addresses some of them like Fasting, eating meals with sinners
We looked at how following the call of His first disciples, the humble fishermen Peter James and John, one of the next disciples Jesus chose to follow Him was from a richer group - the Tax collector - We read how Jesus called Matthew the Tax Gatherer and because of that was criticised again by the Pharisees - teachers of the law - who questioned the fact that Jesus even associated with people like Matthew.
They expressed their concern when Jesus then went on to share a meal with Matthew and his associates and asked Jesus‘ Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ to which Jesus replied’ It’s not the healthy that need a doctor but the sick -
I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinner to repent’.
I said then that this would be sharp lesson for the churches today that whilst we enjoy spending time with one another sharing fellowship together - its those out there - in the world that we need to spend more time with - sharing our faith and living the Word - letting people see how our faith in God gives us the ability to cope with our lives.
Today we continue to look at how the teachers of the law challenged Jesus by accusing Him of profaning their sabbath by neglecting to obey the laws of the Sabbath.
Luke 6; 1-11 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Jesus isn’t saying that it isn’t important to respect the Sabbath as a day set aside from the usual working week in order to make time to Worship God and learn from Him. He is simply making the point that the disciples needed to eat and that the Pharisees were taking the law to extreems. Jesus is simply stressing the importance of doing the things that are needed - like feeding the body and the importance of responding to the need of others by performing acts of mercy like Healing the sick.
When we were young - shops didn’t open on Sunday so we made sure that whatever we needed we bought during the week. Today we have no excuse to shop on Sunday as the shops are even open until virtually 24 hours a day during the week and late on Saturday night. We were taught that if we didn’t have it in the house on Sunday - we did without.
The Pharisees were stressing the Law to extreems and trying to bring Jesus down by accusing Him of breaking the laws of the Sabbath. As I said last week they were making strict observance to the laws more important than the reason why those laws were made in the first place.
They were under law whilst Jesus came to show them by the GRACE of God they would be set free from mere observance to a set of rules to freedom in Christ.
Today we sing ‘I am not under law but under Grace - the grace that set me free’
The freedom through Grace that Saul experienced when he was set free from the shackles of tradition and ritual that under His new name Paul encouraged him to write to the early churches about the new covenant that Jesus Christ came to show mankind.
His letter to the church at Galatia goes to great lengths to show man the folly of relying on their past beliefs that placed great emphasis on ritual, works and physical observances demanded by their faith,. The fifth letter of Galatians goes to great lengths to show the church that as members of the new Christian Church they now have freedom in Christ. That’s why Jesus came - to set man freed from the shackles that were binding them.
Galatians 5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Paul then challenged what would have been regarded as a law that went to the very root of the Jewish faith Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Verse 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
Jesus came not to change the law but to fulfill it by introducing a New Covenant; to the world - that’s why He spoke to the teacher who approached him in the darkness of night and asked Him what was the greatest commandment to which Jesus replied ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and being and love one another’ do that and you will not want to disobey the other commands .
What Jesus is saying here is place your emphasis in life on doing the things that you are told to do - the Thou shalt and the Thou shalt nots will take care of themselves. Jesus came to set men free from the shackles of the law and made LOVE the key to life in Him.
The Pharisees didn’t let up - they then went on to accuse Jesus of doing good deeds on the Sabbath.
Luke 6; 12-16 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.
I love that way Jesus told the man with the shrivelled hand to Get up and stand in front of everyone.” Jesus wanted everyone - the leaders and the whole congregation to see what He was able to do. And in obedience to Jesus - he got up and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”He looked around at them all,
Wow the eyes of Jesus would penetrate every persons mind who were looking at Jesus to see what He was going to do next.
Jesus then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
That must have been awesome to witness a visibly physical restoration of a mans withered hand - whilst the Pharisees were furious - I’ll bet the majority of the congregation would be amazed and Jesus would be accepted more by them.
Jesus went to great lengths to show exactly who He was - the Messiah - and in rejecting the accusations of the leaders would be gaining more support from the majority of the people. It was by meeting the needs of the people of His day that Jesus began to gain support
Lets continue looking at what Jesus did next. Luke 6; 12-16
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Before Jesus did anything - he prayed - prayer was important to Jesus the - He showed how as a man He needed to spend time being filled - a stark reminder to us all today
That before we even start the day - we need to spend time in the presence of Almighty God - I couldn’t start a day without first kneeling at my bedside and experiencing the presence of Almighty God. Openning up my heart to Him - extolling His greatness and acknowledging the awesome truth of who He is - Almighty God - creator of the Universe and all mankind - who allows - even yearns for me to come into His presence and acknowledge Him as Almighty God - the only God.
What a privilage that is that we have been given - a private - personal - audience with Almighty God I hope we realise the enormity of this privilage and spend time with God before we start the day. This is what Jesus did and the source of His strength and power came to Him this way.
13 When morning came, he called his disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
When Luke says Jesus called His disciples to Him and chose twelve - he uses the term disciple to mean all those people who had accepted Jesus’s message and had become His admirers, followers - people who wanted to learn more from Him - people who acknowledged Jesus to be who He said He was - the Messiah. It was from amongst them, together with Peter, James, James, John and Matthew that Jesus choose another eight Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, James , Simon , Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
This would take the number of close Disciples up to Twelve who would become His constant associates and spend the next three years learning for Him. Later on Luke 10 tells us of how Jesus chose another seventy-two disciples to take His message to others and when they came back they told Jesus how even the demons submitted to them in the name of Jesus.
Jesus called His disciples to spend time learning from Him to prepare them to go into all the world and share the good news with others.
That’s what His church is called to do today - to come and know Him so that we can go and make Him known to others. Following His choosing of the Disciples, Jesus then took them out to share what we know as the sermon on the mount
Luke 6;17-19 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
On this first Sunday in Lent, we are introduced to the real message of Easter, that Jesus came to restore the Kingdom of God, by calling His Church to true repentance, and being cleansed from their sins, be prepared to be filled with His Spirit to be His witnesses to the world in which we live.
In the same way that Jesus called His disciples together to prepare them to go into all the world and take the message of salvation - today He calls us to do the same. To not just preach the world but to live the word like Jesus did. This is made possible by allowing Jesus to come and live within us by the power of the spirit - to become like Him and be enabled - empowered to take the message of love to a fallen world.
Paul in v 16 of his letter to the Galatians says ; Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. He then goes on to list some of the acts of mans sinful nature and warns that if man allows his life to be dominated by these things he will not inherit the Kingdom of God and adds;
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Just as Jesus said Love is the greatest commandment - so too Paul here and writing to the church at Corinth says that Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love
Today we show our love to God by giving our gifts of self-denial to help take the message of love to the underprivileged, the real needy of this world and show them in action - how much God loves them.
If you read the leaflet given you last week that showed on the front page -a young African lad who has given his life to Jesus - you will have read the testimony of Captains Nana and Andre Togo who were sent to Burkina Faso in West Africa four years ago to take the message of love to the people there. In the last four years they have taken to=he message to the people there and so far 95 adults and 15 children have accepted Jesus as their Saviour. ‘We are so blessed’ they say and ‘hopeful that many more will come and join us.
They started by providing the practical means of giving employment to the poor neglected people there so that they could make money to buy food and clothes and education for their children - as this progressed the people were introduced to the one - Jesus - who had inspired them to go into West Africa to share His love.
Today we can help by giving our gifts - but more than that by taking a good look at our own lives to see if we are following the example of Jesus by seeking Him in prayer and living in obedience to His word.
Not trying to justify ourselves by adhering to a set of rules but by living in obedience to Gods word which is to Love God with all our hearts and love one another - that’s the message of Love that Jesus came to show us - that’s the only way the love of God will spread throughout the world.
That’s the message of Easter - Jesus said “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
The commands of Jesus is that we love God and one another and show that love and begin to LIVE like Jesus did- or should I say LOVE like Jesus does
It has to start with you and me
Last week we talked about Lent as being the 40 days leading up to Easter. The time when as a church, we prepare our thoughts for Easter. Forty days to the most important date in the church calendar. I said then that already the Easter eggs are in the shops, as the commercial world gets ready for what they hope will be a bumper Easter, big sales, big profits. If they have seen the need to get their house in order by preparing early, then all the more reason for the church to be ready, after all it is our celebration.
We looked at how in preparation for the great task that was set before Him - Jesus was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and nights being tested and tempted by the devil. The reason God sent Jesus was to show mankind the folly of their ways, to stop people in their tracks and get them to look at their relationship with God in light of their teachings of the church in their day. To let them see how far they had moved away from Gods intention for mankind and to provide a way in which they could be reconciled with God by Himself becoming the sacrificial lamb - to give His life on the cross as an atonement for their sins.
Over the last few weeks we have been looking at the way Jesus was prepared for the mission that He had been sent and how his greatest opposition was from the very establishment that was looking forward to the Messiah coming in fulfilment of the prophesies in their Holy Book - the Church of His time - God’s chosen people - God Creation. We saw how Jesus, following His temptations in the wilderness presented Himself in the Temple as the Messiah prophesied in the book of Isaiah and how the leaders rejected Him and tried to get rid of Him even before He had begun His lifes work. As Scripture tells us; He came unto His own but His own received Him not -
No wonder the first place Jesus went to following His time in the wilderness was right into the synagogue - their place of worship - showing the way in which the devil had infiltrated even the church. The last place Jesus went to before He went to the cross was again the synagogue where He saw the evil one had infiltrated the church causing mankind to turn His Fathers house into a den of thieves.
The church of His day in its teachings was prioritising the works of man and elevating them to become essential rituals designed to make man more acceptable to God. Jesus addresses some of them like Fasting, eating meals with sinners
We looked at how following the call of His first disciples, the humble fishermen Peter James and John, one of the next disciples Jesus chose to follow Him was from a richer group - the Tax collector - We read how Jesus called Matthew the Tax Gatherer and because of that was criticised again by the Pharisees - teachers of the law - who questioned the fact that Jesus even associated with people like Matthew.
They expressed their concern when Jesus then went on to share a meal with Matthew and his associates and asked Jesus‘ Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ to which Jesus replied’ It’s not the healthy that need a doctor but the sick -
I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinner to repent’.
I said then that this would be sharp lesson for the churches today that whilst we enjoy spending time with one another sharing fellowship together - its those out there - in the world that we need to spend more time with - sharing our faith and living the Word - letting people see how our faith in God gives us the ability to cope with our lives.
Today we continue to look at how the teachers of the law challenged Jesus by accusing Him of profaning their sabbath by neglecting to obey the laws of the Sabbath.
Luke 6; 1-11 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
Jesus isn’t saying that it isn’t important to respect the Sabbath as a day set aside from the usual working week in order to make time to Worship God and learn from Him. He is simply making the point that the disciples needed to eat and that the Pharisees were taking the law to extreems. Jesus is simply stressing the importance of doing the things that are needed - like feeding the body and the importance of responding to the need of others by performing acts of mercy like Healing the sick.
When we were young - shops didn’t open on Sunday so we made sure that whatever we needed we bought during the week. Today we have no excuse to shop on Sunday as the shops are even open until virtually 24 hours a day during the week and late on Saturday night. We were taught that if we didn’t have it in the house on Sunday - we did without.
The Pharisees were stressing the Law to extreems and trying to bring Jesus down by accusing Him of breaking the laws of the Sabbath. As I said last week they were making strict observance to the laws more important than the reason why those laws were made in the first place.
They were under law whilst Jesus came to show them by the GRACE of God they would be set free from mere observance to a set of rules to freedom in Christ.
Today we sing ‘I am not under law but under Grace - the grace that set me free’
The freedom through Grace that Saul experienced when he was set free from the shackles of tradition and ritual that under His new name Paul encouraged him to write to the early churches about the new covenant that Jesus Christ came to show mankind.
His letter to the church at Galatia goes to great lengths to show man the folly of relying on their past beliefs that placed great emphasis on ritual, works and physical observances demanded by their faith,. The fifth letter of Galatians goes to great lengths to show the church that as members of the new Christian Church they now have freedom in Christ. That’s why Jesus came - to set man freed from the shackles that were binding them.
Galatians 5 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Paul then challenged what would have been regarded as a law that went to the very root of the Jewish faith Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
Verse 13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
Jesus came not to change the law but to fulfill it by introducing a New Covenant; to the world - that’s why He spoke to the teacher who approached him in the darkness of night and asked Him what was the greatest commandment to which Jesus replied ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and being and love one another’ do that and you will not want to disobey the other commands .
What Jesus is saying here is place your emphasis in life on doing the things that you are told to do - the Thou shalt and the Thou shalt nots will take care of themselves. Jesus came to set men free from the shackles of the law and made LOVE the key to life in Him.
The Pharisees didn’t let up - they then went on to accuse Jesus of doing good deeds on the Sabbath.
Luke 6; 12-16 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.
I love that way Jesus told the man with the shrivelled hand to Get up and stand in front of everyone.” Jesus wanted everyone - the leaders and the whole congregation to see what He was able to do. And in obedience to Jesus - he got up and stood there.
Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”He looked around at them all,
Wow the eyes of Jesus would penetrate every persons mind who were looking at Jesus to see what He was going to do next.
Jesus then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
That must have been awesome to witness a visibly physical restoration of a mans withered hand - whilst the Pharisees were furious - I’ll bet the majority of the congregation would be amazed and Jesus would be accepted more by them.
Jesus went to great lengths to show exactly who He was - the Messiah - and in rejecting the accusations of the leaders would be gaining more support from the majority of the people. It was by meeting the needs of the people of His day that Jesus began to gain support
Lets continue looking at what Jesus did next. Luke 6; 12-16
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Before Jesus did anything - he prayed - prayer was important to Jesus the - He showed how as a man He needed to spend time being filled - a stark reminder to us all today
That before we even start the day - we need to spend time in the presence of Almighty God - I couldn’t start a day without first kneeling at my bedside and experiencing the presence of Almighty God. Openning up my heart to Him - extolling His greatness and acknowledging the awesome truth of who He is - Almighty God - creator of the Universe and all mankind - who allows - even yearns for me to come into His presence and acknowledge Him as Almighty God - the only God.
What a privilage that is that we have been given - a private - personal - audience with Almighty God I hope we realise the enormity of this privilage and spend time with God before we start the day. This is what Jesus did and the source of His strength and power came to Him this way.
13 When morning came, he called his disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Simon (whom he named Peter), his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
When Luke says Jesus called His disciples to Him and chose twelve - he uses the term disciple to mean all those people who had accepted Jesus’s message and had become His admirers, followers - people who wanted to learn more from Him - people who acknowledged Jesus to be who He said He was - the Messiah. It was from amongst them, together with Peter, James, James, John and Matthew that Jesus choose another eight Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, James , Simon , Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
This would take the number of close Disciples up to Twelve who would become His constant associates and spend the next three years learning for Him. Later on Luke 10 tells us of how Jesus chose another seventy-two disciples to take His message to others and when they came back they told Jesus how even the demons submitted to them in the name of Jesus.
Jesus called His disciples to spend time learning from Him to prepare them to go into all the world and share the good news with others.
That’s what His church is called to do today - to come and know Him so that we can go and make Him known to others. Following His choosing of the Disciples, Jesus then took them out to share what we know as the sermon on the mount
Luke 6;17-19 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all.
On this first Sunday in Lent, we are introduced to the real message of Easter, that Jesus came to restore the Kingdom of God, by calling His Church to true repentance, and being cleansed from their sins, be prepared to be filled with His Spirit to be His witnesses to the world in which we live.
In the same way that Jesus called His disciples together to prepare them to go into all the world and take the message of salvation - today He calls us to do the same. To not just preach the world but to live the word like Jesus did. This is made possible by allowing Jesus to come and live within us by the power of the spirit - to become like Him and be enabled - empowered to take the message of love to a fallen world.
Paul in v 16 of his letter to the Galatians says ; Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. He then goes on to list some of the acts of mans sinful nature and warns that if man allows his life to be dominated by these things he will not inherit the Kingdom of God and adds;
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Just as Jesus said Love is the greatest commandment - so too Paul here and writing to the church at Corinth says that Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ... And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love
Today we show our love to God by giving our gifts of self-denial to help take the message of love to the underprivileged, the real needy of this world and show them in action - how much God loves them.
If you read the leaflet given you last week that showed on the front page -a young African lad who has given his life to Jesus - you will have read the testimony of Captains Nana and Andre Togo who were sent to Burkina Faso in West Africa four years ago to take the message of love to the people there. In the last four years they have taken to=he message to the people there and so far 95 adults and 15 children have accepted Jesus as their Saviour. ‘We are so blessed’ they say and ‘hopeful that many more will come and join us.
They started by providing the practical means of giving employment to the poor neglected people there so that they could make money to buy food and clothes and education for their children - as this progressed the people were introduced to the one - Jesus - who had inspired them to go into West Africa to share His love.
Today we can help by giving our gifts - but more than that by taking a good look at our own lives to see if we are following the example of Jesus by seeking Him in prayer and living in obedience to His word.
Not trying to justify ourselves by adhering to a set of rules but by living in obedience to Gods word which is to Love God with all our hearts and love one another - that’s the message of Love that Jesus came to show us - that’s the only way the love of God will spread throughout the world.
That’s the message of Easter - Jesus said “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in His love. I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.
The commands of Jesus is that we love God and one another and show that love and begin to LIVE like Jesus did- or should I say LOVE like Jesus does
It has to start with you and me
Sunday Morning 23 Feb 2020 ' Preparing the way ' John 1 v 19 to 34
Next Wednesday, is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The time when as a church, we prepare our thoughts for Easter. Forty days to the most important date in the church calendar. Already the Easter eggs are in the shops, as the commercial world gets ready for what they hope will be a bumper Easter, big sales, big profits. If they have seen the need to get their house in order by preparing early, then all the more reason for the church to be ready, after all it is our celebration.
Every year Lent starts on Ash Wednesday (the day after Shrove Tuesday) and this year it falls on February 26. Lent finishes on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday and so this year the end of Lent falls on Saturday April 11
Ash Wednesday, a day when the early church burned the palm branches used for the previous years palm Sunday celebrations, and made the mark of the cross on the foreheads of all their followers, which identified them to the world, as a people of God. It symbolises the days which lead up to Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection when Christ spent 40 days and nights alone in the desert.
We looked at that a few weeks ago - the time when in preparation for the great task that was set before Him - Jesus was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and nights being tested and tempted by the devil. The reason God sent Jesus was to show mankind the folly of their ways, to stop people in their tracks and get them to look at their relationship with God in light of their teachings of the church in their day.
To let them see how far they had moved away from Gods intention for mankind and to provide a way in which they could be reconciled with God by Himself becoming the sacrificial lamb - to give His life on the cross as an atonement for their sins.
Up to Jesus coming, the only way they were taught that their sins could be forgiven was by taking a sacrifice - a young lamb or doves to the high priests to be sacrificed on the altar as an atonement for their sins. To prepare Jesus for this mammoth task He was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and nights being tested and tempted by the devil.
We then read how coming out of the wilderness in triumph Jesus went into the Temple and taught from the book of Isaiah that He was the long awaited Messiah who would be killed by His own people - the ones He had come to save - the congregation were with Him up to this point - they marvelled at what He was telling them right up until He told them He would be killed - they refused to accept that they - who had been waiting for the Messiah would actually kill Him when He came and so they ran Him out of town.
As Scripture tells us; He came unto His own but His own received Him not - that was prophesied yet they wouldn’t accept it. We also read that one of the congregation - one of the worshippers - was a man who was possessed by an evil spirit - right there in church - No wonder the first place Jesus went to following His time in the wilderness was right into the synagogue - their place of worship - showing the way in which the devil had infiltrated even the church.
The last place Jesus went to before He went to the cross was again the synagogue where He saw the evil one had infiltrated the church causing mankind to turn His Fathers house into a den of thieves.
The church of His day in its teachings was prioritising the works of man and elevating them to become essential rituals designed to make man more acceptable to God. Jesus addresses some of them like Fasting, eating meals with sinners
Following on from where we left off last Sunday, lets look at Luke 5; 27-32
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
We have just read how the Pharisees - teachers of the law - questioned the fact that Jesus shared a meal with Matthew and his associates in the Tax business ‘ Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ to which Jesus replied’ It’s not the healthy that need a doctor but the sick - I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinner to repent’.
A sharp lesson for the churches today that whilst we enjoy spending time with one another sharing fellowship together - its those out there - in the world that we need to spend more time with - sharing our faith and living the Word - letting people see how our faith in God gives us the ability to cope with our lives.
The second thing that Jesus was challenged with was to do with fasting. The Pharisees challenged Jesus about the way in which Johns disciples often fasted and prayed - as did the disciples of the Pharisees - Jesus’s disciples didn’t and instead went on eating and drinking.
Luke 5; 33-39 They ( the teachers of the law) said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” The bridegroom - Jesus - the bride - the Church
He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.
The ‘new wine’ are the teachings of Jesus that would not be accepted by the ‘old wineskins’ the Pharisees - it needed ‘new wineskins’ - people who were prepared to accept the new covenant. That is not to say that Jesus' threw out the Old Covenant. He makes it very clear in the Sermon on the Mount that he comes to fulfill the Law, not to abolish it:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-20)
He didn't come to set aside the law, but to strip away the Pharisees' precious oral tradition so people can see the power and spirit of the Law, and repent, preparing for the coming of the Kingdom. The Spirit Jesus sends now fulfills the law within us (Romans 8:1-4; Galatians 5:16-23). We sing; I am not under law but under Grace it is Grace that set me free’
That’s what Jesus is teaching here. The Pharisaical way wasn’t working and so God had sent Jesus to show man a better way. Jesus would become the sin offering and all mankind had to do was repent - acept Jesus as saviour and start to live their lives in obedience to God. To love Him and one another. This was the new way - the new wine that had to be poured into new bottles. The new wine that is the Spirit of God.
New wine that needs to be poured into new wine skins - you and I - it cannot be poured into old wineskins.
The new teachings of God - the revelation of Christ would not be accepted by the traditionalist - the old teachers of the old laws - it needed to be poured into the new"
Today we would say You can’t teach an old dog new tricks which implies that it’s very difficult to teach someone new ways or to change someone's habits or character
The “old wineskin” is a metaphor for the Old Covenant and those who follow the Law of Moses and are not willing to believe in Jesus. Jesus is telling us that the Old Covenant will not be gradually changed into the New Covenant, but the New Covenant in Jesus will completely replace the Jewish system.
Jeremiah 31:31-35 is an Old Testament prophecy of the same thing. “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”declares the Lord.“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
God is telling His people that there will come a time when He will send a New Covenant–a better one–to replace the Old. A new and living way that will inspire those who accept Him to live lives in obedience to God - to love God and one another.
What Jesus is saying here is that he is not trying to reform Judaism but to bring in a new manifestation of the Kingdom of God which is entered by being born again.
The Kingdom that Jesus anticipates is so different from what the Jews have been doing and it is so far beyond the Old Covenant, that it must be completely replaced, not changed gradually. The “old wineskin” of Judaism as practiced by Jews in Jesus’ time needed to be replaced by the version of the Kingdom which we would call the New Testament Church. God is calling His people to get their ACT “2 gether
As we know, eventually the Christians were kicked out of Jerusalem and out of Judaism. Within a few years the Church was strongly persecuted by the Jews and the Christian Church was begun. This is the new wineskin. That’s why Jesus tells them
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins" (5:37-38).
I started by saying that next Wednesday, is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The time when as a church, we prepare our thoughts for Easter. Forty days to the most important date in the church calendar
Lent is seen as a time of penance and prayer before Easter, and nowadays many people choose to give up something such as their favourite food in preparation to mark the occasion and to mimic Jesus’ sacrifice while in the desert for 40 days. In the SA we have a time of Self -Denial where we give up something we love to raise money for the people in deprived countries like Africa to show the love of God and so bring them to put their faith in God. That’s what our Self-Denial is all about.
The history of Lent dates back to centuries ago with Christians spending time preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The word Lent comes the Anglo-Saxon word meaning to lengthen and Lent comes at a time when the hours of daylight are lengthening as Spring approaches. Lent is a time to recall the preparations made by Jesus, to enable Him to fulfil His earthly mission, which was to seek and to save the lost sheep, and bring them back into the fold and family of our Father God.
Even before Jesus began His ministry that challenged the Pharisees to look at what they were teaching as law that we read earlier, John the Baptist also, had an important part to play in the time leading up to the beginning of Christ's ministry, and as the gospel writers tell us, He was the 'Voice of one crying in the wilderness', preparing the way for the Lord Jesus.
Before Jesus even began His ministry The Church of the day, was also provoked to respond to John's outspoken preaching. It was only a matter of time, before the Sanhedrin, that court of religious leaders in charge of the nation's spiritual welfare, would want to check up on this 'Hell Fire Preacher' John the Baptist. After all, they couldn't let anyone take the platform, and openly accuse the people of disobedience in such a strong and spectacular way as John did. Could they? After all, John was accusing the recognised church of the day, with Hypocrisy, and that hurt.
Matthew 3;7-11 when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Wow! - that's pretty strong stuff.
John said ' I only baptise with water, a shadow of the real thing, but one is coming after me who will baptise you with fire'.
John prepared the way for Jesus, by calling the people to repentance, new direction. He made it possible for man to 'feel' clean, by being washed in water, but only Jesus could make it possible for man to 'be' clean by being washed in the blood of the sacrificial Lamb, by repenting his sins and asking for forgiveness. Water may give the appearance of cleanliness on the outside, but only the presence of the 'Fire of the Holy Spirit' inside confirms the acceptance by God.
Only true repentance, makes one right with God, and only regeneration (being born again) by the Holy Spirit, enables and equips us to live the life that Jesus desires. This was the message of John.
In verse 29, John saw Jesus coming towards him and said "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the temple for the sins of the people. Now, God had provided man with that Sacrificial Lamb, and that was His only Son Jesus, who, 'once and for all' would pay the price for their sins.
Mankind had substituted the symbolic, for the reality, now God was showing man that he'd got it wrong. God, who sees into every mans heart, wants true repentance, real acceptance, and heartfelt devotion. God wants His people to be 'real' no pretence. His sacrifice was 'real', His sacrifice 'cost'.
On this last Sunday before Lent, we are introduced to the real message of Easter, that Jesus came to restore the Kingdom of God, by calling His Church to true repentance, and being cleansed from their sins, be prepared to be filled with His Spirit to be His witnesses to the world in which we live.
We are to be Heralds of the Kingdom, like John. Preparers for the second coming of Jesus. We are His witnesses to the truth of the Gospel. Our witness needs to be as urgent and as forthright as John's was.
Being brought up in a Salvation Army Corps, or any other well known church, is not enough, what really matters is our own personal relationship with Jesus. How we live our lives today. Obediance to a set of rules is not enough - it’s accepting Christ as our Saviour and trying our best to live a life in obedience to what Jesus clarified as the only true way - loving God truly with all our heart and body mind and soul and loving one another - that includes the sinner as well as one another - like Jesus did.
Whilst we need to realise and condemn the sinfulness of the world today, rather than condone or tolerate it - we also need to love the sinner, and remind them that Jesus died for them. That’s simply all that Franklin Graham wants to do when he comes to Britain but yet is being criticized for - even by some of those who would call themselves to be the church of God today.
We need to get the true meaning of the coming Easter over to an uncaring world. that God cared enough to send His Son Jesus to die on the cross to make a way possible for them, back to the Father.
The days are coming,” declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. Jeremiah 31 That day arrived when Jesus came and is being fulfilled today in a people who are finding that they are not under law but under Grace Romans 6
God needs His people to be as prepared as John was to get the message over with real conviction. That’s what Lent - the next 40 days are designed to do - to help we who call ourselves Christians to look at our own lives and see if we are living lives that are in relation to Gods word.
To use Lent as a time to prepare ourselves to se and be aware of all that I believe God is doing in these last days. A time to look at our lives in relation to Gods word to make sure we are living lives of obedience to God - to be filled with the Spirit that will enable us to get the true meaning of Easter over to our friends who don’t as yet know Him or what Easter is really all about.
Jesus gave His life - physically - by dying on the cross to pay for mans sins. All we are called to do is give our lives - physically in the way in which we LIVE our lives and spiritually in the way that can only be achieved if we are BORN AGAIN
We are to be the new wineskins into which God will pour His New Wine - the Holy Spirit. We owe it to God to our families, neighbours and one another
Next Wednesday, is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The time when as a church, we prepare our thoughts for Easter. Forty days to the most important date in the church calendar. Already the Easter eggs are in the shops, as the commercial world gets ready for what they hope will be a bumper Easter, big sales, big profits. If they have seen the need to get their house in order by preparing early, then all the more reason for the church to be ready, after all it is our celebration.
Every year Lent starts on Ash Wednesday (the day after Shrove Tuesday) and this year it falls on February 26. Lent finishes on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday and so this year the end of Lent falls on Saturday April 11
Ash Wednesday, a day when the early church burned the palm branches used for the previous years palm Sunday celebrations, and made the mark of the cross on the foreheads of all their followers, which identified them to the world, as a people of God. It symbolises the days which lead up to Jesus’ crucifixion and subsequent resurrection when Christ spent 40 days and nights alone in the desert.
We looked at that a few weeks ago - the time when in preparation for the great task that was set before Him - Jesus was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and nights being tested and tempted by the devil. The reason God sent Jesus was to show mankind the folly of their ways, to stop people in their tracks and get them to look at their relationship with God in light of their teachings of the church in their day.
To let them see how far they had moved away from Gods intention for mankind and to provide a way in which they could be reconciled with God by Himself becoming the sacrificial lamb - to give His life on the cross as an atonement for their sins.
Up to Jesus coming, the only way they were taught that their sins could be forgiven was by taking a sacrifice - a young lamb or doves to the high priests to be sacrificed on the altar as an atonement for their sins. To prepare Jesus for this mammoth task He was led into the wilderness where He spent 40 days and nights being tested and tempted by the devil.
We then read how coming out of the wilderness in triumph Jesus went into the Temple and taught from the book of Isaiah that He was the long awaited Messiah who would be killed by His own people - the ones He had come to save - the congregation were with Him up to this point - they marvelled at what He was telling them right up until He told them He would be killed - they refused to accept that they - who had been waiting for the Messiah would actually kill Him when He came and so they ran Him out of town.
As Scripture tells us; He came unto His own but His own received Him not - that was prophesied yet they wouldn’t accept it. We also read that one of the congregation - one of the worshippers - was a man who was possessed by an evil spirit - right there in church - No wonder the first place Jesus went to following His time in the wilderness was right into the synagogue - their place of worship - showing the way in which the devil had infiltrated even the church.
The last place Jesus went to before He went to the cross was again the synagogue where He saw the evil one had infiltrated the church causing mankind to turn His Fathers house into a den of thieves.
The church of His day in its teachings was prioritising the works of man and elevating them to become essential rituals designed to make man more acceptable to God. Jesus addresses some of them like Fasting, eating meals with sinners
Following on from where we left off last Sunday, lets look at Luke 5; 27-32
After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
We have just read how the Pharisees - teachers of the law - questioned the fact that Jesus shared a meal with Matthew and his associates in the Tax business ‘ Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ to which Jesus replied’ It’s not the healthy that need a doctor but the sick - I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinner to repent’.
A sharp lesson for the churches today that whilst we enjoy spending time with one another sharing fellowship together - its those out there - in the world that we need to spend more time with - sharing our faith and living the Word - letting people see how our faith in God gives us the ability to cope with our lives.
The second thing that Jesus was challenged with was to do with fasting. The Pharisees challenged Jesus about the way in which Johns disciples often fasted and prayed - as did the disciples of the Pharisees - Jesus’s disciples didn’t and instead went on eating and drinking.
Luke 5; 33-39 They ( the teachers of the law) said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” The bridegroom - Jesus - the bride - the Church
He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old. And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. 38 No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.
The ‘new wine’ are the teachings of Jesus that would not be accepted by the ‘old wineskins’ the Pharisees - it needed ‘new wineskins’ - people who were prepared to accept the new covenant. That is not to say that Jesus' threw out the Old Covenant. He makes it very clear in the Sermon on the Mount that he comes to fulfill the Law, not to abolish it:
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-20)
He didn't come to set aside the law, but to strip away the Pharisees' precious oral tradition so people can see the power and spirit of the Law, and repent, preparing for the coming of the Kingdom. The Spirit Jesus sends now fulfills the law within us (Romans 8:1-4; Galatians 5:16-23). We sing; I am not under law but under Grace it is Grace that set me free’
That’s what Jesus is teaching here. The Pharisaical way wasn’t working and so God had sent Jesus to show man a better way. Jesus would become the sin offering and all mankind had to do was repent - acept Jesus as saviour and start to live their lives in obedience to God. To love Him and one another. This was the new way - the new wine that had to be poured into new bottles. The new wine that is the Spirit of God.
New wine that needs to be poured into new wine skins - you and I - it cannot be poured into old wineskins.
The new teachings of God - the revelation of Christ would not be accepted by the traditionalist - the old teachers of the old laws - it needed to be poured into the new"
Today we would say You can’t teach an old dog new tricks which implies that it’s very difficult to teach someone new ways or to change someone's habits or character
The “old wineskin” is a metaphor for the Old Covenant and those who follow the Law of Moses and are not willing to believe in Jesus. Jesus is telling us that the Old Covenant will not be gradually changed into the New Covenant, but the New Covenant in Jesus will completely replace the Jewish system.
Jeremiah 31:31-35 is an Old Testament prophecy of the same thing. “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord.“I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbour, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,”declares the Lord.“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
God is telling His people that there will come a time when He will send a New Covenant–a better one–to replace the Old. A new and living way that will inspire those who accept Him to live lives in obedience to God - to love God and one another.
What Jesus is saying here is that he is not trying to reform Judaism but to bring in a new manifestation of the Kingdom of God which is entered by being born again.
The Kingdom that Jesus anticipates is so different from what the Jews have been doing and it is so far beyond the Old Covenant, that it must be completely replaced, not changed gradually. The “old wineskin” of Judaism as practiced by Jews in Jesus’ time needed to be replaced by the version of the Kingdom which we would call the New Testament Church. God is calling His people to get their ACT “2 gether
As we know, eventually the Christians were kicked out of Jerusalem and out of Judaism. Within a few years the Church was strongly persecuted by the Jews and the Christian Church was begun. This is the new wineskin. That’s why Jesus tells them
And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins" (5:37-38).
I started by saying that next Wednesday, is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. The time when as a church, we prepare our thoughts for Easter. Forty days to the most important date in the church calendar
Lent is seen as a time of penance and prayer before Easter, and nowadays many people choose to give up something such as their favourite food in preparation to mark the occasion and to mimic Jesus’ sacrifice while in the desert for 40 days. In the SA we have a time of Self -Denial where we give up something we love to raise money for the people in deprived countries like Africa to show the love of God and so bring them to put their faith in God. That’s what our Self-Denial is all about.
The history of Lent dates back to centuries ago with Christians spending time preparing to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. The word Lent comes the Anglo-Saxon word meaning to lengthen and Lent comes at a time when the hours of daylight are lengthening as Spring approaches. Lent is a time to recall the preparations made by Jesus, to enable Him to fulfil His earthly mission, which was to seek and to save the lost sheep, and bring them back into the fold and family of our Father God.
Even before Jesus began His ministry that challenged the Pharisees to look at what they were teaching as law that we read earlier, John the Baptist also, had an important part to play in the time leading up to the beginning of Christ's ministry, and as the gospel writers tell us, He was the 'Voice of one crying in the wilderness', preparing the way for the Lord Jesus.
Before Jesus even began His ministry The Church of the day, was also provoked to respond to John's outspoken preaching. It was only a matter of time, before the Sanhedrin, that court of religious leaders in charge of the nation's spiritual welfare, would want to check up on this 'Hell Fire Preacher' John the Baptist. After all, they couldn't let anyone take the platform, and openly accuse the people of disobedience in such a strong and spectacular way as John did. Could they? After all, John was accusing the recognised church of the day, with Hypocrisy, and that hurt.
Matthew 3;7-11 when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. “I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Wow! - that's pretty strong stuff.
John said ' I only baptise with water, a shadow of the real thing, but one is coming after me who will baptise you with fire'.
John prepared the way for Jesus, by calling the people to repentance, new direction. He made it possible for man to 'feel' clean, by being washed in water, but only Jesus could make it possible for man to 'be' clean by being washed in the blood of the sacrificial Lamb, by repenting his sins and asking for forgiveness. Water may give the appearance of cleanliness on the outside, but only the presence of the 'Fire of the Holy Spirit' inside confirms the acceptance by God.
Only true repentance, makes one right with God, and only regeneration (being born again) by the Holy Spirit, enables and equips us to live the life that Jesus desires. This was the message of John.
In verse 29, John saw Jesus coming towards him and said "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world". Every morning and evening, a lamb was sacrificed in the temple for the sins of the people. Now, God had provided man with that Sacrificial Lamb, and that was His only Son Jesus, who, 'once and for all' would pay the price for their sins.
Mankind had substituted the symbolic, for the reality, now God was showing man that he'd got it wrong. God, who sees into every mans heart, wants true repentance, real acceptance, and heartfelt devotion. God wants His people to be 'real' no pretence. His sacrifice was 'real', His sacrifice 'cost'.
On this last Sunday before Lent, we are introduced to the real message of Easter, that Jesus came to restore the Kingdom of God, by calling His Church to true repentance, and being cleansed from their sins, be prepared to be filled with His Spirit to be His witnesses to the world in which we live.
We are to be Heralds of the Kingdom, like John. Preparers for the second coming of Jesus. We are His witnesses to the truth of the Gospel. Our witness needs to be as urgent and as forthright as John's was.
Being brought up in a Salvation Army Corps, or any other well known church, is not enough, what really matters is our own personal relationship with Jesus. How we live our lives today. Obediance to a set of rules is not enough - it’s accepting Christ as our Saviour and trying our best to live a life in obedience to what Jesus clarified as the only true way - loving God truly with all our heart and body mind and soul and loving one another - that includes the sinner as well as one another - like Jesus did.
Whilst we need to realise and condemn the sinfulness of the world today, rather than condone or tolerate it - we also need to love the sinner, and remind them that Jesus died for them. That’s simply all that Franklin Graham wants to do when he comes to Britain but yet is being criticized for - even by some of those who would call themselves to be the church of God today.
We need to get the true meaning of the coming Easter over to an uncaring world. that God cared enough to send His Son Jesus to die on the cross to make a way possible for them, back to the Father.
The days are coming,” declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah. Jeremiah 31 That day arrived when Jesus came and is being fulfilled today in a people who are finding that they are not under law but under Grace Romans 6
God needs His people to be as prepared as John was to get the message over with real conviction. That’s what Lent - the next 40 days are designed to do - to help we who call ourselves Christians to look at our own lives and see if we are living lives that are in relation to Gods word.
To use Lent as a time to prepare ourselves to se and be aware of all that I believe God is doing in these last days. A time to look at our lives in relation to Gods word to make sure we are living lives of obedience to God - to be filled with the Spirit that will enable us to get the true meaning of Easter over to our friends who don’t as yet know Him or what Easter is really all about.
Jesus gave His life - physically - by dying on the cross to pay for mans sins. All we are called to do is give our lives - physically in the way in which we LIVE our lives and spiritually in the way that can only be achieved if we are BORN AGAIN
We are to be the new wineskins into which God will pour His New Wine - the Holy Spirit. We owe it to God to our families, neighbours and one another
MM 16 February 2020
Last week we read from Luke 5 how Jesus called His first disciples to follow Him. Fishermen Peter, James and his brother John called by Jesus to leave their nets and follow Him and He would make them ‘Fishers of men’
They had fished all night and caught nothing but under the direction of Jesus they let down their nets and as Luke reports, They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come
and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.
I love the way in which Jesus called His disciples and in a very pictorial way show them what could be accomplished if they would follow Him and become His disciples. They were humble firshermen but now in Christ, He would show them what could be accomplished in their new lives with Him and become ‘fishers of men’.
We looked at the response of Peter at the miraculous catch of fish When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.
Here is Jesus at the beginning of His life’s work - gathering His team - people who will help Him to accomplish His mission. People who would still be around after Jesus had paid the ultimate price for the sins of the world - people who would still be around to continue the work that Jesus began - people who Jesus would empower to build fellowships, churches that would grow and spread the truth of Gods love and intentions for His creation on into the future - today here and now.
The scriptures tell us what a difference knowing Jesus can make in our lives and how in responding to His call to leave the past and follow Him. Ordinary people like Peter - the humble fisherman who became an eloquent preacher and teacher so much so that when he spoke at Pentecost, 3000 people responded to his message and were filled with the Holy Spirit. Ordinary people like you who got their ACT2 gether and the Christian church was birthed.
We all know what happened after Jesus called His disciples - how they teamed with Him, learned from Him, became like Him and after His death and resurrection continued to share the good news with others. They had been set free from the mere tradition and ritual to see the truth in Christ.
The people who crowded round Jesus to hear Him speak were amazed at His teaching and news about Him spread like wild fire throughout whole area and beyond to other towns - they were also astounded by the miraculous things He was doing like healing the sick so that when they heard He was in their area the sick came to Jesus to be healed.
Lets follow on from last week by reading Luke 5; 12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke then goes on to show us how a lame man was carried by his friends and brought to Jesus for healing - right in front of the Pharisees and teachers of the law
One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
This angered the teachers of the law who taught that no one but God could forgive sins
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
This is then followed by the calling of another disciple - Matthew.
Luke 5; 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Three striking examples of how Jesus began to show who He really was - the Messiah - and as such had the authority from God to do what He was doing - not just healing the sick but showing who He really was by forgiving man his sins - and that His real purpose was to become the once and for all time sacrificial lamb.
Up until Jesus came, it was taught by the priests that for anyone to be healed they had to bring a young lamb to be sacrificed on the altar. Now Jesus was showing them that He was the once and for all time Sacrificial lamb who give His life as a sin offering for those who chose to aknowledge and accept Him as their Saviour.
Jesus is showing the Teachers of the Law, the priests and the people in the towns and villages that He was the Messiah and that in Him is forgiveness and healing and that He was calling them to leave their past ideas and lives behind and take up their cross and follow Him - This was a big task that would be accomplished in Him and after His crucifixion would need to be continued by those He had called as disciples to learn from Him and continue the work He had begun.
Last week we looked at how God is still calling ordinary people like you and me to accept Jesus into their lives, put the past behind them and by spending time getting to know Jesus - like the disciples did - begin to live lives in obedience to His word and become His disciples to share His love with people around us and help to spread the good news to people around us.
Jesus took time to share the good news with the sinner - the lost, the outcast - the ordinary man in the street and spread the good news of a life changing experience that would give mankind into a better world - a world where love is the key. A world where people are concerned and care about one another - a world where the things of God are valued - a better world.
That’s why Jesus commended the men who had carried the lame man and in their devoted attempt to bring him before Jesus even carried him onto the roof and let him down on his bed to the feet of Jesus. Luke tells us that when Jesus saw their faith
He forgave the man his sins and healed him.
I guess that to many of the lame mans associates would have given up on him especially when they saw the crowds that swarmed around Jesus making it impossible for them to get near Him - but not his friends - they went against the most impossible odds and carried the man onto the rooftop - it was their faith that brought healing.
In the same way, it was the faith of the leper - that caused Jesus to heal him Luke 5;12 When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
The other day Michelle put a video on Facebook that showed the Christian teacher Ravi Zacharias answering questions from a large audience at a University. I must admit I found the first half of it difficult to understand until he answered a difficult question with a personal response from his early life at home. He told how his 6 year old brother was lying in bed dying - his father and others in the family had given up on him - all except his mother who even though her heart was full of anguish and she was exhausted by spending nights at his bedside praying yet she persisted in her prayers and cried out to God for healing. Ravi said that the whole family, being told he was dying, left the hospital and went home - all except his mother who stayed by her sons side praying.
Ravi then shared how the next day they were all summoned back to the hospital as their brother started to show signs of life, started to move and was healed - an answer to prayer that made a lasting impression on Ravi and was one of the reasons he was doing what he was today in sharing the good news of Jesus with others. It was by the love and faith of his mother that his brother was healed.
This was obviously the reason God intervened and Ravis brother was healed. Like the men who carried the lame man to Jesus and even broke through the roof to get him there - Ravis mother had stayed faithfully by the bedside of her son and not given up and God used this incident to inspire Ravi to grow to be the person he is today.
Jesus impacted the lives of the people who swarmed to see Him by the miraculous things He did - Healing the incurable, casting out demons, these were the things that attracted people to come to see Him. Jesus stressed the truth that it was through the faith of those who needed healing or their friends - that healing took place.
Matthew 8 tells us of the Centurion who came to Jesus asking for help.
Matthew 8;6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would. And that’s faith - ” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Wow! Amazing the miraculous healings that attracted people to Jesus.
It was the same thing that attracted people to come and see Smith Wigglesworth - the Bradford born healer and teacher - people heard about the miraculous things that took place at his meetings and this attracted thousands to come to see him.
Jesus used His healing power to attract people to come and listen to the deeper things He wanted them to know. We too have been privileged to see the mighty hand of God heal people like baby Adam and the lame Christopher and that’s great - a real boost to our faith. But that isn’t always the case - In the same way that many of you prayed for your loved ones I prayed for Beryl and Kevin but God still took them and I questioned that for a long time until I realised that we live in a fallen world and even though our prayers were not answered in the way we would have liked - our loved ones are in a better place - with the Lord they loved and served.
Sadly the devil is at work in many churches all around the world filling them with people who have come to see what they consider to be healings from the Lord and paying heavily to see this. I had to re-tune my television yesterday and in doing so found that I now have over 800 channels - As I checked some of the channels in the 800 league I found at least 20 of them were what would be classed as God channels.
One of them had two leaders asking for people to send cheques of $1000 to receive healing - as I watched the faces of the men - well dressed - beamed and all I saw in their eyes was evil trading as Good .
There are churches filling to great capacity all over the world with people eager to see miracles both in healing and finance. Leaders hoping to attract people by imitating the actions of Jesus.
Jesus came to demonstrate who He was and used the power within Him to do that - but the real purpose was bring man back to real genuine faith in God by becoming the sacrificial lamb who would give His life on the cross to bring new birth to those who accepted Him as their Saviour and God as their Master.
I am sure that as we read a few weeks ago, the devil put Jesus to the test by challenging Him with the things from scripture Then I am sure that he can do the same toy you and me in these difficult days.
The evil exceles at using the difficult situations we face in life to make us question our faith and doubt what we believe. Unanswered prayer, difficult situations we find ourselves in are so often the things that make us question our faith .
We need to hold on to the promises of God that we read in the Old Testament that assure us that when we face and go through the difficult almost impossible situations in our lives - the troubled sea, the fire and heat of certain situations we find ourselves in - we need to remembere that He God Himself promises to be with us and see us through.
We tend to forget that when Paul wrote his letters of encouragement to the new churches - the letters that comprise over 75% of the New Testament - that He himself was captive and in prison - facing death. Through it all he showed the strength of his faith by encouraging others.
When Paul writes to the Hebrews about the faith of many characters in the OT he relates how their faith was evidenced in the difficult situations they found themselves in. Hebrews 10;19 Paul calls for Gods people to persevere in whatever they are called to go through.
So often in this life today - the hardships of life cause us to question the things of God - Why! Why! Why! is the cry
Song 773 in our song book says this;
When you feel weakest, dangers surround, Subtle temptations, troubles abound,
Nothing seems hopeful, nothing seems glad, All is despairing, everything sad:
Keep on believing, Jesus is near; Keep on believing, there's nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way; Faith in the night as well as the day.
If all were easy, if all were bright, Where would the cross be, and where the fight?
Tis in the hardness, God gives to you Chances of proving that you are true.
God is your wisdom, God is your might, God's ever near you, guiding aright;
He understands you, knows all you need; Trusting in him you'll surely succeed.
Let us press on then, never despair, Live above feeling, victory's there;
Jesus can keep us so near to him That nevermore our faith shall grow dim.
Lucy Milward Booth-Hellberg (1868-1953)
The real reason Jesus came was to bring mankind back to trusting in God, offer forgiveness for sins and new life - rebirth a reality. John tells us this in John 3
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” WOW!
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Kevin and I sang that all around Yorkshire - even as guest soloists at the Big Hall in Scarborough - Born Again there’s really been a change in me - Born again just like Jesus said - Born Again and all because of Calvary - I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again. Thankfully because of that I know that Kevin is now with the Lord he loves, together with his mum and with his baby daughter. That’s the real reason Jesus came and that’s what He offers today for everyone.
We are here this morning to be reminded of how privilaged it is to be called by God to be His disciples and live lives of faith that will inspire others to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour..
We closed last week by reading the comments made by another of Jesus’s converts - Paul to remind the Christian converts in the Corinthianan church of their calling.
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4; 1-3
Thankfully nearly all those that Jesus called to be His first disciples lived up to their calling and became fishers of men who were willing to share the good news with others and so make disciples. There is a great need in todays world for those who call themselves Christian to make sure that they are true to their name - and calling.
You only have to look at the way in which the church itself has moved away from the teachings of the Bible. There is even a call from a labour leader for this country to get back to being known as a Christian Country founded on the word of God. A country where there is little or no respect for the Lords day - many people have stopped going to church and Churches are closing whilst shops and placed of entertainment are open on Sundays. Thankfully I was brought up in a home where Sunday was the Lords day and workplaces and shops were closed - and we respected that - if we didn’t have enough of anything we did without.
Sadly it’s not just the country but there are many in churches today who have lost sight of their calling and commitment to God and many churches have become very inward looking churches who have forgotten their calling which is to - share what they have with others and continue the work that Jesus began - that of bringing mankind back to God. We need to grow in our faith until we have the faith that the Centurian, the Leper and the
Last week we read from Luke 5 how Jesus called His first disciples to follow Him. Fishermen Peter, James and his brother John called by Jesus to leave their nets and follow Him and He would make them ‘Fishers of men’
They had fished all night and caught nothing but under the direction of Jesus they let down their nets and as Luke reports, They caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come
and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.
I love the way in which Jesus called His disciples and in a very pictorial way show them what could be accomplished if they would follow Him and become His disciples. They were humble firshermen but now in Christ, He would show them what could be accomplished in their new lives with Him and become ‘fishers of men’.
We looked at the response of Peter at the miraculous catch of fish When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.
Here is Jesus at the beginning of His life’s work - gathering His team - people who will help Him to accomplish His mission. People who would still be around after Jesus had paid the ultimate price for the sins of the world - people who would still be around to continue the work that Jesus began - people who Jesus would empower to build fellowships, churches that would grow and spread the truth of Gods love and intentions for His creation on into the future - today here and now.
The scriptures tell us what a difference knowing Jesus can make in our lives and how in responding to His call to leave the past and follow Him. Ordinary people like Peter - the humble fisherman who became an eloquent preacher and teacher so much so that when he spoke at Pentecost, 3000 people responded to his message and were filled with the Holy Spirit. Ordinary people like you who got their ACT2 gether and the Christian church was birthed.
We all know what happened after Jesus called His disciples - how they teamed with Him, learned from Him, became like Him and after His death and resurrection continued to share the good news with others. They had been set free from the mere tradition and ritual to see the truth in Christ.
The people who crowded round Jesus to hear Him speak were amazed at His teaching and news about Him spread like wild fire throughout whole area and beyond to other towns - they were also astounded by the miraculous things He was doing like healing the sick so that when they heard He was in their area the sick came to Jesus to be healed.
Lets follow on from last week by reading Luke 5; 12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke then goes on to show us how a lame man was carried by his friends and brought to Jesus for healing - right in front of the Pharisees and teachers of the law
One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
This angered the teachers of the law who taught that no one but God could forgive sins
The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?
But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.”
So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”
Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”
This is then followed by the calling of another disciple - Matthew.
Luke 5; 27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
Three striking examples of how Jesus began to show who He really was - the Messiah - and as such had the authority from God to do what He was doing - not just healing the sick but showing who He really was by forgiving man his sins - and that His real purpose was to become the once and for all time sacrificial lamb.
Up until Jesus came, it was taught by the priests that for anyone to be healed they had to bring a young lamb to be sacrificed on the altar. Now Jesus was showing them that He was the once and for all time Sacrificial lamb who give His life as a sin offering for those who chose to aknowledge and accept Him as their Saviour.
Jesus is showing the Teachers of the Law, the priests and the people in the towns and villages that He was the Messiah and that in Him is forgiveness and healing and that He was calling them to leave their past ideas and lives behind and take up their cross and follow Him - This was a big task that would be accomplished in Him and after His crucifixion would need to be continued by those He had called as disciples to learn from Him and continue the work He had begun.
Last week we looked at how God is still calling ordinary people like you and me to accept Jesus into their lives, put the past behind them and by spending time getting to know Jesus - like the disciples did - begin to live lives in obedience to His word and become His disciples to share His love with people around us and help to spread the good news to people around us.
Jesus took time to share the good news with the sinner - the lost, the outcast - the ordinary man in the street and spread the good news of a life changing experience that would give mankind into a better world - a world where love is the key. A world where people are concerned and care about one another - a world where the things of God are valued - a better world.
That’s why Jesus commended the men who had carried the lame man and in their devoted attempt to bring him before Jesus even carried him onto the roof and let him down on his bed to the feet of Jesus. Luke tells us that when Jesus saw their faith
He forgave the man his sins and healed him.
I guess that to many of the lame mans associates would have given up on him especially when they saw the crowds that swarmed around Jesus making it impossible for them to get near Him - but not his friends - they went against the most impossible odds and carried the man onto the rooftop - it was their faith that brought healing.
In the same way, it was the faith of the leper - that caused Jesus to heal him Luke 5;12 When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
The other day Michelle put a video on Facebook that showed the Christian teacher Ravi Zacharias answering questions from a large audience at a University. I must admit I found the first half of it difficult to understand until he answered a difficult question with a personal response from his early life at home. He told how his 6 year old brother was lying in bed dying - his father and others in the family had given up on him - all except his mother who even though her heart was full of anguish and she was exhausted by spending nights at his bedside praying yet she persisted in her prayers and cried out to God for healing. Ravi said that the whole family, being told he was dying, left the hospital and went home - all except his mother who stayed by her sons side praying.
Ravi then shared how the next day they were all summoned back to the hospital as their brother started to show signs of life, started to move and was healed - an answer to prayer that made a lasting impression on Ravi and was one of the reasons he was doing what he was today in sharing the good news of Jesus with others. It was by the love and faith of his mother that his brother was healed.
This was obviously the reason God intervened and Ravis brother was healed. Like the men who carried the lame man to Jesus and even broke through the roof to get him there - Ravis mother had stayed faithfully by the bedside of her son and not given up and God used this incident to inspire Ravi to grow to be the person he is today.
Jesus impacted the lives of the people who swarmed to see Him by the miraculous things He did - Healing the incurable, casting out demons, these were the things that attracted people to come to see Him. Jesus stressed the truth that it was through the faith of those who needed healing or their friends - that healing took place.
Matthew 8 tells us of the Centurion who came to Jesus asking for help.
Matthew 8;6 “Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.”Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would. And that’s faith - ” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Wow! Amazing the miraculous healings that attracted people to Jesus.
It was the same thing that attracted people to come and see Smith Wigglesworth - the Bradford born healer and teacher - people heard about the miraculous things that took place at his meetings and this attracted thousands to come to see him.
Jesus used His healing power to attract people to come and listen to the deeper things He wanted them to know. We too have been privileged to see the mighty hand of God heal people like baby Adam and the lame Christopher and that’s great - a real boost to our faith. But that isn’t always the case - In the same way that many of you prayed for your loved ones I prayed for Beryl and Kevin but God still took them and I questioned that for a long time until I realised that we live in a fallen world and even though our prayers were not answered in the way we would have liked - our loved ones are in a better place - with the Lord they loved and served.
Sadly the devil is at work in many churches all around the world filling them with people who have come to see what they consider to be healings from the Lord and paying heavily to see this. I had to re-tune my television yesterday and in doing so found that I now have over 800 channels - As I checked some of the channels in the 800 league I found at least 20 of them were what would be classed as God channels.
One of them had two leaders asking for people to send cheques of $1000 to receive healing - as I watched the faces of the men - well dressed - beamed and all I saw in their eyes was evil trading as Good .
There are churches filling to great capacity all over the world with people eager to see miracles both in healing and finance. Leaders hoping to attract people by imitating the actions of Jesus.
Jesus came to demonstrate who He was and used the power within Him to do that - but the real purpose was bring man back to real genuine faith in God by becoming the sacrificial lamb who would give His life on the cross to bring new birth to those who accepted Him as their Saviour and God as their Master.
I am sure that as we read a few weeks ago, the devil put Jesus to the test by challenging Him with the things from scripture Then I am sure that he can do the same toy you and me in these difficult days.
The evil exceles at using the difficult situations we face in life to make us question our faith and doubt what we believe. Unanswered prayer, difficult situations we find ourselves in are so often the things that make us question our faith .
We need to hold on to the promises of God that we read in the Old Testament that assure us that when we face and go through the difficult almost impossible situations in our lives - the troubled sea, the fire and heat of certain situations we find ourselves in - we need to remembere that He God Himself promises to be with us and see us through.
We tend to forget that when Paul wrote his letters of encouragement to the new churches - the letters that comprise over 75% of the New Testament - that He himself was captive and in prison - facing death. Through it all he showed the strength of his faith by encouraging others.
When Paul writes to the Hebrews about the faith of many characters in the OT he relates how their faith was evidenced in the difficult situations they found themselves in. Hebrews 10;19 Paul calls for Gods people to persevere in whatever they are called to go through.
So often in this life today - the hardships of life cause us to question the things of God - Why! Why! Why! is the cry
Song 773 in our song book says this;
When you feel weakest, dangers surround, Subtle temptations, troubles abound,
Nothing seems hopeful, nothing seems glad, All is despairing, everything sad:
Keep on believing, Jesus is near; Keep on believing, there's nothing to fear;
Keep on believing, this is the way; Faith in the night as well as the day.
If all were easy, if all were bright, Where would the cross be, and where the fight?
Tis in the hardness, God gives to you Chances of proving that you are true.
God is your wisdom, God is your might, God's ever near you, guiding aright;
He understands you, knows all you need; Trusting in him you'll surely succeed.
Let us press on then, never despair, Live above feeling, victory's there;
Jesus can keep us so near to him That nevermore our faith shall grow dim.
Lucy Milward Booth-Hellberg (1868-1953)
The real reason Jesus came was to bring mankind back to trusting in God, offer forgiveness for sins and new life - rebirth a reality. John tells us this in John 3
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” WOW!
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
Kevin and I sang that all around Yorkshire - even as guest soloists at the Big Hall in Scarborough - Born Again there’s really been a change in me - Born again just like Jesus said - Born Again and all because of Calvary - I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again. Thankfully because of that I know that Kevin is now with the Lord he loves, together with his mum and with his baby daughter. That’s the real reason Jesus came and that’s what He offers today for everyone.
We are here this morning to be reminded of how privilaged it is to be called by God to be His disciples and live lives of faith that will inspire others to accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour..
We closed last week by reading the comments made by another of Jesus’s converts - Paul to remind the Christian converts in the Corinthianan church of their calling.
I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4; 1-3
Thankfully nearly all those that Jesus called to be His first disciples lived up to their calling and became fishers of men who were willing to share the good news with others and so make disciples. There is a great need in todays world for those who call themselves Christian to make sure that they are true to their name - and calling.
You only have to look at the way in which the church itself has moved away from the teachings of the Bible. There is even a call from a labour leader for this country to get back to being known as a Christian Country founded on the word of God. A country where there is little or no respect for the Lords day - many people have stopped going to church and Churches are closing whilst shops and placed of entertainment are open on Sundays. Thankfully I was brought up in a home where Sunday was the Lords day and workplaces and shops were closed - and we respected that - if we didn’t have enough of anything we did without.
Sadly it’s not just the country but there are many in churches today who have lost sight of their calling and commitment to God and many churches have become very inward looking churches who have forgotten their calling which is to - share what they have with others and continue the work that Jesus began - that of bringing mankind back to God. We need to grow in our faith until we have the faith that the Centurian, the Leper and the
MM 9 February 2020 Luke 5;1 Jesus Calls His First Disciples
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him
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Here we see Jesus at the start of His ministry, which Jesus had outlined in His sermon in the Synagogue that we shared last week which was to proclaim good news to the poor. Which meant freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
As we shared that last week I suggested that these were no mere traits such as people who were poor, prisoners, physically blind, oppressed but states of mind - poor in Spirit, prisoners to misguided teachings where rituals, sacrificing of animals to claim forgiveness of sins, people who were being blinded to the simple truth of Gods love and concern for them - oppressed by unattainable requirements of the religious laws of the day - Jesus had come to show them the real truth and bring them back to the heart of God who had provided a once and for all sacrificial lamb in Jesus through whom they could attain freedom from sin and a new life that would lead to eternity with God.
Jesus came to show them that re-birth was possible and one of the ways to show them that was in simple parables and by being a living example to show what the power of God could do in their lives . Jesus had come to set them free from the old way to introduce them to a new and living way.
I love therefore the way in which Jesus, knowing that He would need help in His ministry , called His disciples and in a very pictorial way show them what could be accomplished if they would follow Him and become His disciples. All the way through His ministry Jesus would speak to the heart of man in parables - stories that would help them to understand the deep truths of what He was trying to get over to them which was that God loved them, Com-parables we would say today -that God uses to illustrate and make more easily understood, the things God wants us to know.
God wanted them to love Him and one another and that if they did and lived in obedience to His word then they would begin to experience real life - life in all it’s fullest sense of the word - and more than that - abundant life that would reach out into the future eternity that they would spend together with their Lord.
This though, is no parable of words, this is a visual parable that would show them what together - in Christ - they could do. Jesus showed them what He was calling them to become and how through obedience to Him, the seemingly impossible could be accomplished in and through them. These were humble fishermen - not learned teachers - here was Jesus calling ordinary people like you and me to become exponents of the word that would challenge and encourage mankind to become followers of Jesus. They knew all about fishing - that was their job and so what better way than use their way of life to show what, in Christ, they could accomplish as ‘fishers of men’.
Jesus had been teaching people, from the boat moored at the side of the lake and when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” To which Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.
Wow! All night long they had been out on the sea and caught nothing - but obviously Jesus had made a great impression on them - Luke tells us that He’d been preaching Gods word - hense Peters response But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” Now look at what happened when they obeyed Jesus When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. WOW!
What a great sight - to see the miraculous catch of fish When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then we have the whole purpose for this show of Gods power and what simple obedience to the commands of Jesus could accomplish. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.
Here is Jesus at the beginning of His life’s work - gathering His team - people who will help Him to accomplish His mission. People who would still be around after Jesus had paid the ultimate price for the sins of the world - people who would still be around to continue the work that Jesus began - people who Jesus would empower to build fellowships, churches that would grow and spread the truth of Gods love and intentions for His creation on into the future - today here and now.
Peter - the humble fisherman became an eloquent preacher and teacher and when he spoke at Pentecost, 3000 people responded to his message, were filled with the Holy Spirit and at that meeting, they got their ACT2 gether and the real - Christian church was birthed.
It amazes me that still today - God is calling people like you and me to continue the work He began of sharing the good news with the world in which we live - our homes, our families, our work colleagues, our neighbours, our friends and acquaintances.
I wonder if you can remember the time that the message of Jesus became real to you - the time when you realised that what we read in the bible is God’s relevant word for us today and that living the life and message of Jesus is the only way to live today. What’s happened in your life since you gave your heart to the Lord?
We all know what happened after Jesus called His disciples - how they teamed with Him, learned from Him, became like Him and after His death and resurrection continued to share the good news with others. They had been set free from the mere tradition and ritual to see the truth in Christ - as Paul explains to the church at Corinth - We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, we all are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3;13
I have a video that shows how William Booth on a train journey from Halifax to London had a vision - a parable in picture - that inspired him to start the work he did. In it he saw a sea of struggling people crying out from the depths of the sea for someone to save them. As Booth looked at the struggling people he saw Jesus leave the splendour of Glory and go down into the sea to save the people struggling there. The people were taken to dry land and were saved.
Booth then saw how the people on the dry land - happily worshiped their Saviour together. He was then shown how over the following years they became very self indulgent - enjoying lifestyles that now had been infiltrated by modern distracting pleasures. Jesus was still trying to save the lost but sadly, many of the lost He had saved had little or no regard for those still struggling even to the extent of ignoring the pleas of Jesus to come and help Him to save them.
The vision showed how that just as Jesus had come to earth to save the lost and called together Disciples to help Him - many in the church had become complacent, happy in their own way fellowshipping together that they had forgotten the work they had been called to do - to witness to the dying and try spread the good news. They were enjoying their fellowship but neglecting their true calling.
That vision inspired Booth to start the work he did, the Christian Mission that became the Salvation Army. To bring good news to the poor - this time the real poor who were rejected by the respectable well dressed church. He saw the challenge of taking the good news to the oppressed, the neglected, the marginalized and introduce them to a Saviour who they learned was concerned about them and for whom, He gave His life.When Booth arrived in London, he saw the reality of what God had shown him in fact what God had prepared him to minister to.
Sadly even today the same things are happening churches - and by that I mean all denominations - SA included have people who responded to the call of the Lord but then over the years have been distracted from what they were called to do as disciples of Christ which is to get to really know Him and then make Him known to others - people distracted by worldly things TV, computer, lap tops that cause them to ignore the people out there who are still struggling in the sea of life
That’s why the converted Paul wrote to remind the Christian converts in the Corinthianan church of their calling You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3;3 I believe that that’s what God wants us to be today - a letter - a living letter from Christ to a needy world. Not written with pen and ink - not carved on stone but a living letter that speaks to human hearts.
You and I are a living letter from Christ. In the same way that the word of God to many is just ‘ink on paper’ and the law in the Old testament was a ‘letter carved on stone’ Both are meant to be lived out in the lives of your and me. When our hearts are indwelt by the loving God then Jesus’ love will shine through us. We will then become ‘living letters to a dying world. In the same way as ‘the Word became flesh in Christ Jesus’, so too the Word - Jesus - longs to live in and through us today.
As Christians, we are called to be ‘a letter from Christ to a dying world’. Judging by the news and the way in which Christian values are being eroded, it would appear that the letters are not being posted. In fact - ‘letters’ seem to be a thing of the past - today people communicate through emails or on face book.
Whatever way we choose to communicate the truth, we have the stamp of Gods approval, the authority of God - so lets make sure that the people in our own little worlds where we live, receive and can read loud and clear, the message of love and salvation that should be evidenced in our lives.
A living letter is more then mere words, it’s love in action, it’s becoming the Living Word - to let others see the beauty of living their lives in the same way that Jesus lived His life - by firstly loving God and loving and considering others and doing all we can to let them see the beauty of Jesus in the way in which we conduct ourselves.
I’ll never forget what a man at work did and said when, as an apprentice printer I was finding it difficult studying from a book on how a printing machine worked - he could see I didn’t seem to understand what the book was saying and so with years of practical experience he looked at me and simply said ‘Come ere lad I show thi - a picture speaks more than a thousand words’ - and it did - he showed me what the words failed to tell me - that way I understood.
That what God did in Christ when as John tells us ‘the word became flesh ‘ We are called to become living letters that show the world - our family and friends what the word of God is trying to say to them.
It was the same when Jesus called His first disciples, they spent time in is presence so that His love and message rubbed off - The word “disciple” refers to a learner or follower. I would think that that’s where we get the word Discipline from - one who conforms to a certain standard.
That’s what we become when we accept the call of Jesus - we become disciples and learning from Him we are disciplined to become more and more like Jesus. We are called to come to Jesus, learn from Him and share His love and message with those we spend our days with, our family, friends, acquaintances. We owe it to God and we owe it to people out there.
The word “apostle” which is what many of the disciples became over time means “one who is sent out.” While Jesus was on earth, his twelve followers were called disciples. After his resurrection and ascension, Jesus sent the disciples out to be His witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). They were then referred to as the twelve apostles.
Jesus called His disciples together and told them that from now on you won’t be just fishermen but fishers of men and their response was to pull their boats up onto the shore, left everything and followed Him. They spent time with Jesus, learned from Him how to live lives that reflected the love of Jesus.
Final word from Paul I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4; 1-3
We are called to take the ‘L’ Hell out of the WOR’L’D by letting the living WORD of God - that was Jesus live in us - to do what Jesus did - that was to Live the Word - as I said earlier ‘a picture speaks more than a thousand words
We sang earlier ‘Shine Jesus shine’ Jesus called us to be the light of the World to shine for Him - to bring the light of the gospel of truth into peoples lives. Our final song asks the Lord how we can do this ‘ How can I better serve Thee Lord’
Lets as we sing it realise that we are asking God - what next Lord? And be open to His reply
One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him
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Here we see Jesus at the start of His ministry, which Jesus had outlined in His sermon in the Synagogue that we shared last week which was to proclaim good news to the poor. Which meant freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
As we shared that last week I suggested that these were no mere traits such as people who were poor, prisoners, physically blind, oppressed but states of mind - poor in Spirit, prisoners to misguided teachings where rituals, sacrificing of animals to claim forgiveness of sins, people who were being blinded to the simple truth of Gods love and concern for them - oppressed by unattainable requirements of the religious laws of the day - Jesus had come to show them the real truth and bring them back to the heart of God who had provided a once and for all sacrificial lamb in Jesus through whom they could attain freedom from sin and a new life that would lead to eternity with God.
Jesus came to show them that re-birth was possible and one of the ways to show them that was in simple parables and by being a living example to show what the power of God could do in their lives . Jesus had come to set them free from the old way to introduce them to a new and living way.
I love therefore the way in which Jesus, knowing that He would need help in His ministry , called His disciples and in a very pictorial way show them what could be accomplished if they would follow Him and become His disciples. All the way through His ministry Jesus would speak to the heart of man in parables - stories that would help them to understand the deep truths of what He was trying to get over to them which was that God loved them, Com-parables we would say today -that God uses to illustrate and make more easily understood, the things God wants us to know.
God wanted them to love Him and one another and that if they did and lived in obedience to His word then they would begin to experience real life - life in all it’s fullest sense of the word - and more than that - abundant life that would reach out into the future eternity that they would spend together with their Lord.
This though, is no parable of words, this is a visual parable that would show them what together - in Christ - they could do. Jesus showed them what He was calling them to become and how through obedience to Him, the seemingly impossible could be accomplished in and through them. These were humble fishermen - not learned teachers - here was Jesus calling ordinary people like you and me to become exponents of the word that would challenge and encourage mankind to become followers of Jesus. They knew all about fishing - that was their job and so what better way than use their way of life to show what, in Christ, they could accomplish as ‘fishers of men’.
Jesus had been teaching people, from the boat moored at the side of the lake and when He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” To which Simon replied, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.
Wow! All night long they had been out on the sea and caught nothing - but obviously Jesus had made a great impression on them - Luke tells us that He’d been preaching Gods word - hense Peters response But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” Now look at what happened when they obeyed Jesus When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signalled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. WOW!
What a great sight - to see the miraculous catch of fish When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.
Then we have the whole purpose for this show of Gods power and what simple obedience to the commands of Jesus could accomplish. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.
Here is Jesus at the beginning of His life’s work - gathering His team - people who will help Him to accomplish His mission. People who would still be around after Jesus had paid the ultimate price for the sins of the world - people who would still be around to continue the work that Jesus began - people who Jesus would empower to build fellowships, churches that would grow and spread the truth of Gods love and intentions for His creation on into the future - today here and now.
Peter - the humble fisherman became an eloquent preacher and teacher and when he spoke at Pentecost, 3000 people responded to his message, were filled with the Holy Spirit and at that meeting, they got their ACT2 gether and the real - Christian church was birthed.
It amazes me that still today - God is calling people like you and me to continue the work He began of sharing the good news with the world in which we live - our homes, our families, our work colleagues, our neighbours, our friends and acquaintances.
I wonder if you can remember the time that the message of Jesus became real to you - the time when you realised that what we read in the bible is God’s relevant word for us today and that living the life and message of Jesus is the only way to live today. What’s happened in your life since you gave your heart to the Lord?
We all know what happened after Jesus called His disciples - how they teamed with Him, learned from Him, became like Him and after His death and resurrection continued to share the good news with others. They had been set free from the mere tradition and ritual to see the truth in Christ - as Paul explains to the church at Corinth - We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, we all are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3;13
I have a video that shows how William Booth on a train journey from Halifax to London had a vision - a parable in picture - that inspired him to start the work he did. In it he saw a sea of struggling people crying out from the depths of the sea for someone to save them. As Booth looked at the struggling people he saw Jesus leave the splendour of Glory and go down into the sea to save the people struggling there. The people were taken to dry land and were saved.
Booth then saw how the people on the dry land - happily worshiped their Saviour together. He was then shown how over the following years they became very self indulgent - enjoying lifestyles that now had been infiltrated by modern distracting pleasures. Jesus was still trying to save the lost but sadly, many of the lost He had saved had little or no regard for those still struggling even to the extent of ignoring the pleas of Jesus to come and help Him to save them.
The vision showed how that just as Jesus had come to earth to save the lost and called together Disciples to help Him - many in the church had become complacent, happy in their own way fellowshipping together that they had forgotten the work they had been called to do - to witness to the dying and try spread the good news. They were enjoying their fellowship but neglecting their true calling.
That vision inspired Booth to start the work he did, the Christian Mission that became the Salvation Army. To bring good news to the poor - this time the real poor who were rejected by the respectable well dressed church. He saw the challenge of taking the good news to the oppressed, the neglected, the marginalized and introduce them to a Saviour who they learned was concerned about them and for whom, He gave His life.When Booth arrived in London, he saw the reality of what God had shown him in fact what God had prepared him to minister to.
Sadly even today the same things are happening churches - and by that I mean all denominations - SA included have people who responded to the call of the Lord but then over the years have been distracted from what they were called to do as disciples of Christ which is to get to really know Him and then make Him known to others - people distracted by worldly things TV, computer, lap tops that cause them to ignore the people out there who are still struggling in the sea of life
That’s why the converted Paul wrote to remind the Christian converts in the Corinthianan church of their calling You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. 2 Corinthians 3;3 I believe that that’s what God wants us to be today - a letter - a living letter from Christ to a needy world. Not written with pen and ink - not carved on stone but a living letter that speaks to human hearts.
You and I are a living letter from Christ. In the same way that the word of God to many is just ‘ink on paper’ and the law in the Old testament was a ‘letter carved on stone’ Both are meant to be lived out in the lives of your and me. When our hearts are indwelt by the loving God then Jesus’ love will shine through us. We will then become ‘living letters to a dying world. In the same way as ‘the Word became flesh in Christ Jesus’, so too the Word - Jesus - longs to live in and through us today.
As Christians, we are called to be ‘a letter from Christ to a dying world’. Judging by the news and the way in which Christian values are being eroded, it would appear that the letters are not being posted. In fact - ‘letters’ seem to be a thing of the past - today people communicate through emails or on face book.
Whatever way we choose to communicate the truth, we have the stamp of Gods approval, the authority of God - so lets make sure that the people in our own little worlds where we live, receive and can read loud and clear, the message of love and salvation that should be evidenced in our lives.
A living letter is more then mere words, it’s love in action, it’s becoming the Living Word - to let others see the beauty of living their lives in the same way that Jesus lived His life - by firstly loving God and loving and considering others and doing all we can to let them see the beauty of Jesus in the way in which we conduct ourselves.
I’ll never forget what a man at work did and said when, as an apprentice printer I was finding it difficult studying from a book on how a printing machine worked - he could see I didn’t seem to understand what the book was saying and so with years of practical experience he looked at me and simply said ‘Come ere lad I show thi - a picture speaks more than a thousand words’ - and it did - he showed me what the words failed to tell me - that way I understood.
That what God did in Christ when as John tells us ‘the word became flesh ‘ We are called to become living letters that show the world - our family and friends what the word of God is trying to say to them.
It was the same when Jesus called His first disciples, they spent time in is presence so that His love and message rubbed off - The word “disciple” refers to a learner or follower. I would think that that’s where we get the word Discipline from - one who conforms to a certain standard.
That’s what we become when we accept the call of Jesus - we become disciples and learning from Him we are disciplined to become more and more like Jesus. We are called to come to Jesus, learn from Him and share His love and message with those we spend our days with, our family, friends, acquaintances. We owe it to God and we owe it to people out there.
The word “apostle” which is what many of the disciples became over time means “one who is sent out.” While Jesus was on earth, his twelve followers were called disciples. After his resurrection and ascension, Jesus sent the disciples out to be His witnesses (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). They were then referred to as the twelve apostles.
Jesus called His disciples together and told them that from now on you won’t be just fishermen but fishers of men and their response was to pull their boats up onto the shore, left everything and followed Him. They spent time with Jesus, learned from Him how to live lives that reflected the love of Jesus.
Final word from Paul I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Ephesians 4; 1-3
We are called to take the ‘L’ Hell out of the WOR’L’D by letting the living WORD of God - that was Jesus live in us - to do what Jesus did - that was to Live the Word - as I said earlier ‘a picture speaks more than a thousand words
We sang earlier ‘Shine Jesus shine’ Jesus called us to be the light of the World to shine for Him - to bring the light of the gospel of truth into peoples lives. Our final song asks the Lord how we can do this ‘ How can I better serve Thee Lord’
Lets as we sing it realise that we are asking God - what next Lord? And be open to His reply
Sunday 2 February 2020
Three weeks ago we looked at how when John the Baptist was baptising people in the river Jordan, how they saw Jesus coming to the river and when John saw Him John told everyone that Jesus was the Messiah that the nation had been waiting for. Then as Jesus stepped into the river to be baptised the delaration came from God Himself as a voice cried out ‘this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased’ and then the Holy Spirit of God decended upon Jesus empowering Him to begin His earthly ministry
Two weeks ago we read how Jesus was then led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil who even threw scripture verses at Jesus and how Jesus put the devil straight by clarifying what each scripture really meant.
We closed the meeting that week by saying how important it is that as Christians we know the truth of Gods word by reading Gods word and then trying our best to live by it - to get to really know Jesus and not just know about Him. We looked at the first of the Salvation Army doctrines that says; ‘We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by the inspiration of God and that they only - constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice‘ .
We discussed that at our Bible Fellowship on the following Tuesday as we looked at how Paul writing to Timothy stressed the importance of really knowing and standing firm to what we believe from Gods word Jesus- Paul commended Timothy’s grandmother and mother for bringing Timothy up in the faith to know and honour Gods word and how Paul declared that even though he himself had been brought up a strict Jew and thought Jesus was an imposter and had set about to kill Him and His followers - Jesus appearing to him on the Damascus Road had turned his life around and He now fought for Jesus.
To the church at Philipi he had written I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ Philippians 3;8 and then to Timothy He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame - WHY? And here he states the awesome truth , because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. Paul didn’t say I know what I believe but I know who I believe.
Luke, along with the other gospel,writers all stress the truth that Jesus is the Messiah. Luke declares it - even satan confesses it We are left in no doubt the Jesus is God in flesh appearing the promised Messiah who had come to bring wayward mankind back into line with Gods intention for mankind. Jesus came to live the life and to give His lifeas an atonement for the sins of mankind.
Last week we continued to look at the early calling and empowering of Jesus by looking at what Jesus did when He came out of the Wilderness - empowered by God to begin His ministry and how the first place He needed to to was the church of His day - the synagogue - to teach everyone the truth.We read how in His own hometown, Nazareth and the scroll of Isaiah was handed to Him.
Luke 4; 17Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the
synagogue were fastened on Him. He began by saying to them,“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus declared Himself to be the chosen one - and that His mission was to fulfill the prophesies which were To preach good news to the poor To bring the good news to the attention of those who now, through false teachings and wrong emphasis on mans efforts - had become poor in spirit. That’s why His first call was the church.
To proclaim freedom for the prisoners people bound by tradition who in Jesus day thought the sacrificing of animals as an offering to God for their sinfulness would atone for their sins They failed to see that man in his own strength could never attain salvation and that only by the Grace of God could a man be set free from the slavery of sin. Freedom is only possible through Jesus Christ.
Recovery of sight to the blind those who have been blinded to the truth by satans lies. Drawn to worldly ways that tempt man away from the things of God.
To release the oppressed those who live in fear and feel weak and of little value to the Kingdom. The devil is cunning that he uses the success and ability of others to make people feel inadequate.
To preach the day of the Lord’s favour To herald the Kingdom to come that is not just ‘pie in the sky when you die’ but also ‘meat on your plate while you wait’. A kingdom that begins the moment we accept Jesus into our lives
Interestingly - the first place Jesus goes to show man the folly of his selfish power seeking ways is the church - sadly nothings changed today - looking at the way many churches are heading in these days with their watered down gospel that is thought will attract people. No wonder we are told that Jesus will come again and this time to take those who are faithful to Him to be with Him in Heaven.
Back to the Synagogue where we find Jesus sharing the awesome truth that He is the Messiah. Luke tells us Jesus was acclaimed by everyone who heard Him. Sadly that didn’t last long for as soon as He told them that - the promised Messiah would be rejected by his very own people - the Jews - Luke tells us that All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
They rejected the Idea that Gods people would turn against the one that they had been waiting for to redeem them and immediately started to drive Jesus out of the town - up a hill with the intention of throwing Him off - the very last temptation that the devil had challenged Jesus with in the Wilderness - But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.
They would not face up to the truth that His own people - those who claimed to be lovers of God would be capable of killing the one that God sent as Messiah. But that’s exactly what Luke tells us in Acts that Saul did - thankfully God intervened and brught Saul to realise the truth and so Saul became Paul the Apostle.
I closed by saying that it comes as no surprise then that nearing the end of His earthly ministry Jesus again entered the Temple which by now under the misdirection of the teachers of the day has turned into a selfish place of greed and reminded them that Gods word says that the house of God should be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers. Luke 19; 45 Sadly the same can be said about many of the new deceived churches today who’s leaders ride around in expensive jets that they own and are paid for by the people they are deceiving. -
Today we still see a world that has gone away from God - even churches who are preaching another gospel that is not of God - a world ready for the return of Jesus - We need to make sure we are ready so that when He comes again, He will find us faithful to Him. God needs us to be faithful whatever the cost and He showed us that by the way He lived His life. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
We need to know and live in obedience to the Word of God - obedience to Jesus - spend time reading His Word and getting to really know Him and put into action the things He will show us that will strengthen our own experience and the fellowship we belong to.
We need to stand for Christ - amid the problems that life throws at us and prove to ourselves and others that Jesus is the only way.
This week we continue to look at what Luke tells us about the early ministry of Jesus.
Luke 4; 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at His teaching, because His words had authority.
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power He gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding area.
WOW! The amazing thing here is that the demon knew exactly who Jesus was - I know who you are - the Holy One of God’
Remember how the devil in the wilderness did all he could to get Jesus to question who He was by challenging Jesus with the words - ‘If you are the Son of God’ tells these stones to become bread’ and then taking Him to the highest point in the Temple challenges Jesus again ‘If you are the son of God throw yourselve down from here.
The devil knew exactly who Jesus was but here he is testing Jesus who up to that point had grown up as ‘the Son of man’ I believe that as Jesus answered the tempting of the devil God was confirming in Jesus’s heart that He really was the appointed one - the Son of God - and now being filled with the Spirit of God now accepted Himself to be who He really was - the Son of God.
Now here we have the demon in the possessed man confirming who Jesus really and saying I know who you are - the Holy One of God’
What is so interesting in these verses is that the demon possessed man was there in the synagogue - among the worshippers - that’s where the devil knows he can find those who are on the fringe - not fully committed to God - that’s where the evil one lurks to disrupt and mislead the fellowships today.
The man had an evil spirit within him who challenged Jesus with the words - ’Have you come to destroy us - that’s more than one Jesus then commanded the evil spirit to leave the man -’ Come out of him’ and the demon threw the man down to the ground.
All the people were amazed and said how awesome it was that Jesus gave orders to the evil one who came out of the man. So impacted were they that they spread the news about what Jesus was doing throughout the surrounding area.
The tragic truth is that today the Christian church today is being infiltrated by the evil one through false doctrine from false teachers - as Paul says when writing to Timothy ‘Having a form of godliness but denying the power - have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3;5
What we have just read is a word for the church today; Jesus entered the synagogue and right there - in the church - was a man whose spiritual sense was far from what it should have been and the evil one was at work within him. Jesus needed to cast satan out of him - which He did to the amazement of the others worshippers who could see the truth in Jesus who spoke with authority and showed great power over the evil one, no wonder that the good news spread throughout the surrounding area. O how we need receive true teaching from Gods word in church in these days Jesus’s first mission was to bring those who thought they were doing Gods will to face up to the truth - repent - and turn to Him.
Lets read on; 38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. Here we see the power of God evidenced in the ministry of Jesus the Son of God so much so that At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Messiah.
There is no doubt now in the minds of the people who Jesus was. Even those who up to then had been possessed by the evil one were being liberated - set free - the people rallied to Jesus and didn’t want Him to leave them.
42; At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. But He said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
This was the beginning of the ministry of Jesus - to let people see the truth about God and His desire for mankind to love and obey Him - to take the wrong thoughts, wrong teachings - false doctrines - false teachers out of the church - that was the beginning. As I said last week He was still doing that at the end of His life before He went to the cross - the church had become a den of thieves - a place occupied and in many places under the influence of the evil one.
Jesus declaired that He must proclaim the good news about the Kingdom of God to others towns because that was why He had been sent - and He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Jesus came to bring the church - people who claimed to be Gods followers - back into line - to read His unchangeable word and try to live it - He even promised that if mankind repented their old was that He would come and live within them by the power of the Spirit and help to transform them from within to be the people He wanted them to be - and to make this possible He was willing to give His life as an atonment for sin - the only way that man understood forgiveness was possible .
Jesus showed how the wrong motives and intentions of mankind could be extracted from him - the evil one could be removed and replaced by Jesus - thats what happened in the Temple with the man possessed by the evil one.
Jesus then went on to show how He had come to restore His Church to new life when He healed Simon Peters mother and indeed all the others whom people brought to Him.
We here this morning have been privileged to be witnesses to the healing power of Almighty God so many times that we should be in no doubt as to what God wants of His people. He healed me of Kidney failure and Cancer . He healed Christophers legs and brought healing to baby Adams lungs. God is Awesome and powerful - and when healing doesn’t take place - God gives us the strength to cope and has promised to never leave us or forsake us - God is awesome
God wants us - His people - His church - to know Him as our Lord and Saviour - to get to know Him more fully by reading His word and trying our best to live in obedience to His word . To experience His presence in our lives through the vehicle of prayer. To dedicate our lives into His service and make ourselves available for Him to work through us to show His love to one another.
God wants His people to love Him with all our hearts and to love one another in the same way that Jesus showed His unfailing love to all He met.
God wants His people - you and I - to claim the spiritual re-birth that is available and be open to His leading in our lives. It’s up to us how we respond to His desires.
Next week we will be looking at how it was necessary for Jesus to rally a group of disciples to help Him in His ministry - faithful Godly people who would spend their lives being with Jesus - in His presence - learning from Him what it is that God expects from those who profess to know and love Him - and growing to become more Christ like.
Three weeks ago we looked at how when John the Baptist was baptising people in the river Jordan, how they saw Jesus coming to the river and when John saw Him John told everyone that Jesus was the Messiah that the nation had been waiting for. Then as Jesus stepped into the river to be baptised the delaration came from God Himself as a voice cried out ‘this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased’ and then the Holy Spirit of God decended upon Jesus empowering Him to begin His earthly ministry
Two weeks ago we read how Jesus was then led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil who even threw scripture verses at Jesus and how Jesus put the devil straight by clarifying what each scripture really meant.
We closed the meeting that week by saying how important it is that as Christians we know the truth of Gods word by reading Gods word and then trying our best to live by it - to get to really know Jesus and not just know about Him. We looked at the first of the Salvation Army doctrines that says; ‘We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by the inspiration of God and that they only - constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice‘ .
We discussed that at our Bible Fellowship on the following Tuesday as we looked at how Paul writing to Timothy stressed the importance of really knowing and standing firm to what we believe from Gods word Jesus- Paul commended Timothy’s grandmother and mother for bringing Timothy up in the faith to know and honour Gods word and how Paul declared that even though he himself had been brought up a strict Jew and thought Jesus was an imposter and had set about to kill Him and His followers - Jesus appearing to him on the Damascus Road had turned his life around and He now fought for Jesus.
To the church at Philipi he had written I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ Philippians 3;8 and then to Timothy He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame - WHY? And here he states the awesome truth , because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. Paul didn’t say I know what I believe but I know who I believe.
Luke, along with the other gospel,writers all stress the truth that Jesus is the Messiah. Luke declares it - even satan confesses it We are left in no doubt the Jesus is God in flesh appearing the promised Messiah who had come to bring wayward mankind back into line with Gods intention for mankind. Jesus came to live the life and to give His lifeas an atonement for the sins of mankind.
Last week we continued to look at the early calling and empowering of Jesus by looking at what Jesus did when He came out of the Wilderness - empowered by God to begin His ministry and how the first place He needed to to was the church of His day - the synagogue - to teach everyone the truth.We read how in His own hometown, Nazareth and the scroll of Isaiah was handed to Him.
Luke 4; 17Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour. Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the
synagogue were fastened on Him. He began by saying to them,“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
Jesus declared Himself to be the chosen one - and that His mission was to fulfill the prophesies which were To preach good news to the poor To bring the good news to the attention of those who now, through false teachings and wrong emphasis on mans efforts - had become poor in spirit. That’s why His first call was the church.
To proclaim freedom for the prisoners people bound by tradition who in Jesus day thought the sacrificing of animals as an offering to God for their sinfulness would atone for their sins They failed to see that man in his own strength could never attain salvation and that only by the Grace of God could a man be set free from the slavery of sin. Freedom is only possible through Jesus Christ.
Recovery of sight to the blind those who have been blinded to the truth by satans lies. Drawn to worldly ways that tempt man away from the things of God.
To release the oppressed those who live in fear and feel weak and of little value to the Kingdom. The devil is cunning that he uses the success and ability of others to make people feel inadequate.
To preach the day of the Lord’s favour To herald the Kingdom to come that is not just ‘pie in the sky when you die’ but also ‘meat on your plate while you wait’. A kingdom that begins the moment we accept Jesus into our lives
Interestingly - the first place Jesus goes to show man the folly of his selfish power seeking ways is the church - sadly nothings changed today - looking at the way many churches are heading in these days with their watered down gospel that is thought will attract people. No wonder we are told that Jesus will come again and this time to take those who are faithful to Him to be with Him in Heaven.
Back to the Synagogue where we find Jesus sharing the awesome truth that He is the Messiah. Luke tells us Jesus was acclaimed by everyone who heard Him. Sadly that didn’t last long for as soon as He told them that - the promised Messiah would be rejected by his very own people - the Jews - Luke tells us that All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
They rejected the Idea that Gods people would turn against the one that they had been waiting for to redeem them and immediately started to drive Jesus out of the town - up a hill with the intention of throwing Him off - the very last temptation that the devil had challenged Jesus with in the Wilderness - But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.
They would not face up to the truth that His own people - those who claimed to be lovers of God would be capable of killing the one that God sent as Messiah. But that’s exactly what Luke tells us in Acts that Saul did - thankfully God intervened and brught Saul to realise the truth and so Saul became Paul the Apostle.
I closed by saying that it comes as no surprise then that nearing the end of His earthly ministry Jesus again entered the Temple which by now under the misdirection of the teachers of the day has turned into a selfish place of greed and reminded them that Gods word says that the house of God should be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers. Luke 19; 45 Sadly the same can be said about many of the new deceived churches today who’s leaders ride around in expensive jets that they own and are paid for by the people they are deceiving. -
Today we still see a world that has gone away from God - even churches who are preaching another gospel that is not of God - a world ready for the return of Jesus - We need to make sure we are ready so that when He comes again, He will find us faithful to Him. God needs us to be faithful whatever the cost and He showed us that by the way He lived His life. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.
We need to know and live in obedience to the Word of God - obedience to Jesus - spend time reading His Word and getting to really know Him and put into action the things He will show us that will strengthen our own experience and the fellowship we belong to.
We need to stand for Christ - amid the problems that life throws at us and prove to ourselves and others that Jesus is the only way.
This week we continue to look at what Luke tells us about the early ministry of Jesus.
Luke 4; 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. They were amazed at His teaching, because His words had authority.
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power He gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding area.
WOW! The amazing thing here is that the demon knew exactly who Jesus was - I know who you are - the Holy One of God’
Remember how the devil in the wilderness did all he could to get Jesus to question who He was by challenging Jesus with the words - ‘If you are the Son of God’ tells these stones to become bread’ and then taking Him to the highest point in the Temple challenges Jesus again ‘If you are the son of God throw yourselve down from here.
The devil knew exactly who Jesus was but here he is testing Jesus who up to that point had grown up as ‘the Son of man’ I believe that as Jesus answered the tempting of the devil God was confirming in Jesus’s heart that He really was the appointed one - the Son of God - and now being filled with the Spirit of God now accepted Himself to be who He really was - the Son of God.
Now here we have the demon in the possessed man confirming who Jesus really and saying I know who you are - the Holy One of God’
What is so interesting in these verses is that the demon possessed man was there in the synagogue - among the worshippers - that’s where the devil knows he can find those who are on the fringe - not fully committed to God - that’s where the evil one lurks to disrupt and mislead the fellowships today.
The man had an evil spirit within him who challenged Jesus with the words - ’Have you come to destroy us - that’s more than one Jesus then commanded the evil spirit to leave the man -’ Come out of him’ and the demon threw the man down to the ground.
All the people were amazed and said how awesome it was that Jesus gave orders to the evil one who came out of the man. So impacted were they that they spread the news about what Jesus was doing throughout the surrounding area.
The tragic truth is that today the Christian church today is being infiltrated by the evil one through false doctrine from false teachers - as Paul says when writing to Timothy ‘Having a form of godliness but denying the power - have nothing to do with them. 2 Timothy 3;5
What we have just read is a word for the church today; Jesus entered the synagogue and right there - in the church - was a man whose spiritual sense was far from what it should have been and the evil one was at work within him. Jesus needed to cast satan out of him - which He did to the amazement of the others worshippers who could see the truth in Jesus who spoke with authority and showed great power over the evil one, no wonder that the good news spread throughout the surrounding area. O how we need receive true teaching from Gods word in church in these days Jesus’s first mission was to bring those who thought they were doing Gods will to face up to the truth - repent - and turn to Him.
Lets read on; 38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. Here we see the power of God evidenced in the ministry of Jesus the Son of God so much so that At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Messiah.
There is no doubt now in the minds of the people who Jesus was. Even those who up to then had been possessed by the evil one were being liberated - set free - the people rallied to Jesus and didn’t want Him to leave them.
42; At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for Him and when they came to where He was, they tried to keep Him from leaving them. But He said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
This was the beginning of the ministry of Jesus - to let people see the truth about God and His desire for mankind to love and obey Him - to take the wrong thoughts, wrong teachings - false doctrines - false teachers out of the church - that was the beginning. As I said last week He was still doing that at the end of His life before He went to the cross - the church had become a den of thieves - a place occupied and in many places under the influence of the evil one.
Jesus declaired that He must proclaim the good news about the Kingdom of God to others towns because that was why He had been sent - and He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Jesus came to bring the church - people who claimed to be Gods followers - back into line - to read His unchangeable word and try to live it - He even promised that if mankind repented their old was that He would come and live within them by the power of the Spirit and help to transform them from within to be the people He wanted them to be - and to make this possible He was willing to give His life as an atonment for sin - the only way that man understood forgiveness was possible .
Jesus showed how the wrong motives and intentions of mankind could be extracted from him - the evil one could be removed and replaced by Jesus - thats what happened in the Temple with the man possessed by the evil one.
Jesus then went on to show how He had come to restore His Church to new life when He healed Simon Peters mother and indeed all the others whom people brought to Him.
We here this morning have been privileged to be witnesses to the healing power of Almighty God so many times that we should be in no doubt as to what God wants of His people. He healed me of Kidney failure and Cancer . He healed Christophers legs and brought healing to baby Adams lungs. God is Awesome and powerful - and when healing doesn’t take place - God gives us the strength to cope and has promised to never leave us or forsake us - God is awesome
God wants us - His people - His church - to know Him as our Lord and Saviour - to get to know Him more fully by reading His word and trying our best to live in obedience to His word . To experience His presence in our lives through the vehicle of prayer. To dedicate our lives into His service and make ourselves available for Him to work through us to show His love to one another.
God wants His people to love Him with all our hearts and to love one another in the same way that Jesus showed His unfailing love to all He met.
God wants His people - you and I - to claim the spiritual re-birth that is available and be open to His leading in our lives. It’s up to us how we respond to His desires.
Next week we will be looking at how it was necessary for Jesus to rally a group of disciples to help Him in His ministry - faithful Godly people who would spend their lives being with Jesus - in His presence - learning from Him what it is that God expects from those who profess to know and love Him - and growing to become more Christ like.
Sunday 26 January 2020
A couple of weeks ago we read how Jesus - just 30 years old - was baptised in the River Jordan by John the Baptist who declared to the crowds as the long awaited Messiah ’Look’ cried John ’ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I told you about - then John testified to seeing the Holy Spirit come down from Heaven and remain on the one who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit - then declaring to the whole crowds - I testify that He is the chosen one.
We looked at how Jesus was baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit and was empowered to begin His earthly ministry
Last week we read how Jesus was then led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil who even threw scripture verses at Jesus and how Jesus who put the evil one straight by clarifying what each scripture really meant. I said then how the evil one is still doing that today through the false teachers he uses to twist the words of God to fit mans selfish greedy ways. - Just as we are told he will in the prophesies concerning the end times - pre-empting the return of Jesus to reclaim His church and take the ransomed, the redeemed to live with Him in Glory.
Although John the Baptist declared who Jesus was - the Son of God - the long awaited Messiah - we read how Matthew 11 tells us that when John was in prison he began to question wether Jesus was the Messiah and sent his disciples to question Jesus and ask if He was who John had declared Him to be - thankfully the response John got from Jesus confirmed that ‘Yes - He was the One‘.
The devil even put doubts into the mind of Jesus’s most valued disciple Peter when in Mark 8;27 we read how Jesus asked Peter who he thought He was - to which Peter replied ’You are the Christ’ but then when Jesus tells His disciples that the son of man would be rejected by the elders, Chief Priests and teachers of the law and be killed’ the evil one put doubts in Peters mind and rebuked Jesus. thankfully Jesus knew who it was who was putting wrong thoughts into Peters mind and as we read in v 33 rebuked Peter and said ‘Get thee behind me satan you do not have in mind the thing of God but of man;.
Later when Jesus is finally arrested and taken away, Peter, when questioned by a servant girl who was saying that she saw Peter with Jesus - Peter denied even knowing Jesus. Thankfully Jesus knew who was feeding doubts into Peters mind and later forgave Him and even presented Peter as one on whom He would build His church.
As we said last week the evil on is very cunning and always ready and eager to put doubts into a believers mind and even twist Scripture to appeas the greed and selfishness of mankind’s pride and ambition to get on in this life.
We closed last week by saying how important it is that as Christians we read Gods word and try our best to live by it - to get to really know Jesus and not just know about Him. We looked at the first doctrines that we in the Salvation Army stand by.
1 ‘We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by the inspiration of God and that they only - constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice‘ . We discussed that at our Bible Fellowship on Tuesday.
We then read what Paul wrote to Timothy - 2 Timothy 1; 6-12
I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame - WHY?
And here he states the awesome truth , because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Paul didn’t say I know what I believe but I know who I believe.
This week we continue to look at what Jesus did after is wilderness experience.
Luke 4; 14-21 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about
Him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and
everyone praised Him. He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on
the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. He stood up to
read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.
Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to
proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the
oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.
Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of
everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him. He began by saying to them,
“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
I wonder how Jesus felt at that time - honoured by God but knowing He’d been called to save the world by eventually giving His life on the cross to bring forgiveness to everyone who acknowledges and accepts Him as their Saviour and the assuredness of a new home in heaven with the ransomed, the redeemed.
Here was Jesus who had grown up as the carpenters son - the Nazarene - here was Jesus the Saviour, the long awaited Messiah who had withstood the temptations of the Devil and was now embarking on His life’s mission.
Coming out of the wilderness - now filled with the power of the Spirit Jesus - endorsed the words written about Him began teaching the new truth in the synagogues and news about Him began to spread like wildfire throughout the whole countryside.
WOW! What a great time and what a great impression Jesus would have on His hearers.
As Luke says, Jesus was brought to Nazareth, where He had been brought up and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue as was His custom and stood up to read from the scriptures and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him and using the words of the prophet declared to the people that He was the one the prophet was speaking about. Jesus declared himself to be the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophesies ‘The Messiah’
God had declared Him to be the one at Jesus’ baptism and now Jesus is acknowledging that by saying ‘Here I am’.
A lot had happened between the two occasions, His baptism and now teaching in the synagogue. A lot had happened to confirm to Jesus what His mission was.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit He had been led into the wilderness and tempted by the devil as to His identity;
1 ‘If you really are the Son of God‘ prove it - turn these stones into bread,
2 Worship me and I will give you authority over the world,
3 Throw yourself off the high mountain for if you really are who you say you are your God will save you from harm’.
Jesus answered them all from scripture, Man shall not live by bread alone, Thou shalt worship and serve no one else but God who you should never put to the test.
These three elements of life are the same ones that man of the world puts before God
Feeding his body and mind with everything but the word of God. Putting the things of the world before God and spending his life reaching after fame, and wealth - questioning the true values of God whilst seeking after the things of the world.
The beauty of the answers Jesus gave show that to combat the evil one we need to know the truth of God through knowing the word of God. Jesus gained great strength in the knowledge and acceptance of the presence of the Holy Spirit - Empowered and strengthened by Him Jesus was up and ready to go.
Interestingly, this was the scripture that we looked at twenty four years ago on the morning of 3 March 1996 prior to the evening meeting when Beryl and I enrolled two new members as Soldiers here at Idle - Brian and Shirley Aldous.
I said then that ‘ tonight we will share one of the most thrilling experiences in the lives of Brian and Shirley as together they make their declarations to God and are accepted into the fellowship of this part of Gods church by being ‘baptised’ under the Army flag making a public declaration and acceptance of their new life in Christ that they wish to live out in the ranks of the Salvation Army.
In the same way that the whole Godhead was evidenced at the baptism of Jesus, God the Father. God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, so too under the colours of the army flag, the Blue that represents the purity of God. The Red that signifies the Blood of Jesus and the yellow, the fire of the Holy Spirit, Shirley and Brian will identify with Jesus as they start to ‘take up their cross and follow Him’.
Who knows what that holds for them both, or indeed this fellowship? Whatever happens, one thing is for certain, Our Father God is with us and will continue to be with us so long as we are obedience to His will. Life will not always be easy, there will be new demands, pressures that come from serving God in a caring, loving way.
To follow Jesus is to go the way of the cross and live sacrificial lives, unselfish lives in devotion to our Lord.
And looking back, Brian and Shirley over the last 24 years I guess you will know that - and I pray that you will feel as blessed as we all do at being part of our fellowship.
I guess that there would have been times in the life and ministry of Jesus that He could have yielded to the pressure of His ministry - after all He was Human as well as divine - He became like us so that we could become like Him.
Jesus experienced the same disappointments, the same hurts, the same trials that we do - and more so. He grew tired through continually giving out and His heart despaired over the apparent unbelief of those He had come to minister to and give His life for.
The rejection, the laughing behind His back, the scornful abuse, even at times from His own fellowship, the disciples. His friends let Him down and showed many times that they didn’t fully understand the full implications of the truth He tried to declare,
We are reminded of the humanness of Jesus, He wept when His friend Lazarus died, and when in the garden of Gethsemane, just before He was arrested, Jesus prayed to His Father to ask if there was some other way, if it were possible that the cup of suffering could be removed. Jesus would feel utterly alone - His disciples were asleep - yet in His heart He would know that there was no other way. As the hymn says ‘there was no other good enough to pay the price of sin - He only - could unlock the gates of Heaven and let us in’ He had to go through with it for my sake and yours.
The truth is that to take up our cross and follow Him there will come times in our lives when the going will get tough, when we feel to be on our own, and at such times the devil will put the thought in our hearts ; is it worth it’ There are times when you may feel like giving up - but you won’t - Why? Because you know that you are not alone because Jesus experienced those same temptations and knowing exactly how you feel is right beside you ready to give that inner strength that will enable you to cope and see you through.
In the same way that Jesus was filled with the Spirit, we too can share that same privilege and have that inner strength to help us fulfil our calling which is to be witnesses to the truth of a gospel that needs to be lived, not preached with mere words, but lived and seen in the everyday lives of people like you and me. In the same way that the word became flesh in Christ so too Christ needs o become flesh in us.
As we read, Jesus full of the Holy Spirit went into the synagogue - and read from Isaiah where it said;.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to;
(a) proclaim good news to the poor.
(b) proclaim freedom for the prisoners
(c) recovery of sight for the blind,
(d) to set the oppressed free,
(e) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
(a) Proclaim good news to the poor. To bring people back to the truth that over the years man had complicates, full of rituals that trappings of a religion that made it possible for man to feel he had been forgiven without needing to be fully repentant where knowing ‘about God’ had become a substitute for really ‘knowing Him‘.
The blame was put on the leaders, the shepherds who instead of teaching the truth were starving their sheep in their care. ’ Ezekiel 34;2 I believe that same applies to the false teachers today.
Through the prophet Ezekiel God declared ‘Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Jesus was that good shepherd who came to preach the good news to those who were spiritually poor.
Today we have the full gospel - man had no excuse. The trouble is that today there are still false shepherds who lead the sheep under their care into falsehoods. Men who claim to speak with an authority that is not of God.
(b) To proclaim Freedom for the prisoners people bound by tradition who in Jesus day thought the sacrificing of animals as an offering to God for their sinfulness would atone for their sins They failed to see that man in his own strength could never attain salvation and that only by the Grace of God could a man be set free from the slavery of sin. Freedom is only possible through Jesus Christ.
The atonement for sin would be paid for once and for all time by the sacrifice of Jesus. That’s why John the Baptist could introduce Jesus with the words ‘See the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world’.
(c) Recovery of sight to the blind those who have been blinded to the truth by satans lies. The attractions of the world that tempt man away from the things of God.
Jesus came not only to give sight to the spiritually blind but to also show those who thought they could see that they were in fact blind to the truth.
(d) To release the oppressed those who live in fear, feel weak and of little value to the Kingdom. The devil is cunning that he uses the success and ability of others to make people feel inadequate. Jesus uses ordinary folk, those who are willing to let Him rule in their lives realising that their own weakness can still be of value to God and allow His strength to show forth. Jesus came to set the oppressed free.
(e) To preach the day of the Lord’s favour To herald the Kingdom to come that is not just ‘pie in the sky when you die’ but also ‘meat on your plate while you wait’. A kingdom that begins the moment we accept Jesus into our lives
Jesus came to give us life in all it’s fullness, lets grasp that while we can, lets live life to the glory of God and praise Him in the way we live.
We have just read of Christ’s acceptance and conformation of His calling and roll as - the Saviour of the world - The promised Messiah who came to give His life as an atonement for sin and how He was acclaimed by everyone who heard Him.
Sadly that didn’t last long for as soon as He told them that He - the promised Messiah would be rejected by his own people - the Jews - they like Peter wouldn’t accept that.
Luke tells us that All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
They rejected the Idea that Gods people would turn against the one that they had been waiting for to redeem them and immediately started to drive Jesus out of the town - up a hill with the intention of throwing Him off - the very last temptation that the devil had challenged Jesus with in the Wilderness - But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.
That was Jesus’s first time following His wilderness experience that now full of the Spirit He went and preached in the Temple. It comes as no surprise then that nearing the end of His earthly ministry we Jesus enters the Temple and finds that the Temple has turned into a selfish place of greed -Luke 19; 45 Jesus reminds them that Gods word says that the house of God should be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers. Sadly the same can be said about many of the new deceived churches today who’s leaders ride around in expensive jets that they own and are paid for by the people they are deceiving. -
Sadly we are told that that will be one of the signs of the end of this world as we know it and the second coming of Jesus -its all there in Luke 21. Jesus says that many false teachers will come in His name - some even saying that they are the Messiah.
There will be wars, Nations will rise against each other. Deveatating events will occur - Earthquakes, famines, disease, - the seas will go wild and when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies - you will know that the end is near.
You only have to listen to the news and look at the way the earth is hotting up, Global warning - causing fearful fires in Australia, Volcanoes erupting and pouring fire on the earth around. Disease spreading like the virus we are hearing about in China.
Today we see a world that has gone away from God - even churches who are preaching another gospel that is not of God - a world ready for the return of Jesus -
We need to make sure we are ready and when He comes He will find us faithful to Him. God needs us to be faithful whatever the cost and He showed us that by example.
We need to live in obedience to the Word of God - obedience to Jesus - spend time reading His Word and getting to really know Him and put into action the things He will show us that will strengthen our own experience and the fellowship we belong to.
We need to stand for Christ - amid the problems that life throws at us and prove to ourselves and others that Jesus is the only way.
Song How can I better serve Thee Lord? ( By standing for Christ alone)
A couple of weeks ago we read how Jesus - just 30 years old - was baptised in the River Jordan by John the Baptist who declared to the crowds as the long awaited Messiah ’Look’ cried John ’ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I told you about - then John testified to seeing the Holy Spirit come down from Heaven and remain on the one who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit - then declaring to the whole crowds - I testify that He is the chosen one.
We looked at how Jesus was baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit and was empowered to begin His earthly ministry
Last week we read how Jesus was then led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted by the devil who even threw scripture verses at Jesus and how Jesus who put the evil one straight by clarifying what each scripture really meant. I said then how the evil one is still doing that today through the false teachers he uses to twist the words of God to fit mans selfish greedy ways. - Just as we are told he will in the prophesies concerning the end times - pre-empting the return of Jesus to reclaim His church and take the ransomed, the redeemed to live with Him in Glory.
Although John the Baptist declared who Jesus was - the Son of God - the long awaited Messiah - we read how Matthew 11 tells us that when John was in prison he began to question wether Jesus was the Messiah and sent his disciples to question Jesus and ask if He was who John had declared Him to be - thankfully the response John got from Jesus confirmed that ‘Yes - He was the One‘.
The devil even put doubts into the mind of Jesus’s most valued disciple Peter when in Mark 8;27 we read how Jesus asked Peter who he thought He was - to which Peter replied ’You are the Christ’ but then when Jesus tells His disciples that the son of man would be rejected by the elders, Chief Priests and teachers of the law and be killed’ the evil one put doubts in Peters mind and rebuked Jesus. thankfully Jesus knew who it was who was putting wrong thoughts into Peters mind and as we read in v 33 rebuked Peter and said ‘Get thee behind me satan you do not have in mind the thing of God but of man;.
Later when Jesus is finally arrested and taken away, Peter, when questioned by a servant girl who was saying that she saw Peter with Jesus - Peter denied even knowing Jesus. Thankfully Jesus knew who was feeding doubts into Peters mind and later forgave Him and even presented Peter as one on whom He would build His church.
As we said last week the evil on is very cunning and always ready and eager to put doubts into a believers mind and even twist Scripture to appeas the greed and selfishness of mankind’s pride and ambition to get on in this life.
We closed last week by saying how important it is that as Christians we read Gods word and try our best to live by it - to get to really know Jesus and not just know about Him. We looked at the first doctrines that we in the Salvation Army stand by.
1 ‘We believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament were given by the inspiration of God and that they only - constitute the Divine rule of Christian faith and practice‘ . We discussed that at our Bible Fellowship on Tuesday.
We then read what Paul wrote to Timothy - 2 Timothy 1; 6-12
I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame - WHY?
And here he states the awesome truth , because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Paul didn’t say I know what I believe but I know who I believe.
This week we continue to look at what Jesus did after is wilderness experience.
Luke 4; 14-21 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about
Him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and
everyone praised Him. He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up, and on
the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue, as was His custom. He stood up to
read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him.
Unrolling it, He found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to
proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the
oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.
Then He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of
everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him. He began by saying to them,
“Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
I wonder how Jesus felt at that time - honoured by God but knowing He’d been called to save the world by eventually giving His life on the cross to bring forgiveness to everyone who acknowledges and accepts Him as their Saviour and the assuredness of a new home in heaven with the ransomed, the redeemed.
Here was Jesus who had grown up as the carpenters son - the Nazarene - here was Jesus the Saviour, the long awaited Messiah who had withstood the temptations of the Devil and was now embarking on His life’s mission.
Coming out of the wilderness - now filled with the power of the Spirit Jesus - endorsed the words written about Him began teaching the new truth in the synagogues and news about Him began to spread like wildfire throughout the whole countryside.
WOW! What a great time and what a great impression Jesus would have on His hearers.
As Luke says, Jesus was brought to Nazareth, where He had been brought up and on the Sabbath day He went into the synagogue as was His custom and stood up to read from the scriptures and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him and using the words of the prophet declared to the people that He was the one the prophet was speaking about. Jesus declared himself to be the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophesies ‘The Messiah’
God had declared Him to be the one at Jesus’ baptism and now Jesus is acknowledging that by saying ‘Here I am’.
A lot had happened between the two occasions, His baptism and now teaching in the synagogue. A lot had happened to confirm to Jesus what His mission was.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit He had been led into the wilderness and tempted by the devil as to His identity;
1 ‘If you really are the Son of God‘ prove it - turn these stones into bread,
2 Worship me and I will give you authority over the world,
3 Throw yourself off the high mountain for if you really are who you say you are your God will save you from harm’.
Jesus answered them all from scripture, Man shall not live by bread alone, Thou shalt worship and serve no one else but God who you should never put to the test.
These three elements of life are the same ones that man of the world puts before God
Feeding his body and mind with everything but the word of God. Putting the things of the world before God and spending his life reaching after fame, and wealth - questioning the true values of God whilst seeking after the things of the world.
The beauty of the answers Jesus gave show that to combat the evil one we need to know the truth of God through knowing the word of God. Jesus gained great strength in the knowledge and acceptance of the presence of the Holy Spirit - Empowered and strengthened by Him Jesus was up and ready to go.
Interestingly, this was the scripture that we looked at twenty four years ago on the morning of 3 March 1996 prior to the evening meeting when Beryl and I enrolled two new members as Soldiers here at Idle - Brian and Shirley Aldous.
I said then that ‘ tonight we will share one of the most thrilling experiences in the lives of Brian and Shirley as together they make their declarations to God and are accepted into the fellowship of this part of Gods church by being ‘baptised’ under the Army flag making a public declaration and acceptance of their new life in Christ that they wish to live out in the ranks of the Salvation Army.
In the same way that the whole Godhead was evidenced at the baptism of Jesus, God the Father. God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, so too under the colours of the army flag, the Blue that represents the purity of God. The Red that signifies the Blood of Jesus and the yellow, the fire of the Holy Spirit, Shirley and Brian will identify with Jesus as they start to ‘take up their cross and follow Him’.
Who knows what that holds for them both, or indeed this fellowship? Whatever happens, one thing is for certain, Our Father God is with us and will continue to be with us so long as we are obedience to His will. Life will not always be easy, there will be new demands, pressures that come from serving God in a caring, loving way.
To follow Jesus is to go the way of the cross and live sacrificial lives, unselfish lives in devotion to our Lord.
And looking back, Brian and Shirley over the last 24 years I guess you will know that - and I pray that you will feel as blessed as we all do at being part of our fellowship.
I guess that there would have been times in the life and ministry of Jesus that He could have yielded to the pressure of His ministry - after all He was Human as well as divine - He became like us so that we could become like Him.
Jesus experienced the same disappointments, the same hurts, the same trials that we do - and more so. He grew tired through continually giving out and His heart despaired over the apparent unbelief of those He had come to minister to and give His life for.
The rejection, the laughing behind His back, the scornful abuse, even at times from His own fellowship, the disciples. His friends let Him down and showed many times that they didn’t fully understand the full implications of the truth He tried to declare,
We are reminded of the humanness of Jesus, He wept when His friend Lazarus died, and when in the garden of Gethsemane, just before He was arrested, Jesus prayed to His Father to ask if there was some other way, if it were possible that the cup of suffering could be removed. Jesus would feel utterly alone - His disciples were asleep - yet in His heart He would know that there was no other way. As the hymn says ‘there was no other good enough to pay the price of sin - He only - could unlock the gates of Heaven and let us in’ He had to go through with it for my sake and yours.
The truth is that to take up our cross and follow Him there will come times in our lives when the going will get tough, when we feel to be on our own, and at such times the devil will put the thought in our hearts ; is it worth it’ There are times when you may feel like giving up - but you won’t - Why? Because you know that you are not alone because Jesus experienced those same temptations and knowing exactly how you feel is right beside you ready to give that inner strength that will enable you to cope and see you through.
In the same way that Jesus was filled with the Spirit, we too can share that same privilege and have that inner strength to help us fulfil our calling which is to be witnesses to the truth of a gospel that needs to be lived, not preached with mere words, but lived and seen in the everyday lives of people like you and me. In the same way that the word became flesh in Christ so too Christ needs o become flesh in us.
As we read, Jesus full of the Holy Spirit went into the synagogue - and read from Isaiah where it said;.
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to;
(a) proclaim good news to the poor.
(b) proclaim freedom for the prisoners
(c) recovery of sight for the blind,
(d) to set the oppressed free,
(e) to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
(a) Proclaim good news to the poor. To bring people back to the truth that over the years man had complicates, full of rituals that trappings of a religion that made it possible for man to feel he had been forgiven without needing to be fully repentant where knowing ‘about God’ had become a substitute for really ‘knowing Him‘.
The blame was put on the leaders, the shepherds who instead of teaching the truth were starving their sheep in their care. ’ Ezekiel 34;2 I believe that same applies to the false teachers today.
Through the prophet Ezekiel God declared ‘Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Jesus was that good shepherd who came to preach the good news to those who were spiritually poor.
Today we have the full gospel - man had no excuse. The trouble is that today there are still false shepherds who lead the sheep under their care into falsehoods. Men who claim to speak with an authority that is not of God.
(b) To proclaim Freedom for the prisoners people bound by tradition who in Jesus day thought the sacrificing of animals as an offering to God for their sinfulness would atone for their sins They failed to see that man in his own strength could never attain salvation and that only by the Grace of God could a man be set free from the slavery of sin. Freedom is only possible through Jesus Christ.
The atonement for sin would be paid for once and for all time by the sacrifice of Jesus. That’s why John the Baptist could introduce Jesus with the words ‘See the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world’.
(c) Recovery of sight to the blind those who have been blinded to the truth by satans lies. The attractions of the world that tempt man away from the things of God.
Jesus came not only to give sight to the spiritually blind but to also show those who thought they could see that they were in fact blind to the truth.
(d) To release the oppressed those who live in fear, feel weak and of little value to the Kingdom. The devil is cunning that he uses the success and ability of others to make people feel inadequate. Jesus uses ordinary folk, those who are willing to let Him rule in their lives realising that their own weakness can still be of value to God and allow His strength to show forth. Jesus came to set the oppressed free.
(e) To preach the day of the Lord’s favour To herald the Kingdom to come that is not just ‘pie in the sky when you die’ but also ‘meat on your plate while you wait’. A kingdom that begins the moment we accept Jesus into our lives
Jesus came to give us life in all it’s fullness, lets grasp that while we can, lets live life to the glory of God and praise Him in the way we live.
We have just read of Christ’s acceptance and conformation of His calling and roll as - the Saviour of the world - The promised Messiah who came to give His life as an atonement for sin and how He was acclaimed by everyone who heard Him.
Sadly that didn’t last long for as soon as He told them that He - the promised Messiah would be rejected by his own people - the Jews - they like Peter wouldn’t accept that.
Luke tells us that All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
They rejected the Idea that Gods people would turn against the one that they had been waiting for to redeem them and immediately started to drive Jesus out of the town - up a hill with the intention of throwing Him off - the very last temptation that the devil had challenged Jesus with in the Wilderness - But He walked right through the crowd and went on His way.
That was Jesus’s first time following His wilderness experience that now full of the Spirit He went and preached in the Temple. It comes as no surprise then that nearing the end of His earthly ministry we Jesus enters the Temple and finds that the Temple has turned into a selfish place of greed -Luke 19; 45 Jesus reminds them that Gods word says that the house of God should be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers. Sadly the same can be said about many of the new deceived churches today who’s leaders ride around in expensive jets that they own and are paid for by the people they are deceiving. -
Sadly we are told that that will be one of the signs of the end of this world as we know it and the second coming of Jesus -its all there in Luke 21. Jesus says that many false teachers will come in His name - some even saying that they are the Messiah.
There will be wars, Nations will rise against each other. Deveatating events will occur - Earthquakes, famines, disease, - the seas will go wild and when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies - you will know that the end is near.
You only have to listen to the news and look at the way the earth is hotting up, Global warning - causing fearful fires in Australia, Volcanoes erupting and pouring fire on the earth around. Disease spreading like the virus we are hearing about in China.
Today we see a world that has gone away from God - even churches who are preaching another gospel that is not of God - a world ready for the return of Jesus -
We need to make sure we are ready and when He comes He will find us faithful to Him. God needs us to be faithful whatever the cost and He showed us that by example.
We need to live in obedience to the Word of God - obedience to Jesus - spend time reading His Word and getting to really know Him and put into action the things He will show us that will strengthen our own experience and the fellowship we belong to.
We need to stand for Christ - amid the problems that life throws at us and prove to ourselves and others that Jesus is the only way.
Song How can I better serve Thee Lord? ( By standing for Christ alone)
MM 19 January 2020
Last week we read how Jesus - just 30 years old - was acclaimed by John as the long awaited Messiah as John was baptising people in the river Jordan. ’Look’ cried John ’ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I told you about - then John testified to seeing the Holy Spirit come down from Heaven and remain on the one who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit - then declaring to the whole crowds - I testify that He is the chosen one.
I find it incredible that in Matthews gospel chapter 11 - way on in the ministry of Jesus -we find John in prison and on hearing that Jesus is preaching and teaching in the towns of Galilee - John sends his own disciples to ask Jesus if in fact He was the One who was to come or should we expect someone else? -
Matthew tells us that Jesus told Johns disciples to go back and tell him that He is healing the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf even raising the dead and preaching the good news. He is the One.
I find it strange also that whilst the other 3 gospels tell us that following His baptism that Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted by satan yet Johns gospel says that following the baptism of Jesus the very next day Jesus starts to gather His disciples and on the third day we find Jesus at the wedding in Cana turning water into wine.
As I said, the each of the other three gospel writers tell us that the following His baptism Jesus is led into the wilderness in preparation for His forthcoming ministry and tempted by the devil. Lets look at that ;
Luke 4; 1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ Deuteronomy 8;3”
The devil led him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to Him, “ I will give You all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to - so if you worship me, It will all be yours‘”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ Deuteronomy 6;13”
The devil led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written:“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Psalm 91; 11,12” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him until an opportune time
In the first temptation we find that Jesus is hungry having not eaten for 40 days not surprisingly then the devil tempts Him at that point - That’s what the devil does - he sees what people need and uses that to lead people away from trusting in God and provides all kinds of temptation to feed the longings of mankind.
Jesus puts the devil straight when - quoting from scripture - says ‘man cannot live on bread alone - that’s why God fed the Israelites in the desert with Manna from Heaven
The second temptation shows how mankind seeks power and dominance in life to bring success at any cost and the devil uses that to try to tempt Jesus away from the life He was called to lead- Worship me says the devil and I I will give you authority and splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours. Jesus puts him straight again by quoting Scripture and tells him It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.
By this time for the third temptation, satan responds to the way Jesus had answered the first two temptation by telling him what the scriptures say - and changes tactics. Leading Jesus to Jerusalem, satan has Jesus stand on a high point in the Temple and changing his tactics, does it the Lords way by starting his third temptation quoting from the scriptures himself - “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
To which Jesus - again quoting from scripture reminds the devil by telling him that Gods word also says ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Psalm 91; 11,12” Only then does the devil leave Jesus alone - for a while - until a future opportune time
We talked last week about the way in which Jesus came with the express purpose of making mankind aware of how far man has moved from the intentions of God and by living a life of obedience to the word of God shows mankind how it should be living.
Jesus came to show mankind a better way and was even prepared to give His life on the cross to pay for mans sins and set mankind free from the lure and temptations of the devil.
Before He even started His earthly mission He showed us what power there is available to overcome satans temptations and even when we succumb to them - He is ready to forgive us when we repent.
Thankfully when we repent our wrong ways and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour the promises of God from His word become our strength to stand against the evils of this world. We read a couple a weeks ago how God tells us that whenever we find the going tough to hang on in there because He has promised to never leave us of forsake us so that when we go through lifes troubled times - He will be with us -
.
When we become Christians - we are still living in an evil world where temptations are strong and the devil will use every means possible to lead us off the straight path and seek some other way to find relief from our burdens.
The devil has even got into the leadership of Christian churches and got them to pander to the selfish needs of the flock by teaching a false prosperity gospel that is the exact opposite of what scripture says. That’s why it’s important that we know what scripture actually says to take the correct stance against the evil one.
It’s obvious that in the thirty years leading to His time in the wilderness that Jesus knew the word of God - don’t forget that when He was just 12 years old his parents found Him in the temple speaking to the priests there and amazing them with His knowledge and understanding of Gods word.
We tend to forget that Jesus was the earthly son of man as well as being the Spiritual Son of God. Jesus grew up to know and experience what you and I go through in our lives and that would give him a great understanding of - and affinity - to the people around - ordinary people like you and I.
It was when He was baptised in the river Jordan and filled with the Spirit that He was now ready to stand against the evil one - equipped and filled with the Spirit of God. Jesus became man like us to enable us and show that we in turn could be born again and be filled with the Spirit. He came down to where we are so He could lift us up to be where He is.
Jesus went through the temptations to show us that we can too, empowered by the Spirit will be enabled to overcome the temptations of this evil world. The truth is that when we give our lives to God and desire to live in obedience to Him we become targets for the evil on.
We live in a world that is domineered by people who seek power and authority.
A world where prosperity is measured in terms of wealth.
We live in a world where money counts and many will do anything they can to accumulate it for themselves. Led by power seeking leaders - mankind will fight for dominance, where success is measured in the accumulation of wealth and power.
All this in stark contrast to the ways of God where loving one another and sharing, with others are seen as the right way to live. A world where love and compassion - understanding and tolerance are seen as goals to be aimed at. A world where our loving God is to be obeyed and worshipped.
Sadly - when man finds himself in difficult situations that’s the time the tempter steps in and tries to take man off course and into selfish un-Christian ways.
That’s why, when difficult times come we have to stand firm by Gods word and send the tempter packing like Jesus did. The last verse we read says that the devil left Jesus until an opportunity arrived where he could start again.
The devil is very cunning and can work his way into anyone - even people we respect as being Christians like ourselves - but who, when letting down their guard become the ones he is able to influence to bring their Christian brother or sisters down.
We can see this in the life of Peter - In the eighth chapter of Mark v27 Jesus asked Peter who people thought He- Jesus- was to which Peter replied ‘some say John the Baptist and other Elijah’ ‘But who do you say that I am’ asked Jesus ‘ Peter replied ‘You are the Christ. Jesus then tells His disciples that the son of man would be rejected by the elders, Chief Priests and teachers of the law and be killed’ to which Peter rebuked Jesus.
Look at the response of Jesus to Peter ‘ v 33 Jesus rebuked Peter and said ‘Get thee behind me satan you do not have in mind the thing of God but of man;. Wow - Peter -the one on whom Jesus said ‘I will build my Church’ . It just shows you how important it is that we are very careful that we stay strong in the ways and teachings of Gods word and not become a stumbling block for others.
That’s why Horatio Richmond Palmer (1834-1907) wrote a very wise Hymn that while acknowledging the temptations set by the evil one gives wise advice ;
Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you some other to win.
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus, he will carry you through.
Ask the Saviour to help you, Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.
The second verse gives more good advice
Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
God's name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain.
Be thoughtful and earnest, kind-hearted and true;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.
To him that o'ercometh God giveth a crown;
Through faith we shall conquer though often cast down.
He who is our Saviour our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.
We need to make sure that we stay true what we believe, true to Gods word. The fact that the devil even used Gods word to tempt Jesus with shows us how important it is that we really know and understand what Gods word says.
I love the way that Jesus retaliates and answered the temptations of the evil one by using Gods word. He not only knew the Word but He ‘ was the Word made flesh’
It’s amazing how if we take the time to read the word of God - how it comes into our minds when faced with different situations in our lives.
The first promise we make in the SA when we get saved is that we promise to read Gods Word and pray. Sadly even thought they are the most important promises to hold dear to, many people who would see themselves as Christians only read the Bible when they are at church.
The Bible is our handbook for life - our highway code - our instruction book - our map for life - without it we would be helpless and by neglecting it will go off course on the journey to eternal life. How important is it to you.
When we discipline ourselves to take time to read Gods word = the Holy Spirit reveals the deeper truth and the word become flesh in us - we don’t just learn about Jesus we come to know Him as a living reality in our lives.
I love the way that in which Paul when writing to his friend Timothy encourages him to be faithful to the faith that was handed down to him through his grandmother and his mother. This is what Paul writes 2 Timothy 1; 6-12
I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame
And here he states the awesome truth , because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Paul didn’t say I know what I believe but I know who I believe.
When we hunger after and read Gods word we might start by getting to know about Jesus but gradually as the Holy Spirit takes over we come to not just know about Him but get to really - actually know Him - the word Jesus becomes flesh in us - WOW!
By knowing Him He protects us from the wiles of the evil one and helps us to stay away from the evils ones temptations and more than that - if we do somehow fall by the wayside - we have that assurance that Jesus is willing to forgive us.
There is a great big difference between knowing about Jesus and really knowing Him.
That’s what we sang earlier - there are a lot of things I don’t know or understand but one thing is for sure - I know whom I have believed
Closing song Graham Kendrick Knowing You Jesus
Last week we read how Jesus - just 30 years old - was acclaimed by John as the long awaited Messiah as John was baptising people in the river Jordan. ’Look’ cried John ’ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I told you about - then John testified to seeing the Holy Spirit come down from Heaven and remain on the one who will baptise you with the Holy Spirit - then declaring to the whole crowds - I testify that He is the chosen one.
I find it incredible that in Matthews gospel chapter 11 - way on in the ministry of Jesus -we find John in prison and on hearing that Jesus is preaching and teaching in the towns of Galilee - John sends his own disciples to ask Jesus if in fact He was the One who was to come or should we expect someone else? -
Matthew tells us that Jesus told Johns disciples to go back and tell him that He is healing the blind, the lame, the lepers, the deaf even raising the dead and preaching the good news. He is the One.
I find it strange also that whilst the other 3 gospels tell us that following His baptism that Jesus is led into the wilderness to be tempted by satan yet Johns gospel says that following the baptism of Jesus the very next day Jesus starts to gather His disciples and on the third day we find Jesus at the wedding in Cana turning water into wine.
As I said, the each of the other three gospel writers tell us that the following His baptism Jesus is led into the wilderness in preparation for His forthcoming ministry and tempted by the devil. Lets look at that ;
Luke 4; 1-13 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’ Deuteronomy 8;3”
The devil led him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to Him, “ I will give You all their authority and splendour, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to - so if you worship me, It will all be yours‘”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’ Deuteronomy 6;13”
The devil led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written:“ ‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.”
Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Psalm 91; 11,12” When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him until an opportune time
In the first temptation we find that Jesus is hungry having not eaten for 40 days not surprisingly then the devil tempts Him at that point - That’s what the devil does - he sees what people need and uses that to lead people away from trusting in God and provides all kinds of temptation to feed the longings of mankind.
Jesus puts the devil straight when - quoting from scripture - says ‘man cannot live on bread alone - that’s why God fed the Israelites in the desert with Manna from Heaven
The second temptation shows how mankind seeks power and dominance in life to bring success at any cost and the devil uses that to try to tempt Jesus away from the life He was called to lead- Worship me says the devil and I I will give you authority and splendour; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours. Jesus puts him straight again by quoting Scripture and tells him It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.
By this time for the third temptation, satan responds to the way Jesus had answered the first two temptation by telling him what the scriptures say - and changes tactics. Leading Jesus to Jerusalem, satan has Jesus stand on a high point in the Temple and changing his tactics, does it the Lords way by starting his third temptation quoting from the scriptures himself - “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.”
To which Jesus - again quoting from scripture reminds the devil by telling him that Gods word also says ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’ Psalm 91; 11,12” Only then does the devil leave Jesus alone - for a while - until a future opportune time
We talked last week about the way in which Jesus came with the express purpose of making mankind aware of how far man has moved from the intentions of God and by living a life of obedience to the word of God shows mankind how it should be living.
Jesus came to show mankind a better way and was even prepared to give His life on the cross to pay for mans sins and set mankind free from the lure and temptations of the devil.
Before He even started His earthly mission He showed us what power there is available to overcome satans temptations and even when we succumb to them - He is ready to forgive us when we repent.
Thankfully when we repent our wrong ways and accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour the promises of God from His word become our strength to stand against the evils of this world. We read a couple a weeks ago how God tells us that whenever we find the going tough to hang on in there because He has promised to never leave us of forsake us so that when we go through lifes troubled times - He will be with us -
.
When we become Christians - we are still living in an evil world where temptations are strong and the devil will use every means possible to lead us off the straight path and seek some other way to find relief from our burdens.
The devil has even got into the leadership of Christian churches and got them to pander to the selfish needs of the flock by teaching a false prosperity gospel that is the exact opposite of what scripture says. That’s why it’s important that we know what scripture actually says to take the correct stance against the evil one.
It’s obvious that in the thirty years leading to His time in the wilderness that Jesus knew the word of God - don’t forget that when He was just 12 years old his parents found Him in the temple speaking to the priests there and amazing them with His knowledge and understanding of Gods word.
We tend to forget that Jesus was the earthly son of man as well as being the Spiritual Son of God. Jesus grew up to know and experience what you and I go through in our lives and that would give him a great understanding of - and affinity - to the people around - ordinary people like you and I.
It was when He was baptised in the river Jordan and filled with the Spirit that He was now ready to stand against the evil one - equipped and filled with the Spirit of God. Jesus became man like us to enable us and show that we in turn could be born again and be filled with the Spirit. He came down to where we are so He could lift us up to be where He is.
Jesus went through the temptations to show us that we can too, empowered by the Spirit will be enabled to overcome the temptations of this evil world. The truth is that when we give our lives to God and desire to live in obedience to Him we become targets for the evil on.
We live in a world that is domineered by people who seek power and authority.
A world where prosperity is measured in terms of wealth.
We live in a world where money counts and many will do anything they can to accumulate it for themselves. Led by power seeking leaders - mankind will fight for dominance, where success is measured in the accumulation of wealth and power.
All this in stark contrast to the ways of God where loving one another and sharing, with others are seen as the right way to live. A world where love and compassion - understanding and tolerance are seen as goals to be aimed at. A world where our loving God is to be obeyed and worshipped.
Sadly - when man finds himself in difficult situations that’s the time the tempter steps in and tries to take man off course and into selfish un-Christian ways.
That’s why, when difficult times come we have to stand firm by Gods word and send the tempter packing like Jesus did. The last verse we read says that the devil left Jesus until an opportunity arrived where he could start again.
The devil is very cunning and can work his way into anyone - even people we respect as being Christians like ourselves - but who, when letting down their guard become the ones he is able to influence to bring their Christian brother or sisters down.
We can see this in the life of Peter - In the eighth chapter of Mark v27 Jesus asked Peter who people thought He- Jesus- was to which Peter replied ‘some say John the Baptist and other Elijah’ ‘But who do you say that I am’ asked Jesus ‘ Peter replied ‘You are the Christ. Jesus then tells His disciples that the son of man would be rejected by the elders, Chief Priests and teachers of the law and be killed’ to which Peter rebuked Jesus.
Look at the response of Jesus to Peter ‘ v 33 Jesus rebuked Peter and said ‘Get thee behind me satan you do not have in mind the thing of God but of man;. Wow - Peter -the one on whom Jesus said ‘I will build my Church’ . It just shows you how important it is that we are very careful that we stay strong in the ways and teachings of Gods word and not become a stumbling block for others.
That’s why Horatio Richmond Palmer (1834-1907) wrote a very wise Hymn that while acknowledging the temptations set by the evil one gives wise advice ;
Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin;
Each victory will help you some other to win.
Fight manfully onward, dark passions subdue;
Look ever to Jesus, he will carry you through.
Ask the Saviour to help you, Comfort, strengthen and keep you;
He is willing to aid you, He will carry you through.
The second verse gives more good advice
Shun evil companions, bad language disdain,
God's name hold in reverence, nor take it in vain.
Be thoughtful and earnest, kind-hearted and true;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.
To him that o'ercometh God giveth a crown;
Through faith we shall conquer though often cast down.
He who is our Saviour our strength will renew;
Look ever to Jesus, He will carry you through.
We need to make sure that we stay true what we believe, true to Gods word. The fact that the devil even used Gods word to tempt Jesus with shows us how important it is that we really know and understand what Gods word says.
I love the way that Jesus retaliates and answered the temptations of the evil one by using Gods word. He not only knew the Word but He ‘ was the Word made flesh’
It’s amazing how if we take the time to read the word of God - how it comes into our minds when faced with different situations in our lives.
The first promise we make in the SA when we get saved is that we promise to read Gods Word and pray. Sadly even thought they are the most important promises to hold dear to, many people who would see themselves as Christians only read the Bible when they are at church.
The Bible is our handbook for life - our highway code - our instruction book - our map for life - without it we would be helpless and by neglecting it will go off course on the journey to eternal life. How important is it to you.
When we discipline ourselves to take time to read Gods word = the Holy Spirit reveals the deeper truth and the word become flesh in us - we don’t just learn about Jesus we come to know Him as a living reality in our lives.
I love the way that in which Paul when writing to his friend Timothy encourages him to be faithful to the faith that was handed down to him through his grandmother and his mother. This is what Paul writes 2 Timothy 1; 6-12
I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God.
He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame
And here he states the awesome truth , because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
Paul didn’t say I know what I believe but I know who I believe.
When we hunger after and read Gods word we might start by getting to know about Jesus but gradually as the Holy Spirit takes over we come to not just know about Him but get to really - actually know Him - the word Jesus becomes flesh in us - WOW!
By knowing Him He protects us from the wiles of the evil one and helps us to stay away from the evils ones temptations and more than that - if we do somehow fall by the wayside - we have that assurance that Jesus is willing to forgive us.
There is a great big difference between knowing about Jesus and really knowing Him.
That’s what we sang earlier - there are a lot of things I don’t know or understand but one thing is for sure - I know whom I have believed
Closing song Graham Kendrick Knowing You Jesus
Sunday Morning 12 January 2020
Here we are the second Sunday in the New Year 2021 and over the last few weeks we have looked again at the first coming of Jesus in fulfilment of the prophesies made about Him in the Old Testament. We shared how His cousin John the Baptist was born to be the one prophesied to be the preparer of the way for Jesus. We have shared how Gods plan for the redemption of mankind was to be accomplished by Him sending Jesus to be the Saviour of the world who by His life - showed us how God wants His creation to live in relationship with Him and one another and to show that man could be forgiven for His sinful life by accepting Jesus as His Lord and Saviour. Jesus did this by giving His life on the cross to pay the debt for man’s sins.
We have shared together the beginnings of Gods awesome plan for the redemption of His creation.
We also shared how the majority of people then could not accept that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah who would take them out of bondage and set them free.
We looked at how Luke tells us that following His birth, Mary and Joseph went to the Temple and met Simeon - a righteous and devout man old man who, because the Holy Spirit had told him, was patiently waiting for the promised Messiah and when he saw Jesus was thrilled and prayed to the Lord - my eyes have seen Your Salvation which You have prepared for the sight of all people - a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the Glory for Your people Israel - I’m ready now to come to You - Lord dismiss your servant in peace’. WOW! And all this was again confirmed when the prophetess Anna also acknowledged Jesus as the awaited Messiah.
The next time we hear about Jesus is when He was twelve years old and Mary and Joseph took Him along with them to the Temple for the feast of the Passover-- the time when the Jews gave thanks for their deliverance by Moses from bondage to a new beginning through the wilderness to the promised land.
Lets read that Luke 2; 41-52 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while His parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.
Thinking He was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him.
After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers.
When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
I would imagine that it would have been to loose sight of Jesus at that time as the Temple would be heaving with people coming to celebrate the Passover.
I find it awesome that here we have Jesus coming to the Temple to celebrate what was in reality the forerunner of what God was going to accomplish through Him in His life. How Just as God in Moses led the Jews out of bondage under Pharoah to cross the Red Sea to go through the wilderness hopefully to freedom - so in Jesus, God would make a way out of the bondage of sin to freedom in Christ to be born again to new life. He did it once, then because mankind didn’t learn the lesson, again in Jesus
Here we have Jesus at the Temple to celebrate the Passover which was also the time they celebrated the feast of the unleavened bread and how did |He spend His time there? Luke tells us - sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. Astonishingly While He is doing this, Mary and Joseph had already set off for home without Him and when they eventually realised He wasn’t with them - went back to Jerusalem and found Him talking to the teachers there. That’s 3 Days later!
Luke tells us that When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” to which Jesus replied “Why were you searching for Me?” “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He was saying to them.
That’s how the NIV puts it but I much prefer the way I have always understood Jesus to reply How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business King James Version
That’s why He had come - to bring mankind back to the truth. That’s why John the disciple tells us that the Word became flesh and lived among us John 1;14
Following this we are told in Luke 3; 51 Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
We hear nothing more about Jesus until 18 years later aged 30 - About this time, John was preaching repentance and baptising the seekers in the River Jordan - just as was prophesied by Isaiah. At this time the people thought he was the Messiah and in the book of John we are told that Jews sent priests and Levites to find out if this was the case - lets read what John told them;
John 1; 20 “I am not the Messiah. ”They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.”“Are you the Prophet?”He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
So there we have it. John the Baptist fulfils his appointed ministry of introducing Jesus to the world and Jesus is empowered as the Messiah following which He will be led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days in preperation for His lifes work.
When I look at the life and ministries of John and Jesus it brings me to look at the way in which, when God calls people today to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Saviour they become vehicles through whom God can call others to follow Him. Like John, we - the church - have been chosen by God to be His witnesses today to let people see the risen Christ living in each one of us. We are the living body of Christ.
Like Jesus we are here to let the Love of God be seen in the way in which we live our lives. - How - by realising for ourselves, the awesome truth that we have the privilage of forgiveness and new birth - not of flesh - but of the Spirit. In the same way that Jesus was filled with the Spirit - we too can be filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to do the things that God wants us to do which is to live the life of the ransomed the redeemed and bring others to accept and know Him as their saviour.
Remember what Jesus told Nicodeamus John 3;3 ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.”
Kevin and I used to travel around many churches singing that song ‘Born again, there’s really been a change in me, born again just like Jesus said - Born again and all because of Calvary - I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again’. I’m glad He was and because of that, I know that Kevin is with the Lord.
The Christian life is not always and easy one, Kevin knew this and through all the last few years of his life went through the most horrendous difficult times - lost his job, his home, his daughter - but after speaking to the many who had gathered for his funeral I was told that he shone for God - that he was a lovely Christian - a man of God.
If only people would realise today that repentance is only the first step and that being filled with the Holy Spirit is the next step- as Jesus said no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Born of water - natural birth and born of the Spirit - Spiritual rebirth.
Baptism in water is seen by many as the way in which they can be washed clean of their sins and enter a new relationship with God. We in the Salvation Army kneel at the Mercy seat in repentance and receive forgiveness from God we are then consecrated under the flag as a witness to the world that we have received Christ as our Saviour. But then, following that I believe there is more - the baptism of the Holy Spirit - sanctification - where we are blessed with the inner presence of the Holy Spirit who brings new spiritual birth that empowers and equips His people for service in the same way that Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Remember what the disciples in Ephesus replied to Paul when he asked them ‘ Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John’s baptism,’ they replied.
Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all Sadly - so many today fall short of this blessing. - the empowering of Almighty God to equip the believer to become the vehicle through whom God can minister to others.
We are privileged in that God loves us so much that He not only forgives us our sins but also blesses us with His awesome presence. If, as John says we live upright - honest and obediant lives then He will not only be with us through whatever this year holds but also fit us for Heaven.
As a young lad I was a great fan of the movies. Stars like Roy Rodgers I have since learned that Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans are two celebrities who love the Lord and are not afraid to let it be known.
Dale when asked how much she values Gods Word said this; ‘Every believer should be a missionary proclaiming the message of salvation. Not all of us can go to foreign lands but to those of us who remain behind should witness to those around us. Our very lives should be a living testimony to the reality and the control of Almighty God’.
When asked about the value of fellowship with others she said this ‘ Christians should never forsake fellowship amongst themselves. Where two or more are gathered together, God’s presence can be felt strongly. How wonderful it is when believers get together and talk over the things of the Lord - a joyous time indeed’.
Their friend Johnny Cash said of them ‘I don’t know what I would do without my Christian friends. They were there when I really needed them. They brought me truths from God’s Word, they were His instruments, His channel to me. I love them, and we have many fine times together that always begin and end with prayer’.
I have a book that shares the Christian thoughts of many well known stars, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Johnny Cash, Doris Day, Pat Boone and many others who share their experiences of knowing the presence of the Lord in their lives and the joy and responsibility that is theirs to make Him known to others. I love the testimonies of people like Wigglesworth, Brengle, Gypsy Smith and many others who share how they received the Holy Spirit and the difference that made to their lives and ministry.
John the Baptist had proclaimed that whilst he baptised with water - Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit. Then in front of John The Baptist, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, John testified that The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Himself said to Nicodeamus ‘you must be baptised with the Holy Spirit
Paul laid hands on the new Christians in Ephesus and they received the Holy Spirit.
Gods word is clear that as Christians repentance and forgiveness are the first steps but we have the privilage to move on be filled with the Holy Spirit.
In these closing moments of the meeting lets just look at what Luke tells us about the close of Jesus’s ministry following His death and ressurection.
Acts 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with a water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
That happened when at the birth of the Church at Pentecost the crowds were told by Peter to repent, turn to God and as they did they were blessed with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Following that experience, the disciples Peter and John became vehicles for the healing power of God as they ministered to the lame man.
Nothings changed - I believe that that is Gods intention for you and me today.
Repent - claim Forgiveness and seek to be Christlike as you hunger after His word and move on to become like Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
We’re going to sing a song written by our founder William Booth - ‘Send the Fire’ - I pray that we will sing it with real meaning - asking God to send His Holy Spirit and baptise those who realise that that is what God wants for His Church. Along with Paul I say - Do not leave the hall, but wait for the gift the Father promised, The penitent form is open and I pray that if God is moving you to reach out and claim the indwelling that you will respond and experience the blessing of new birth - born of the Spirit -this morning.
Here we are the second Sunday in the New Year 2021 and over the last few weeks we have looked again at the first coming of Jesus in fulfilment of the prophesies made about Him in the Old Testament. We shared how His cousin John the Baptist was born to be the one prophesied to be the preparer of the way for Jesus. We have shared how Gods plan for the redemption of mankind was to be accomplished by Him sending Jesus to be the Saviour of the world who by His life - showed us how God wants His creation to live in relationship with Him and one another and to show that man could be forgiven for His sinful life by accepting Jesus as His Lord and Saviour. Jesus did this by giving His life on the cross to pay the debt for man’s sins.
We have shared together the beginnings of Gods awesome plan for the redemption of His creation.
We also shared how the majority of people then could not accept that Jesus was indeed the promised Messiah who would take them out of bondage and set them free.
We looked at how Luke tells us that following His birth, Mary and Joseph went to the Temple and met Simeon - a righteous and devout man old man who, because the Holy Spirit had told him, was patiently waiting for the promised Messiah and when he saw Jesus was thrilled and prayed to the Lord - my eyes have seen Your Salvation which You have prepared for the sight of all people - a light for revelation to the Gentiles and the Glory for Your people Israel - I’m ready now to come to You - Lord dismiss your servant in peace’. WOW! And all this was again confirmed when the prophetess Anna also acknowledged Jesus as the awaited Messiah.
The next time we hear about Jesus is when He was twelve years old and Mary and Joseph took Him along with them to the Temple for the feast of the Passover-- the time when the Jews gave thanks for their deliverance by Moses from bondage to a new beginning through the wilderness to the promised land.
Lets read that Luke 2; 41-52 Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When He was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while His parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it.
Thinking He was in their company, they travelled on for a day. Then they began looking for Him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find Him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for Him.
After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers.
When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”“Why were you searching for Me?” He asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He was saying to them.
Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
I would imagine that it would have been to loose sight of Jesus at that time as the Temple would be heaving with people coming to celebrate the Passover.
I find it awesome that here we have Jesus coming to the Temple to celebrate what was in reality the forerunner of what God was going to accomplish through Him in His life. How Just as God in Moses led the Jews out of bondage under Pharoah to cross the Red Sea to go through the wilderness hopefully to freedom - so in Jesus, God would make a way out of the bondage of sin to freedom in Christ to be born again to new life. He did it once, then because mankind didn’t learn the lesson, again in Jesus
Here we have Jesus at the Temple to celebrate the Passover which was also the time they celebrated the feast of the unleavened bread and how did |He spend His time there? Luke tells us - sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers. Astonishingly While He is doing this, Mary and Joseph had already set off for home without Him and when they eventually realised He wasn’t with them - went back to Jerusalem and found Him talking to the teachers there. That’s 3 Days later!
Luke tells us that When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to Him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” to which Jesus replied “Why were you searching for Me?” “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” But they did not understand what He was saying to them.
That’s how the NIV puts it but I much prefer the way I have always understood Jesus to reply How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business King James Version
That’s why He had come - to bring mankind back to the truth. That’s why John the disciple tells us that the Word became flesh and lived among us John 1;14
Following this we are told in Luke 3; 51 Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured all these things in her heart. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
We hear nothing more about Jesus until 18 years later aged 30 - About this time, John was preaching repentance and baptising the seekers in the River Jordan - just as was prophesied by Isaiah. At this time the people thought he was the Messiah and in the book of John we are told that Jews sent priests and Levites to find out if this was the case - lets read what John told them;
John 1; 20 “I am not the Messiah. ”They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.”“Are you the Prophet?”He answered, “No.” Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”
Now the Pharisees who had been sent questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
So there we have it. John the Baptist fulfils his appointed ministry of introducing Jesus to the world and Jesus is empowered as the Messiah following which He will be led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness for 40 days in preperation for His lifes work.
When I look at the life and ministries of John and Jesus it brings me to look at the way in which, when God calls people today to repent of their sins and accept Jesus as their Saviour they become vehicles through whom God can call others to follow Him. Like John, we - the church - have been chosen by God to be His witnesses today to let people see the risen Christ living in each one of us. We are the living body of Christ.
Like Jesus we are here to let the Love of God be seen in the way in which we live our lives. - How - by realising for ourselves, the awesome truth that we have the privilage of forgiveness and new birth - not of flesh - but of the Spirit. In the same way that Jesus was filled with the Spirit - we too can be filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to do the things that God wants us to do which is to live the life of the ransomed the redeemed and bring others to accept and know Him as their saviour.
Remember what Jesus told Nicodeamus John 3;3 ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again. ‘How can someone be born when they are old?’ Nicodemus asked. ‘Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!’ Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, “You must be born again.”
Kevin and I used to travel around many churches singing that song ‘Born again, there’s really been a change in me, born again just like Jesus said - Born again and all because of Calvary - I’m glad so glad that I’ve been born again’. I’m glad He was and because of that, I know that Kevin is with the Lord.
The Christian life is not always and easy one, Kevin knew this and through all the last few years of his life went through the most horrendous difficult times - lost his job, his home, his daughter - but after speaking to the many who had gathered for his funeral I was told that he shone for God - that he was a lovely Christian - a man of God.
If only people would realise today that repentance is only the first step and that being filled with the Holy Spirit is the next step- as Jesus said no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Born of water - natural birth and born of the Spirit - Spiritual rebirth.
Baptism in water is seen by many as the way in which they can be washed clean of their sins and enter a new relationship with God. We in the Salvation Army kneel at the Mercy seat in repentance and receive forgiveness from God we are then consecrated under the flag as a witness to the world that we have received Christ as our Saviour. But then, following that I believe there is more - the baptism of the Holy Spirit - sanctification - where we are blessed with the inner presence of the Holy Spirit who brings new spiritual birth that empowers and equips His people for service in the same way that Jesus was empowered by the Holy Spirit.
Remember what the disciples in Ephesus replied to Paul when he asked them ‘ Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?’ They answered, ‘No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.’ So Paul asked, ‘Then what baptism did you receive?’ ‘John’s baptism,’ they replied.
Paul said, ‘John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.’ On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all Sadly - so many today fall short of this blessing. - the empowering of Almighty God to equip the believer to become the vehicle through whom God can minister to others.
We are privileged in that God loves us so much that He not only forgives us our sins but also blesses us with His awesome presence. If, as John says we live upright - honest and obediant lives then He will not only be with us through whatever this year holds but also fit us for Heaven.
As a young lad I was a great fan of the movies. Stars like Roy Rodgers I have since learned that Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans are two celebrities who love the Lord and are not afraid to let it be known.
Dale when asked how much she values Gods Word said this; ‘Every believer should be a missionary proclaiming the message of salvation. Not all of us can go to foreign lands but to those of us who remain behind should witness to those around us. Our very lives should be a living testimony to the reality and the control of Almighty God’.
When asked about the value of fellowship with others she said this ‘ Christians should never forsake fellowship amongst themselves. Where two or more are gathered together, God’s presence can be felt strongly. How wonderful it is when believers get together and talk over the things of the Lord - a joyous time indeed’.
Their friend Johnny Cash said of them ‘I don’t know what I would do without my Christian friends. They were there when I really needed them. They brought me truths from God’s Word, they were His instruments, His channel to me. I love them, and we have many fine times together that always begin and end with prayer’.
I have a book that shares the Christian thoughts of many well known stars, Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, Johnny Cash, Doris Day, Pat Boone and many others who share their experiences of knowing the presence of the Lord in their lives and the joy and responsibility that is theirs to make Him known to others. I love the testimonies of people like Wigglesworth, Brengle, Gypsy Smith and many others who share how they received the Holy Spirit and the difference that made to their lives and ministry.
John the Baptist had proclaimed that whilst he baptised with water - Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit. Then in front of John The Baptist, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus, John testified that The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Jesus Himself said to Nicodeamus ‘you must be baptised with the Holy Spirit
Paul laid hands on the new Christians in Ephesus and they received the Holy Spirit.
Gods word is clear that as Christians repentance and forgiveness are the first steps but we have the privilage to move on be filled with the Holy Spirit.
In these closing moments of the meeting lets just look at what Luke tells us about the close of Jesus’s ministry following His death and ressurection.
Acts 1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with a water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
That happened when at the birth of the Church at Pentecost the crowds were told by Peter to repent, turn to God and as they did they were blessed with the infilling of the Holy Spirit. Following that experience, the disciples Peter and John became vehicles for the healing power of God as they ministered to the lame man.
Nothings changed - I believe that that is Gods intention for you and me today.
Repent - claim Forgiveness and seek to be Christlike as you hunger after His word and move on to become like Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
We’re going to sing a song written by our founder William Booth - ‘Send the Fire’ - I pray that we will sing it with real meaning - asking God to send His Holy Spirit and baptise those who realise that that is what God wants for His Church. Along with Paul I say - Do not leave the hall, but wait for the gift the Father promised, The penitent form is open and I pray that if God is moving you to reach out and claim the indwelling that you will respond and experience the blessing of new birth - born of the Spirit -this morning.
Sunday 5 January 2020 A Fresh Start ?
Last Sunday we read Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no saviour.
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed - I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No-one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"
This is what the LORD says - he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Here we are, 2020 - 2019 has now been relegated to the history books. I know that that in our personal lives we’ve had some good times and some difficult ones many here this morning have had an extremely difficult year.
Last year I said that whatever we are called upon to face this year - God will not let us down - He will be there for us. As always, He will be our strength, our comfort, our helper - Whatever - He will see us through - and I believe He has -
We’ve read some of the many names of Jesus over Christmas, Comforter, Guide, Light, Councellor, Prince of Peace - Mighty God everlasting Father and I believe that Jesus will be all those to each one of us in this coming year.
The promise from Isaiah we read last week ( 2019) and have just read again is for you and me this year 2020 that when the going gets tough - He is still there for us. ‘I will be with you’ says our Father; and ‘when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
We say don’t we that when faced with lifes problems, that we are up to our neck in. When you pass through the waters’ I will be with you - says God
We say don’t we, when the pressure is on that things are hotting up - Don’t let it get you Why? For when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I AM the LORD, YOUR God, the Holy One of Israel, YOUR Saviour;
The promise was a word of re-assurance to His people who He had helped in past times by taking them out of bondage and slavery and setting them on course for a purposeful life. He’d parted the Red Sea when they faced it’s impenetrable forces. He had provided water from the rock and food in the barren wastelands of the desert. ‘I did it before and I’ll do it again - I will save and redeem my People who will themselves become living Testimonies and bear witness that what I have done in their lives - I am able to do in those who hear their testimony and choose to follow Me..
He had more than shown He was true to His word in the way He brought His people out of bondage and set them on the path to the promised land - protecting them by night and day all along the way, even providing for them on their lifes journey
He did it then and He’ll do it again and again. That’s the pattern set that will establish and continue Kingdom growth where mankind are rescued from their own sinful selfish ways to be restored as Gods family living in right relationship with him and one another.
That’s the pattern set for the future under Christ as the Christian Faith is established and developed. The deliverance of mankind from the bondage of sin to set them on the pathway to the promised land. That's what the Lord did for the children of Israel and after bringing them out of bondage and slavery under the Egyptians He declared 'Look,
I am with you, I who made a way through that impossible sea, I who parted those mighty waters and made the way clear for you to pass in safety, I was with you then, I am still with you, and I will continue to be with you for all that lies ahead.
Wow! what a comfort, to know that whatever they have to face in the unknown future, He who had been their strength, their shield, and their fortress will still be there to see them through! He’s not changed, that’s God’s promise to today, for those who have placed their lives into His hands.
We can read in Exodus how God, seeing the bondage His people were in, inspire Moses to take His people out of it -set them free and lead them through the Red Sea to set them on their way to the promised land. God set them free but sadly over the years His people started to go their own way and so again, we can read in Isaiah 9 how God promised again that He would send help to take them out of the bondage again, this time of sin, forgive them and set them free and to do this He would send a Saviour - Jesus.
We then read in the New Testament how this was achieved and over the last few weeks we have shared the excitement of that promise in the birth of Jesus the promised Messiah
We can read how Jesus came to show people what God was really like and how through His word He wanted His people to live Godly lives of obedience - as John wrote - The Word became flesh and dwelt among us’. Jesus showed by example how God wanted His people to live - loving Him and one another and even showed mankind how they could be forgiven by taking the sins of mankind upon Himself and dying on the cross.
That was over 2000 years ago and her we are at the beginning of 2020 seeing how the world has once again started to go their own ways and drift away from God.
Thankfully there are a remnant of faithful obedient Christians who living in obedience to Gods Word have set their goal in life on presenting the truth of Gods word - not wavering to change the Word to pander to mans ideas but standing true to Gods word that will bring mankind to repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Saviour of their lives.
The awesome truth is that in the writings of the New Testament prophets we have the wonderful news that even though mankind has given up on God, God has not given up on mankind and promised that He will once again send Jesus back - this time to call the ransomed and the redeemed to live with Him in the Glory of a New Heaven and Earth.
God, in Christ is coming again to send the sinners to Hell and take the faithful to a perfect land of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy.
Matthew 24 ;12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time
Just as we celebrated the first coming of Jesus - be ready for Jesus is coming back again.
In John 14; 1-4 Jesus told His disciples before He went to the cross "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
God is still in the business of redeeming His people, calling them to repent their old way of living and set them on the path of righteousness. We need to know that ourselves and make sure that we are in line with what God requires of us so that we can encourage others to turn their lives over to Him
Repentance is a word that covers a multitude of sins - big and small - and it’s the only way to come into the family of God. ‘Repent and sin no more’ is the first step.
That reminds me of the story told of the painter who was employed to paint the exterior of a house. He quoted cheap to get the job and then to make it more profitable, thinned the paint down with turps to make it go further. The trouble is he went too far and you could tell. When the owner of the house saw the result he wasn’t to pleased and told the painter that he would have to ‘repaint and thin no more’.
Gods word encourages us - instructs us to be faithful to Gods word and live lives that are pleasing to God in obedience to His word - then we can look forward to all that God has in store for us this year and ultimately to be among the accepted, the ransomed, the redeemed when He comes again. With this in mind the apostle Peter wrote;
2 Peter 3; 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
This Christmas we celebrated the first coming of the Saviour, long promised, that He would redeem Gods people. That work of reconciliation has been going on ever since, and will continue until Jesus comes again.
God wants to take the mistakes of our past, the foolishness of our selfish ways and misguided actions and offer forgiveness - a fresh start.
When I was Sales Director at Watmoughs, I used to dictate my letters to my secretary Cecelia and if she made a mistake she would tipex it out - only for internal memos of course. God doesn’t just tippex our mistakes - He gets rid of them entirely - as far as the east is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us’ though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow’.
God wants to give us all a new start with the assurance that as one of His privilaged people, He will never leave us or forsake us, that He will always be there for us when we go through the troubled patches of our lives - He will see us through to the promised land of eternity with Him.
When we go through the difficult times in our lives, knowing God is with us is our strength and without it we would not be able to cope. One of the good things that comes out of our trials is that we come through them stronger and better able to understand and help others who are going through similar situations. Whatever God has in store for us, we can be assured of this - that He will never leave us or forsake us - He will be with us through it all.
One of my favourite gospel songs by Andre Crouch says just that;
Through it all, - I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God
Through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His word
I’ve had many tears and sorrows I’ve had questions for tomorrow
There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong
But in every situation God gave blessed consolation
That my trials only came to make me strong
I thank God for the mountains and I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through
But if I’d never had a problem I wouldn’t know that He could solve them
I would never know what faith in God can do
We can not tell what 2010 has in store for any of us but what we can be sure of is that if we have placed our lives in His hands, He has promised to be with us all the way. How can I make sure? Seek Him, Receive Him and Believe in Him, Give your lives over to Him Trust Him. Let's look forward to 2020 with the determination to seek His will. With the dedication and the zeal to see that His will be done.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Catch the vision of all that God wants to accomplish in your life, to grow in Him, to become living examples of all that He can do in a persons life when they give their lives over to Jesus and to let His love be seen in the way in which we live our lives for Him..
I’m sure we all want to make sure that we are living in obedience to Gods word and desire for our lives so that we will be among the ones who will one day be among the ransomed, the redeemed that God will one day come to claim as new inhabitants of the glorious Kingdom of God - the eternity to come.
Play DVD When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there Fairview Academy
Song I’ll go in the strength of the Lord
Last Sunday we read Isaiah 43:1 But now, this is what the LORD says - he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.
"You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me. I, even I, am the LORD, and apart from me there is no saviour.
I have revealed and saved and proclaimed - I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No-one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?"
This is what the LORD says - he who made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters, who drew out the chariots and horses, the army and reinforcements together, and they lay there, never to rise again, extinguished, snuffed out like a wick:
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Here we are, 2020 - 2019 has now been relegated to the history books. I know that that in our personal lives we’ve had some good times and some difficult ones many here this morning have had an extremely difficult year.
Last year I said that whatever we are called upon to face this year - God will not let us down - He will be there for us. As always, He will be our strength, our comfort, our helper - Whatever - He will see us through - and I believe He has -
We’ve read some of the many names of Jesus over Christmas, Comforter, Guide, Light, Councellor, Prince of Peace - Mighty God everlasting Father and I believe that Jesus will be all those to each one of us in this coming year.
The promise from Isaiah we read last week ( 2019) and have just read again is for you and me this year 2020 that when the going gets tough - He is still there for us. ‘I will be with you’ says our Father; and ‘when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
We say don’t we that when faced with lifes problems, that we are up to our neck in. When you pass through the waters’ I will be with you - says God
We say don’t we, when the pressure is on that things are hotting up - Don’t let it get you Why? For when you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I AM the LORD, YOUR God, the Holy One of Israel, YOUR Saviour;
The promise was a word of re-assurance to His people who He had helped in past times by taking them out of bondage and slavery and setting them on course for a purposeful life. He’d parted the Red Sea when they faced it’s impenetrable forces. He had provided water from the rock and food in the barren wastelands of the desert. ‘I did it before and I’ll do it again - I will save and redeem my People who will themselves become living Testimonies and bear witness that what I have done in their lives - I am able to do in those who hear their testimony and choose to follow Me..
He had more than shown He was true to His word in the way He brought His people out of bondage and set them on the path to the promised land - protecting them by night and day all along the way, even providing for them on their lifes journey
He did it then and He’ll do it again and again. That’s the pattern set that will establish and continue Kingdom growth where mankind are rescued from their own sinful selfish ways to be restored as Gods family living in right relationship with him and one another.
That’s the pattern set for the future under Christ as the Christian Faith is established and developed. The deliverance of mankind from the bondage of sin to set them on the pathway to the promised land. That's what the Lord did for the children of Israel and after bringing them out of bondage and slavery under the Egyptians He declared 'Look,
I am with you, I who made a way through that impossible sea, I who parted those mighty waters and made the way clear for you to pass in safety, I was with you then, I am still with you, and I will continue to be with you for all that lies ahead.
Wow! what a comfort, to know that whatever they have to face in the unknown future, He who had been their strength, their shield, and their fortress will still be there to see them through! He’s not changed, that’s God’s promise to today, for those who have placed their lives into His hands.
We can read in Exodus how God, seeing the bondage His people were in, inspire Moses to take His people out of it -set them free and lead them through the Red Sea to set them on their way to the promised land. God set them free but sadly over the years His people started to go their own way and so again, we can read in Isaiah 9 how God promised again that He would send help to take them out of the bondage again, this time of sin, forgive them and set them free and to do this He would send a Saviour - Jesus.
We then read in the New Testament how this was achieved and over the last few weeks we have shared the excitement of that promise in the birth of Jesus the promised Messiah
We can read how Jesus came to show people what God was really like and how through His word He wanted His people to live Godly lives of obedience - as John wrote - The Word became flesh and dwelt among us’. Jesus showed by example how God wanted His people to live - loving Him and one another and even showed mankind how they could be forgiven by taking the sins of mankind upon Himself and dying on the cross.
That was over 2000 years ago and her we are at the beginning of 2020 seeing how the world has once again started to go their own ways and drift away from God.
Thankfully there are a remnant of faithful obedient Christians who living in obedience to Gods Word have set their goal in life on presenting the truth of Gods word - not wavering to change the Word to pander to mans ideas but standing true to Gods word that will bring mankind to repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Saviour of their lives.
The awesome truth is that in the writings of the New Testament prophets we have the wonderful news that even though mankind has given up on God, God has not given up on mankind and promised that He will once again send Jesus back - this time to call the ransomed and the redeemed to live with Him in the Glory of a New Heaven and Earth.
God, in Christ is coming again to send the sinners to Hell and take the faithful to a perfect land of Hope, Peace, Love and Joy.
Matthew 24 ;12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
23 At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah!’ or, ‘There he is!’ do not believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time
Just as we celebrated the first coming of Jesus - be ready for Jesus is coming back again.
In John 14; 1-4 Jesus told His disciples before He went to the cross "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
God is still in the business of redeeming His people, calling them to repent their old way of living and set them on the path of righteousness. We need to know that ourselves and make sure that we are in line with what God requires of us so that we can encourage others to turn their lives over to Him
Repentance is a word that covers a multitude of sins - big and small - and it’s the only way to come into the family of God. ‘Repent and sin no more’ is the first step.
That reminds me of the story told of the painter who was employed to paint the exterior of a house. He quoted cheap to get the job and then to make it more profitable, thinned the paint down with turps to make it go further. The trouble is he went too far and you could tell. When the owner of the house saw the result he wasn’t to pleased and told the painter that he would have to ‘repaint and thin no more’.
Gods word encourages us - instructs us to be faithful to Gods word and live lives that are pleasing to God in obedience to His word - then we can look forward to all that God has in store for us this year and ultimately to be among the accepted, the ransomed, the redeemed when He comes again. With this in mind the apostle Peter wrote;
2 Peter 3; 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
This Christmas we celebrated the first coming of the Saviour, long promised, that He would redeem Gods people. That work of reconciliation has been going on ever since, and will continue until Jesus comes again.
God wants to take the mistakes of our past, the foolishness of our selfish ways and misguided actions and offer forgiveness - a fresh start.
When I was Sales Director at Watmoughs, I used to dictate my letters to my secretary Cecelia and if she made a mistake she would tipex it out - only for internal memos of course. God doesn’t just tippex our mistakes - He gets rid of them entirely - as far as the east is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us’ though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow’.
God wants to give us all a new start with the assurance that as one of His privilaged people, He will never leave us or forsake us, that He will always be there for us when we go through the troubled patches of our lives - He will see us through to the promised land of eternity with Him.
When we go through the difficult times in our lives, knowing God is with us is our strength and without it we would not be able to cope. One of the good things that comes out of our trials is that we come through them stronger and better able to understand and help others who are going through similar situations. Whatever God has in store for us, we can be assured of this - that He will never leave us or forsake us - He will be with us through it all.
One of my favourite gospel songs by Andre Crouch says just that;
Through it all, - I’ve learned to trust in Jesus, I’ve learned to trust in God
Through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His word
I’ve had many tears and sorrows I’ve had questions for tomorrow
There’ve been times I didn’t know right from wrong
But in every situation God gave blessed consolation
That my trials only came to make me strong
I thank God for the mountains and I thank Him for the valleys
I thank Him for the storms He brought me through
But if I’d never had a problem I wouldn’t know that He could solve them
I would never know what faith in God can do
We can not tell what 2010 has in store for any of us but what we can be sure of is that if we have placed our lives in His hands, He has promised to be with us all the way. How can I make sure? Seek Him, Receive Him and Believe in Him, Give your lives over to Him Trust Him. Let's look forward to 2020 with the determination to seek His will. With the dedication and the zeal to see that His will be done.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honour me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.
Catch the vision of all that God wants to accomplish in your life, to grow in Him, to become living examples of all that He can do in a persons life when they give their lives over to Jesus and to let His love be seen in the way in which we live our lives for Him..
I’m sure we all want to make sure that we are living in obedience to Gods word and desire for our lives so that we will be among the ones who will one day be among the ransomed, the redeemed that God will one day come to claim as new inhabitants of the glorious Kingdom of God - the eternity to come.
Play DVD When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there Fairview Academy
Song I’ll go in the strength of the Lord