Why Worry?

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 23 JUNE 2024 – MR ANDREW DALY

MATTHEW 6 VERSES 24 – 34

A WORD FOR THE WORRIERS

 

The story is told of a lady who was having a lot of trouble getting to sleep because she was worried that someone would break into her house.  Her husband tried to reassure her but to no avail.  If there was the slightest noise in that house it would disturb her even more.  One night her husband heard a rustling downstairs.  When he went downstairs, he found a burglar in the kitchen.  He was half way through the window and when he was caught tried to escape.  The husband said to the burglar “here let me help you through that window.  I want to introduce you to my wife, she has been waiting for you for 10 years.”

 

The story we come to forms part of the Beatitudes.  Jesus was teaching some practical aspects of everyday living.  He has been teaching about temptation, tithing and giving, prayer, where our treasure ought to be.  Now the Lord teaches on something practical we will encounter in life at one stage or another – the problem of worry.  The word of God is very practical.  Jesus knew his followers had worries about practical things.  How wonderful that the creator of the universe, the God of heaven would come and speak to us about human frailty and weakness, that he would give practical teaching to apply to the circumstances we find in everyday life.  I am sure there is not one that is not worrying about something today.  It is causing anxiety at this moment.  The uneducated worry about they don’t have enough education and the educated worry about knowing too much.  The poor fret that they have no money and the rich don’t know what to do with their money.  The young worry about the future and the old worry what the future will hold.    Worry is something we all have to deal.  The devil will use that to distract us and stagnate our faith in God.  We worry so much.  When we worry we reduce our confidence in the sovereignty of God. We doubt the goodness of God.

 

In Matthew 6 we find little a word for worriers.  In verse 25 we are commanded “take no thought for your life.”  Jesus is continuing his teaching about believers getting their priorities right.  Either a man serves God or he serves something else which so often becomes materialism.  “Take no thought for your life.”  Don’t use your God given intellect to think about life.  It doesn’t mean that you do not plan for things or prepare for things.  It is not saying not to think about being anxious or concerned about everyday life.  In the original Greek the original word means dividing and mind.  Division - the devil is pulling your mind apart today.  He is dividing things.  James says “the double minded man is unstable in all of his ways.”  Don’t have divided thoughts about the practical things of life.  In verse 34 we read why – because tomorrow shall take care of itself.  Jesus is not saying live a life without plan.  In other parts of the word of God we are told to plan, to take stock.  Luke 14 tells the story of a man intending to build a tower.  He sat down and took stock of the materials, the finances to finish the building.  To plan.  Jesus then went on to teach about a king and whether he had enough men and ammunition to fight a battle.  Surely he would sit down first and prepare his battle plan. Why are we commanded not to worry?  Because worry starts to impact every aspect of our lives.  In 1 Kings 19 there was a threat against Elijah’s life.  He ran from Queen Jezebel.  It impacted him mentally, physically, socially but also spiritually.  Worry impacts us in every way possible.  What really is worry? A sin against God.  Worry is really not trusting the promises and providence of God.  Jesus gives the command to take no thought for your life.  Psalm 37 when David was encouraging the people of God he told them to “fret not.”  Isaiah 41 also tells us “fear not”  Our thoughts are commanded in the imperative – what God commands us to do he makes possible by his power and strength.  In the bible there are 365 “fear nots” - one for every day of the year.  Is that not comforting?  A balm to the worrier.  God says fret not, fear not.  A command to the worrier.

 

The cause for the worrier.  Jesus knows the things that cause people to worry.  They are the basic things, essential things we worry about.  Firstly, in verse 24 he deals with finance.  “You cannot serve God and mammon.”  That word “mammon” really means riches or wealth.  We can become obsessed by money, checking our bank balances constantly.  We can become consumed with making money and that can cause us to worry.  Finances are a genuine concern for some people today.  For some they don’t know where their next meal is coming from.  Many today are worried about finances.  The cost of living has caused many to worry.  Not only do we see finances as a worry but we can see food is also a worry - verse 25.  Remember where Jesus is standing - on top of the mountain and looking down over the Sea of Galilee.  In Israel at that time food production could have been a problem.  The crops were dependent on the weather to ripen and produce food.  Some years meant rainfall was not as plentiful.  As Jesus looks down he could see all of this.  In the hot sun many of the crops could dry up.  Locusts would come and eat up the crop and there would be a famine.  This was more a problem than what we have here in our country today.  In Haggai we read the food was maybe not plentiful.  Not producing the harvest.  They didn’t have enough to satisfy them.  Inflation was spiralling out of control.  People had real worries about food.  Jesus told them to stop worrying about food.  We might say we have no problem worrying about food.  Remember when COVID was first declared and people started to panic buy?  Shelves in the supermarket were empty.  That is one of the things we worry about – the bare necessities.  At the end of verse 25 Jesus speaks of fashion – “what ye shall put on.”  Maybe you know about fashion - we want to have the best of clothes.  It is not simply about what happens when a hole appears in the shirt and you haven’t enough to buy another shirt.  In verse 27 we read about the future.  Maybe when we think about the word “stature” we think about our physical height.  Really it means the span or the length of our lives.  We cannot add one single moment to our lives by worrying.  We cannot add another day to our lives.  The very day we pass from this scene of time is already determined by God himself.  God has a timetable for each of our lives.  We can worry ourselves to death.  We live in a day and age when there are many health crazes aiming to lengthen the days of our lives – think of the many slimming clubs, vitamins, spans and gyms.  Yes they are all great but they will not add one day to our lives.  That day has been planned for us.  He continues his thinking in verse 34.  An unknown future can cause us to worry.  That is the one thing we are prone to worry about more than anything else.  Perhaps there is something in the future that is really bothering you – maybe it is your physical weakness.  Or how long can I stay at home?  What is the future for my family business?  Maybe even the future is what you are worrying about – the one who knows the future has everything in his hands.  As you see the causes of worry Jesus deals with, can we identify with them?  Maybe you have found yourself under the worry cloud.

 

There is a consideration for the worrier. Jesus never gives us a command that he cannot keep.  He gives us the strength to keep us.  Why we shouldn’t worry – verse 25 it is senseless.  “Is not the life more important than food and the body than raiment?”  He provides for the greater things – will he not also meet the smaller needs of food and clothing?  Paul in Romans 8 talks about the greatest gift of all – salvation.  If God met the need of salvation will he not meet the needs of every day life by his boundless provision? “He that spared not his son   He is not promoting health and wealth gospel or the name it and claim it philosophy.  He is saying God will supply every need.  Paul wrote to the Philippian church “he will provide not our wants but all our needs.”  If he has bought us with a price, granted eternal life through Jesus how much more will he not provide for us in every day?  God’s word never fails.  We should rejoice in that he has been faithful in his word.  Has God ever let you down?  Has there been a day when he hasn’t met the need for food and clothing?  When he hasn’t poured out his blessing on us?  Surely we have to reflect that his mercies are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.  Worry is not only senseless, it is needless.  The Lord uses the picture of the birds of the air to really drive home the fact that worry is needless – verse 26.  There is an estimated 11,000 different types of bird across the world.  “Who provides the raven his food?”  Job said.  The Psalmist said in Psalm 147 “he giveth to the beast his food and to the young ravens which cry.”  The birds never worry about food.  They never go hungry – because our heavenly father provides for them.  He goes on to remind us of the dignity of human life.  “Are ye not much better than that?”  God did not make man like an animal.  He gave Adam a soul and dominion.  God gave the human race dignity and a special position that the animal kingdom does not have.  He died for you and me.  How much better are we than the birds of the air? 

 

Said the Robin to the Sparrow,
“I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings
Rush about and worry so!”

Said the Sparrow to the Robin,
“Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no heavenly Father
Such as cares for you and me!”

 

When you consider the provision for the fowls of the air can we not be assured he will make provision for you and I?  As if that argument was not enough he looks in verses 28 and 29 at the picture of the fields.  As you look around you see some beautiful flowers in the garden and fields.  While the gardener might plan and prune and the farmer might also sow seed and spread the fertilizer, it is ultimately God who gives the increase.  Even Solomon the richest man in all the earth saw beauty in the little flowers than any of his money.  Jesus points out it is not only senseless but needless.  It is also useless – verse 27.  Not one of us can add a day to our lives.  Worry is faithless – verses 31 and 32.  Worry is a symptom of the deeper problem.  Gerry Bridges wrote a book about acceptable sins and he noted that worry was one of them.  Notice that worry was a problem for the Gentiles or the pagans.  They had no room for God, no thought for God.  They are really people who have to worry yet the believer should have his trust in Christ the solid rock.  He is the provider.  James reminds us he provides every good and perfect gift that comes from above.  Do we need to cry out “help my unbelief, Lord increase my faith, give me the peace that passeth all understanding for my circumstances.”  The consideration for the worrier.

 

The cure for the worrier – verse 31.  The flip side to worry - to have faith in the heavenly father.  “O ye of little faith”.  Remember when the disciples and Jesus were on the sea of Galilee and a storm arose.  Jesus was sleeping and the disciples worried that the boat was taking on too much water.  They awoke Jesus saying “carest not that we perish?”  Jesus asked them “why are ye fearful O ye of little faith?”  They had forgotten who was in the boat with them.  The Lord rebuked the winds and waves by the power of his word and a great calm came over the waters.  They forgot the provider when the storm came.  Verse 33 not only are we to get our faith right but we are to get our priorities will be right too.  So many times our worry can be dissipated when we fix our eyes on the Lord, get our faith on him our priorities will be right.  We also need to get our perspective right.  Verse 34 take one day at a time. We are not to add todays worries by tomorrows burdens.  There is no point in worrying about the things of tomorrow.  Moses had to learn that in the midst of his busy schedule.  He had to learn “as thy days so shall thy strength be.”  God provides strength for every day, he gives strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow.  Only give us our need right when we need it.  The children of Israel needed to learn when they were provided with the manna they couldn’t stock pile it.  They had to use today’s manna today and God would provide new manna for tomorrow.  God was always giving and giving again.  When tomorrows burdens are with us tomorrows grace will always be there to meet them.  We worry about things that there is no point worrying about.  Are you anxious, weighed down by the weight of worry?  Lift your eyes to God. Hope in God.  Seek first the kingdom of God.  Look to him today.  When our faith is failing, anchor in him.  The problems of life will pale into insignificance.  He is with us every step of the way.  Commit the unknown future to a known God.  One that has never failed on his promises.  A word for the worrier today – Jesus says “don’t worry.”  I will lead you with my grace tomorrow.  He will never leave us or forsake us.

Nehemiah's prayer

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 16 JUNE 2024 – MR KEITH LINDSEY, ACRE GOSPEL MISSION

NEHEMIAH 1 VERSES 1 – 11

The book of Nehemiah shows us the impact that one man can have on the society he lives in.  The impact on one nation he lived in.  Last time we were looking at this chapter we saw Nehemiah serving in the court of Artaxerxes.  He was a cupbearer.  He would have tasted the food and wine to make sure it was not poisoned.  He was responsible for preserving the life of the king.  He was a man born in exile in the land of captivity in Babylon.  He was among those that decided to remain in the land while others returned to Jerusalem.  One of his brethren Hanani came to him one day and shared the news of what was happening in Jerusalem.  Nehemiah asked about the Jewish people there and then Jerusalem itself.  We saw the information he received.  Hanani was a faithful man.  He brought the news that the people were in desolation.  It was a place of devastation.  The walls were broken down and gates burned.  The place was a mess.  I want us to think today of a couple of things – the reaction that Nehemiah showed and the intercession he offered.  There is much of significance in this chapter for us today.

Verse 4 shows the reaction of this man as he heard the news of the situation in the land of Israel.  He sits down and weeps and mourns and prays and fasts for certain days.   What a better policy than what we have entered into in the time of national problems today.  What we really need today is prayer.  More of God again.  He is better to go to, we would get more profitable answers – Psalm 118 verse 8 “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”  So often the politicians are knocking our doors today.  They promise everything but their promises fail – they are just men.  We put confidence in what man can do so often rather than looking to what God can do.  We are a nation in a critical situation just like the nation then.  The city of Jerusalem was shattered.  Nehemiah went to the one who could help – God.  How did he react to the information he received?  First with contemplation.  He sat down.  It was customary for the Jews to sit when they mourned.  Think of Nehemiah, a Jewish man taken captive into Babylon years before.  Can we visualise the scene in that palace?  To sit and mediate or contemplate the situation he had just heard about.  He cared about the state of Jerusalem and the position of those he loved living there.  He no doubt had a place where he could go and pray, somewhere in his private quarters.  Some of the Jews had gone back to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem but progress was slow.  They endured the taunts from others – “why is your God not doing more for you?”  Nehemiah found time in the busy programme of the day to sit down and contemplate the needs of his people in Jerusalem. So often we don’t have time to contemplate our work or our worship for God. We need time to sit down and contemplate who God is, what he has done for us and what he can do in the future.  Do we think of the desperate need in our world today?  Do we take time to stop from the busyness of life and contemplate the real need of our country?  In Christian work it is the same. So difficult.  We are busy.  We do not take time out and stop, to look around us and to see the need.  Do we look up to the one who can meet the need?  John George Govan was a businessman in Glasgow who took time out one day to sit by the Firth of Clyde.  He watched the big ships and pleasure boats and it reminded him of the people all around him who were so careless.  As he contemplated the needs of the villages of Scotland in 1886 he wrote in his diary “the faith mission started.”  He stepped out in faith and trusted God to meet the needs.  To call others to come and help him evangelise the people of Scotland.  He took a moment to look and then looked to the one who could meet the needs of the people and of the mission.  Thousands and tens of thousands have come to Christ because of the vision of one man who took time to stop.  God is still working in the Faith Mission today around the world.  The vision of one man who took time.  What would happen if God’s people took time and sat down in contemplation again?  To reach a world that is lost.  A people that are heedless and careless.  No thought of God.  No time for God.  We need to stop as the people of God.  We might never do the work God wants us to do but until God opens our eyes to the needs all around us souls will continue to perish.  They are going to a Christless hell.  Before we attempt any service for God we should get alone with God and mourn the souls of men.  William Carey had a map on his wall in his workshop.  It was a map of the world made out of leather.  He was contemplating the needs of the world when God sent him to India.  For 7 years he worked tirelessly before he saw his first convert.  "Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God” was his motto.  We need to take our eyes off the situation we are in and put them on God.  Nothing is impossible to God.  We live in a world that thinks only about sin and pleasure.  The same spirit that gripped Nehemiah should grip us.  We need to believe God can do amazing things even today.  In verse 4 we read he sat down still before God and wept.  What emotional motivation by Nehemiah. It was born out of a heart of concern for the people in desperation.  If faith is not accompanied by feelings it is spurious and suspect.  Remember what Paul said “my heart’s desire for Israel is, that they might be saved.”  Those who have no concern for kith and kin could not possibly be saved.  Sometimes weeping is sign of weakness.  For Nehemiah it was a sign of strength.  Hanani willingly shared the burden that was crushing others.  When God puts a burden on our hearts we shall not escape from it because we will miss out on the blessing of God.  Psalm 125 verse 5 “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seeds, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”  The Lord himself wept over Jerusalem.  So often we have lost the ability to weep.  We cannot manage it.  Fanny Crosby penned those lovely words “Rescue the perishing, care for the dying, Tell them of Jesus the mighty to save.”  I am sure many of us if we have children of our own have wept over them.  Satan wants to blur our vision for lost souls.  We get caught up in doctrinal issues, people will fight over the silliest of issues and forget the soul that is lost.  The hour is dark and we need to be winning souls.  Paul said in Acts 20 verse 19 “serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears.”  2 Corinthians 2 verse 4 “For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears.”  Murray McCheyne died a young man.  Someone visited his church St Peter’s Church in Dundee and asked “what was the secret of his ministry.”  The person was taken into the vestry and told to put his hands on his head and let the tears flow.  Then he was taken to the pulpit and said “put your hands on your head and let the tears flow.”  That was the secret of his ministry.  When was the last time you wept over souls going to a lost eternity?  Nehemiah was not afraid to weep.  He sat down and wept.  He knew someone had to do something to rescue the situation.  He was willing to do it.  We need to cry out, to get on our knees for our nation today.  Nehemiah also reacted in lamentation.  He not only sat down and wept but he mourned too.  Sometimes we need to cry out with anguish.  The word means he cried out or screamed out of desperation.  His grief overcame him.  Have we ever been there?  Not a public exhibition but in privacy with God?  The one who sees in secret will reward openly.  Does God expect us to do more than we are doing?  There is no use in making excuses.  To accept things the way they are.  Elisabeth Elliott said “save us from the wearying acceptance of things as they are.”  Do we want to see God move?  Nehemiah lamented.  He was broken for the condition of the city of Jerusalem.  He acted in humiliation.  Fasting shows that.  The only thing he could do was humble himself before God.  To break down because of the needs of the people.  It was the only way Nehemiah was prepared to see God move.  What an example he has set for us as we face crisis after crisis in our world today.  Going God’s way to solve the problem.  He was moved by the people in desperation.  He saw the people in desolation.  He humbled himself before God.  Prayer is the power that is more potent than all the nuclear weapons this world has.  So often we are not using it.  Prayer is not the least we can do, it the most.  “Prayer is not merely practical warfare – real prayer engages in a battle.  It is rooted in the promises of God and the covenant of the blood.” Alan Redpath.  How long do I spend time in prayer? Sometimes it is not long enough. If our hearts are prepared God will bless us even in the worst of days.  So often we don’t have the desire to pray.  We love the Lord but we don’t speak to him.  Nehemiah prayed for 4 months before God answered.  Paul prayed and the prison shook.  Luther prayed and the church of Rome was shaken.  There were 2 Faith Mission pilgrims who went to the isle of Barra in the middle of winter.  They had to cross in a fishing boat amid wild seas.  They were staying with an old Christian lady.  They said to this lady “it will be worth it all if 1 soul gets saved.”  The lady said “is that all you are asking God for?  I have been praying for 101 souls all these years.”  God moved in answer to that lady’s prayer.  Nehemiah supplicated on behalf of others.  God is still looking for people who care for others today.  People like Nehemiah.  He cared enough to weep over the needs of the people of his day.  Will we say as we look at the situation in our land, in our estate, in our families “here am I Lord send me?”  Will we intercede on behalf of others, to see our land revived for the glory of God?  God is able to do it today if only we will pray.

The armour of God

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 2 JUNE 2024 – Mr Philip Robinson

EPHESIANS 6 VERSES 10 – 20

Ephesians 6 is a well known portion of scripture.  It was written when Paul was in prison.  A dark, wet, unpleasant cell.  The first 3 chapters of Ephesians are the doctrine of the book.  Chapters 4 to 6 are the more practical aspects for the Christian. The Christian experiences much spiritual warfare in the world today.  The devil is trying to get into the minds and hearts of young people particularly in the workplace, in universities and our schools.  It is important to think of the whole armour of God, not something we can pick and chose.  There are 3 simple things to consider in this passage.

 

What do we do with the armour God has given. Paul is telling us to put on the whole amour of God.  It is a command for all Christians to do.  Notice that in verse 11 “put on”.  He is telling us to do something.  It is not an option to take or leave it, to put on certain parts when we feel like it.  We are going into battle all the time.  The devil is very good at attacking us on a day and daily basis.  David Attenborough said that lions will go for the separated animal because they are the weakest.  The devil is described in God’s word as “going about like a roaring lion.”  It happens to us all.  Every Christian experiences these attacks from the devil.  Paul uses the phrase “whole”.  Other translations have it as complete.  It is not a pick and choose scenario.  He mentions it twice – in verse 11 and then again in verse 13.  When we see something repeated for a second time then we need to pay special attention because there is greater meaning to it.  It is to drive home the point of the necessity of putting on the whole armour of God.  We face spiritual warfare every day.  If we are in the army you have to wear all the elements to go out into battle otherwise you wouldn’t last too long in a battle.  If we don’t have all the elements we will be like the soldier with no armour.  The armour helps us against the attacks of the devil that happen on a daily basis.  “Stand against the wiles of the devil.”  The devil goes around like a roaring lion 24/7 trying to trip us up.  No-one is excluded from his attacks.  He is manipulative and cunning.  We are good at putting on the armour in the gospel aspect – “I am a good person, I don’t need God. “  How often do we forget about reading the word of God?  The devil tries to attack us throughout the day.  No-one is exempt.  We are soldiers of Jesus Christ.  That is how we are described in the word of God.

Secondly, why do we need the full amour?  In verses 14 – 17 the full armour is described.  Paul explains what the armour is.  Hebrews 13 verse 5.  Christians can take this promise to themselves – God will never leave us nor forsake us.  It is important to keep our eyes on Christ. In Matthew 14 the disciples were in the boat when Jesus appears walking on the water.  Peter wants to get out of the boat and walk to Jesus.  As soon as he takes his eyes off Christ he starts to sink.  He took his eyes off Christ.  We need to keep our eyes on Christ, the one who saved us from our sins.  When we take our eyes off Christ we can be like Peter and begin to sink.  We can look at what is going on in the world and become disorientated.  We take our eyes off Christ.  When we keep our eyes on the one who saved us in the difficulties of life he can help us.

The first piece of armour is the belt of truth.  It was worn close to the body.  We should hold God’s word close to our hearts.  If the soldier was going into the battle he would be ready.  God’s word has to be close to our hearts.  The belt was the place where the weapon was stored.  Be ready to give an answer Peter says.  More often if someone finds out you are a Christian you will be asked many questions.  God’s word is not something to open on Sunday’s and then put on the shelf the rest of the week. It is only through reading we get to no Christ.  We need to spend time with Christ.  We can talk to God anywhere.

The breastplate of righteousness.  It protects the vital organs.  The Christian is protected if they are under attack.  Paul is referring to the protection of the heart, the soul, the mind of the believer.  We are born with blackened hearts full of sin.  The devil tries to pull us away from God.  1 Peter we can rely on God to reach us and pull us out of the dark paths of sin.  The devil knows what weakness we have.  He will use that to make us fall into temptation.  The breastplate protected the vital organs and with Christ we are protected.

The shoes or boots the soldier wore.  This gives us protection to claim the good news of the gospel.  Matthew 28 verses 19 and 20 God commands us to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  God gives us all that commission today as Christians.  It can be terrifying to tell people the gospel but we all need to do it.

The shield of faith.  “Above all” – the importance of putting on the whole armour.  Not like the modern army, the Roman soldier held their shields up to stop the darts coming across over the head.  That is what Paul is talking of – protecting the body and head.  Hebrews 11 verse 11 – the whole chapter talks of the faith of many found in the Old Testament.  Each verse says “by faith”.  “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not yet seen.”  We have faith in Christ, that he is always with us.  Stephen Baxter of Crusaders Football Club said when the reporters ask about my Christian faith I use the illustration I cannot physically see that third title, I trust that it will be there at the end.  As I trust Christ as my Saviour, I cannot see him physically here on earth but one day I will.  Faith is vital to the Christian.  The believer who knows Christ personally.  Without faith we wouldn’t believe.  Faith is the key to the Christian.

The helmet of salvation.  The word “take” is used – an action word again.  Not put on.  Help us to discern against false doctrines and teachers.  So many are not teaching the true gospel.  1 John 5 verses 11  - 15.

The sword – what the soldier uses to fight the opposition.  Paul is referencing this to the bible.  This is our sword.  It is harper than any two edged sword.  Hebrews 4 verse 12.  The bible is sharper than any two edged sword.  This book can help us in the valleys and the hill tops.  Remember the sword drill in Sunday School. Is our sword closed or ready to be drawn?  To be used in battle against the devil? The challenge is to find time to read God’s word. As Christians we are in hand to hand conflict with the devil every day.  The Christian has to carry that sword to fight the enemy. In Roman times the sword was long and sharp.  The Bible is our sword.  Do we spend time in reading and prayer every day?

Thirdly, how prayer is the key to the Christian in the spiritual battle – verse 18.  Prayer is important to the Christian.  Think of it in the context of the army.  If you are out in the battlefield there is a radio to talk to the commander.  Christ is like that commander.  We can talk to him 24 hours a day.  We can talk to God all the time.  Prayer is the key to heaven and the key for the Christian.  Leave your burdens at Christ’s feet.  We can pray over the things we struggle with.  Remember the curtain in the tabernacle in Exodus – the curtain is torn in 2 today.  We have complete access through Jesus’ blood shed on Calvary.  Do you spend time with God in prayer?  Christianity is not just a Sunday experience.  Notice it says “praying always. “  As a Christian when we think of the context of prayer it is something  we can struggle with.  We know we can talk to God anywhere.  God is always with us.  We can pray when driving to work, driving on the way home, pray when we are working.  Spend time with God in prayer.  We face a battle every day and we need to put God first in all of our lives.

 

As it was in the days of Noah

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 26 MAY 2024 – PASTOR K JOHNSTON

MATTHEW 24 VERSES 37 – 39 AND GENESIS 4 TO 6

“The days of Noah”

 

Genesis chapters 4 to 6 – that age was ripening for judgment.  One day the Lord will judge every nation, every country, every continent, every tribe.  The Lord tells us in Matthew 24 this is the way it will be before he comes again.  Verse 39.  Should we have an interest?  Yes we should.  Look at the state of things now.  Isn’t this what the Lord says will happen? 

 

In Genesis 6 we see that the world was marked by spiritual decline – verse 2.  The Lord is patient with sinners.  He gave them time to return to him.  Proverbs 2 verse 1.  Time will run out one day.  There comes a time when God’s spoken word is not getting through.  Are we still as keen today?  “My spirit shall not always strive with man.”  Genesis 4 verse 26 “then began man to call upon the name of the Lord.”  There was a godly line of people seeking the Lord.  They wanted to worship the Lord, wanted fellowship with God.  In chapter 6 there is a vast change.  There we see a broad spiritual decline.  He will give them another 120 years and he says then I will take them out and judge them.  What a spiritual decline we have in our day.  We have so many churches closing today.  Pastors striving hard but people just not coming out.  Spiritual decline is so evident today.  It is happening all over.  Everyone doing their own thing.  Nothing wrong with getting married or eating.  People seem to be just going about doing their own thing.  Some today say “the gospel is not me” and they are Christians – “Christ doesn’t thrill the soul.  The Lord doesn’t tug the heart.”  “Many will say to me on that day Lord Lord and I will say I never knew you.”  Spiritual decline as it was in the days of Noah.

 

A social dilemma – Genesis chapter 6 verse 1.  Men began to multiply on the earth.  Population explosion.  A mass increase in population led to spiritual decay.  The World Health Organisation today is telling us that food will run out yet we put so much on the scrap heap.  Some of us have too much.  We are running out of food.  Clean water – powerful need for it.  There is also a marked increase in crime – verse 11.  The earth was filled with violence.  Parents killing one another.  Children killing children.  Husbands killing husbands.  “As it was in the days of Noah.”  God gets the blame.  The Lord says this is what you are going to get.  A marked increase in violence.  Robbing and stealing.

 

A shameless depravity – chapter 4 verse 19.  The first case of bigamy in scripture.  Not satisfied with one wife he had to have 2 wives.  It began to spread through Israel.  Began to live like the people around them.  God said “therefore shall a man leave his father and mother and they shall become one flesh.” A shameless epravity is on the increase.  We would think this was written yesterday.  God says that is what is going to happen.  Morals in marriage are now in the gutter.  This is sin.  A marked wickedness.  Genesis 6 verse 5 God did not miss it.  They thought they had got away with it - “only evil continually”.

 

A scientific development.  Genesis 4 verses 20 – 22.  Produced the arts, sciences, agricultural pursuits, music.  How many in the world’s crowd have a delight in music today? This man could make and produce it but there was one thing they cannot do is save a soul.  Only Christ can save a soul.  No matter how much since has developed man can never outsmart God.

 

There was some devotion – chapter 6 verse 8 and 9 “but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”  Living in a wicked evil perverted violent generation he walked in the light as he is in the light.  It is not hard to walk with God.  Not hard to serve the Lord. There is a battle today. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.  All the violence, wickedness, depravity, crime, corruption this man finds grace in the midst of all that is going on.  He found grace.  In the midst of the filth and dirt of the world he has saving grace.  There is also sufficient grace.  People don’t want to break from the world.  “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”  There is grace to say no to sin.  Some have been walking in grace for a long time.  They have found sufficient grace.  Isn’t that wonderful to know.  He walks with God in grace.  “By the grace of God I am what I am.”

 

The godliness of Noah.  Chapter 6 verses 8 and 9.  Man of God but his life corresponded with what he believed.  He walked with God.  He lived for God.  Like his godly ancestor Enoch he separated himself from the wickedness around him.  What does it mean to walk, to progress in fellowship with the Lord, to be loyal and faithful?  A little girl got into bed one night.  She fell out of the bed and her parents heard the thud.  Her mum asked her what had happened.  The little girl responded “I stayed too close to the place I got in.”  People are like that – they never move on.  When people drink of the well of salvation they do not want to return to the wells they left behind.

Heaven - will you be there?

 

LIMAVADY BAPTIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 19 MAY 2024 pm – MR BEN DALY

REVELATION 21 and 22 verse 6

HEAVEN – WILL YOU BE THERE?

 

Tom Jones sang a song years ago entitled “The Green Green Grass of Home.”  He remembered what it was like to return to the place he grew up in.  Do you ever get that nostalgic feeling when going home?  There is something about home that makes it feel special.  In Revelation 21 we read about our eternal home for those who are Christians, who know Christ as Saviour and Lord.  It is far better than any earthly home.  It is eternal.  It is in the place called heaven.  If you do not believe to night I want you to see the glory of heaven so that you might want to go there.  Will you be in heaven? I wonder do you know what it will be like?

Heaven ...

It’s a perfect place

A meeting place

A place for a people.

 

Firstly a perfect place.  Revelation 22 verse 3 “and there shall be no more curse.” Our experience of this world is of a cursed world.  This world feels the effects of the curse.  This world is not as it was meant to be as.  In Genesis God created the perfect world.  Adam and Eve the first man and woman sinned and the curse entered into the world – “cursed is the ground”.  Genesis 3 tells us of someone who would come to defeat the curse.  Genesis 15 tells us Jesus will come and crushed the head of Satan.  He has come, he has died and risen again.  He is now preparing a place for his people.  This is a place where there is no more curse, no longer experience any of the things that afflicted us in this world.  This will be a place where the effects of the curse are fully removed.  The perfection of this place.  

Revelation 21 verse 3 shows it is a place of perfect fellowship.  In heaven there will be perfect fellowship between God and his people.  His tabernacle will be with God and his people.  The meeting place with God’s place in the bible was the tabernacle.  God will make his place among his people.  There will be no more curse to affect that relationship.  There will be nothing separating us from God.  We will enjoy perfect fellowship with God himself.  That has been the whole purpose of God since the beginning.  God created man to have relationship with him.  Man broke the promise.  God had to send his Son to break that curse.  He came seeking from heaven to earth to restore that perfect relationship with man.  Revelation 21 and 21 shows us the culmination of God’s redemption plan with man.  You have a relationship now with God in this day but it will be beautiful in that day – no more sin to get in the way of that relationship with God.  God shall be with his people on that day.  A perfect place and a place of perfect fellowship.  A place of perfect restoration.  Revelation 21 verses 4 and 5.  We see a place of perfect restoration as we see the absence of things for ever.  No tears, no pain, no sorrow, no crying, no death.  All is made new.  The things that cause us pain and sorrow on earth will pass away.  A place of perfect restoration.  All of these things are passed away.  “Behold I make all things new.”  A totally new place.  Everything from this scene of time has passed away.  Does it feel your life is full of difficulties, pain, sadness?  It never ends.  In heaven God himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes.  In heaven it will be a place of perfect restoration.  Never experience sorrow again.  No-one will die again.  No more crying ever again.  A perfect place – why - because God himself is with his people.  God himself creates a place of perfect restoration.  Life as God always intended it to be.  Everything made new by God. A perfect place this place called heaven. It is also a meeting place.  

Revelation 22 verse 4 - who do you want to see when you get to heaven?  Perhaps loved ones you have missed for many years.  Or perhaps the heroes of faith like Moses or Paul.  There will be a far greater meeting than those who have gone before us - Revelation 22 verse 4. They shall see his face.  The simplicity of those words.  What glory there is.  We shall see the very face of God himself. We shall see the Lord Jesus Christ.  What a great meeting day that is going to be.  What a thing it will be to see our Saviour.  The Lord who we have lived for and served here on earth and we will see him one day see in heaven.  Glory in being united with those we loved and miss.  The glory of heaven will be to see his face, be reunited with him who we love by faith we see by sight.  Won;t that be the best meeting of all.  Samuel Rutherford said “I would far rather have Christ without heaven than heaven without Christ..”  Being with Christ is the very centrepiece of heaven.  A wonderful place.  A real place.  Heaven of heaven will be to gaze on the one who died on Calvary’s cross.  The one who died for me.  One day you can see the Lord.  The Saviour who came from heaven to live and die will one day bring his people home to himself.  You will see him one day if you come to faith in him.  If you are his never lose sight of the fact that Jesus is the centre of our faith here on earth and he will be the centre of our worship in heaven.  This is what heaven means to me.  To see the one enduring the cross despising the shame.  The one who loves us and gave himself for us.  This is heaven – that they should see his face.  Fanny Crosby in conversation with a well meaning preacher talking about her disability said “it is a great pity that the master did not see fit to bless you with your sight.”  Fanny said “Do you know if at birth if I could have been given one request, it would be to be born blind for when I get to heaven the first face to gladden my sight will my Saviour’s, just to see his face will be glory for me.”  One day she would see Jesus, see his face.  Do you long to see your Saviour?  Is that your great longing for eternity one day?  You will look upon his face and bow and worship him.  Heaven is a place of meeting.  Heaven is place for a people.  Revelation 22 verse 4.  Being branded with the Lord Jesus.  Having his name on our foreheads.  Only those who belong to Jesus are in this place and have a mark on them.  Entry ticket into heaven is simple – if you will enter into this perfect place called heaven you must have the branding of his ownership on you.  You must belong to Jesus if you will enter into heaven.  Who will not be in heaven?  Revelation 21 verse 8 – the unrepentant sinners will not be in heaven.  The unbelieving are those who will not be in heaven, not believing in Christ for their salvation.  They are on the same ground as the abominable, whoremongers, murderers, sorcerers and adulterers.  You stand on the same ground as unbelieving sinners regardless of anything else.  Stand condemned before a holy God.  In verse 8 we read if you have not turned to the Lord you will have your part in the lake of burning fire.  What an awful thing to have heard the message and rejected it.  The good news is you don’t have to go to that lost eternity.  In verse 6 we read of who will be in heaven?  “I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.”  Verse 7 those who came to the living water – it is the Lord Jesus Christ, the one who offers living water.  If you will come and drink from him you will never thirst again.  You will not have your part in fire and brimstone.  If you will come to him tonight.  If only you will accept him and him alone as your Saviour.  Only 2 groups, 2 places to spend eternity.  There is no middle ground.  No sitting on the fence - either for Christ or against, believing or unbelieving.  Do you stand on the side of a lost eternity or in eternity in that perfect place called heaven.  The exclusivity of heaven is summed up again. 

“When I soar to realms of glory

And an entrance I await,

If I’ve followed “Jesus only!”

Wide will ope the pearly gate;

When I join the heav’nly chorus

And the angel hosts I see

Precious Jesus, “Jesus only!”

will my theme of rapture be.” 

 

Jesus only will be the way to get into heaven.  Jesus only will be the theme of heaven.  The only hope is Jesus Christ.  If I was to ask you heaven - will you be there.  If you will be there it is only because of Jesus, what he has done for you, your hope is in him alone as your Saviour.  Will you come to him so that you will be in that place called heaven?  Will you come so that your place is sure and secure even tonight, will you come and be in the place called heaven?  If you do you will one day see this Lord Jesus and be the one saved by his grace alone.

A burdened church, a preaching church and a sending church

 

LIMAVADY BAPTIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 19 MAY 2024 – MR BEN DALY

ROMANS 10

 The book of Romans is one of the best arguments ever presented by mankind.  Throughout the first 8 chapters the apostle Paul has laid bare the human condition and the good news of the  gospel.  In the first 3 chapters we have the bad news that we are all sinners in the sight of God.  In chapter 4 there is good news.  Chapters 4 to 8 deals with all the glories of justification by faith alone.  The great pinnacle is the blessings of salvation for those in Christ alone.  Chapters 9 and 10 sets out the plan for Israel as a nation.  Chapter 11 deals with the effects of the gospel and how it impacts our living.  We are in the section concerning the nation of Israel.  “How shall they hear”.  A gospel centred church can be our title today.  Chapter 10 is a series of rhetorical questions.  Verses 14 and 15 have 4 questions –

 

“How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?”

“How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?”

“How shall they hear without a preacher?”

“How shall they preach except they be sent?”

 

The obvious answer to every question is – they cannot.  Implicit in each question is this answer - they cannot.  What ought to be our response?  How serious a thing these questions are.  These 4 questions are not nice academic things to think about.  There is a reminder of eternal life and death – “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  Verses 14 and 15 relies on verse 13 being put into action.  No-one will ever be saved unless they call on the Lord Jesus.  These are questions of life and death.  Important in light of these questions. Let us consider 3 questions of our own in light of these:

Are you a burdened church?

Are you a preaching church?

Are you a sending church?

 

A burdened church. Before Paul gets to these questions he lays bare his heart for these people – verse 1.  What a concern he has for them.  Is it a better economy, a stronger defence system.  No, it is to know they might be saved.  Look back at Romans 9 verses 1 – 5. This is the apostle’s heart for his people, in particular verses 2 and 3.  It is one of the great heaviness and great sorrows that he shares.  If he could be cut off from his people, if it meant they would now Christ.  What a burden.  His heart was always sorrowful – why – because he recognises the need of people around him.  Do you and I have that same heart?  If we don’t have it who will have that heart for the people around us?  Are you sorrowful for those you interact with Monday to Friday in your workplace, your neighbours who are going to a lost eternity?  Paul’s desire is for his people to be saved.  It led to continual sorrow in his heart.  We could be the only Christian people interact with – is my heart sorrowful for them?  Why is he so concerned for his people?  It is alluded to in chapter 10 verse 13 – “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Saved from what?  A lost eternity.  In Romans 1 verse 18 the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, men and women are under that wrath.  In Romans 6 verse 23 he says “for the wages of sin is death.”  That is the reality Paul is facing up to here.  How do we see those around us?  Just living a different lifestyle from ours or as Jesus saw them, as sheep without a shepherd?  Do we have compassion on them?  As souls on their way to hell?  If we had a glimpse of hell our hearts would really be sorrowful and heavy.  Are we like Paul whose hearts desire is for those around us to be saved or have we got too comfortable sitting in our churches week in and week out.  No-one else will have that vision except the people of God.  Where there is no vision the people perish.  Paul’s burden does not end with his hearts desire.  It is in knowing the rejection of God his heart leads to action.  If you have a hearts desire it will lead you to action.  If you say I have a hearts desire for the lost of Limavady but you never pray for them you don't have that desire.  It does not lead you anywhere.  Can you imagine the apostle continually heavy in his heart as he looks at the situation of his nation people rejecting God? It leads him to get down on his knees and pray to God.  His desire leads him to act.  If you have a burden for the lost of Limavady are you praying for your neigbours?  If we don’t pray for them no-one else will.  Prayer achieves something.  Prayer was the driving force of the early church.  The gospel spread as the people prayed.  You must have a hearts desire for the lost of this town.  That must lead you to pray for them.  You must act on that desire.  That is when God will bless his people.  Have you got the burden today?  Will you pray that the Lord will give you the burden if you don’t have it.  If you have the burden do you regularly pray for those around you?  The value of one soul in eternity - does that not motivate you to pray?  To take action on the burden of those who are lost.  Get the burden today for those around us for the need for Christ.

 

Are you a preaching church – “How then shall they call on him of whom they have not believed?  And how shall they believe on him of whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher?”  In this line of rhetorical questions we see the necessity for preaching the gospel. If they are to believe and if they are to hear they must have someone to preach to them.  The Greek word for preaching is a public declaration of a message with authority.  Imagine the emperor giving his herald a message to go down and tell they have conquered another part of the territory, to go on behalf of the king bringing the message to everyone.  The parallel for preaching the gospel - You receive the message from on high set in stone for you.  It is the message God calls to go and declare.  A message from above, with God’s authority.  Take it and to preach it with the same authority.  Peter and John could not help but to speak of those things they had heard.  You have the message that will save the lost.  The next step is to bring the gospel to them.  Why is it the preaching the gospel that brings people to Christ?  This is the means God uses for saving the lost.  His ordinary means for saving the lost.  How were you saved – because someone preached the gospel to you.  That is God’s ordinary means for saving the lost.  His core means of reaching the lost and making the gospel known.  Are you a preaching church, in line with the great commission?  Let’s not rest on our laurels.  Let us protect the teaching and preaching of the gospel.  This must always be the primary aim of the local church.  There are other groups who will offer social help assistance with other needs.  The church of Christ is here for the evangelisation of the gospel, for life changing means for eternity.  Defining message of the gospel.  This must be your core central aim – to be a preaching church, to preach the gospel to those in your town. This is how people hear of him.  Who they hear about.  How they call on him in whom they have not heard.

Are you a sending church – in order for the preacher to go and preach we have another rhetorical question verse 14 “how shall they preach except they be sent.”.  Preaching gospel is not an individual activity, not something that a man decides by himself to do.  Not the New Testament pattern.  Evangelisation of the nations is not an individual activity.  They must be sent by a church.  Who does the sending?  Is it God?  Yes God calls a man to preach the gospel.  He does not send a man.  We see a pattern of people being sent by the local church.  Preachers of the gospel are sent by the local church. Acts 13 verses 1 – 4 is a good example to follow.  Paul and Barnabas had been here at Antioch.  The church has been established.  There was a group of Christians meeting and worshipping the Lord then they sent out Paul and Barnabas.  2 Corinthians 8 verse 19 is another example.  They were sent out.  Titus was another example of someone sent.  The local churches sent preachers.  It was they who did the sending.  Local churches are to send out ministers of the gospel.  The pattern in Antioch.  They were first a worshipping church.  They were a godward focus on the glory of God as they ministered to the Lord and fasted.  Focused on the Lord.  Also a sensitive church.  The Holy Ghost told them to separate Paul and Barnabas.  We need to be sensitive people.  We need to test what the Spirit says against scripture.  Let us be sensitive to the leading and guiding of the Holy Spirit.  Let us not quench the spirit in our meetings.  They were a careful church.  Whenever they sensed the Holy Spirit, the church did exactly what they ought to do.  They were careful. They fasted and prayed.  They waited on the Lord.  Sensitive to the Lord’s leading.  Confirmation obviously came to them – verse 3.  An active church.  They laid their hands on them and sent them away.  Didn’t waste any time.  H aving it confirmed that these men were called of God they laid their hands on them and sent them away to do the work of the ministry.  They were also a supporting church – Acts 14 verse 26.  The pattern is not that Paul and Barnabas were sent out and forgot about the sending church.  Nor that the sending church forgot Paul and Barnabas.  No they supported Paul and Barnabas while they were away.  They returned to their local church to report of what the Lord was doing.  The link between the preachers of the gospel and sending church is one and the same. Inextricably linked.  Are you a church where these characteristics can be witnessed?  Consider for yourselves – are you a sending church?  If you are not identifying those and raising up those who will go out from this church - who else will do it? Who else will raise up workers into God’s vineyard?  The answer is a people who are burdened for the preaching of the gospel for the nations to be won for Christ.  This is one of the churches central aims or purposes and reaching of the lost because of the pattern in Romans 10.  To call they must believe. To believe there must be one of whom they have not heard.  To hear there must be a preacher.  To preach they must be sent.  If the gospel is to reach those who have not heard we must be active in this mission.  We must be a burdened people, a preaching people, a sending people. In those 3 categories no-one gets off the hook.  This includes all of us from the youngest to the oldest.  We all have a role to play in the reaching of the lost for Christ.  We can all be burdened, praying, sending.  Doing something for the gospel to be extended.  There are many today in our neighbourhood who know nothing of the good news of the Saviour who came to love them and died for them so that they could be saved for all eternity.  No longer means going too far flung corners of the world.  Society has changed.  We must be faithful in reaching the lost with the gospel.  What are you going to do about it?  Are you engaged in God’s mission of reaching the lost for Jesus today?

"Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell." C T Studd