To know Christ

 

LIMAVADY BAPTIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 14 APRIL 2024 – PASTOR JOHN TAYLOR

Philippians 3 verses 1 – 14

One commentator on this book has said “it is an open window in to the apostles very heart.”  Within this letter we see how much this church meant to Paul.  He had a great love for them. He enjoyed their fellowship in the gospel.  Paul saw his relationship with them as a partnership.  They had helped him financially and great blessing resulted.  The Philippian church was founded in Acts 16.  It all began during Paul’s second missionary journey.  He had visited a number of churches and encouraged them in the Lord.  Paul however was not permitted to go into Asia.  He arrived at Troas and heard that great Macedonian call “come over and help us.”  Paul responded and visited that Roman colony and there God blessed his ministry.  God was working behind the scenes long before this time.  At a meeting outside the city Lydia attended a prayer meeting and was converted.  She and her whole household responded to the gospel message.  Her home became the base for the Philippian church.  All of this happened simply because the Lord opened the heart of one woman.  One household was committed to Christ.  One home became the basis for that little church in Philippi.  Never underestimate what God can do through one persons life, in any family, in any individual church.  Never underestimate your life as an individual.  You might say “I don’t have these gifts.”  If you are prepared to give yourself to Christ there is no telling what he can do in your life.   In verse 10 Paul sets out his heartfelt desire for his life.  That every single one of us should have.  He is speaking about Christ – “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death.”  An important part of the Christian life and journey is fellowship.  That is why we meet together in the local church, in prayer and bible study.   Through knowing fellowship in any church we should also know the fellowship we can enjoy in our relationship in Christ.  There are 4 things about this verse and Paul’s heart.

 

A personal dimension – “that I may know him”.  Paul already knew the Lord as his Saviour.  Jesus’ love for him gave him his motive for his ministry, kept him going when things were difficult.  Paul’s account of how he came to know Christ is recorded several times in Acts.  On the road to Damascus he was converted to the Lord and the risen Christ – “that I may know him”.  Has he lost the assurance of his salvation?  Some people do the same.  Some haven’t walked with Christ as should have done.  If you put your faith in Christ all those years ago maybe you are wondering why you are doubting.  Plead Calvary!  Don’t doubt your standing in grace.  Paul didn’t do that.  “That I may know him.”  Do you know Christ personally?  Paul wanted to come to know him more and more.  Paul said previously “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Paul knew, loved and served Christ.  There is a desire in his heart even though Christ was pre-eminent in every area of his life – “that I may come to know him by experience.”  He wanted his relationship with Christ to deepen, for spiritual growth to develop, for his relationship to be more meaningful as every day passed.  Do you know Christ in a personal way?  Have you ever repented of your sin and come before him, bowed the knee and said “Jesus Christ I take you as my Saviour today?”  You are missing out on the most wonderful experience anyone could ever know.   In verse 7 Paul said in order to achieve this he was willing and prepared to give up everything for Jesus Christ.  I am sure if you love the Saviour, enjoy an intimate relationship with him that you would love to know more about him.  Paul is encouraging you today to keep on going.  Keep on growing.  Don’t become stale.  Strive for a closer intimacy in your walk with Christ.  You might be asking “how do I do that?”  How do you get to know anyone?  You take time with them, you listen to them and you share with them.  In all those ways your relationship with that person becomes real, more meaningful.  With Jesus it is the same.  You need to spend time listening to his word and then in obedience follow it through.  Surely our pressures and problems today will draw us back to God more and more.  It is good to come to him and tell him, to ask him for more grace.  Grow to know God.  Grow to love him and you will reap great benefits in your life.  To deepen our faith he will bring us into a personal intimacy.

 

A powerful dimension – “and the power of his resurrection.”  Paul is not just saying I want to know him more powerfully in my whole life but I want to experience more and more of the power of the risen Christ in my life  That power was the resurrection power.  We have just come through Easter when we were thinking of the death of the Lord.  Chris died for our sins according to the scriptures and he was buried on the third day.  He rose again from the dead.  He is alive and alive for ever more  We can know him personally and intimately.  You can know the power of the risen Christ in your life day after day.  The power to live above sin.  That is what Paul wanted in his service.  To transform him, to make him more like Christ.  We all have our weaknesses.  That is what I need.  More power to live my life in a way that has a more meaningful impact on my family and in the world I live in.  Paul knew something of the power of Christ – “it is no longer I that liveth but Christ that liveth in me.”  What I need is more of the power of the risen Christ every day.  To live above sin.  To cope with all the temptations that life brings.  Not just going through the motions of life but to do it from the depth of my heart.  We need that in our lives, in our land and in our world.  We need that power in the pulpit and the pew.  Powerful living for witnessing, for serving.  That will only come when we lean to personally cultivate personal intimacy with Christ.  C H Spurgeon said if he had only one prayer in his life it was this “Lord send into thy church men filled with the Holy Ghost and with power.”

 

A painful dimension – “and the fellowship of his sufferings”.  To grow as a Christian, to seek that place of intimacy will never be achieved without pain and without difficulty.  You and I need to be under no illusion.  The Greek scholar said that the word “fellowship” means a joint participation in something.  Paul does not say he wants a share in the substitutionary sufferings of Christ on the cross because he would never understand what it meant for God the holy one to bear away our sin. Paul is talking about suffering here on earth for righteousness sake.  If every day Christians were called to rise up and suffer for Christ surely it would cost so much more.  It costs greatly to stand out for Christ in the face of discouragement.  In a day when the bible is being turned on its head to suit every whim. there comes a time when you have to stand on what the word of God says.  That will not be without its difficulty.  For Paul it cost him greatly to suffer – he was beaten to the point of death, shipwrecked, imprisoned for his faith. But what did he say?  “I count it an honour to suffer for Christ’s sake.”  Imagine saying that.  Sometimes we don’t understand what it means to suffer and sacrifice for the gospel.  To become uncomfortable in our lives and lifestyles.  We don’t know today what others come through for the sake of Christ.  Paul says “don’t become too comfortable that you lose sight of him.”  Many around the world are being asked to suffer for Christ.  Many Christians across our world are suffering today.  Churches are being burned, believers tortured and killed because of faith in Christ.  If you and I are going to take a stand for the word of God and the fundamentals of faith it will cost us.  Paul was willing to do that.  “If Jesus Christ be God and died for me then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for him.” (C T Studd)

 

A practical dimension – “being made conformable unto his death.”  Paul wanted to get to the place where he would die to self and sin.  He wanted to get to the place in his experience of Jesus Christ that he would empty himself of everything that would hinder him.  His desire is for Christlikeness.  Conforming to Christ.  We ought to desire more and more of Christ.  That is the very reason why God has saved us.  The goal of the Christian life is true Christlikeness, a great conformity to Christ.  That would solve many of the problems today.  If we were to pray “let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me” what a difference it would make in this world.  Robert Murray McCheyne lived his life so much that people knew he was in the presence of Christ.  Such was his daily fellowship with Christ that he brought a great likeness of Christ wherever he went.  He said “it is not great talents that God blesses so much as a great likeness to Christ.”  Paul says of him “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death.”  Get to know him.  Grow to love him.  Serve him whatever the cost.  Pray daily that you would become more like him.

 

 

A conscious sense of God's presence

 

LIMAVADY BAPTIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 7 APRIL 2024

2 SAMUEL 7 VERSES 18  - 29

I want you to notice in the opening verses of our reading there is a lovely scene and it begins with these words “Then went king David in and sat before the Lord.”  God wants to speak to us about entering into God’s presence.  If I was to ask you today what is missing in the lives of God’s people today what would you say?  It is also missing in our churches and in the pulpit.  A conscience sense of God’s presence.  We have been seminary conscious, church conscious, conference conscious but we can have all the meetings of the day yet not be God conscious.  If any of God’s people need something today it is to be God conscious, being conscious of God’s presence.  Proverbs 22 verse 4 “by humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honour and life.”  If anything is going to enrich the life of the believer it is a conscious sense of God.  This is something we all need – a personal experience of God’s presence.  David had this personal experience of God’s presence.  But not only a personal experience of God’s presence he has also a personal conscience of God’s presence.  The Psalmist could ask “where shall I flee from thy presence?”  Do we sense God’s presence, do we feel God’s presence in our lives today?  Job 23 verse 15 “I am troubled at thy presence.”  We have got to know the presence of God.  It would affect us if we did.  It would change our attitude.  It would give us a fear of God.  The church needs that fear to fall on us.  There is no fear of God today.  If anything is going to strike revival in the hearts of God’s people it is the fear of God.  We need a move of God amongst God’s people today.

Verse 22 – David noticed the greatness of God.  We need to grasp the greatness of our God – Deuteronomy 3 verse 24.  How our souls would be blessed, our spirits lifted if only we could grasp something of the Lord’s greatness.  There is so much to annoy us today.  So much to despair of, to get us down.  If only we could grasp the truth of the greatness of God.  We need to learn the sense of God’s presence.  To know the greatness of God.  Hudson Taylor woke up one day with a spirit of depression and despondence.  He was downhearted and near giving up on life.  He took his bible and got alone with God.  He said “if you are really there God come to me now, reveal yourself to me.”  His bible fell open at Psalm 48 verse 1 “great is the Lord and greatly to be praised.”  Maybe you are down today.  Maybe you are discouraged in your work.  Maybe you are wondering how you will face tomorrow.  It seems impossible to face.  God is greater than your problem.  God is greater than your sorrow.  God understands. 

David saw also the uniqueness of God.  Jeremiah 10 verse 6.  People forget that God ruleth in the kingdoms of men.  Isaiah 40 verse 15 “Behold the nations as a drop of a bucket and are counted as the small dust of the balance; behold, he taketh up the isles s a very little thing.”.  He is unique as far as his power is concerned but he is unique as far as his pardon is concerned.  What a great God we have!  He delighteth in mercy.  Where would you be if he hadn’t forgiven you?  How many of Gods people are struggling with assurance today.  “Am I really saved?”  Micah 7 verse 19 “he has cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.”  “As far as the east is from the west so far has he removed our transgressions.” Psalm 103 verse 12

David was conscious of the powerfulness of God – verse 22.  At the Red Sea after Moses had brought the people of Israel out of Egypt they were made aware of the powerfulness of God.  We see also the powerfulness of God in the resurrection.  What other God is like this?  God is in control of everything that is going on in this world, in your life.  As for God his ways are always perfect – not always pleasant but perfect. 

Verse 21 what we ought to need to do today – we need to get to know our God.  Getting alone with God, opening our bibles then God can really come to us.  Every meeting we hold cannot be substituted with getting alone with God.  We need to get God conscious again.  We need to encounter God today.  It is the presence of God that pastors need in our pulpits.  A conscious sense of God.  If pastors got a grasp of the presence of God there would be more humility and less pride.  May that be the desire of all of our hearts today, to get to know God in these days.  Conscious of God in every day living.  Paul said “O that I might know him and the power of his resurrection.”  If we got the sense of God things would happen.  “Then went king David in and sat before the Lord.”  What a picture – David the king sat before the Lord – just him and the Lord.  O that we could get to that place to be alone with God today.

The two thieves on the cross

 

LIMAVADY BAPTIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2024 pm

LUKE 23 VERSES 1 - 4, 21 – 24, 32 – 46

Here in our passage we have read about how the Lord stood before the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate.  He said of Jesus “I find no fault in this man.”  He gave into the pressure of the crowd, he wanted to keep in with them.  Many people reject the Lord Jesus today because they want to keep in with the crowd, too scared of what work colleagues would say in the morning if we tell them last night I accepted the Saviour.  They want to keep in with the crowd.  Pontius Pilate sees no reason at all to put the Lord to death.  He was completely innocent.  Pontius Pilate condemns Christ to the death of the cross.  The one who stood before him was the sinless Lamb of God.  For 33 years he walked this scene of time, he never sinned, never committed vile deeds or actions, said no vile words.  1 John 3 verse 5 “And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins and in him is no sin.”  Peter said “who did no sin neither was guile found in his mouth.”  Paul said “he knew no sin.”  The absolutely sinless Son of God yet Pontius Pilate has him flogged time and time again.  “The plowers plowed upon my back they made long their furrows.” (Psalm 129 verse 3)   There they put the crown of thorns on his head.  Man is inflicting on him all the evil.  Picture him as he walks towards Golgotha, as he makes his way through the city streets to outside the city walls.  Every step he takes is bloodstained.  He bears on his back the cross.  They come to the place called Golgotha or the Place of the Skull.  They laid him down on the cross and drove nails into his hands and feet.  “When they were come to the place called Calvary there they crucified him.”  It is the only time in scripture that we read of Calvary.  There on the cross he was crucified – not for any sin of his own but for yours and mine.  Rembrandt the famous painter painted a picture entitled “the raising of the cross”.  He painted himself amongst the crowd not because he was here but he knew Christ was there for him.  Christ hung upon the cross for you and I so we could be saved, so we could have the assurance of having our sins taken away and one day have a home in heaven. 

 

I want us to think tonight of the 2 thieves on either side of the Lord.  They were condemned men.  Sin had caught up with them.  The things they had done wrong.  The activities they were involved in had caught up with them.  They were condemned to the cross.  “He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed on the name of the Son of God.” (John 3 verse 18)  Are you trusting in Christ tonight?  Can you look back to a time in your life when you came to know Christ as your own Saviour?  Under condemnation.  Paul in Romans 8 verse 1 says “There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.”  You could come and put your trust in Christ, no longer be in condemnation, be saved and know assurance of a home in heaven.  Are you in Christ?  Have you experienced the new birth?  Do you know your name is recorded in heaven?  These men on either side of the Lord are facing death.  Death will come to them soon.  Death is coming for each of us.  We must be ready.  Hebrews 9 verse 27.  The world is full of people who think death is the end.  Death is coming and after that you will stand at the great white throne and from there be cast into the lake of fire.  You are going to the awful place called hell and one day you will stand before the Lord.  When you are cast into the lake of fire there is no way back.  You are there all because of sin.  Romans 5 verse 12 “wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death passed upon all men for that all have sinned.”  We all have an appointment with death.  We cannot put it off.  It is not like the appointment with the dentist or doctor which we can cancel and put off to another day.  Romans 5 verse 19 “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”  That is what Christ was doing here on the centre cross of Calvary.  He carried out the Father’s will so that none should perish but come to repentance and faith in Jesus as their personal Saviour. 

 

Now a change begins to take place – verses 39 and 40.  Here’s a man being crucified beside the Lord.  He acknowledges there is a God.  James 2 verse 19 “Thou believest that there is one God, thou doest well: the devils also believe and tremble.”  Maybe you believe there is a God but you don’t have a relationship with God.  You can remember when you were sent to Sunday School and church.  You could even teach theology and debate doctrine.  You can look back to times when you were taken to gospel meetings.  Perhaps you could even preach the gospel but you don’t know Christ as your own and personal Saviour.  If that is you, you are on the broad that will take you to the place of destruction and hell.  There is no way back.  There is no rerun.  There is no replay.  You are there and there for ever.  This man beside the Lord was a condemned man.  He becomes a convicted man – verse 41.  Here’s a man who realises he is there on the cross because his evil deeds have caught up with him.  He realises they are getting the due rewards of their deeds.  If you are not saved the first thing you must do is acknowledge you are a sinner.  Maybe you are saying “I know I have never been as bad as those men either side of Jesus.”  The bible says you are a sinner – Romans 3 verse 10 “there is none righteous no not one.”  It doesn’t matter if I was raised on millionaires row or poverty street I am still a sinner.  Romans 3 verse 23 “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  God has a standard.  We could never make the bar.  You must come and accept Christ and accept his righteousness.  This man has a change of mind which leads to a change of heart.  He confesses he is a sinner.  If you are going to be saved you need to accept you are a sinner. 

 

This man became a converted man – verses 42 and 43.  This man has recognised that he is a sinner.  He has also acknowledged that Christ is sinless verse 39.  Here this man acknowledges he is a sinner, acknowledged that Christ is sinless.  He is on the cross having done nothing wrong.  Christ was on the cross for your sin and mine.  He had to be perfect to be accepted as your sacrifice and mine.  Would you not come and confess the Lord as your Saviour?  He now realises he is going out into eternity.  We are all heading there.  There are 2 destinations, heaven or hell.  There is no half way house.  There is no waiting area.  Have you made preparation?  Amos 4 verse 12 “prepare to meet thy God.”  We are all going to meet God.  Will you meet him as your Saviour or will you meet him as your judge?  Have you made preparation for eternity?  Have you confessed that Jesus is Lord?  “Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”  He is acknowledging he now needs the Lord.  You need the Lord if you are ever going to enter into heaven.  John 14 verse 6 “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”  The Lord Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God was dying in place of fallen man.  He gave his life for you and I that you could be saved.  This man has no time to call on a priest although there were many there that day.  He does not call on Mary the mother of Jesus even though she is there.  There is no time to be baptised.  No time to check if his name is on the church roll book.  He simply puts his faith and trust in the Lord.  Ephesians 2 verses 8 and 9.  If you are going to heaven, to be saved, you will have to put your faith in the Lord Jesus.  He is the only way to be in heaven.  Verse 46.  The Lord now has laid down his life.  We do not present a dead Saviour, we present one who is alive, risen from the dead.  He has now ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father in glory.  Maybe you are saying “I know all that, I have all the time in the world to get saved.  I am healthy, young.”  Proverbs 27 verse 1 “boast not thyself of tomorrow for thou knowest not what a day may hold.”  Paul said “behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.”  Don’t put it off to another day.  You do not know where you will be 5 minutes from now.  It would be an awful thing to sit through a gospel meeting and in the week ahead go out into eternity, ending up in hell.  That you turned your back, walked through the doors still a Christ rejector.  We present one who is on the throne of heaven.  He loves you so much that he was willing to come from heaven to die on the cross so you can have eternal life.  “I give unto them eternal life and none shall perish, none shall pluck them out of my hand.”  We praise God for the eternal security of our soul.  Whenever Christ was on the cross he was able to cry out “it is finished”  There is nothing more for you and I to do.  It was completed.  He couldn’t go and confess his sins to the priest, clean up his life, bow his knee to pray.  He knows he is going out into eternity.  He confesses he is a sinner.  As you sit in your sin tonight, if you ever want to be in heaven you will have to come the way of the cross.  Maybe you are saying ‘You don’t know the awful sins I have committed, the awful things I have done.’  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11 verse 28)  “He that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6 verse 37)  If you put your faith in him and trust in him you will be saved tonight.  Come and rest our all upon Christ, his finished work.  He will save you and he will save you eternally.

He is risen

 

LIMAVADY BAPTIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 31 MARCH 2024

MARK 15 VERSES 39 – 16 VERSE 8

In this passage we read of some notable people at the crucifixion of Jesus.  There were those who were there at the time Jesus was laid in the tomb.  There were those who were there on the resurrection morning.  Some were there on all 3 occasions. 

Notice firstly Joseph of Arimathea.  He was a rich man and a disciple of Jesus.  Matthew 27 verse 27.  In Matthew 27 verse 58 we read that Joseph begged for the body of Jesus from Pontius Pilate.  A rich man who became a beggar.  He was not depending on his riches, his worldly goods, that which was material but that which was eternal.  He was depending on the eternal Son of God.  Are you relying on material things today?  Be like Joseph, do not trust in that which is temporal but that which is eternal – the Son of God Jesus.

Secondly the women who were making their way to the tomb early in the morning.  Chapter 16 verse 1 “and when the sabbath was past Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome”.  We know that Salome was the wife of Zebedee, James and John’s mother.  Notice the words “when the sabbath was past.”  That sabbath for these women and the disciples and the followers of Jesus was unlike any other.  It was the first without the Lord, the one they trusted in, the one they adored, the one they loved, the one they spent many hours with.  Now he is dead and in the tomb.  That sabbath was unlike any other.  It is a great encouragement for us to know that that time of separation was temporary.  Jesus rose form the dead.  He came out of the grave victorious over death and hell.  1 Corinthians 15 verse 20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”  Jesus when he rose from the dead would be the firstfruits of others who would also rise again.  Verse 23 goes on to say ”But every man in his own order Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”  One day those who are Christ’s own will also rise to meet him in the air.  Think of others in the bible who rose from the dead – the widow of Zarepath’s son in 1 Kings 17 and the Shunammite woman’s son in 2 Kings 4.  There were those who the Lord himself rose from the dead.  We need to remember though that all these people had to die again.  Our Saviour has risen eternally.  He will never taste death again.  When the bodies come out of the grave at the rapture they will never taste death again.  Our Lord is the firstfruits of the dead.  It is a reminder of the sheaves that were waved in Leviticus 23 by the priests signifying the firstfruits of the harvest.  The Lord is the firstfruit of the harvest. Think of the farmer who in a few weeks time will be going out to sow the seeds in our fields.  In a couple of weeks time the first shoot will appear in the ground and soon it will be followed by many more.  The Lord is that first shoot and at his second coming many more shoots will rise with him.

Notice the woman who came to the grave had a great problem – verses 2 and 3.  These women realised they had a great problem.  They didn’t say ‘how will we roll away the stone?’ but rather ‘who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?’  They realised it was beyond their capability, their strength.  They acknowledged they couldn’t roll away the stone.  I wonder as you make your way along the pathway of life, maybe a week, a month ahead you know there is something that is beyond anything you can deal with.  It is beyond your strength and capability.  That is where these women were.  They knew up ahead there was something they would not be able to deal with in their own strength.  The God we worship and adore is the one who inhabits eternity and will be there before them.  We are not saying God rolls all our problems away but rather when you get to your problem he is already there.  He is with you in that problem.  We have one who will never leave us or forsake us.

Look at verses 5 and 6.  When the women arrived at the tomb they realised the stone was rolled away.  Mary ran to fetch Peter and John.  Both came running and John gets there first.  He doesn’t go in but Peter does.  When they are in the tomb they see the grave clothes.  There is one thought here concerning the grave clothes – there was no struggle.  The Lord won a great victory.  There was never going to be any question of that for the Lord was going to be victorious.  Peter and John make their way back to their own homes – we read that in John 20.  These woman have remained at the tomb.  Now we read in verse 5 as they entered into the sepulchre a young man speaks to them.  John records it as 2 angels present, one at the head and the other at the foot but here in Mark’s gospel one of the angel speaks “Be not affrighted.”  In other words ‘don’t be scared’.  God knows our frame.  He knows the times when we would be scared, when we will experience fear.  I thought of other angels who came and spoke in scripture.  Remember the angel who came to the shepherds on the hillside of Judea.  “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2 verse 10)  Then I thought of the angel who spoke to the disciples on the Mount of Olives after the Lord had ascended “Ye men of Galilee why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1 verse 11)  An angel came at Bethlehem to say Christ had come.  An angel came to the tomb to say Christ had risen and now we read that Christ is coming again.  It is all in fulfilment of Zechariah 14 verse 4.  One day Jesus will come back again to the Mount of Olives, 7 years after the rapture.  He will come and set his feet on the Mount of Olives.  The mount will be divided by a great valley.  There at Jerusalem the eastern gate is closed today in fulfilment of God’s word.  It hasn’t been opened in almost 500 years since the time of the Ottoman Empire.  The Muslims have a graveyard in front of the eastern gate and they believe Jesus will not come through the gate as he would be walking through a graveyard and would be defiling himself.  Scripture tells us he will come walking through the eastern gate.  Christ is coming back to the earth again to rule and reign.

Verse 7 – the instructions the angel gives to the women.  There is a special mention made of Peter.  He has failed the Lord, he is unworthy, he cannot be used, excluded.  The angel makes special mention of him.  “Make sure you tell Peter.”  Our God is the God of the second chance.  This same Peter who failed the Lord that night has he stood warming his hands at the fire is the same one who on the Day of Pentecost stood up and preached boldly and 3000 souls were brought into the kingdom of God.  Maybe you think you have failed the Lord.  God can still use you and he has a job for you to do.

Finally look at verses 19 and 20.  Here we see that there was a day when the Lord ascended up into heaven.  That is where he is today – at God’s right hand side.  40 days after he rose again he ascended to heaven.  He is in his rightful place today.  He was willing to leave the splendours of heaven, to be born into a borrowed outhouse, to be wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a borrowed cradle.  He preached from a borrowed boat.  He was wrapped in grave clothes and placed in a borrowed grave.  Today he is in his rightful place.  His eye is on us today.  He hears our prayers.  He is our great high priest and is touched with our infirmities and knows all we are going through today.  He can hear and answer our prayers.  Verse 20 how those disciples and followers went to do the Lord’s work. God has a job for you and I to do in these days we live in.  Let’s be faithful to do that work for our Lord and Saviour.

 

The right man in the right place at the right time

 

LIMAVADY BAPTIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 17 MARCH 2024 – MR JOHN WEIR

READING: ACTS 9 VERSES 1 – 2

The right man in the right place at the right time

 

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus changed Christianity for ever.  We have read of his conversion.  His life was changed.  Paul’s conversion is recorded 3 times in the book of Acts – here in verseS 1 to 9, Acts 22 and Acts 26.  He was never the same again.  Every conversion is a miracle.  Before conversion we were dead in our trespasses and sins blinded by the god of this world then we heard the message of the gospel.  We were changed, saved and filled with God’s spirit, ready for heaven and home.  Maybe we have been saved at a young age, some saved from a life of alcoholism, some from the church pew, some from a false cult, others on their death bed.  Others were saved simply by reading the word of God.  There are many ways to come to the Saviour but it is most important to get there and to come to know the Lord as Saviour.  Thank the Lord for all he has done in your life.  Paul was on the religious road.  Christianity was a dangerous sect to him, he wanted to eliminate them all.  What was the motto of his life after his conversion?  “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”  Is that the motto of your life today?  It was said of Wesley’s converts “they died well”.  How time is so short.  The weeks, months, years will go so quick – let’s live the way Paul lived. 

 

In Acts 9 we read of another man, Ananias of Damascus.  There are tremendous lessons we can learn from his life.  An ordinary disciple who the Lord used in a tremendous way.  God delights in using people in the background.  The Lord knew their heart and motives.  Think of the young maid in Naaman’s house, the lad with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes, the woman who married 5 times, David the shepherd boy, Gideon who said he was the least of his fathers house.  1 Corinthians 1 verse 27.  Ananias was the right man in the right place at the right time.

 

The character of Ananias – verse 10.  He was a follower of Jesus, part of the local church.  We don’t read how he came to faith.  An ordinary disciple.  He was not introduced as a great pastor or theologian or missionary just a “certain disciple”.  It is amazing in the book of Acts how God’s people are described. The word “disciple” is used in verses 1, 10, 19, 25, 26, 36 and 36.  “Those of the way” is used in Acts 9 verse 2.  The word “saints” is used in verses 13, 32, 41.  There is also the word “brethren” in verses 17 and 30.  The term “Christian” is not used until Acts 11 verse 26.  Whatever title you want to use – count it a privilege to serve the Lord, to identify with him.  Never be ashamed of the Lord Jesus.  Many are caught up with titles and importance today.  “He made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men.”  ‘A little servant  of an illustrious master’ is how Hudson Taylor described himself.  Ananias was happy to serve the Lord in the background.  His name means favoured of the Lord.  There are 3 Ananias’ in the New Testament.  We have Ananias and Sapphira, then here there is Ananias of Damascus and in chapter 23 Ananias the priest.  He is never mentioned like Paul, Peter or James but the Lord had a plan for his life.  A special job for him to do.  We are all different personalities, implements.  We have different things going on in our lives.  God can use us in an individual way.  God knew where to find Ananias.  God speaks to him in a vision.  He could trust him with the task ahead of him.  When we spend time with the word of God, God speaks to us, instructs and guides us.  When we spend time with God each day it is important to take time to read the word of God, to pray and spend time with him.  To get alone with the Lord is so important.  Verse 10 “behold I am here Lord.”  He was open to God’s call on his life.  If the Lord asked you to do something would you do it?  Maybe it will be outside of your comfort zone?  Ananias was familiar with the Old Testament because that is how Abraham replied “here am I”.  Samuel also did it as did Isaiah.  Maybe you could make yourself available for the master’s service.  “Here is my life I am willing to do whatever you want me to do.”  Acts 22 verse 11 in Paul’s testimony we read more of Ananias.  Read verses 12 to 16.  In verse 12 he is described.  He had a good testimony.  This is the type of people we need in the Christian church.  He walked with the Lord.  He was well respected.  Can people say that of us?  There are many who profess to be Christian but they let the Lord down – in business, in the work place, in the church.  Your testimony and mine is the most valuable thing we have.  It tells people that there is something different about us.

 

The commission of Ananias – verse 11.  He is given a special job, specific instructions.  The exact street and house he is told to go to.  God said to Ananias “arise and go.”  There is no delay.  Has the Lord ever told you to “arise and go”?  If the Lord gives you a job to do arise and go.  Don’t put it off.  The Lord wants obedient and willing servants.

 

The courage of Ananias – verses 13 and 14.  Ananias was afraid. He needed wisdom, courage  It could have been a trap.  He could have been on Paul’s hit list.  He knew all about his past sins and reputation.  Verse 15.  The Lord reassures his servant.  The Lord still does that today.  The Lord often does that with us.  God wants obedient servants.  Paul would suffer many things but he was a chosen vessel.  Many suffer for their faith.  They are giants in our lives.  They have difficult lives but are used by God.  God told Paul “my grace is sufficient for thee.”  God will get us through.  Soon it will be all over, all the pain you are battling with will be all over, you will spend eternity with him.  Verses 17 and 18.  He called him “Brother Saul”.  He didn’t bring up his sins or things from the past.  He was filled with the Spirit and baptised.  Can we thank the Lord for the Ananias of Damascus people in our lives?  Can you point to an Ananias in your life?  We didn’t understand the great doctrines of the bible but there was someone who sat beside us, encouraged us, prayed for us, welcomed us into the flock.  We never read of Ananias again but he was obedient.  Ananias was the right man in the right place at the right time.

The epistle to the Philippians - the voice, vision and victory of the Spirit

 

Philippians 1 verses 1 – 11

Acts 16 verses 1 – 14

The epistle to the Philippians opens with an introduction to 2 men – “Paul and Timotheus the servants of Jesus Christ.”  Our minds are drawn to Acts 16 and Paul’s discovery of Timothy.  He became his beloved helper in the gospel.  He was possibly converted under Paul’s ministry.  In spite of much persecution he saw great fruit.  God by his matchless grace saved a young man and provided a companion to Paul.  Acts 15 verse 41.  Timothy accompanied and assisted him in founding the Philippian church.  There were many rich deposits of gold in this area as well as many fertile plains.  The gospel was first preached in Philippi on Paul’s second journey.

The voice of the Spirit.  Having accomplished much in Galatia Paul and his company of workers were eager to continue their campaign for Christ.  Asia was the next place in their mind.  God had different plans for them.  Verse 6 – “they were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia.”  God stopped them preaching the word in Asia – why would he stop his servants?  Surely it is the Lord’s desire to have ambassadors to go into the whole world?  The steps and the stops of a good man are ordered by the Lord.  It is possible to be going on in the service of God and not be in the appointed place.  God’s Spirit sometimes has to restrain before he will constrain.  The place in which we serve should be by divine appointment.  It is wrong to choose the location of our service.  It should be set forth by the Holy Spirit.  He may prevail us to go on and he may prevent us from going.  We must have spiritual perception and sensitivity in order to hear the Spirit’s voice.  John writing on the isle of Patmos said “he that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.”  Divine leading is a clear indication of a right relationship with God.  Those who desire after the Lord will want to be directed by him.  He will want to lead those who have a clear longing for him.  “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God these are the sons of God.” (Romans 8 verse 14)  There are far more rewards in witnessing to one soul to preaching out of the will of God to those millions of people.  The Holy Spirit selected servants in the day of his Spirit and directed them.  Their success lay in their willingness to build.  When we are ready and willing the Holy Spirit will lead us into definite way where no power will be able to resist.  Their ministry bore the stamp of divine hands.  The spirit is both a propelling and restraining force.  How we need to be those who will follow the Lord’s forbidding as well as his advance.

The vision of the Spirit.  After the voice comes the vision – verses 9 and 10 “a vision appeared to Paul in the night.  There stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia and help us.  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”  Some say this man was Luke, others Jesus himself.  The word of God doesn’t tell us.  It is not ours to know.  At this particular point Paul saw a vision.  Another indication of the Spirit’s leading in his life.  Each vital decision to leave Asia Minor and head for Macedonia.  At the direction of a man it became clear that this was a calling from God to continue his mission.  The large populated cities needed God’s message.  The cry from the man gives clear indication of his spiritual state.  “Help me”.  What was going on?  Heathenism has no workable or redemptive power.  That was the problem.  Heathenism with all its brilliant civilisation and culture needed what only Christ could supply.  Verse 10 – “immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia.”  Another door opened up and the place of God’s choosing has been set.  Are we hearing the crying from the human heart for help?  This land is full of needy lives who desperately need our help tonight.  Will we take to them the one message that can only save them?  Our vision of lost sinners constitutes the Macedonian call to every child of God.  Will you help those who are needed?  Those who are on the road to lost eternity.  Will we endeavour to tell them of Jesus the mighty to save?  Such a vision of the lost will compel every child to carry the gospel to the furthest ends of the earth?  Acts 1 verse 8 “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  It could not be clearer.  Everyone on the face of the earth has the right and opportunity to hear the gospel therefore it is our responsibility to spread the good news of salvation.  Is that our vision tonight?  Do we see it clearly?  It is so easy for our vision to become so blurred by the old world and its ways.  Paul had his companions in the gospel who would do nothing other than obey the Lord.  He obeyed the Lord even though couldn’t produce the results but the one thing he was certain about – he went in the will of the Lord.

The victory of the Spirit.  I am sure you have often heard it said – God is no man’s debtor.  When Paul obeyed the vision and voice the outcome was victorious and glorious.  He answered the call of God, witnessed the triumph of God over pagan idolatry.  It is a matter of waiting and being patient for the Lord to move in many ways.  When he arrived in Macedonia there was no-one waiting to help and show them around.  They were on their own.  “and we were in that city biding certain days.”  That should be no surprise to God’s servants when they arrive in some mission field – that no-one wants them.  The need is great.  The heathen don’t know their need.  Paul found a group of women gathered for prayer.  An opportunity to witness of the living Christ.  There was one woman in the group called Lydia, a business woman who sold dyed material.  She was originally from Thyatira, the leading city of Asia.  The Lord works in mysterious ways.  The Spirit restrained Paul from going to Asia, now he was speaking to open hearts.  In other words the Lord prepared her heart for the message Paul would preach.  God was in this.  There was no half hearted reception of the truth.  It is only the Lord who can make the ears to hear, eyes to see, minds to understand and the heart to experience.  We have evidence – she opened her heart verse 14.  Until the word was spoken by Paul.  What an encouragement this must have been for the apostle Paul.  Stopped by the Spirit, constrained to go where he doesn’t know.  I am sure he is probably thinking ‘what is the end result?’ Lydia’s heart was opened.  It is wonderful to think that sometimes we think ‘what is the will of God?  I want to go here and there.’  The Lord stops us.  We have to go somewhere the Lord wants us to go.  It will not end in disaster but victory.  What an encouragement this was to Paul.  What a victory for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Once I was blind but now I see

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 14 JANUARY 2024 pm

JOHN 6 VERSES 1 – 12

 

The earthly work and ministry of Jesus is undeniably extraordinary.  He could take the most ordinary things and use them to perform many mighty miracles.  He was the capable solver of any circumstances.  Nothing was beyond him.  Nothing was beneath him.  He was capable of doing the impossible.  He was adequate to meet any need.  He had he resources for any situation.  He turned tragedy into triumph.  To many of the commoners he was a great header.  Many were struck down with infirmities only he could cure - the blind man is an example of this.  The man was blind from his birth.  Nothing ordinarily man could do to help but one day the master saw him, had compassion for him and wonderfully healed him.  Of all the back drops that can hinder man blindness has to be the worse.  But there was one yet worse, more serious than physical blindness – spiritual blindness.  The condition is so disastrous that God saw it necessary to send his son into the world.  Not only to live a good life and perform miracles but to die on the cross and open the eyes of the spiritually blind.  There are 3 points to note.

 

The blind man’s night – verse 1.  What a serious condition this man had.  Blindness is a fatal and most deteriorating disability.  We who can see effectively have no idea of the disabling effect it can have on their condition.  Many have done wonderful things although blind.  Francis Crosby was 6 weeks old when she was blinded.  Later on in life she wrote many great hymns we still sing today.  Blindness was a great disability.  Sitting in darkness of a physical need.  The picture is one of spiritual blindness caused by sin.  Without the Lord the sinner walks in the darkness of sin.  They are unable to see or hear of the great spiritual truths from God’s word.  2 Corinthians 4 verse 4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the eyes of them that believe not less the light of the glorious gospel should shine unto them.”  Why you are not saved?  You are walking in sin and darkness.  The god of this world, the devil has blinded you to the great spiritual truth in holy scriptures.  Satan will try his best to put many barriers between you and the truth – pride, rebellion or even self-righteousness.  All of these things will blur your vision and hinder you from seeing the truth.  This man was blind.  This was the condition he had from his birth – verse 1.  He did not become blind later on in life.  He didn’t have an accident that deprived him of his sight.  He never had the opportunity to see the sunrise or sunset.  He never saw the extent of God’s wonderful creation.  “He that is blind has no enjoyment of the light.  He that is born blind has no idea of it.” Matthew Henry.  He had no idea of the light.  This man’s blindness was from birth.  It is a description of a sinner.  Every man and woman is born a sinner. They don’t become sinful later on in life, don’t become sinful when they reached a certain age.  Every man and woman on this face of the earth is born in sin.  They will be spiritually blind until they receive the glorious light of the gospel.  Psalm 51 verse 5 “Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me.”  It doesn’t matter our class, where we are from.  It doesn't matter who we are.  Each and everyone of us, we are born sinners.  We were born on the broad road that leads to destruction.  Unsaved friend you will continue in sin if you don’t repent and turn to the Lord who is the light of the world.  Sin is an old age problem which only the Lord can solve.  He was blind from his birth and his blindness reduced him to a beggar.  Verse 8 “is not this he that sat and begged?”  He couldn’t live a normal life therefore he was unable to work to make a living.  There was only one source of survival for this man – begging.  He was a beggar.  That is what sin does.  It robs individuals of a good quality of life and reduces them to spiritual beggars.  If you continue in sin it will make you a beggar not just for time but for all eternity.  Don’t go down the road of the prodigal and spend your substance on sinful things.  You will end up broken.  Praise the Lord Jesus is the answer to spiritual poverty.  2 Corinthians 8 verse 9 “for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye and that ye through his poverty might be rich.”  The blind man’s night.

 

The blind man’s sight.  At this point in the narrative the Lord did something unusual but very effective.  He would heal the blind man by spitting, stirring and spreading.  He spat and used it to make clay and then it was spread on the man’s eyes.  As far as common man was concerned it was a strange and peculiar way to restore sight.  Scripture does not say why Jesus does it this way to restore sight.  He made the blind man’s eyes from the dust of the earth.  To many the gospel is strange but it is effective.  1 Corinthians 1 verse 21 “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” When he spread the clay he commanded him to go and wash – verse 7.  The promise of the blind man when he obeyed this command from the Lord.  He obeyed immediately the Saviour’s precepts.  He wisely obeyed God’s commands.  “Those who would be healed by Christ must be ruled by him.”  Matthew Henry.  He didn’t waste any time.  As soon as given the command to go and wash he went – verse 7.  This man must be commended for his prompt obedience.  An absence of promise would have delayed the blessing Christ wanted him to enjoy – why would he want to delay such a wonderful blessing?  I fear there are many blessings from the Lord delayed because of a lack of promise to obey God.  Christian friend are we delaying some blessing>  Are you reluctant when it comes to obeying the Lord? The blind man was prompt and he did exactly what the Lord told him to do – verse 7.  “Go wash in the pool of Siloam.  He went his way and washed.”  This man was in the right place as far as obedience was concerned.  He went to the right place and he did the right thing.  We must be particular when it comes to obeying the Lord.  We need to do exactly what he tells us to do.  The more particular we are the greater the blessing will be.  What was the product of the blind man’s obedience – he went, washed and came seeing.  The result of obedience was sight.  Something he never had.  What a wonderful miracle took place.  It had to be a delightful surprise for him to look on the world he never saw.  This miracle was instantaneous.  He was able to use his eyes immediately.  This miracle came as a result of his prompt obedience.  Christian friend obey God’s command and blessing will be yours.  The blind man’s night.  The blind man’s sight.

 

The blind man’s light.  What wonderful light the Lord brought to this man.  “I am the light of the world.”  No wonder he could say that.  No doubt the blind man heard these wonderful words.  The Pharisees tried to undermine the Lord – verse 24 “we know that this man is a sinner”.  The Pharisees were unsuccessful, they brought more honour to him.  The blind man had a wonderful testimony and story to tell.  “Whether he be a sinner or not I know not one thing that whereas I was blind now I see.”  A clear cut testimony.  The Pharisees could not deny this blind man’s statement.  Gives us great confidence.  The world would tell us there are many things we don’t know which we can know with great certainty.  I know that my redeemer liveth.  I know whom I have believed.  I know I am saved.  I know all things work together for good to them that believe.  I know that when Jesus returns I shall be like him.  To know him with certainty.  Have you a testimony that no one can deny?  Do you  know that you have eternal life?  But the man who was once blind quickly realises that now he can claim the light of certainty without encountering unbelieving enemies.  Verse 34 the world system cast him out.  Following the Lord will certainly be a costly business.  It costs to be a follower of the master.  It can cost you your job, your friends, your possessions, even your life.  It can cause you many hard times ahead.  Cast out.  Ex-communicated but what is that compared to knowing the Lord with great certainty.  Those who are cast out by the world are received by Jesus Christ. 

 

The blind man’s night.  He never saw the light of the day.  He was born blind.  Every man and woman is born a sinner.  They will be continually blind until they receive the light of the gospel.  Have you received it?  Maybe you are still spiritually blind.  The blind man’s sight – the blind man obeyed the divine command.  He was prompt, he did exactly what the Lord commanded him to do and blessing followed.  True obedience to God’s commands leads to lasting blessing.  The blind man’s light.  He had great certainty.  Once I was blind but now I see.  No doubt he could say with the words of the hymn writer “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost but now I am found, was blind but now I see.”  Have you the certainty to night?