The dangers of running from God - the prophet who was humbled

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2025 - MR PHILIP ROBINSON

JONAH 1 VERSES 1 TO 17

Jonah was a prophet of God. We all know his story from our childhood, we have heard sermons and Sunday School lessons on his story. Jonah holds a great challenge for us all. Going on for God and serving him is the main theme. How often in our lives the Lord gives us opportunities to witness for him yet we all find something else to do. We avoid what God has give us to do. Do we obey God's command? Jonah brings a challenge for us to learn from him. We can relate his story to our times today. There are 2 sections to this book. He is a minor prophet with a major message. The first section is chapters 1 and 2 - the first calling of Jonah. He rejects God and ends up in the belly of the fish. In chapters 3 and 4 God gives him another chance, a second opportunity. Even when he had turned his back God spoke to him again and told him to go to Nineveh. That is where God wanted him to go. One of the cities which was the main enemy to Jonah and his country men. A wicked city, known for their brutality and cruelty to people. Historical records prove this. We can understand why Jonah did not want to go there. He knew what would happen if he was taken captive by them. They were the sworn enemies. It made him afraid to go. The Lord chose Jonah to take this message to the city of Nineveh. Matthew 12 verses 39 to 41. Jesus likens himself to this prophet Jonah. even today we can liken ourselves to Jonah, particularly in our day to day lives.

The prophet who was disobedient - verses 1 to 3. God has called him to go to this wicked city to share the message he had for them, if the people did not repent from their wickedness God would destroy them in 40 days. There is an urgency behind this command. Notice the 2 words in verse 2 - "arise, go". It was not "when you finish your day's work" or "go in a couple of months time". God was not giving him an option of whether to go or not. Go straight away. God will destroy them if they don't repent. There were 120,000 people in this city and God would destroy every one of them because of their wickedness and sinful ways. Mark 15 verse 15 has the same word for us - "go". It is the great commission of God to our hearts. The urgency behind this command. We are to take the good news of the gospel into all the world. It is amazing how you can reach so many countries today on social media from the comfort of your own home. It is amazing we can share the gospel to people thousands of miles away through the internet. We have that command to preach to all the world. Whe reason why we have an urgency to take the gospel is because none of us known when the time will come when we will be taken out of this world. Many people have made plans to get saved and never actually have the opportunity to do it. Some say they will wait until their deathbed but then were taken suddenly without warning. When we think of the wickedness of Nineveh, God knew that this was a sinful city. He had compassion on them. He knew what they did, where they did it and to whom - Nahum 3 verses 1 to 7. We can see the same sinfulness even today. The things of God are not the focus for some people on the Sabbath day. How our times have changed - my grandparents tell me of days when no shops opened on a Sunday and no-one went to work. The things of this world are now placed before God today. As Christians we have joy in our heart knowing God as number 1. In verse 3 we see the disobedience of Jonah the prophet. Notice how the words "went down" are repeated 3 times in the opening 8 verses. He went down to Joppa, found a ship that was going down and Jonah went down into the ship. 1 Kings 10 verse 22 and 2 Chronicles 9 verse 21 shows that this ship docked only once every 3 years. The devil was doing everything to take Jonah out of the task God had for Jonah. How often the devil will bring distractions for us in our lives. Think of the times when we get down to prayer or read God's word.Something else crops up and we are distracted away. If God asked us to do something for him - that neighbour that needs to hear the message of the gospel, a family member who is still unsaved or a work colleague. What do we do? God sometimes asks us to do something outside our comfort zone.

The prophet who was sleeping - verses 4 to 7. As he went down into the ship he probably thought he had succeeded in going in the opposite direction. Then we read God sent a storm on the sea. Jonah had ran from the sight of the Lord but the Lord sent a great wind on the sea. It is not pleasant to be in a ship in the midst of a storm. Little did Jonah know that God was preparing the way to not have the opportunity to run from him. He wanted to remind him that there was no escape from God. In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve tried to hide from God  but God knew exactly where they were. Jonah was doing the same. He tried to hide from God but God knew exactly where he was. The ships in Jonah's day were made of wood.  Notice we read the prophet Jonah slept while the storm was raging. These sailors were from different nations and when the storm arose they called on their gods to save them. Little did they know that Jonah was worshipping the true God. They had probably seen many great storms in their lives but none like this one. Imagine the panic setting in. These men made their living from this job. They depended on this job. All during this time Jonah was fast asleep. It is hard to sleep on a boat that is rocking. This is a reminder to us as Christians - we can be sleeping spiritually even as we are here in church today. Perhaps we are just coming to church out of habit. Are we ready to reach those around us with the good news of the gospel? In verse 6 we see a confrontation with the captain and Jonah. He had told the sailors to call on their own gods but they didn't realise that Jonah was serving the true God. They then decided to cast lots to see why this storm had started, who was responsible. In John 19 verse 24 we read that they cast lots for Jesus' garments. For these sailors, they believed someone caused this storm. This was all part of God's plan for Jonah. In the midst of the storm the prophet was sleeping. We can be sleeping spiritually today even as Christians.

The prophet whose sin found him out - verses 8 to 16. We read of the conversation between Jonah and the other sailors. Imagine that as the storm raged - he told them he had run from God. The sailors asked why he had done that. Imagine the panic setting in on them. This was their livelihood. Verse 14. The men cried out to God. Imagine the fear in their hearts. They didn't want to perish. Jonah had run from the presence of God and came down into this ship going in the opposite direction to Tarshish 25,000 miles from where he was told to go. The men took Jonah and cast him into the sea. They thought by doing so the sea would be calm. These men lifted Jonah up and threw him into the see. The sea stopped raging immediately. Put yourself into Jonah's mindset. He asked to be thrown overboard. Imagine the sailors as they did what they were told to do and then the sea calmed immediately.  What a witness to the testament of the power of God. God is in control of the land and the sea. His power were clearly seen. God is in control of everything even in today's society. God is in control as Jonah was thrown into the sea. The sea calmed. They no doubt stood there and watched in amazement. They realised that this is the one true God Jonah was serving. None of their gods could cause the sea to calm. They decided to make a sacrifice to God, to the power of God. They had many pagan gods yet here they saw a demonstration of the one true God.

The prophet who God saved - verse 17. There is a sermon in this verse alone! The prophet who ran from God, turned his back and ran in the opposite direction, got on board a ship to Tarshish. The last verse shows he was swallowed by a great fish. There is a debate whether it was a great fish or a whale. All we know is that scripture tells us it was a great fish. We see God's hand throughout the whole situation. As he went down into the boat I am sure Jonah thought he had got out of the task God gave him. Even when the storm arose on the sea and the sailors thought the boat would sink, the Lord had his hand on the prophet. Even though Jonah turned his back on God, God still had a plan for him. He didn't say "if you are not going to do it Jonah I will find someone else." God gave Jonah a second chance. The Lord had prepared the fish. He sent it to Jonah. As Jonah was thrown over the side of the ship the men thought that was the end for Jonah. This fish was sent by God. It was not just a coincidence, it was all part of the plan of God. Even then God spoke to Jonah. Sometimes God does that to us as Christians. He chastises us. If we step outside of God's will, step outside of our comfort zone, try to find excuses to do what God asks, God will bring us back to himself. Nineveh was outside Jonah's comfort zone yet God used Jonah to bring revival. It is important as we face the mission next week to think about the people around us. God could use us to witness for him at this particular point in time. God commands us to share the good news of the gospel. God gives us help. If God calls us to do something for him will we do it? Are you willing to go forward with God in this year? Or are we going to turn our back on God? In chapter 2 we read that Jonah cried from the belly of the fish. God used that opportunity to give him time to come back to himself. In chapters 3 and 4 we see the great revival in Nineveh - every single person turned from their wicked ways and turned to the Lord.

Caleb - a man who wholly followed the Lord

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

Sermon notes from Sunday 22 July 201 - Mr Ian Booth, Faith Mission

Numbers 14 verses 5 to 9, 22 to 24 and Joshua 14 verses 6 to 15, 15 verses 13 and 14

Caleb - a Gentile by birth, the son of Jephunneh. he was of the same people that Moses had married into. He was outside the nation of israel. We too are born outside of the family and fold of God. Even though he was disadvantaged by his birth he went on to be a man of God, did exploits for God. 

"And you hath he quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins, wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." 

Ephesians 2 verses 1 to 3.

In the life of Abraham God promised this great land. He was alien to those promises. Caleb at one time was a possessor of a different spirit. Whenever we come to trust and put our faith in Christ, the Spirit of God came into our lives, we are the possessor a new Spirit, born again of the Spirit of God. Our lives are changed as a result of what God has done.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!

Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!

Heir of salvation, purchase of God

Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood!

We cannot follow the Lord unless we are born again of the Spirit of God. we can never see the Kingdom of God unless that has happened Caleb had a different spirit, a spirit that changed his life and brought him into the family of God.

Caleb enjoyed a surrendered life

The challenge of his heart - the proclamation of his heart. He said with absolute assurance "I will wholly follow the Lord." His life was changed as a result of having that different spirit. Everything that God said Caleb was going to do it. Look at verse 10 "And now behold the Lord hath kept me alive as he said" and again in verse 12 "if so be able to drive them out as the Lord said."  Caleb despised half heartedness. he had seen the richness of the land. The other spies had talked about the giants in the land and how they were so large. Caleb was different. He had his eyes fixed on the Lord of heaven. It was all for God or not at all. Caleb's name means surrendered to God. Sometimes it is easy to say the words but to live it out is a different matter altogether. Caleb doesn't say it in a boastful way or from assumption. He had a heart that is fully passionate for god. He was fully in God's plan the moment he had handed his life over to God. You and I, we must never be satisfied just with intellectual awareness of how we can live for God. "But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves" James 1 verse 22. Caleb knew he had been promised the land. There is no substitute for personal obedience. As God speaks to us we must do as he asks.

The confirmation of his surrender. Moses said in verse 9 "because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God." Moses was someone to look up to. He had been educated in all the mighty wisdom of Egypt, he had spent 40 years in the wilderness. Moses knew without a doubt that Caleb wholly followed the Lord. A lady once made a claim that she had surrendered into a deeper relationship with God. A sceptic asked her "have you any more power in your life as a result?" The woman said "no I don't think so." The sceptic asked again "so have you any more great plans or positions you need to fulfil in life then?" The woman replied "my friends are beginning to ask me more questions about spiritual things, asking me to pray for different situations in my life." The woman had given more of her life to God and it was displayed in her life. There was a difference. When we surrender to God others will see the difference and begin to ask questions. A life that is surrendered to God - what a confirmation that others have seen it.

The commendation for this surrender. We read in Numbers about God speaking and God has spoken about the nation of Israel disobeying his commands because of unbelief, they would not surrender to God. God said "But my servant Caleb because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully ..." (Numbers 14 verse 24)) What a commendation from God regarding Caleb! Caleb knew what it was to present his life as a divine sacrifice. "I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to his world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12 verse 1 The world will put pressure on us to do all kinds of things but Caleb didn't care, he wholly trusted the Lord. what a challenge to us all today. Do we all stand for God in a day when we must be counted? We need to re-examine whether we are surrendered to the will and plan of God. George Mueller said "there was a day when I died, utterly died - died to George Mueller, his opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren and friends - and since then I have only to show myself approved to God."

Caleb enjoyed a separated life

Caleb was separated from discouragement. In Joshua 14 verse 10 Caleb referred to the 40 and 5 years the Lord had kept him alive. While Caleb and Joshua spied out the land they were spared from discouragement. it didn't matter how much opposition or trials they faced they never lost faith in God. Today there are many who can discourage us. The bible tells us to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." Sometimes people get discouraged because of the numbers attending meetings, because of individuals who are perhaps of a different religion. Numbers don't matter much to God, it is the presence of God that makes the feast. These men were spared from discouragement. Caleb stood up amongst the people and quieted the people. 

"Never be afraid to stand with the minority when it is right but always be afraid to stand with the majority when they are wrong." William Jennings.

If you focus on the problems alone they will get bigger and bigger. Joshua and Caleb looked beyond the problems. God is able to fulfil all that he has promised. His eyes were fixed on the God of heaven.

So amid the conflict whether great or smal

Do not be discouraged, God is over all

Count your many blessings! Angels will attend

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end

God is still on the throne today as he was in the day of Caleb and Joshua. There is no need for us to be discouraged. the way to overcome discouragement is to get on your knees and fix you eyes on the God of all glory.

Caleb was separated from disbelief. All the children of Israel who were aged 20 years and over didn't enter into the Promised Land because of the unbelief. God is still with us today. Caleb laughed at the impossibilities and cried "it shall be done because God had promised."

Caleb was separated from death too. For 40 and 5 years God had kept him alive. God kept him alive that he might fulfil his promise. God has given us tremendous promises if we believe he will. God had promised Caleb he would enter into the promised land and he cannot lie. God has promised us life after death. In John 11 we read of the resurrection of Lazarus when Jesus himself said "i am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on me, though he were dead yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?" John 11 verse 25 and 26. God will spare us for eternity so that we may enter into His promised land. For a Christian who is dead spiritually his life will be a wilderness and barrenness experience. Yes you will enter into the promised land but you will die never having borne fruit in your life.

Caleb also knew a strong life

As we think of this man and the strength he had at 85 years of age it is not humanly possible to have the same strength physically but spiritually he was still able to live for God. The Anakims were cast out of the land - there were 3 giants that Caleb drove out, the 3 sons of Anak "Sheshai and Ahiman and Ralmai". These 3 giants are seen as the passions, pressures and power of the flesh. They can be devastating even in the life of the church. No-one is beyond temptation - that is why Paul said "take unto you the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all to stand." Ephesians 6 verse 13. So many today live for the things they can see but the unseen things are eternal and those are what we should be seeking after. Man is essentially a show off. He always likes to be number 1. That is why everyone is looking for that bit of power and fame today, to become socially powerful. People accumulate knowledge to impress others around them. We need to stand against them but can only stand against these in the strength of the Lord.

Caleb knew a satisfied life

Joshua gave unto Caleb "Hebron for an inheritance." Caleb enjoyed peace. God has give us every spiritual blessing in Christ. Are you satisfied with all God has given to you? An old man went on a cruise and to save some money he took his own food with him. On the last day he decided to try out the food that was available on the ship. He asked if he could have a meal and was told "yes everything was paid for at the beginning of the cruise". The Lord has given us all things that pertain unto life. Are you satisfied with all that you have in Christ? Caleb was satisfied because he was strong in spirit and his life was surrendered to God.

The deceitfulness of riches

Notes from a sermon on Sunday 22 January 2012

Matthew 13 verses 1 – 9, 18 – 23
“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”

Maybe as we read the word of God we thought this was an unusual portion of scripture to be reading, surely we tend to look at this passage nearer the harvest season but it wouldn’t be much of a farmer if he didn’t begin to plan ahead for the year. So too we as individuals are starting to plan for this year ahead. The farmer mentioned here is going out to sow. We know all about where the seed falls, what happens to it and the application of it. The sower sows his seed, scatters his seed and does it diligently. He wants to see the best of the harvest. He sows the seed, scatters it wide and far and does it indiscriminately. The results of that sowing – some of the seed he scatters falls on hard ground. It didn’t get much chance. “Some fell upon stony places” ie the plate of stone just under the soil. “And some fell among thorns.” The Holy Spirit tells us this thorny ground choked the good seed. “but other fell into good ground and brought forth fruit.” Verse 22 shows the interpretation of the seed. Interpreting it to you and I today as we go out into another year. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches are mentioned here in Matthew whereas Mark adds “the lusts of other things” (chapter 4 verse 19) and Luke adds the “pleasures of this life.”(Mark 8 verse 14)

The treatment of the field. We realise that the sower goes forth to sow but there is a lot of work beforehand that needs to be done – he has to plough the field up, dig it deep. There is a lot of work involved by the Holy Spirit before the word of God takes root in our hearts. In Acts 2 verse 37 we read how Peter on the day of Pentecost was telling the people that the Lord took his life for them, that they took him to the cross but there were those who turned their backs and rejected the message. A section of the congregation though were changed, “pricked in their hearts.” Just like the farmer was going into the field digging up the hard ground, getting rid of the weeds and anything that would hinder the seed going into the ground and producing a harvest, to get saved is more than sitting in a gospel meeting, putting up your hand or looking at a minister. There is more to God’s salvation than that. Whenever the Holy Spirit comes and begins to break up that heart of yours, of anything that would hinder you receiving God’s salvation, sometimes the Holy Spirit will show you that you have to go back in your life. Perhaps an apology has to be made or maybe there is a debt lying that hasn’t been paid. You have got to go back. The sower makes sure he has the best of seed and applies that seed to the field. The seed is God’s precious word. The sower scattered the seed far and near. He wanted the best seed. Some of the seed brought forth one hundredfold, some sixtyfold and some thirty. The seed is the word of God and many a time you have sat under the word of God and listened to it. You have sat under God’s word for so long yet there is no fruit in that life of yours. The writer to Hebrews said “for unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” (chapter 4 verse 2) Sometimes that can happen. The word of God has no effect on your life – why – because not being mixed with faith in that heart. We have got to accept the word of God in our hearts. Joshua brought the children of Israel into the land of blessing and challenged the people “but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” (chapter 24 verse 15) Here was the field, the field was treated and the sowing was down. There was nothing wrong with the seed on this particular patch. The weeds needed to be treated before they could make their way through the soil and choke out the seed. The trouble is what is in our hearts. The Psalmist said “the words of the Lord are pure words; as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” (chapter 12 verse 6) You have something that is perfect. That is the explanation of God’s word. The problem you and I have today is we have a heart that is deceitful and desperately wicked. There is something underneath lying in the depths of the heart waiting to draw you away and choke you. Imagine the children of Israel a few days out into the wilderness moving on to a land flowing with milk and honey. Moses had been called up into the mountain because God wants to speak to him. Sometimes God has to do that – to separate us. He takes us away from responsibility of people, work places, anything that hinders us – why – because he wants to speak to us. Moses was up in the mountain with the people down in the valley. The people are starting to get worried and concerned. “make us gods” they told Aaron. “We don’t know what has happened to Moses.” Sometimes that is what happens. God takes some one from us, someone we have looked up to help us in our Christian experience through the difficult times but all of a sudden they are gone. The people of Israel looked and Moses was no longer there. They said “give us something we can see and touch.” The cares of this world were beginning to gather around them. This is the same people who trusted God to paint the blood on the doors because if they did that they would be safe. They walked out of Egypt believing in the promises of God because of what he had just done. They had listened to Moses who told them to come out into the wilderness. Now they are crying out for gods. The cares of this world were gathering around them and they were afraid. Will we die in this wilderness? Will God takes us into the land of Canaan? We should never have left Egypt, at least there we knew what we had. They were losing a grip on God’s word. The rich young ruler knew the deceitfulness of riches had caught him out. He had everything this world could offer. Position, possessions, finances, everything that he would need in this world. One thing he knew he didn’t have – he didn’t have eternal life. He knew that if anything ever happened to him it wouldn’t be absent from the body and present with the Lord. It is a great thing to know we are lost spiritually and on our way to a lost eternity. When God comes and saves us he saves our souls for all eternity. Always be ready to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, to tell someone of their need of salvation. Here’s this young man who comes to Christ and asks “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Now he was told – give up his riches, give everything away and follow Christ. Not the riches but rather the cares of this world. That choked the seed in this field. The young man wanted to be saved. How would he cope without his money? These are the things that crop up in our hearts because the devil doesn’t want to see you going through with God. What are we to do with the cares of this world? Natural thing to have cares of course. Spiritual answer is found in God’s word. 1 Peter 5 verse 7 “casting all your care upon him for he careth for you.” The deceitfulness of riches is one of the thorns that crops up in our hearts. Judas asked the leaders “what will you give me if I cast this man down to you?” He has 30 pieces of silver in his hand so goes and betrays the Lord. The warnings were there for Judas. Remember the woman with the alabaster box. She broke it in Jesus’ presence. Judas was the first to say “what a waste”. He knew the value of the waste. He knew it could have been sold for what it was worth. Achan was a young soldier working for a small wage. He never thought of wealth until he saw that garment. The lusts of things that are in excess, things that can really hinder us. A man in Luke chapter 14 sent out an invitation to many to come to supper. All the people began to make excuses – one had bought five oxen, another a field and the third had married a wife. Isn’t it any wonder that Jesus said in Luke 12 verse 15 “take heed and beware of covetousness for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.” Your life consists not in things you possess or the pursuits of life.

The threat. What threat does the thorns provide us with today? Thorns have one danger – they choke the good word of God. The dangers are there. If you give yourself to the cares of this world they will choke the word of God. The rich young ruler was fearful that the word of God was choked. He was just within a whisper of receiving God’s salvation – almost there but he gave it all away. The cares of the world came into his heart. He knew what God wanted him to do and what God’s word said. He had nothing to cling to. If I gave it all away how will it fare with me? That has happened in many lives. God challenges them about something in their life to take away the crutch but they cannot do it. Why? “O Lord just look at my family. I need to provide for them.” They look at the future. “That pension plan I have, the savings I have. I need all that.” The Lord says no you need me instead. The word of God is choked as a result. Paul said of Demas “he has forsaken me.” (2 Timothy 4 verse 10) Why? “having loved this present world.” Not fell into sin, going in the wrong relationship or fell out with God. Maybe he felt he was getting on in life and needed security. The word of God was choked.

The tragedy about the field. It had no fruit. Only time when there is fruit is when we go through with God. Wouldn’t it be awful to stand before God saved by his grace and stand with hands that are empty? No fruit but thank goodness you can bow your head and ask the Lord “cleanse me of my sin and take me out that I might do something for you.”

The cost of discipleship

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 23 MARCH 2025 pm - MR KEITH WILSON

LUKE 14 VERSES 26 TO 35

Some say there is no comfortable way to carry a cross. The biblical reality is that we are people who say yes to follow Christ. They are agreeing to carry a cross and that will be painful at times. If you are saved tonight can you testify that the cross you are are called to carry is painful at times? When I became a Christian my problems didn't cease but just began. I discovered that I had an enemy. I had a cross and it was painful. 

The words "you cannot be my disciple" occur 3 times in this passage - verses 26, 27 and 33. These are sobering words. These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. He never made it easy to become a disciple. Jesus certainly was not interested in drawing a crowd, he was more interested in making disciples. That is why he says "if you don't do these things you cannot be a disciple of mine." There is denial. There is a cross and there is a cost. There is nothing we can do to contribute to salvation. 

In verse 26 we learn that if someone wants to be a disciple it will cost him his family and all his life. In verse 27 it will cost us our desires. In verse 33 it will cost us our passions.

Modern society throws it at us that it is all about you attaining as much as you can, get your own self confidence, self progress. It is all about having the best family, the best children, having the most beautiful wife or handsome husband. Paul knew all about denial. He said "it is no longer I that liveth but Christ that liveth in me." True discipleship is about denying ourselves. All our desires. All our passions. It is about coming to Christ and being born again of the Spirit of God. It is about God coming into our lives. 

For some they don't understand what verse 26 is saying. Is Jesus telling us we have to hate our father, our mother, our wife, our children, our brothers, our sisters even our own life? I believe the Lord is not telling us to hate them. What he is speaking of is our loyalty. Whenever we become disciples we must think about our loyal to Christ. No-one is to take the place of Christ. Jesus must be Lord. He must be pre-eminent in a person's life. He must be over everything, be in complete control. He must direct you, protect you. Denial has to do with our personal relationship. Where do our loyalties lie? We cannot allow anyone, no matter how much we love them to take the place of Jesus Christ in our lives. We are to be influenced by Christ. No person can be allowed to compete for our loyalty. Samson was told not to marry a Philistine woman because she would take him away from the Lord. Eventually a woman did take his loyalty away. The spiritual life of a Christian is determined by our loyalty. We cannot ignore what God says at the expense of another person. The Lord Jesus speaks to us through his word - Hebrews 1 verse 1. We cannot ignore what God says. There is a cost to following the Lord Jesus. He tells us "if you want to be my disciple I have to have your loyalty." These are Jesus' own words. The gospel tells us that Jesus has done it all on the cross but there is a cross for us too. We cannot live in sin and be a disciple of Jesus. It will cost us to give up our own life. That is why Paul said "it is no longer I that liveth but Christ that liveth in me." The disciples had to give up all their personal goals and devote themselves to him and his goal. Think of the apostle Paul - he was shipwrecked, beaten, many false accusations were made against him. 3 times he sought the Lord to take away his thorn in the flesh and the Lord didn't take it away. The Lord told him "my grace is sufficient for thee". 

It will not only cost you your family and your life but in verse 27 it will cost you your desires. There is a cross to bear. God does not want partnership with us but rather ownership of us. He doesn't want me to walk alongside him but he wants to control my walk so that I walk in his ways and his will. Are we suffering for his name's sake? If we deny ourselves and take up our cross it will hurt. If Christ wants to break us let him break us so that he can be praised and glorified. Denial and a cost. That is the Christian life. Carrying a cross speaks of death. The cross of Christ was necessary to save a world lost in sin. The cross is necessary for us to be a disciple of Christ. The apostle Paul counted the cost. He denied himself. He took up the cross. "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." (Galatians 6 verse 17) There is no other way for someone to be saved apart from the cross. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2 verse 24) Christ did not appeal to the intellect in convincing men or women. It took the cross to bear away the sin of the world. He bore it on his body on the tree. If we want to live for God we have to come through the way of the cross. The cross is essential if people are to be saved. The cross cannot be defeated because it defeated sin. Leonard Ravenhill said "the preaching that sinners might have a vision of hell might be entirely wrong, on the contrary he probably needs a vision of Calvary, of the suffering Saviour pleading with him to repent." We live in a world were people are not afraid of hell. They don't believe in hell. The biggest problem of the world tonight is sin. If we were to get a fresh vision of Calvary, what it cost God's Son to go there, we could really tell people to repent and come and put their faith and trust in Christ. We need the spirit of conviction across our land. How Christ died on Calvary. How he walked up Golgotha hill carrying his cross. How the crown of thorns was placed on his brow. How when he was thirsty was given a drink of vinegar. How we need a fresh vision of our sin. A fresh vision of the cross. The only way a man or woman can be saved is through Christ and the sacrifice he made on he cross. 

Verse 33 - these verses could be taken out of context. Is Jesus saying sell all you have and give to the poor. When speaking to the rich young ruler he realised he was putting things before God. For him it was his riches. For you it could be something else. It is not wrong to have riches or possessions. But when they possess us that is when it is wrong. God could be pointing out something in your life that you are holding on to. You will not let go of it. When God prises things out of our hands then we know they have a hold on us. Our hands should be open to the cross. When we live like that then we gain the whole world. 

The cost of revival

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 23 MARCH 2025 am – MR KEITH WILSON

PSALM 85

“There is no revival possible in any fellowship without a price being paid”

Pastor Kilpatrick was pastor in the United States of America. His congregation was 2000 in size. He wanted more so he spent time every Saturday night crying out for more, sometimes into the early hours of the morning. After a number of years preaching on revival and having weekly prayer meetings on revival, some people began to oppose him and his vision for revival. That hurt him a lot. One Saturday night he placed the keys of the church on the altar at the front of the church and he said to God he wanted to pastor  a church that wanted revival. If this meant he was sent to a small unknown church anywhere in the world so be it. Hence Kilpatrick was willing to give up his position in a large expanding church and see revival. He humbled himself before the Lord and paid the price – revival broke out 2 years after him humbling himself before God.

Psalm 85 verse 6 is often quoted when preaching about revival. “Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee?” I want us to consider 3 simple points – “wilt thou not revive us again?” Firstly revival is of God. “There we see God’s power in revival. The Psalmist is talking to God’s saved people, the children of God. Secondly we see God’s people – “that thy people may rejoice in thee.” Thirdly we see God’s praise in revival.

Context is very important when we read the scriptures.  It is important not to take a verse out of context and come up with doctrine and hold to it. That is what cults do and many people have been led down a religious path by such methods. Revival is 100% God. We clearly see that in Psalm 85 verse 6. There is a difference between personal revival and national revival. I want to ask you a question – “did you spend time with God this morning?” If the answer is no, I believe you need revival. The children of God should be spending time with God. I believe that. I believe it is important. Revival is of God. I believe we should be living in a constant state of revival. For that to happen there is a cost in our lives. Many fall into this trap, they think if I do this or that then God is obligated to send revival. He will send it in his own time.  The Psalmist is asking “will you do not it God?” but he recognises it is from God and God alone whether or not he will do it. It should not stop us from living in a state of personal revival. That is where the cost comes in. We must deny ourselves and count the cost. There are many godly men and woman who have prayed and lived righteous, holy lives before God but have never seen national revival – but they saw it in their own lives. They were in touch with God and God blessed them with the desire of prayer. Campbell Morgan said “we ought to so living that when God begins his triumphant march we should be able to fall in the first battalion part of the first victories.” Stephen Olford said “waiting for general revival is no excuse for not living for personal revival. We should be living in the place of revival. There are so many mighty quotes on godly men and women pinpointing it. A W Tozer said “it is useless for large companies of people begging for God to send revival. Unless we are prepared to reform ourselves, we might as well not pray.” W P Nicholson, the last one to see revival in this land, when he conducted a mission he spoke for the first week to the church, he didn’t mention the unsaved but spoke on the importance of living right before God. Living for love to God and not allowing things to creep into our lives that our hearts desire. What is your relationship to sin? Are you living with it? Flirting with it? The bible tells me sin shall not have dominion over the believer. Paul said that in Romans. No longer under the law of death but the Spirit of life. We should be living in the newness of life. We should be living in the power of the risen Christ. The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you. If you are a child of God go and try to raise someone from the dead – it is impossible. We should be living in a state of life under the Spirit of God not the law of sin. If we are not living this life of newness of life in Christ then we need revival. The nation of Israel recognised this because here we see a prayer of reconciliation and revival in verse 1. The Psalmist is recalling God’s restoration from captivity. God took them from the land of Babylon. 70 years after their captivity they returned again. The Psalmist recalls God’s restoration. In verse 2 he reminds God what he did for them – he forgave their sin. The Psalmist is saying God is saying something important to his children. The child of God is forgiven and covered in God’s righteousness. He sees his Son in and through them. He sees them as forgiven. He has traded their filthy garments for his robes of righteousness. That person is justified, just as if they had never sinned. The Psalmist makes an admission – if true revival comes God’s people would be a rejoicing people. They should be happy and rejoicing. They have been brought into the family of God. Translated from the kingdom of darkness into light. Why wouldn’t they be happy? What happens when a person turns from God – they turn to freedom in God. When we turn form righteous holy God and turn to sin what happens? They lose their joy. Something is robbing them of their relationship with God. They lose their joy. Can you imagine what it was like for the people returning from Babylon? The city walls were destroyed and the temple was torn down. All because of sin. When something loses its appeal it becomes worn, it needs revival. That is what the psalmist wanted for Israel. A revival from God. The Psalmist here is desperate for God to revive his people.  We will never be revived until we are desperate for God. God turns our eyes to him that we would seek him again, to be desperate from him. Are you desperate for God? For your loved ones? For your church? Are we like Haggai in chapter 1 verse 4 “is it time for you to dwell in your ceiled houses while God’s house lies in waste?” Haggai was saying “we are in these fancy houses but God’s house lies in waste.” Is that the sixth century or is that 2025?  It is as important today as it was then in Haggai’s day. Luke 9 verse 23 “If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  So much for easy believeism. There are a lot of people preaching that to make a decision for Christ you simply have to say “I believe” but Christ was not interested in huge crowds gathering. Many times it says Jesus retreated from crowds. He was interested in making disciples but you have to deny yourself and take up his cross to follow him. Many people don’t accept it – the preaching of the cross, the holiness of God, sin, the wrath of God, repentance. Maybe we live in a generation hearing little of denying ourselves and taking up our cross to follow him. God is holy and those who worship him do so in holiness and truth. William Booth wanted to take his workers and dangle them for 24 hours over the jaws of hell. There is very little preaching of the cross of Christ. If people preach a social gospel why would they deny themselves? Why did Jesus die on a cross? The Lord Jesus died on the cross because man cannot save himself. There had to be a cross. He died to take away our sins, to bridge the gulf between God and you. It is only possible through the cross. C T Studd was a man who gave up a sporting career to pursue a missionary career. He knew nothing would last that was as worthwhile living for the world to come. Are you living for this world today? Are you living for the world to come? Do you see the necessity of the cross? For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” He came as the lion of Judah, he went to the cross to die for your sin. If you want to claim that you need to deny yourself and seek to follow Christ. How’s your prayer life? How’s your light before God? Are you seeking God? Are you wanting him to move in your life? There is only one way.

From the Pit to the Palace

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 16 MARCH 2025 - MR BRYAN CRUISE pm

GENESIS 41 VERSES 14 -16, 37 - 46

This is the miraculous story of deliverance - from the the pit to the palace. In our story I would like you to see 3 things - the prison, the provision and the position. 

Firstly, the prison. What do I mean when I say the prison? We see first and foremost in Genesis 41 verse 14 that Joseph was in a dungeon. Before our story tonight we find Joseph was falsely accused and imprisoned by Potiphar's wife. Joseph found himself in the dungeon. Although he was innocent he was cast into prison. In a place of  despair, isolation and darkness. He was in a dark place. There are many in great darkness. They find themselves in spiritual darkness. Darkness in the bible is seen as a place of sin. An absence of light. When God's presence leaves us we are spiritually blind, without hope. From the time of Adam and Eve humanity was separated from God's blessing and presence. Psalm 82 verse 5 "They know not, neither will they understand, they walk on in darkness all the foundations of the earth are out of course." Proverbs 4 verse 19 "The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble." Sin doesn't just stain your life but it blinds and enslaves you. Deuteronomy 28 verse 29 "And thou shalt grope at noonday as the blind gropeth in darkness and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore and no man shall save thee." It is the picture of an individual stumbling around in the dark. Is that where you are tonight? You are here tonight in spiritual darkness. Perhaps you don't realise your condition, that you are a sinner in darkness. Psalm 51 verse 5 "Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me." Romans 6 verse 23 "For the wages of sin is death." Wages is something earned or deserved. Because of your sin you earn or deserve to be punished. Some people don't understand that. They think they are not deserving of God's grace but actually deserving of God's punishment because of their sin. You cannot deny it. You are a sinner by nature and by practice. You see it every day when you switch on the news. We see mankind acting sinfully. Death is payment and it is threefold in your bible. There is more than 1 consequence of sin. First there is physical death. One day you will die despite all the medical advancement. In 2025 the death rate of mankind stands at 100%. Physical consequence. Spiritual death - you are spiritually dead. Eternal death without salvation. Separation becomes permanent in hell. God created mankind for a perfect existence with himself but because of sin we rebel against God. Your default destination is not heaven but hell. The most terrifying thing about hell I believe is its eternality. Hell goes on and on and on and on. Whenever you get there, there is no relief, no second chance. I don't want you to go there but if you do there is no relief. No second chance, no escape. Dante, a poet in the fourth century wrote a poem whose main character makes a journey through hell.  It was fictional of course. It represents that picture of hell. There is a chilling inscription above the entrance - "abandon all hope ye who enter here." A fictional story not to be taken literally but it is true. In hell you will have to abandon all hope because it will be too late if you have died and rejected God's offer. On that day it will be too late. In our story we have Joseph bound and helpless, confined to the prison. There was no chance to change his circumstances. He needed someone greater than himself to intervene for his deliverance and this image illustrates the image of the sinner. Sin is the prison. Those trapped cannot be rescued. You cannot make yourself righteous before God. You need someone to intervene. That is what happens in our story. The gospel is not about self improvement. It is about deliverance. A sinner cannot open the prison doors himself. Christ has already paid the ransom for you to be set free. John 8 verse 36. Christ has the power to set you free. If you are here tonight as a believer you are saved from the penalty of sin, the power of sin and one day you will be saved from the very presence of sin. But there is more - some day you will be saved from the propensity to commit sin. If you die in Christ you will be given a glorified body and you will be free from the propensity to commit sin. Will you be there because of your great deliverance by Jesus Christ, because of one who paid the price to free you from the presence of sin?

Secondly, the provision - verse 14. Pharaoh summoned Joseph from the prison. He didn't bargain his way out, he had to be sent for y someone greater than himself. Someone had to bring him freedom. He is summoned before the throne. He has to respond to the call of Pharaoh. If you are here and not saved God is extending to you a free offer of salvation. Maybe you are saying this cannot be about me. If that is you I am speaking especially to you. Will you come tonight and know forgiveness of sin? Accept his free offer of salvation? Joseph, before he could stand before Pharaoh he had to be changed. He shaved and changed his raiment then came into Pharaoh. Whenever it says that it is not a mere act of hygiene. No-one could approach the throne in filthy clothes, in an unkempt manner. Egyptians were known for cleanliness and strict grooming procedures. Joseph had to be made presentable. You cannot enter into the presence of God in a filthy, sinful condition. You have to be made righteous, not by our own efforts but by God's grace. Psalm 51 verse 2 "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Before you can enter into the kingdom of heaven, into the presence of God you have to be cleansed. That is what happens to Joseph. He changed before he comes into Pharaoh's court. I don't want you to think that as a minor note, of no significance. Of course he shaved himself, he was in prison for a long time. He had to do it but actually it means more than that. You see Egyptian archaeological evidence proves that men shaved all their head, everything. If you were a high ranking individual in the court you had no hair at all. They wore artificial hair wigs. Joseph didn't just shave his beard but everything on his head had to be shaved off. Why? For Joseph to stand before the king he had to look like the king. He had to shave off the entire hair off his head.  Before you can stand before the king of kings you need to look like the king. The only way is to put your trust in Christ and then you are clothed in Christ's righteousness. Because of the work of Christ your character will become more Christlike. No longer bear the marks of the old sinful life. You are a new creation in Christ if you trust Christ for salvation. He couldn't enter into the court with the rags of a prisoner. He needed a change of clothes. You cannot enter into heaven clothed in your own righteousness but in Christ's. Sometimes we talk of justification. What is justification? We would say "just as if I had never sinned." But it is more than that. You have a record tonight, a slate. On that is the record of your sins. If that was just whitewashed, removed that would still not be enough. What you need on your record is righteousness. The slate is not just wiped clean. He takes his own righteousness and stamps it in his place. He doesn't just see a clean slate, he sees the righteousness of his son. When that day comes to stand before God and the books are open, he doesn't see white paper. He sees righteous deeds done by his son. That is the only way you can enter into heaven. You need to be clothed in Christ's righteousness. God gives us an image of this in the Old Testament - Zechariah 3 verses 1 to 4 "And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." Joshua stood covered in filth, accused by Satan and God removes his unclean garments. He gives him robes of righteousness. They are pure and sinless. The sinfulness of your garments are taken off and you are given new garments in Christ. Think of the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. When the prodigal son returns home he is filthy.  He had sat and ate with pigs in muck. He gets up, comes to his senses and returns to his father. What does his father do? He puts a new robe on him. When you come to Christ you come filthy and are clothed in his righteousness when you put your trust in him. He has clothed us with the garments of salvation. Tonight you wear either one of 2 garments - the garments of self-righteousness that are never enough or the robes of Christ's righteousness. There is no middle ground. You either stand in Christ's perfection or in your own filthy garments. What are you clothed in tonight? Are you clothed in Christ's righteousness? What are you resting on to get into heaven? Joseph cannot stand in his condition. He had to look like the king. He had to have a new robe put on him.

Thirdly, the position. In our bible it tells us Pharaoh recognises Joseph's wisdom and exalted him to a position of honour.  Joseph rode in the second chariot, adorned with a gold chain. He was given that authority over all the land. I want you to notice though the new name that is given to him in verse 45 - Zaphnath-paaneah. It signified a new identity, a purpose, new relationship. Scholars are divided about the meaning of this new name. Either it means God speaks and he lives or a revealer of secrets. He was provided with a new name. He needed it to go along with his new position. His name was Hebrew. No-one would have listened to him with that name. Pharaoh wanted to remove any obstacles to prevent people not listening to him. His name signified status. He was no longer Hebrew but an Egyptian official. You are given a new name in Christ. You are not defined by past sins, failures, brokenness. You are reborn. Revelation 2 verse 17 "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." When you are born into the family of God you are given a new name. You are bought into twice fold. Brought into God's family because you are born again but also adopted into the family. Your assurance of salvation is two fold - once biological and secondly legalised. The Lord showed his biological descent through Mary but he was also a legal descendant through Joseph. What security you have. A position in Christ that can be yours tonight. Born into the family, adopted. Just where you are tonight. Once a prisoner of sin now free in Jesus. Once a stranger now saved and a child of God. A new name signifies transformation. We need a new name through our acceptance of Christ. Once imprisonment now given a new status, position, a new place in the kingdom. Will that be you tonight? Will you be counted amongst the redeemed? Counted in the Lamb's Book of Life? Will your name be written there when it is opened one day? Or will you remain in the prison of sin? Will you respond to God's call and be lifted out of the prison? Jesus stands ready to save you tonight. Call on him for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus casts no-one out who comes to him.

The raising of the widow of Nain's son

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 16 MARCH 2025 am – MR BRYAN CRUISE

Luke 7 verses 11 to 18

D L Moody as a young man was once called on to conduct a funeral service. He sought the New Testament for inspiration, particularly the gospels to see the best way to conduct the funeral. He read the ministry of Jesus and found something very striking. Jesus didn’t conduct any funerals but rather he disrupted them. In fact in the gospels Jesus spoiled every funeral he went to. The resurrection story in Luke 7 is the only one recorded by Luke apart from Jesus’ own resurrection. None of the gospels have every resurrection story. Taking them in chronological order this is the first resurrection story in Luke 7.  Mark 5 has the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter and John 11 the story of Lazarus’ resurrection. In each of these resurrection stories there are different truths. They happened at different times in people’s lives. Jairus’ daughter had just died, the woman whose son had died here in Luke 7 happened a few hours after death. Lazarus as we know was dead for days. It didn’t matter when the individual died but all testified to the power of the Lord Jesus. We see 3 things in our story – first the afflicted woman, second the almighty Saviour and finally the awesome outcome.

First, the afflicted woman.  In our bible in verse 11 we see that this miracle took place the day after. The day after what? The day before the Lord was in Capernaum. That was a familiar place to Jesus. It was the home base to his ministry. His secret place. A place of rest and renewal. His ministry’s headquarters. There he healed a Roman Centurion’s servant. After that he goes 20 miles south to Nain. It’s name means beauty or pleasant. There is not much pleasant in our story. In fact when Jesus arrives it is a solemn day, an awful day. Why? Because a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of a widow. Verse 11.  The Lord arrived in Nain. He went with his disciples and much people. This miraculous event took place in the first year of his ministry. It was a very active ministry. There were large crowds who started to follow the Lord. In Luke 6 verse 13 we read of Jesus calling his first disciples. Then he gives us the Sermon on the Mount – Luke 6 verse 22. He moves onto Capernaum and heals the centurion’s servant. Verse 11 “and many of his disciples went with him and much people.” I wonder what category do you fall into today? Can it be said you are a disciple of Jesus? Or are you just an individual who follows afar off? Maybe you are just at church today because it is a Sunday. Could someone point to you and say you are a genuine disciple. There is something that marks you out with distinction. If you are following the Lord Jesus Christ and if there was suddenly a law against your faith and you were arrested – would there be enough evidence to convict you? Behind closed doors are you the same there as here? Do you find yourself in the quiet place at home memorizing God’s word? Are you a disciple of the Lord? I want you to see this lady today, an afflicted woman. When the Lord approached the city, when he came near to the gate of the city he saw her. Nain is a very small settlement which still exists today. It was never enclosed with a wall. A small town. If it was going to be besieged by the enemy there was no need for a wall. Why? Because there was nothing valuable in it that it needed to be guarded. It had a gate which was a very important place. That gate would be very important to the woman in the coming days. The gate was where the elders sat and discussed affairs of the town. They were like a local council. One of the things that would be discussed in the coming days was how impoverished this woman would be. What would happen to her and her estate?  In Deuteronomy 25 verse 5 there is provision made for this woman to enter into a levirate marriage if she was still young. She could sell her estate to a kinsman redeemer as outlined in Leviticus 25.  They would discuss how poor she would be. They didn’t decide her fate at the city gate however – Jesus did. Jesus met here there are the city gate as he approached. Notice the words “behold there was a dead man carried out”. We are told to sit up and take notice. What follows after that word “behold” is quite unique. There are 3 things about this woman you can see in verse 12. Her only son had died. Remember the story of Hannah praying fervently and passionately in the Old Testament for a son? It was natural for a woman to desire a son more than anything else. The Israelite people thought so much of family that if you didn’t have a son all was lost. An Israelite woman wanted nothing more than a son. This woman was the same and her son has died. It was sorrowful, tragic, terrible. So tragic that the prophets of the Old Testament when they wanted to paint the image of something used the image of an only dying. Jeremiah 6 verse 26 “O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth and wallow thyself in ashes; make thee mourning, as or an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.” Amos 8 verse 10 “And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins and baldness upon every head, and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.” You can see that when the only son died in Israel it was the most tragic thing. She is a widow. This woman in our story probably travelled this road many years before to bury her husband. James 1 verse 27  “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the father is this; To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Under the Mosaic law people were told to care for such woman. It is a priority for God’s people to care for widows. In Deuteronomy 24 there was strict instructions to leave a sheaf in the field for the stranger, the widow and the fatherless. In Deuteronomy 26 there was a tithe of firstfruits set aside for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. This woman was loved of God. There was a priority from God to care for widows and orphans. For the Jewish people of Nain when a funeral took place the body had to be carried outside the city. The person couldn’t be buried within the city limits. If you seen a funeral procession you were obliged to join it. There were people paid to be mourners. It was an occupation in Israel to attend a funeral. They had to tear their clothes, wail and cry out. That is the type of people following this woman. A funeral in ancient Israel was very different from those here in the West. Ours is a much more solemn affair. When a neighbour in Israel heard the wailing they knew there was a death. This woman is in dire straits. A tragic, terrible situation. What a blessed thing it is when Jesus stepped in.

The almighty Saviour. Verse 13 “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said unto her, Weep not.” The Lord Jesus steps into the situation. One of the most beautiful names for God is El Roi, the God who sees. It is found in Genesis 16 verse 13 and was given by Hagar to God. A woman, considered a second class citizen of Israel whose testimony would never have held up in a court of law. A slave, an Egyptian was the first individual to give God a name. He is the God who sees. I want to tell you that God always sees. Whatever circumstance or situation you are in, God sees. Whatever trial, temptation or tribulation you are in – God sees it. Christ knew precisely where this woman was. He met her in her hour of desperation. In the desperation, in the depth of sorrow and mourning she was not unknown to God. He seen her circumstances and he sees yours too. This is the first time in Luke’s gospel we read the word Lord in reference to Jesus. It is the word “kyrios” and in the Old Testament the word Adonai is used. The word YHWH is often used by God in dealing with his own people. That name is precious. Today sadly certain people have lost the reverence to God’s name. Some Jews would not say it out loud and if they were to write it they would break the nib of their pen so as never to do it again. Here we see the Lord God Almighty, Jesus, the eternal Son of God who saw this woman. He not only saw her but he had compassion on her. This word is “splagchnizomai” and it is only used 3 times in Luke’s gospel. In Luke 10 verse 33 with reference to the story of the Good Samaritan. He saw the man lying at the side of the road and had compassion on him. In Luke 15 verse 20 it is used in reference to the story of the Prodigal Son. When the father saw his son afar off he runs to him, kisses him and orders the best robe to be put on him. You can hear in every use of the word that the person is not a detached emotion.  Compassion leads to action every time. He is not the God who sees and does nothing. He moves on our behalf. He is not distant. He is not afraid. He doesn’t simply see and do nothing. The Lord says to this woman “weep not”. Then he comes and touches the bier. If your bible translation says “coffin” it is a mistranslation because the only people who used coffins were Egyptians. Basically a bier is a wooden plank used to carry a dead person to the place of burial. Jesus brings it to a stop and those carrying the boy stood still. It was like a stretcher. When Jesus touches the bier he becomes unclean according to Jewish law  - Numbers 19 verses 19 to 21. When Jesus touched the bier he would have been unclean for 7 days. It was one of the most severest uncleanness in Judaism. That is why people were buried outside the city. That is why whitewash is used on tombs. The white tomb would gleam in the sun and people would know not to go near the tomb. When the Lord touches the bier he exposed himself to uncleanness. For many scholars and pastors uncleanness is often associated with sinfulness. That imagery is certainly not always the case. To be unclean did not mean you were breaking God’s law. Leviticus 16 verses 16 to 18. For instance within a physical relationship in marriage the two could be unclean. Giving birth could also make a woman unclean – Leviticus 12. In Luke 2 verse 22 we read that Mary was unclean having given birth to Jesus. Uncleanness does not mean sinfulness. Sometimes it was unavoidable in day to day life. When Jesus touched the bier it should have affected him but it didn’t. He was not tainted by defilement. It goes in the opposite direction. The power of the Lord leaves Jesus and enters into the young man. Impurity does not transfer to Jesus but purity does transfer to the young man. Hebrews 7 verse 26 “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Christ performs miracles in a variety of ways in the gospel, not in the exact same way every time. He raises people to life but he does it by speaking directly to the individual concerned. He said to the young man “I say unto you arise.” That is the power of God. All he had to do was speak his word and it quickened the dead. Psalm 33 verse 6 “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” Later in on verse 9 he says “For he spake and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast.” He spoke from God.

The awesome outcome Christ speaks to the young man and he arises. God created the power that was displayed from Jesus’ mouth. The young man sat up. The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, Creator God of the universe. When he rose people from the dead the miracle was instantaneous. There was no need to be taught how to do anything again. Everything began to work again. He was fully alive. He was capable and mature. Why? Because he began to speak. Luke records this for us as evidence he was alive. “He began to speak”. This man in our story was given new life and he spoke about it. If you are found in Christ, are saved by his precious blood, are given new life in Jesus Christ. Do you speak about it? Do you neighbours know it? Do those you work with know about it? Do you speak of your Saviour? The man was given new life and he spoke. We are given eternal life, do we speak of it? In our interactions with people it is our privilege to speak of the one who died for us. What an impact we would have if we did. Robert Louis Stevenson saw a man lighting the street lamps. When asked what he saw he replied – “I am watching a man cutting holes into the darkness.” You and I when we speak of our Saviour are cutting holes into the darkness. The light of the gospel shines forth when we tell of our Saviour. Will we go forward this week and speak of the Lord? Will we lift him up? I believe that if this story in Luke 7 was the only story left in the gospel of the Lord, would be enough to tell us of a God who sees us, is moved with compassion and is all powerful. What a God we serve. As we leave this place today remember the Saviour we serve is the same Saviour as in Luke 7.