A man's walk with God

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 12 APRIL 2026 am – MR HENRY CASKEY

READING: 2 KINGS CHAPTER 4 VERSES 8 TO 11

A MAN’S WALK WITH GOD

 

And it fell on a day that Elisha passed to Shunem, where it was a great woman, and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread. And she said unto her husband, "Behold, now I perceive that this is a holy man of God, which passeth by us continually. Let us make a little chamber, I pray, thee, on the wall. Let us set for him there a bed, and a table, and a stool, and a candlestick. And it shall be when he cometh to us that he shall turn in thither, and it fell on a day that he came thither, and he turned into the chamber and lay there.

 

Here we meet with this young prophet by the name of Elisha. And if I wanted to put a heading upon it this morning, it would have to be a man's walk with God. How important that is that that we're not setting out just merely to please man this morning, but that our life might please the eternal God. And what God can do with our lives as we pass people by here and there this morning. this young man, Elisha has stepped into the shoes of Elijah the prophet. He has taken up the mantle that Elijah has carried for so long. He was going to be God's man now in this situation. And isn't it wonderful this morning as we come into the house of God that we might pray that I would be God's man, that I would be God's woman this morning in whatever situation we find as we go into this new and incoming week.

 

In First Kings chapter 19, we find the scene that's set before us. It's an open field. Elisha has just arose that morning. He's the son of a wealthy farmer and he yolks up the oxen and the plough when he goes out to the field to the open field and he's about to do a day's work. But this was a normal day for Elisha. This was just something that he had got used to. It was a sort of routine for him. But this was a particular day in which God was going to meet with them because God had higher plans for him and God had a different purpose for his life. No longer was he going to walk behind the plough, but now he was going to walk with God. And he was going to be God's man in every situation. And you know, this morning, let's not just get into the routine this morning. Let's not just merely be in a routine this morning of getting up on the Lord's day and getting dressed and going through the motions and going along to church and sitting in the pews and singing the hymns. But let's come this morning with that expectancy that somehow this morning this is going to be a different day. And that God will meet with us this morning. God will meet with me this morning. That God has a higher plan to lift you to this morning. That God has another purpose in your life this morning. And that's what he wants to come to you with. Why? There's a Elisha and he's ploughing in the field. He's walking behind the plough and that yolk of oxen. Maybe out of the tail of the eye, he sees this man coming across the field to where he was and he recognizes him as a mighty prophet, Elijah and he takes that mantle off him and he throws it upon Elisha. That was the call of God upon him. Maybe this morning God is expecting you to step into another's shoes this morning. Maybe God is expecting you this morning to take up that different mantle this morning because God has a purpose for you this morning. Elisha’s life will never be the same again.

The thought that's been on my mind this morning of this man Elisha is the work that God has called him to do. Here's Elisha and he's passing by Samaria. He's on his way to Samaria. He's coming through Shunem. That's the direct travel that he's on. And as he comes to this part of world, he meets with a couple of rich friends and they always bring him in and they always entertain him. But I want us to take a little note here on this particular visit, on this particular day that Elisha comes. And the first thing that I want to think about here this morning is there is the impression that Elisha makes. I want to think about your impression this morning and my impression this morning. You see, verse 8 tells us here that this was a journey that he regularly made. Elisha had passed this way on a number of occasions and each occasion he came into this home and met with these people because it tells us in verse number eight “It fell on a day that Elisha passed to Shunem where was a great woman and she constrained him to eat bread and so it was that as oft as he passed by he turned in thither to eat bread” and then in verse number nine “And she said unto her husband behold now I perceive that this is a holy man of God which passes by us continually.” So she could see this man passing by continually. This was a routine for him. And as they made contact, this woman realized there was something about this man. This is a holy man of God. What an impression for Elisha to make in this home. Here's a dear lady sitting here. She has made him his tea. She's made him as comfortable as she can. And she looks at him and then she says to her husband, "This is a holy man of God and he's passing by us continually." Now, I'm sure this woman and this man was well acquainted with other people who professed a religion. There were the prophets of Baal that were numerous around on that particular occasion. But there was something different about this man. All the prophets of Baal, they might have had their religion. They might have had their chant and they might have had their talk. But Elisha, there was something different about him. There was something that was special about him. There would have been leaders in the Jewish nation at that time. And of course they prided themselves in their religious character. But Elisha was different. This is a man of God. This is a holy man of God. This woman knew that there was a difference. Peter tells us in the church age that there'll be false teachers. There will be those who will stand behind pulpits and oh yes, they'll have a message. And oh yes, they'll be able to put it across so very, very well. But they're false teachers. And dear friends, that's where you and I have to be so careful. We have to be so careful there because if we get away from the cross, if we get away from who the Lord Jesus Christ is, if we get away from what the Lord Jesus Christ desires to do in our lives, then we've got a false religion. Isn't that what John tells us? John warns us about that in 1 John chapter 4 and verse one. Here's what he says. “Beloved, he says, Believe not every spirit, but try the spirits." You see, that's what we've got to do today. Don’t believe every spirit, but we've got to try the spirits and see if they be of God because many false prophets have gone out into the world. And you know, as I thought on Elisha's visit to this home this particular occasion, I thought of my own travels this week. And I thought of the people that I had been in communication with this week. And I thought of the homes that I had been in this week and maybe even the hospital wards that I've been in this week. And I thought to myself, I wonder what sort of an impression I have left. What sort of an impression have you left this week? As you went to that neighbour as you often do. You sit down and you have a cup of tea with them or whatever. You take that neighbour as paper, a loaf of bread or whatever it is. I wonder what sort of an impression that you've left in that home. Would they be saying this morning, “you know there's something different about that man.? There's something different about that woman.” That's a saved man. That's a saved woman. That's a man of God. That's a woman of God this morning. Is that the sort of an impression that you and I could leave this morning in in the shops that we were in, in the petrol forecourt? Is that the impression that they got in the workplace? Is that the sort of impression that we have left? You see in in the next chapter in 2 Kings chapter 6 chapter 5 we are introduced to a maid. We do not know her name. We read how she came to be in this mans house. It tells us here in verse number one of chapter 5, it introduces us to Namaan. It says “Naaman captain of the host of the king of Syria. He was a great man with his master and he was honorable because by him the Lord had given deliverance onto Syria. He was also a mighty man of valour. But he was a leper.” And then we're introduced to somebody else in verse number two. “And the Syrians had gone out by companies and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid.” And where was she placed? She was placed in Namaan's house because it says she waited on Namaan's wife. Now Namaan was a leper. But this maid must have made a mighty impression. There she is perhaps just down in the kitchen and maybe she's washing up the dishes. Maybe she's setting the table. Maybe she's called upon to make the beds. Maybe she cleaning the house. But she must have made an impression. Naaman's wife is watching her every day. She was brought as a slave. Can you imagine for a moment or two what she must have gone through? There she was down in Jerusalem whenever the Syrian forces come in and they snatched her away from her home, away from her mother and father, away from her families and took her away to Syria and placed her in this strange home.  And yet we don't read anything about her complaining or anything when she got there. We just read about the impression that she left because she must have made a great impression because when she said to Namaan’s wife "My master Namaan if he was down with the prophet in Samaria, he would be healed of his leprosy." And what did Namaan's wife do? She went and told Namaan. And Naaman's wife believed what this girl said. That must have been some impression that she left for Namaan's wife to say, “you know, I believe this maid.” And she came to Namaan. She tells Namaan what the maid had said and she was listened to. Maybe above all his counsellors, maybe above all his advisers, above all his doctors and all these mighty men. One little girl is believed and Namaan goes down. Of course he went to the wrong place. You know the story behind Namaan. But he went eventually to the prophet and he was gloriously healed. What an impression. What impression have you left this morning? Or have I left this morning? I think of Lot. Do you remember Lot? He lived down in in Sodom. He went down into Sodom. And what a move that was for a young man, a young man from a godly background going down to live in Sodom. Do you remember what it says? The testimony of the people of Sodom. It says in Genesis 13 and verse 13, it says, "But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before Jehovah, exceedingly so." Such sinners as they were in Sodom. And yet Lot was prepared to go down and live in Sodom and bring his we family down into Sodom and live in a place like that. Then God was going to judge Sodom. Do you remember? Do you remember how he sent his angels down? He was going to judge Sodom. And then we have a picture of Abraham praying for Sodom. He prayed "Lord, if there are 50 righteous souls in Sodom will you not destroy it?" And the Lord says, "No, I'll not destroy it." And he pleaded and prayed right down to 10 souls and then judgment fell because God couldn't even find 10 souls and judgment fell upon Sodom. Lot was warned before that. The Lord told Lot “take your family and get out of Sodom because I'm going to judge it. The wickedness and the sinfulness of this city has arisen even into the very heavens. And I'm going to destroy it." Do you remember what Lot did? Genesis 19 verse 14, "And Lot went out, and he spoke with his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said, get up and get out of this place, for Jehovah will destroy this city." There was the warning for his sons-in-law to listen to Lot. Now, Lot had been living down in here and these sons-in-law had married his daughters and everything was going so very, very well. And the reaction was this. “But he seemed as one that mocked to his son-in-laws.” They had watched his life, how he was happy to live there and now the warning was flee. What is this man talking about? That's the impression he made. He didn't leave much an impression for good. What's the impression that we have this week? Was it a good impression? Was it was it sympathetic? Was it encouraging? Was it something that spoke of the Savior that I worship and praise? What have we posted this week on social media? Was it encouraging? Was it sympathizing? Was it glorifying to God? Did it give God his place? Did it give God his honour? Did it lift up the Savior? Did it draw men and women closer to the Savior? The impression that someone got from that little remark that you made at the petrol pumps, at the filling station, or online, whatever the case may be. People are watching. Isn't that what Peter talks about in his book? He says that when the husband's not saved, the wife can make such an impression. I suppose that can go both ways.

I want you to notice the inspiration that comes because Elijah comes into this home and he sits down and he has his tea and he talks to this man and woman and the woman acknowledges that this man has made such an impression on them. She says “this is a holy man of God.” There's an inspiration now because his life now inspires this woman. It inspires her in her thought life and in her heart life because now she's saying to her husband "Let's do something for him. Let's make him a little place where he can turn into. Let's make him a little place at the end of our house that he can come in. He can rest on a bed. He can sit down in a chair. There will be a desk there that he can write at. There will be a candlestick there that he can see and so many different things for him.” See, she was inspired to do something. Elishia had come into her home and he had left such an impression upon her life that she wants to do something now. Not so much for Elisha but for the Lord because he's a man of God. Isn't it good to leave an impression that inspires others to do something for the Lord? But you know, don't be disheartened either, because sometimes we set that example and sometimes we leave a good impression and sometimes it might take time for it to come to fruition. I think of Joseph who at the age of 17 left his father's house. Just to go and see his brothers and to take them some food and they had turned against him and they hated him. They sold him as a slave down into Egypt. He left his father's house at 17 and for 13 years he never saw his father's face again. In all of his hardships that young man left a great impression no matter who he met. When he went into Potiphar's house he realized that this was a different man. The Lord was with this man and everything that Potiphar had, he put it into the hands of Joseph. He says, "You handle it." And even whenever Joseph was falsely accused and thrown into prison, yet the jailer looked at him and says, "The Lord's with this man." He knew there was something different about him. He was making that impression. And in that prison house where Joseph was being detained, you remember there were two men who were cast in. One day, Joseph was walking past and he saw the two men and they were sitting in the corner and their heads were down. And Joseph went over. He was concerned about them. Are we concerned about others this morning? Is that the impression that we leave this morning? Are we concerned? Are we concerned about that son, that daughter? Are we concerned about that neighbour, that friend? Joseph went over and he says, "Why are you so sad?" And then they began to tell him about the dreams that they had that night. But they couldn't understand them. And Joseph, he just said, "Well, tell me your dreams." And so they started to tell them. One was a baker. The other was a butler. The baker had the dream about the bread on his head and the birds coming down and eating it. The butler had the dream about standing with the grapes in his hands and squeezing into the cup. And Joseph says to the butler, “you are going to be reinstated into Pharaoh's house again.” To the baker, he says, “I'm sorry you are going to be beheaded.” And that's what happened. But you remember Joseph when that butler was leaving Joseph behind. Joseph came to him and he says, "Will you remember me?” And the butler went off and maybe with all the best intentions, he forgot about it. It wasn't until one day Pharaoh had that dream and nobody could interpret it. His advisors and counsellors were brought in but nobody could tell him this dream. And this was about two years later. And the butler says “I remember the impression that that young man made upon my life.” Maybe this morning you're walking alongside someone. Maybe you're living beside someone and they're watching your life day and daily. They're watching your actions and your transactions. And somehow you think to yourself, “well, you know, I'm not really doing a great job here. I haven't much of an impression.” You don't know. It took a couple years for that butler to remember the actions of Joseph. You may have had an impression this week on someone. Maybe you've had a good conversation with someone. Maybe you've had a good chat with someone, but yet there doesn't seem to be much response, but you could have inspired someone. You could have inspired someone in their thought life. Their thoughts are not going to be the same. Now, just as this woman says to her husband "Let's make something for him." Sometimes it takes a little time. Isn't that what happened with Daniel? Daniel made a great impression.  He wouldn't eat the king's meat nor drink the king's wine. He says, "I don't want that." He made a great impression on the eunuch. He said, "Try us and see." And the eunuch tried them. He realized that Daniel's and his friends countenance was far better than all those who ate the king's meat. But remember one night when Belshazzer was having a great party there in Daniel chapter 5. You remember he had this great party with a thousand of his lords and they were drinking and then later on in the night there was the handwriting on the wall. The counselors and advisers were brought in and asked what it meant. Nobody could tell. The king was sitting trembling. He was in fear, but nobody could tell him what this dream or what this writing was all about. Then his grandmother come in and said "I remember the days in your grandfather's reign there was a young man called Daniel.” The testimony she bore for him in that ungodly atmosphere? In that ungodly place, in that drunken place that night whenever that party was going on that dear lady came in and the testimony she bore “In whom is the spirit of the holy gods?” She knew there was something different about this man. But that impression wasn't made for many years after it.

There's the involvement here that is pursued. This led the woman to act. The impression that was left, the inspiration that was given led this woman to act. Maybe you have been with someone this week and it's been a great impression and you didn't even know it. And maybe now they're going to get involved. This lady knew she did all that she could. She had made this little room for him. She put a table in for him. She put a bed in the room for him. She put a candlestick in for him. It's a place where you can come in and rest. She did what she could. She wasn't expected to do any more. And you know you are not expected to do any more than what God asked you to do. That's all. But you can make that impression. You can inspire somebody today. Why not give it that effort?  And you can leave that impression and that inspiration. Do you remember the impression that Paul and Silas made in that old prison house in Philippi? Do you remember how they sang praises after being mercilessly beating and being put into stock and an old prison cell. The old jailer at midnight when everything was falling apart, he ran down to those two men to ask "What must I do to be saved?" He knew there was something different about them. They had something that he hadn't got. You see, there was that impression even as he beat them earlier on, an impression that was left, an inspiration. I need to be doing something with my life, an involvement. He says, "What must I do to be saved?" He was ready to call out. Let's trust and pray the Lord will bless the word to our hearts.

 

Everything is possible with God

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 29 MARCH 2026 – Mr Stephen Cargin

 

My opening text will be from Mark chapter 10 verse 27. A familiar passage and a familiar verse.  The title of what I want to share with you this morning is everything is possible with God.  Everything is possible with God. How do I know this? Let's just read our opening verse.  Mark 10 verse 27. I'll read it from the amplified version.  It says, "Looking at them, Jesus said, with people, as far as it depends on them, it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." The Complete Jewish Bible brings it out like this. “Yeshua looked at them and said, "Humanly it is impossible, but not with God. With God everything is possible."

 

I think we're in a very serious mess as a society. We're in a very serious position, probably like none of us have ever experienced before. And as I was preparing for the message, I was just doing some prayer and some study and I came across one of my father's old books in his library which I have been privileged to inherit and I found this quotation from Canon Duncan in a book that was printed in 1910 and it's on the story of Oh God Our Help and Ages Past the old hymn. And Canon Duncan writes this “Moses is generally regarded as the author of the 19th psalm of which this hymn is a paraphrase. Moses in trustful confidence felt this experience worketh hope and the sure and certain hope that the God of the past would be the God of the future. the same yesterday, today and forever. And he was their God.” What a great reminder. And the first verse of that great hymn by Isaac Watts says this, "Oh God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal home." And what a what a timeless reminder that is. I'll read it again. “O God our help in ages past, our hope for years to come, our shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal home.”  And as the writer expands on this, he says this, listen carefully to what he's saying here. “One of the most ancient hieroglyphics represents God as an eye upon a scepter to denote that God sees and rules all. And the most wonderful thing in history is the way in which God has looked after his people. And he had made all things work together for their good.” Pagan Rome might use her imperial power to prescribe Christian worship and scatter the Christians. But Rome herself became for centuries the centre of Christian influence and her armies as missionaries to spread the gospel throughout the world. England in the Middle Ages might become the stronghold of Popery and the bonfire for consuming the scriptures and the saints of God. But listen to what he says here. This is printed in 1910. “But England Reformed has become the storehouse of Christian truth, the training school for God's missionaries and the printing press for the Bible to evangelize the world and bring millions of people home to God.”  Is that the case today, friends? Is that is that the England of the United Kingdom of today? He goes on to say this. “As the city of refuge was a place of security for the poor refugee, so has our God been for those who served and trust him trusted him. The great Armada might set sail to destroy our freedom and worship, but the breath of God would scatter it as matchwood along the seashore.” Two things I was reminded of as I read that. I read that with sorrow. That's not the UK and the England that we are part of today. But that Armada that sailed around the west coast and up around the north of Ireland and down the east coast going down, God destroyed that Armada on these very coasts. Some of that shipwreck is right off the causeway reefs there Many don't realize what happened in that Armada as it was destroyed. The Spanish Armada was rented by the king of Spain from Jewish merchants who owned those ships, who crewed those ships and the soldiers were put on board. Many people don't realize this. When those ships floundered off the coast of Ireland, many of the crew members survived and came ashore. Many historians have researched the history of the Jews who came to Ireland are able to say that those crew people came ashore and there's photographs that they call them the dark Irish Melungeon Jews dotted around the coasts of Ireland. They were the survivors of the Spanish Armada. They came ashore here and they brought their families to live in Ireland. It's a Jewish history that most people don't realize that we enjoy. But what of this this country that we're part of, friends? Should we be concerned? I think we should. The census, the last census that I got the figures from in 2021. Those who identified as Christians in England and Wales, only 46.2% Christian. England is no longer a Christian country. 37.2% had no religion. Of Scotland, 39% identified as Christian. In Northern Ireland, we were privileged. 79.7% identified as Christian. We have a heritage, friends, that we cannot afford to squander. The Republic event of Ireland identified 69.1% Catholic and other Christians. But the story is worse, friends. Abortion figures in the United Kingdom. In the last 10 years, we have averaged in England, Scotland, and Wales 215 to 2130,000 abortions annually, equating to between two to 2.3 million abortions, surpassing the population of Northern Ireland. How does God feel about that? Should we be surprised that we're in the mess we're in when we murder those unborn, those with the destiny that God has ordained? In Northern Ireland since 2020, when abortion became legal, we've aborted just over 11,000 babies, many of whom are aborted in our own hospital. and the Republic of Ireland since abortion became law in 2019. Between 2019 and 24, over 50,000 babies were aborted in the Republic of Ireland. Violent crime rates continue to grow across the UK, a third higher than a decade ago with 1,200 violent crimes for 100,000 people. Public order offenses have tripled since 19 or since 2012. Domestic abuse, police incidents and crimes. In 2024, there were 1.35 million alone. Anti-semitism, which to me demonstrates the heart of a nation when we decide to hate and attack God's chosen people. 2020 where there were 600 incidents. In 2023 that grew to 4,296  These are only official statistics provided by the Jewish agency. What does that tell us about the heart of our nation? Church closures across the United Kingdom in the last 10 years. How many churches have closed in the UK in the last 10 years? It's estimated between 2 to 3,500 churches have closed. There's headline news about one of those churches been bought over by the Islamic Centre, a reformed Presbyterian church. Should we be alarmed? Should we be concerned by this? Is there a reason for this? in Wales. In the last decade, about 25% of historical churches and chapels have closed. I think we're in a serious mess. The church isn't disrepute. It's a disgrace. It's weak. It's selfish. It lacks unity. We lack the power of prayer. It's sinful. It's dying. It's an apostasy. We abuse people in the churches in this own country of ours. It's hard to find a prayer meeting these days. The power of prayer is gone. I realize this is a hard message this morning. This is what God has put on my heart. And I believe that we don't wake up, folks, before it's too late. Perhaps if we believe what Jesus said as he looked at the disciples and he said intently. Imagine that look that Jesus looked at them and this is the story of the young ruler. Humanly speaking, it's impossible. But with God, all things, everything is possible. Folks, it is if we would only believe. Revivals have broke out across the world when small groups of people sought God. And I'm going to look at some of those this morning. You know, the church has become satisfied with its slumber, its sleep. We've lost sight of the lost, the broken, the hurting, and the hungry. We are no longer concerned for what breaks God's heart. I ask you a question. When's the last time you saw a preacher in a pulpit trembling at God's word? When's the last time you or I trembled at God's word? When we realize what we have been given, what this word means, and the power of this word, but the awesome responsibility that we have as God's people to fulfil what he's called us to do. Age is no matter in this. My dad used to remind me, you never retire in God's work. You just refire. Bible doesn't talk about retirement. Where's the fear of God in the church today? We've lost sight of God. I believe we've turned our back on his word, his ways, his presence. We've compromised. He's called us to be holy people, to be godly people, to be set apart. Are we? I believe that we need a fresh acquaintance of God. A fresh conviction of our sins. We need to seek God. Let us look at what the psalmist said in Psalm 139. This is the prayer the psalmist prayed. And I believe this is a prayer that we should seek to be praying. He says this in verse 23, "Search me, oh God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Again, the Complete Jewish Bible says this, "Examine me, God, and know my heart. Test me and know my thoughts. See if there's in me any hurtful way and lead me along the eternal way. Do you know in Scandinavian countries that word “search” means ransack. They interpret that word as ransack. “Ransack me, oh God, and know my heart. Test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you and lead me along the path.” When you read it with that, it'll ransack me. Allow the Lord to ransack us. You know, when you go into a house to search it for something you've lost, you ransack it. You'll not leave anything uncovered. Would we allow God to ransack us and uncover our thoughts and our sins and those things that we have hidden? Would we? There's an old negro spiritual that says this, "My not my brother nor my sister, but it's me, oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer." I came across this quotation from Charles Finny, one of the great old preachers who experienced revivals "A revival of religion may be expected when Christians begin to confess their sins to one another. At other times, they confess it in a general manner as if they are only half as earnest. They may do it in eloquent language, but it does not mean anything. But when there is an ingenious breaking down and a pouring out of the heart and a confession of sin, the floodgates will soon burst open and salvation will flow over the place.” Isn't that a powerful reminder, folks? Can we learn about revival? I believe we can. I've been doing some research and I've always had an interest in the revival and I'm blessed with many books and so forth on the subject. I came across this the other day. The biblical foundation of revival, is found in 2 Chronicles 7 and 14. And it says this, "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and forgive their sins. I'll heal their land." There's a pattern of biblical revival, of spiritual revival that we find. When you look and research revivals across the world. People humbled themselves.  There was prayer with fervency. They sought God's face and they turned from their wicked ways. The Moravian revival in 1727 took place in a place called Herrnhut in Germany. The Moravians had been persecuted for centuries and they moved to Germany to get refuge. They found a guy by the name of Count Zinzendorf who was a man of God of his time at the time. And he was actively wanting to use his wealth and his position to be a blessing. And he gave these Moravians a safe place to build their homes. And they set up a community in this part of Germany. And this man blessed them. He was a man of God. But the town or the area they set up and they built their own houses and so forth was called Herrnhut. But there was a lot of division started in in Herrnhut and the churches and communities got into disunity and they fell out with each other and there was gossip and there was the division and the Moravians were really concerned by this. The pastor of the local church was called Pastor Joan Andreas Roth put in place by this count. And the Moravians called them both together and they called it the beast of the apocalypse, the false prophet because of how the people were behaving. On the 12th of May 1727, Zinzendorf addressed the congregation at Herrnhut and spoke for three hours on the blessedness of Christian unity. Let's look at our own town for an example. Coleraine's our hometown. Is there unity in the churches in this town? Is there unity in the body in this town? No, there's not. Being honest about it. There are so many fractions and broken churches and so forth. And we learn from this, folks. Conviction took the town that summer and everyone began seeking God for revival. As men, women, and children confessed their sin to one another, prayed together, and found new strength and seeking God. Their hearts were knit together, afresh, and the community experienced a golden summer. That wasn't enough, however. Listen to this. The people of Herrnhut wanted power to take the message of Christ to the ends of the earth. What a vision from one town to take the message to the ends of the earth. This became a constant subject of prayer to the point that on the 5th of August 1727, Zinzendorf and 14 other Moravian brethren spent an entire night seeking and interceding for God's power to fall on their community. On the 10th of August, Pastor Roth was so overcome with the presence of the Holy Spirit in an afternoon service in Herrnhut that he threw himself to the ground to repent before God. The meeting continued through the night as others did likewise, crying out to God and weeping and repentance until around midnight when the congregation burst forth in praise, worship, and singing. Zinzendorf and Roth then felt they could have a joint meeting between Benzondorf and Herrnhut that Wednesday night, a neighboring town on August the 13th to share about what was God was doing in Herrnhut. The count visited every home in the village urging the inhabitants to attend. Imagine the count doing this. Could you imagine some of our royal family doing that? Once the meeting began, the Holy Spirit took over the congregation again fell into the repentance for their sins. And at one point, Count Zinzendorf took the podium to voice a remorseful confession on behalf of the entire community for the division that had they had seen in the previous years and to call for a rededication to the principles upon which the town had been founded. Once that had been voiced, the Holy Spirit fell on the congregation. Count Zinzendorf later described it as a day of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. It was its Pentecost. The congregation began praying for groups still under persecution, for unity in their community and for the body of Christ the world over and to increasingly intercede that the word of God would spread mightily around the world. Listen to this. And just two weeks later, on the 27th of August, 24 men, and 24 women covenanted together to begin praying around the clock. They agreed that one man and one woman in different places would pray in 24 one-hour shifts that would fill each hour of the day, every day of the week, and every day of the prayer. Now, listen to this. They would pray for whatever God put on their hearts, but all mostly for revival and the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every corner of the earth. It was a prayer vigil that would last for the next 100 years and would be the womb for which revival was born. Could you imagine if we would do this? Could you imagine? There are other great examples that I'll share with you some of those examples because we can learn from this. The Welsh revival, Evan Roberts, the coal miner, consumed by prayer. Evan Roberts at the age of 26, a coal miner became consumed by prayer. hunger for God and his testimony revealed the intensity of spiritual pursuit. And he said this, "I was led to pray for the Holy Spirit to descend. The spirit answered and filled me." Roberts would awake at 1:00 a.m. each morning praying for four hours until dawn, interceding for wheels and crying out for revival. When revival came, Roberts preached a simple four-point message. Confess all the known sins. Remove anything doubtful in your life. Be utterly obedient to the Holy Spirit and publicly confess Christ as Savior. This straightforward call to holiness and obedience became the framework of one of the most of history's most powerful revival with over a 100,000 conversions in Wales. It's that powerful. The Korean revival demonstrates the power of transparent repentance and confession before God. A church elder confessed to stealing $100 before 1,500 people. His confession broke the ice and others began confessing their sins. What followed was described as agonized private prayer throughout the congregation. The intensity of conviction and repentance created an atmosphere where God's presence was undeniable and the revival transformed Korean Christianity and established prayer as a cornerstone in the Korean church. The Hebrides revival that many of us will be familiar with. On the island of Lewis, two sisters Peggy and Christine Smith prayed fervently in their cottage for revival. They invited the Reverend Duncan Campbell to come. Widespread conviction fell throughout that island. Duncan Campbell arrived on the dock to be met by one of the church ministers and two of his elders. The

elders approached Duncan Campbell and said this, "Reverend Campbell with all due respect, how well do you know your God?" These people had been seeking God for repentance, for revival, but in repentance, they had a such a fear of God. When they met Reverend Campbell, that's the first question he was asked. And those of you who have heard this story will know that during a prayer meeting in a barn, one young man who hadn't been saved that long, but it says that he was a young man who was filled with the spirit of God. And he reminded God of Isaiah 44 verse 3. And he said this, "Oh God, you made a promise to pour water upon him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground. And Lord, it's not happening. Lord, I know that I am thirsty." Shortly after he prayed that prayer, the Holy Spirit fell and the doors and the windows of that little barn and that that farmhouse, people came knocking, seeking God. Because a group of Christians came together and prayed and sought God and repented of their sins. The Presbytery at that time had written to all the churches calling them to a time of repentance and the Holy Spirit fell in revival in Lewis. As one of the stories that Duncan Campbell told were hundreds in Lewis who were seeking God. Where did they go to? They went to the police station. Why did they go to the police station? Because it said that the constable was a man who feared God. He was a God-fearing man. They went to the police station to find God in a constable who was said to be a God-fearing man. Isn't that incredible folks? The Shandong revival in the 1930s in China. In China's Shandong province, prayer groups had been seeking revival since 1925. Her persistent intercession finally broke through. Chinese churches united under the prayer. Listen to this. “Lord, revive the church, beginning with me.” Revival meetings continued for four days and nights of prayer and confession. And the spirit of repentance and brokenness was profound. An observer described the prayer culture that emerged. The spirit of prayer was outstanding. People loved to pray. Prayer was meetings lasted two to three hours. Fervent, sometimes tearful, always as if talking to the Father with confidence that he was listening. The revival stained the Chinese church through the coming decades of persecution and demonstrated that prayer creates an unshakable foundation across centuries of revival, continents, cultures, genuine revival of these characteristics. Persistent fervent prayer often for months or years before breakthrough. deep humility and brokenness before God. Public confession of sin and genuine repentance, unity among believers across denominational lines, and complete dependence on the Holy Spirit rather than human programs. That prayer from the Shangdong revival challenged me. Lord, revive thy church beginning with me. Would we dare to pray that? Lord revive thy church beginning with me?” Murray that well-known speaker said this. Believers must be brought into conviction of the shame and evil of their carnal state. God brings believers into what may be called a second conviction. Conviction of a need of deliverance from the power of sin.” Duncan Campbell himself speaking on the topic of why no revival said this. “Sin in the church is a main and the only hindrance for revival and comments. It's no good praying for revival unless we're rightly related to God. We must ask ourselves is my heart pure and my hands clean.” Leonard Ravenhill wrote a number of great books on revival. One called Why revival tarries said this. “We appease sin but not oppose it.” James 5 verse 16 says this. “Confess to one another, therefore, your faults, your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins, and pray also for one another that you may be healed and restored to a spiritual tone of mind and heart. Listen, the earnest, heartfelt, continued prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working. Confession and prayer of the earnest man makes tremendous power available, dynamic in its working.” Jeremiah said this in Jeremiah 29:13, "Then you will seek me, inquire for and require me as a vital necessity, and find me when you search me with all your heart.” Would we be willing to seek and search God in these days with all our heart for this town, for this province, for this nation, for this island of ours? Would we folks? Matthew 5 verse 6 in the complete Jewish Bible says this. “How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.” That's a promise folks. Would we hunger and thirst for righteousness and achieve this promise and be filled? Another old book that I found in my father's library written by J. Edwin Orr who quite often Billy Graham would have quoted. He travelled around the world looking at different revivals to gain a knowledge and he captured those in some of his writings and this is what he said. “The Holy Spirit is the author of revival both individual and collective. It is his ministry that brings a believer to a sense of need. That brings a church to repentance. That brings a whole community to hunger of heart. And yet the Holy Spirit is comparatively speaking the unknown quantity and personality of the Godhead.” According to Christ himself, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convince the world of sin and righteousness and of judgment. Many believers mistakenly rely upon their conscience alone rather than upon the conscience enlightened by the word of God and quickened by the spirit of God. The work of the Holy Spirit therefore is to show the sinner how far he has fallen short to show him also the standard of righteousness in Christ and to warn him of inevitable judgment. It is noteworthy that the Holy Spirit performs a parallel work in the life of the Christian, convincing him of carnality which is falling short, spurring him to practical sanctification, which is approaching the righteousness of Christ for everyday living and warning him of the judgment seat of Christ where he may lose his rewards. Is that not sobering? We will come to the judgment seat of Christ. We will give an account and we can lose our rewards. Don't believe me that read what God's word says.

J Edwin Orr goes on to say this. “It is the Holy Spirit that the Christian must look if he is ever to find the place of revival for his own soul. Spiritual blessing for the believer is depending upon the confession of sins and the restitution of wrongs. But confession in turn is dependent upon conviction. And with conviction comes the searching of the heart by the Holy Spirit. That book's titled Full Surrender. We need a move of the Holy Spirit. What happened in Kells down the road in 1859? A group of believers prayed, sought God on behalf of this province of ours and the Holy Spirit fell. People were convicted of sin in the town hall here around the centre of Coleraine. Some of you might know that in Ballyhome Road 2 to 3,000 people gathered a night for weeks and an old evangelist was in holiday in Portrush and God used that man preached for weeks to two to 3,000 people on the Ballyhome road. At the same time, people were convicted of sin in this town center. Why? Because the Holy Spirit came in response to men and women who were faithful to pray. John 7:38-39 says this, "He who believes in me, who cleaves to and trusts and relies on me. As the scriptures has said, from his innermost being shall flow continuously springs of living water." Do you realize that? “He who believes in me, who cleaves to and trusts and relies on me, as the scriptures said, from his innermost being shall flow continuously springs of living water.” Is that our experience? Is that what we experience? Those continuous springs of flow of living water that we've been promised when people see us and meet us, they see the light of Jesus, the light of the Lord in our lives. And Jesus said in verse 39, "But he was speaking here of the Spirit whom those who believed, trusted, had faith in him afterward to receive. For the Holy Spirit had not been given because Christ Jesus was not yet glorified, raised to glory.” We need a move of the Holy Spirit." I was challenged as I was reading about Pentecost, as I was preparing this message. Acts 1 verses 4 and 5 says this “once when he was eating with them he commanded them ‘do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised. As I told you before, John baptized with water but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” I hadn't seen this before. You see, he told them to wait. They weren't to leave Jerusalem. These were the believers that he was speaking to. Wait for the Holy Spirit. Wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Complete Jewish Bible brings it in a lovely translation here. It says “At one of those these gatherings he instructed them not to leave Jerusalem but to wait for what the Father promised which you heard about from me for Yeshua. But in a few days you will be immersed in the ruach hakadesh, the Holy Spirit.” Would we wait for the Holy Spirit? Would we wait to be filled with the spirit, for the spirit to move? Luke 24 verse 49 “Now, I'm sending forth upon you what my Father promised. So stay here in the city until you've been equipped with power from above.” Another call to the church to stay and wait for the spirit. “Now I am sending forth upon you my what my Father promised. So stay here in the city until you've been equipped with the power from above. I look around the churches in this land of ours. Where is the Holy Spirit? Where is the power of the Holy Spirit that we have seen and I've shared with you from these revivals and moves of God throughout centuries. There's no power of the Holy Spirit. Why? Because we have tried to control the Holy Spirit. The old song, “we've done it our way.” We think we know better than the Holy Spirit. You know, when you look at churches in Africa there are moves of the Holy Spirit, they don't come to church for an hour. They come to church and they spend all day in church. Why? Because the Holy Spirit moves. Listen to what was happening in those revivals. They were praying for hours and days and weeks. That church, that prayer meet went on for a hundred years. They say that of St. Patrick. St. Patrick raised up disciples and it went on for centuries where they prayed. Friends, are we challenged by this message today? I ask you, what has the Holy Spirit been saying to us today? What action do we need to take as a body of believers? If the Holy Spirit's been speaking to us,  should we neglect that call? Should we neglect that challenge? We will meet him face to face. I've been really challenged recently about my period of time in life. My parents have both passed on. My cousin and myself are the same age and we were chatting in our house a couple of weeks ago and he said, "You know, we are our parents' generation now." We will meet the Lord face to face. I believe sooner than most people probably realize, but there is a window of opportunity for the believers, God's people. We have a such an inheritance, a heritage in Northern Ireland. What a privilege. 79% of people say they're Christians. What that means is another story. But we have a great heritage here. And if we would realize who we are in Christ, that out of our innermost being will flow streams of living water. And he wants, the Holy Spirit, I believe, wants to move. And those who are available and those who are passionate and will see and hunger for the lost and to see God move in this land, he will. He has. History has shown it. His word, his promises are the same yesterday and today. I remind us of that opening verse that I said at the beginning - Mark 10 verse 27. Jesus looked at them intently. Look at that. Imagine that. Jesus looked at them intently. He looked at them intently. This is one of those moments where the Holy Spirit is looking at us this morning intently. And he says this, “humanly speaking, it's impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God. Everything is possible with God. What do we want to see God doing in this nation? I know I want to see God moving in in in my family, saving my family and my grandchildren. But I want my life to count. the days that God has left that I have left. I don't want to miss the opportunity. I want to make meet him face to face and I want him to hear him said, "Stephen, you've been a good and faithful servant." Can we say that? Will he say that to us? Or will he take all our rewards away from us because we've neglected what we could have done? Age is no barrier. You might say to me, "I'm too old." No, none of us are too old. We can pray. The greatest weapon that we have is prayer. Would we be prepared as I finish like the Shandong revival in China to pray that prayer, “Lord, revive thy church beginning with me?” Revival in Northern Ireland and Coleraine starts with us, with you and me. Why? Because we're called for such a time as this. We were purposed to live and dwell for such a time as this. And the Holy Spirit lives and dwells within us, folks. and he wants to move and reign and have his way. Revival starts with us. When we would search ourselves, confess our sins, seek God, turn from our wicked ways, humble ourselves, and pray. What's he saying? I'll heal your land. I believe God wants to heal this land. A land that's saturated in blood and hatred for centuries. But he wants to heal this land. I believe that this land could be a beacon throughout the world. This church, I believe, can be a beacon in this n in this town and in this province. Why? Because we would seek God as he calls us to do. Things can happen. Why? Humanly speaking, it's impossible. Not with God, everything is possible. Would we come to the God of impossibilities today? Can I challenge you? Would you be like those believers in China in 1930 and their prayer was, "Lord, revive thy church beginning with me. Revive thy church beginning with me." I will close with that young man that stood in Lewis and reminded God of his promise. God is a promise keeping God. If he didn't, what hope are we for our salvation? But he is. He doesn't change. And this was the promise that he prayed. “For I will pour out water on him who is thirsty. And streams on the dry ground. I will pour out my spirit on your offspring and my blessings on your descendants. And they will spring up among the grass like willows by the streams of water. This is a promise of God. This is a promise, an eternal promise for us. “I will pour my out water on him who is thirsty.” Who's thirsty?

The Promise of Jesus' Return

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2025 pm – MR JOSHUA BLUNT

 

All companies, big or small, they all have a mission statement. A mission statement is a brief description of what this company's mission is. What is their purpose? What do they strive to do? What is their values? What is their goal? And so, I thought I'd bring to you some different missions statements from different famous companies. So Google, that's a pretty big company and their mission statement is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful. That's their goal. That's what they're there for. To organize the world's information and make it universally access accessible and useful. Another one, Coca-Cola, a very famous big company all over the world. Theirs is to refresh the world, to inspire moments of optimism and happiness, to create value and make a difference. Then on a different line, maybe not so much of a company as an organization, but the Red Cross, their mission statement is to provide compassionate care to victims of disaster. See, these three mission statements, they're from three famous organizations, but they're all different because each of these companies, they have different purposes. But each one of these statements, they all accurately describe the function and the purpose and the goal of these companies. What are they there for? What are they doing? And as we look at scripture this evening, we are focusing now on the period of 40 days between Jesus' resurrection, when he rose from the tomb, the time when he ascended to heaven. And we're going to focus on those 40 days and what Jesus did in them. Because in those 40 days, Jesus gave his disciples, his followers, he gave them their mission statement. What is their purpose? What are they here for? What is their goal? What are their mission? So that's where we're take looking at this evening. So if you could open your Bibles to Acts chapter 1 verses 1 to 14.

 

This is a really interesting passage which shows the interactions with Jesus and his disciples post resurrection after he's risen from the grave. We're going to focus here on verses 6 to 12. But to introduce the section Luke, this is the author of this Acts is Luke. He gives us a little prologue introduction. Acts was written by the same author as the gospel of Luke and it starts with this incredible statement. “The former treatise have I made O Theophilus.” Luke has written to Theophilus previously in his own letter. “And he said of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.” The Gospel of Luke is the first book that he wrote. And it like John, it closely follows the life of Jesus right up until the final chapter. Then chapter verse 24 when Jesus was carried up into heaven, his ascension. Jesus would not stay on earth. He had fulfilled his father's plan and purpose. He had lived a perfect life. He had been tempted and yet was without sin and ultimately he died and as we know and remember from this morning he would rise again victoriously over death but Jesus would not stay on earth forever. But even though the Gospel of Luke ends in chapter 24 with Jesus ascending to heaven, Luke starts Acts saying Jesus only began to do his ministry. Even after Jesus' ascension, when he would go to heaven, his ministry would continue through the work of the Holy Spirit, which Jesus promises to the disciples to comfort them and enable them to fulfil their mission. “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach.” This is implying that this book of Acts is the continuing work of Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit.” But Luke, as he continues on, has this little prologue section, he details what Jesus was up to in those 40 days. Verse 3, “to whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them 40 days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” So Jesus in these 40 days is doing two things. Firstly, he's proving that he is alive by many infallible proofs. As we looked at this morning, Jesus' resurrection is the stamp of authenticity that he is the Son of God, that he is who he says he is. He proves that, he appeared with them eating with them. He's not a ghost. He appeared once to over 500 people. Jesus is really alive. So that's what he's doing firstly. But secondly, he's teaching them the true nature of the kingdom and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. He's teaching what does the kingdom of God look like? What are his disciples and his followers? What are their roles in that kingdom? And so then coming to verse 6, the disciples ask a very fair question, a natural question. As Jesus teaches on the kingdom of God, they are wondering about this. And so they asked Jesus this question. “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” This is exactly what Jesus has been teaching about. It's a natural question. And so Jesus answers them. Verse 7, “it is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the father hath put in his own power.” Jesus' response indicates that the problem with the disciples question isn't with the content. The kingdom will come. The kingdom of God will come as Luke himself writes in Luke 1:32-33. What he writes is “he will be great and will be called the Son of the most high. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. And he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. And of his kingdom there will be no end.” He will establish his kingdom. His kingdom will come. The problem with the disciples question is with timing. The disciples are concerned about when is this going to happen and Jesus makes it very clear to them that that knowledge is solely for God. You know I think today even Christians all around the world, even in churches are so focused on when Jesus' return is going to be. Yes, we should be expectant and we should wait eagerly in expectation and excitement and hope for the day when Jesus will return. But Jesus says, don't focus on the when. That day will come like a thief in the night. No man knows when a thief comes. No man knows apart from God himself when that day will come because that is not your purpose. That is not your mission. Instead, Jesus now goes on and says, "You have a mission. Don't worry about this. But you have a mission which will take all of your energy and focus. The company Google, focuses on collaborating information and making it accessible and useful. Do you know what Google's not doing? It's not going to go and try and start a pig farm or it's not going to try and start a hospital or it's not going to try and start some other business venture because that's not their mission. Coca-Cola is not trying to send packages all around the world like Amazon. The Red Cross is not trying to make millions out of Coca-Cola. Their mission is what they are focused on. And as believers, Jesus is saying, don't consume yourself with when Jesus is coming back. Yes, expect it. But concern yourself with the mission that he is going to give. The kingdom commission. And so we come to Acts 1:8. This is an incredible verse. I think it's the key verse in the whole book of Acts that sums it up. “But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be my witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the uttermost part of the world."  As disciples this is your mission statement. This is your purpose. This is what you are to pursue instead of focusing and being distracted by when is Jesus coming back. In the first week in Bible college in September there was this YouTube clip going viral of a Nigerian pastor saying that the 25th of September was going to be the day when the Lord was going to come back. Jesus says it is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in place. Don't be distracted by that focus on the mission. You are a witness. This is the theme of Acts. The gospel witness through the Spirit's enabling power. The Spirit is going to come and fill you and empower you and enable you to be a witness to proclaim the gospel. That is the theme running through Acts. That is the mission of believers. Acts 2 verse 32 – it is after Pentecost and Peter is boldly preaching to the crowds. This is what he's doing. “This Jesus hath raised up whereof we are all witnesses.” Talking about the disciples and Peter addressing another crowd in the temple Acts chapter 3 verse 15 “But ye denied the holy one, and the just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you, and killed the prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead, whereof we are witnesses.” Chapter 10 verse 39, when Peter was explaining the gospel to the centurion, and God sent Peter to testify the gospel to the centurion. “we are witnesses of all things which he both did in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree, him God raised up on the third day and showed him openly.” And even the commission of the man named Saul turned Paul, God told him through Ananias, chapter 22 verse 15, “for thou shalt be his witness unto all men of what thou hast seen and heard.” This is the story line, the thread running through Acts - of gospel proclamation through the disciples witness. What does this mean? What does it even mean to be a witness? Well, a witness in a court, they tell what they've seen, what they've heard, what they've experienced, what they know is true. These disciples, they're testifying to the gospel of Christ. That Christ, as these people are saying, as Peter says whom they slew and hanged on a tree, him God raised up on the third day and showed him openly the gospel. That Jesus died and rose for the salvation of sinners of all people. That is the gospel of Christ. There are many fake gospels out in the world today. People saying you have to do this or do that. There are even some similar to Christianity that look so close to Christianity, like Jehovah's Witnesses, or others but this message is not like theirs. This message is not join an organization, do this or do that. It's not complicated religious systems or practices. No, this gospel that they're testifying to is the gospel of Jesus Christ. His life as the perfect Son of God, his death, an unjust death on the cross, bearing the sins of all who believe, and his resurrection that he conquered death to save those who believe on him. If you have not put your trust in Christ this is what Jesus has done for you. He's already done it. And if you are a believer here this evening this is what you're called to witness to. To proclaim. As Jesus says, "You shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost has come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me.” It is a costly commitment to be an effective witness. You can't just talk the talk. You must walk the walk. It demands authenticity. Not only did Peter walk out in that street on the day of Pentecost, and not only did he boldly proclaim the gospel of Christ to thousands of people probably from all different nations, not only did he do that, declaring the truth of God, his saving grace, he lived it out. He walked in godly wisdom. He devoted himself to prayer. Even when God in a vision spoke to him and told him to go to Cornelius and declare the gospel. Even then he was on his knees in prayer seeking God. He not only talked the talk, he walked the walk. Think about Paul, the incredible apostle Paul who wrote so much of the New Testament. Not only did he write in Philippians about the incredible joy of the gospel of Christ and exhorted all believers to steadfastly hold to Christ even under trials. He also rested and trusted in the sovereignty of God when he was locked in prison, when he was beaten, whipped, shipwrecked, cast out, despised, rejected, and he held to the truths of God and walked in his joy and wisdom. He not only talked the talk, he walked the walk. A costly call. For effective witness, there must be authentic fellowship with God. This call to be a witness is for all believers. It's a call to share the gospel to all people. You and I will meet people that Jesus calls us to share and witness the gospel to them. And you will meet people that I will never meet. You will meet people in your work, in your school, maybe in your grocery store, maybe your neighbourhood.  Jesus' commission is to witness to them in your conversations, in how you interact with people, in everyday life. This is a call to gospel witness, but it must come from authentic walk. It must come from a heart that seeks God. This is a privileged calling. If you are a personal ambassador for a king, you get sent by a king to deliver a message to another country or another person. That is an honourable position. That person must be a trusted servant, a steward. That position is a honourable position. But now think of the incalculable privilege, incomprehensible privilege and honour of being an ambassador and witness not for an earthly king who is temporary but for a heavenly king who has all authority and power. David Livingstone, a missionary back in the 1800’s went to Africa to share the gospel. And it was at a time when Africa was known as the white man's grave. The cost was great, he had to go and leave his home country of England and go to a place where quite likely he would never come back from. But what he wrote was this. “If a commission by an earthly king is considered an honour, how can a commission by a heavenly king be considered a sacrifice?” This is a privileged position to bear witness to, to testify to, to proclaim the gospel of Christ. As a believer because of the resurrection, because Jesus has transformed your life. That is what you're testifying to - his goodness, his greatness, the salvation which you have received. Is this through your own willpower and strength? Is this through your own might and power? Is this through your own greatness? Is this through your own great communication skills? Is this through your great smart ability to be able to do one-on-one evangelism? Is this through that? No, it is not. This is through the help of the Spirit which Jesus promised to his disciples. A helper. The Spirit is going to come and fill you and empower you and enable you to witness and testify and proclaim the gospel. As it says verse 8, “but ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be my witnesses.” The power of the Holy Ghost is to come upon you to propel you into witness, to proclaim the gospel. Where is this mission to? “You will be my witnesses unto me in both in Jerusalem, Judea, in Samaria, and the uttermost part of the earth.” It starts where they're at and it goes outward to all people everywhere. This gospel must be proclaimed to all people across the earth. It is echoing the great commission in Matthew chapter 28:1 19 which says, "Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." This gospel starts here. Maybe you cannot go to the uttermost parts of the world, but certainly you can go to your neighbour. Start where you are to the ends of the earth. But pray for those who have gone to the ends of the earth. Pray for them because the cost is great for those people. The kingdom commission, a call to be a witness, testify to the greatness and goodness and salvation of God. And the kingdom advances. These are Jesus' very last words recorded on earth. And then we're given an incredible picture. “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight.” While they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. Jesus ascended right before their very eyes. Taken up to heaven. Imagine the awe and wonder. This man Jesus who they know now is the Messiah, the Son of God, who they know now has risen from the grave and he ascends to heaven. Again, realizing the supernatural, the divine, the power and the nature of Jesus. Again, proof of the authenticity of Christ. Jesus is not just a moral teacher. He's not just a good man. No, he is the Son of God who came to save. Verse 10. “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven, as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, which also said, "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." This commission to go and proclaim the gospel, to witness is set against the backdrop and the hope that Jesus has ascended but he will come back. The hope that he will return - "shall so come in like manner as you've seen him go into heaven." He will come back. He has ascended as Hebrews 12 verse 12 says “He is ascended and seated at the right hand of the throne of God. He has completed his mission. And now he sits glorified at his Father's right hand." And see these angels, they appear beside these men. These men, they gaze in wonder. And I imagine they're just staring up into space. But the angels make it very clear. They ask, "Why are you standing here? Why are you still here? This Jesus, he will return as he has promised to do. His kingdom will come. But in the meantime, you have a job to do, you have a mission, a gospel to proclaim. You have a witness to testify to. Don't wait for him to come back. He will come back. That's the promise. But you have a mission. As Jesus said in verse 7, it is not for you to know the times or seasons which the father has put in his own plan. He will come back in the time God has ordained. But as believers in Christ, we have a mission. Like Google's mission statement is to organize information, Coca-Cola is to refresh the world, Red Cross is to care for victims, believers witness to the gospel, proclaim the gospel. To proclaim the greatest event the world has ever seen, the world has ever known, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, would come and live and die for wretched sinners like us. To save us for an eternity in the riches and glory of heaven. We don't deserve it, but that is what he has done. He has poured out his love upon us. Let us proclaim that. There are people going around door to door sometimes with electricity bills or selling insurance. Sometimes I feel terrified going around the door sharing the gospel. What will people think? Sometimes I'm terrified of knocking on people's doors to share the gospel. But remember we're sharing the greatest news. Who cares about an insurance company when you have the gospel of Christ which could save people's souls? And yet I'm too scared to knock on that person's door to share with them the greatest news perhaps they will ever hear.  Can I encourage you to do what the disciples did after hearing the angels? Verse 12, “then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem, a Sabbath day journey.” They stopped looking into the sky, idling away their time. They looked down and they got on with the mission that Jesus had given them. They got up and went on and got on with that task. They waited as Jesus said until Pentecost when the Spirit would come and then filled with the Spirit they stepped into that street and boldly proclaimed the gospel. Let us do the same. Let us pray. Let us seek God. Be devout and authentic in our walk with him. Seeking his counsel and his wisdom, being filled with his spirit. And then let us step out in boldness to proclaim and testify and witness to the gospel of salvation through Christ Jesus' life, his death, resurrection. An incredible event in the history of humanity which has cut history from BC to AD. The greatest lesson, the message of salvation. Let me finish with this story and illustration. Imagine a man who was a doctor and he was a very smart doctor and he had tons of medicines and experience. And then over this country there came a terrible sickness that plagued everyone. Nobody knew how to fix it. People were trying all manners of things. It wasn't working. They were dying. Nobody could do anything. No one knew what to do apart from this doctor. He had the medicine. He had been given the medicine to fix everyone in that whole country. That's incredible news. He had this bottle of medicine which can heal every one of those people and make them better. That's incredible. Nobody has to die because this doctor is there and has this medicine. But this doctor, he lives in a nice house with some nice chairs. He's comfortable in his house but outside the world is dark and dying and in sickness. And so this doctor does not give his medicine to anyone because it's too hard. He doesn't want to leave his house. He might have to associate with people he doesn't really want to associate with. And he decides just to keep it for himself in his nice comfortable house. That's a tragedy I'm sure you would agree. Let us not be like that doctor with the gospel. We have the greatest news that the world has ever and will ever know. And let us not keep it to ourselves because of comfortability or any other reason. But let us through the power and the help of the Holy Spirit be a witness here, now and to the uttermost parts of the earth, seeking God for his wisdom, his courage, and his boldness. Because it's only through him and his strength that we will have the courage to walk in his ways and testify to his goodness.

 

New Life in Christ

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 5 APRIL 2026 – MR JOSHUA BLUNT

 

1440 in the mid- 15th century was the invention of the printing press. Well, you ask me what's that got to do with this sermon on Easter Sunday? Well, that transformed the culture that that we live in today. Before the printing press, people monks had to write out each individual book, each individual letter of a book. Books were priceless. They were chained to libraries. It meant that ideas couldn't really travel. Meant that people weren't really educated. But when the printing press was invented, suddenly everyone had access to books. Everyone had access to education. And it just changed how the world worked. Similarly, in the 1900s, there was the first flight in an aircraft that was heavier than air. changed history because it changed the way that people travel and move around forever. It doesn't take 5 months to get to Africa anymore or Australia. It takes what, 24 hours. People can travel more, move around more. It's changed history. Another thing which has tragically changed history and put a mark on the human calendar was which I'm sure some of you will remember is 911. That was a tragic day, a dark day in human history, but it marked history forever. Another thing is the dawn of the digital age. 30 years ago, there was no internet, no phones, no YouTube, none of these things. But since these have been invented, it's radically changed how people operate, how people work, how people communicate. So events like these have shaped and transformed the course of history in the world. But there is one event, there is one single momentous event which outweighs all others. No other historical event in the history of mankind can compare to the dramatic and radical consequences of this event which occurred 2,000 years ago. This event has changed hundreds of thousands of lives. It's an event which we remember today. The Lord Jesus Christ is alive. He rose from the grave. And today, this morning, as we look at the word, we're going to dwell on the incredibleness of this event. The joy of this moment, and the hope that we as believers have because of it. So, if you could open your Bible to John chapter 20 verses 1 to 31.

 

This is an incredible story with some incredible emotions and interactions going on through it. But think back to Friday. Ironically called Good Friday, which if you think of it straightly seems anything but good. Jesus was unjustly tried before Pilate and sentenced to be crucified. A death reserved only for the worst, the scum of the society. Roman citizens would never be crucified. It was below them. The worst death renowned at the time for its brutality. And this was how Jesus, the son of God, who had done no wrong, was treated. And he died and was buried in Joseph's tomb and sealed by the stone being rolled across its entrance. dead. A dark day in human history when man condemned the perfect son of God to be crucified. And you see here in this passage, you see Mary's love for Jesus. You see, she took the Sabbath, rested according to the Israelites law. But as soon as she could, early on the first day when it was still dark, she came to the tomb. She couldn't rest. She couldn't stay in bed. She couldn't sleep. Her love for Christ and her Lord drove her to that tomb that morning. This man Jesus was the man that had rescued Mary from the seven Jesus had sent those seven demons which had entrapped her. He had sent them out of her. This man Jesus was the man that Mary and the disciples believed was the Messiah. Mary and these disciples, they believed that Jesus was the one sent from God. And so they loved him and they followed him. They left their jobs and their families and their houses and their homes and they followed him and now he's dead, killed upon the cross. Imagine the emotions going through their head. Imagine what they're thinking at the present time. This wasn't meant to happen. Jesus was meant to establish his kingdom. Maybe disappointment, confusion, despair, disbelief. The whole world has just crumbled. The man they're following has just been buried. The life they imagined living with Jesus has just vanished. And Mary comes to the tomb. Verse one, early when it was yet dark.  But she's distraught because her Lord is dead. We know from the other gospels that Mary is coming with several other women to anoint Jesus with spices. It's an act of honouring a king, showing their devotion and their love for Jesus. But it's also an act of finality in the sense that Jesus is dead and they don't expect him to come back. Which makes the next part so much more shocking for Mary. “when it was dark, … unto the sepulchre, the tomb, and seeth the stone roll taken away.” She's shocked. This is not what she expected to see. And so her first response is found in verse 2 “then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and saith unto them, they have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre and we know not where they have laid him.” The stone is rolled away and Jesus is not there. Mary assumes that someone has taken the body of Jesus. They've stolen the body of Jesus. It just adds to her anguish and her sorrow. Not only is Jesus dead, but they have stolen his body and now she cannot honor him with these spices. And the disciples, Peter and John want to see for themselves. And so they leave Mary and they run straight back to the tomb. “Peter therefore went forth and the other disciple with them. And so they both ran together.” It's interesting. This is written by John and he mentions that he outrun Peter. Maybe he's quite happy with that. But he outran Peter anyway. And they came to the tomb. John stops, but Peter, always the more bold one, heads straight into the tomb. And what do they see? Well, they see the empty tomb, but it's not quite empty. Verse 5 “And stooping down and looking in saw the linen cloths lying.” Verse 7 “the napkin that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.”  Jesus had been wrapped in these cloths. They are still there but Jesus was gone. He was not there. But these cloths were lying placed neatly where he had been. Something has happened here. Something strange has happened here. And they realize what had happened. Have a look there at verse 8 “they went in also and the other disciple which came first … and he saw and believed.” Did he believe what Mary had told him that Jesus was gone? No. He believed now that Jesus had risen. He didn't fully understand yet. As verse 9 says, they didn't understand. “They knew not the scriptures that he must rise again.” But they believed that God had worked. It's incredible proof of the resurrection. I mean, if anyone was going to steal the body anyway, they'd hardly take the time to unwrap the whole body and lay them up neatly and then walk off. Jesus has risen and they believed it. But what does it say? They knew not the scripture that he must rise again from the dead. This resurrection of Jesus which John believed and the disciples were witnesses to was and is the fulfilment of all scripture. All scripture points to this one event – Jesus’ resurrection. They didn't know the scriptures but the scriptures were telling them, pointing them to this event. This one story is the story describing the redeeming of God's people through his son Jesus. And everything points towards that. Like Abraham when he was asked to offer up his son Isaac on the altar. That's a crazy story. But then God provided a ram to take Isaac's place and the ram was killed for the sake. That's what Jesus has done for us. Or Jonah in the belly of the fish for three days. Jesus was in the tomb for three days. In the Old Testament, the scapegoat, which was when the priests would confess the sins to a goat and lay the blood on the goat and then send it out into wilderness to bear the sin of the people. And this all foreshadows and is pointing towards the ultimate sacrifice and substitute, Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 3-4, “for I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures according to the scriptures.” The scripture was fulfilled. It's a stamp of authenticity. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead marks that he is who he says he is. He is the son of God as in John 2 verse 19 to 21. This is evidence of who he is. Jesus himself says that when the crowds are pressing in on him. He says to them something strange. He says, "Tear down this temple and I will rebuild it in 3 days." And the Jews are all like, "You can't be serious. This took 40 years to build." But it's talking about his own body. If they didn't rebuild it, then don't believe him. But as we know and as the disciples are realizing, Jesus was speaking of himself and his body and he did rise again on the third day. This is the proof that he is the son of God. I have to be honest, maybe because I'm not that old but I had never ever used a cheque before about a month ago and I had no idea what to do with this thing. Someone had gave me a piece of paper with some writing on it and I'm like “and that's meant to be money.” I had to ring my parents. I was like, "Right, so I got given this piece of paper. What like what am I meant to do with it?" You see that cheque, you really have no idea whether it's a proper cheque or if that person's account has any money in it anyway. You don't really know because it's just a piece of paper until you cash it in. And when it comes through, well then you know that it is real and it's authentic. Jesus, he can say everything about himself but if he had just died a normal death and didn't come back to life, well then he is just a normal person who's made up some big grand story. But the fact is that Jesus himself came back to life, proving who he was, who he is, taking the judgment for sin which we deserve. As Romans 4 verse 24 says, "But for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification." Take encouragement and confidence in this. Jesus rose from the dead according to the scripture, according to the word foretold. He rose for your justification. That's a big word which means made right before God. So be encouraged, have confidence, have joy. This is what he's done for you as a believer. He rose for you. And well, if you're not a Christian, if you are unsure about who Jesus is. I have talked to lots of people on the street who are just unsure about who Jesus is. They think maybe he's a moral teacher, maybe he's a good guy, maybe he doesn't even exist. But the fact is that Jesus himself claims to be the son of God and then proves it by rising again. So if you're not a Christian, can I urge you to consider Christ. So the scriptures are fulfilled. All scripture points to this one day when Jesus would fulfil his mission and rise from the grave. But then also the disciples are encouraged. After the two disciples left with joyful and believing hearts, we see Mary come to the tomb again. She is still distraught. She loved Jesus and his message and now he is gone. But then as she looks in, she sees something incredible. Verse 12. “And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain. And they asked her, "Woman, why weepest thou?" And she saith unto them, "They've taken away my Lord, and I know not where they lay him." This Jesus was her Lord, her king. Her heart's desire is to bring him honour, to anoint him in even in his death. And now he's gone. She's distraught. And then she turns around and she sees this man. She sees Jesus, but she doesn't recognize him. And Jesus said to her, "Why weepest thou? Whom seeketh?" She mistakes him for a gardener, saying, "Where have you laid him?" And Jesus said unto her … One word, and it's a word filled with comfort and love and compassion, ‘Mary.’ And she turned and recognized him. This Jesus is alive. She says, "Raboni," which means master, Lord, teacher, her Lord is alive. Imagine the joy. Imagine the wonder. This man who was dead in the tomb, buried for 3 days, who you have come to tomb expecting to anoint is now standing right before you alive. And Jesus immediately commands her, "Go and tell the disciples. Tell them of this great event which has happened. Tell them that I ascend unto my father and to your father and to my God and your God. Tell them of this great event.” Jesus is alive. Jesus appeared throughout this time on earth for these 40 days. He appeared to Mary here comforting her. Verse 19, he appeared to all the disciples commissioning them to wait for the Holy Spirit and then to go with his authority. And then he appeared specifically to Thomas in verse 26, demolishing any doubt about the authenticity of his resurrection. You know, Jesus didn't have to appear to all of his disciples after he rose. He could have gone straight up to heaven and his mission still would have been fulfilled. But again, he proved by his physical appearing to hundreds of people that he was really alive. What is the impact? What is the response? Well, we can know from the disciples response. Mary's tears and anguish and distraught was turned to joy. The disciples fear as they locked themselves in this room, terrified of the Roman authorities who are probably going to come and try and kill them. Their fear turned to courage. In only a few short days, they would all be out proclaiming the gospel boldly in the streets. And Thomas is doubting. He has witnessed the crucifixion. He had sworn that Jesus was dead. His doubt was turned to confidence. He confessed Lord and God. It is the same for us here as believers, you can have joy in the resurrection. Jesus has fulfilled his ministry. If God did nothing apart from send his son for us, if he did absolutely nothing for us, God blesses us abundantly. Even living in this country God blesses us abundantly. But if the only thing that he ever did was send his son, we have reason for joy. We can have courage in the face of trials and the unknown, not because it's easy, but we have confidence of the hope of heaven. And then ultimately, we can have confidence in Jesus, his resurrection, and the gospel. The scripture is fulfilled. The disciples are encouraged and finally the Lord brings life. Why? Why did Jesus do that? Why did he go to the cross? What's this plan? What's his purpose? What is the whole story of the Bible? What's it all about? Well, let the author speak for himself. Verse 31 “These are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, and that by believing ye may have life through his name.” Jesus came to earth proclaiming the kingdom of heaven. And this gospel of John follows the life of Jesus, he writes down his teaching, his parables, his interactions, and it's written ultimately to prove that Jesus is the Christ, the son of God, who came to earth to make a way for sinful man to know God. Jesus rose the third day, according to the scriptures for our justification that we may be made right before God. We have a problem since the garden of Eden, the fall in Genesis. Sin has entered and corrupted the world and created this inseparable barrier between God and humanity that humans simply cannot cross. No matter how good you are, no matter how many times you come to church, it will never be enough to save you. And so Jesus came to tear down that barrier, to take our sin and judgment that we deserve so that we through him we may know God. When Jesus died on the cross there was the big thick curtain in the temple that separated the most the holy place from the common people. That was torn in two so that all who call on his name can inherit eternal life and know God. That is the story of the Bible. That is the story of the gospel. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15, "If the dead are not raised, then is Christ not raised? And if Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain. Ye are not yet in your sins, then they also which have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all died. For so in Christ shall be made alive.” That is the story of the Bible. That is the story of the gospel. Through one man came death, Adam. Sin entered the world and from that day corruption. But through one man, Jesus, and his resurrection, all who believe in him shall be made alive to an eternal life in heaven. If you're a Christian here today, again, rejoice. Rejoice not in the great chocolate you're going to get this afternoon. Rejoice in the greatest gift of God that the world has ever known, the greatest gift of love. And again, if you're not a Christian, I urge you to consider Christ and what he has done for you. The gospel of John, is a biography. It follows the life of Jesus, but it's not a normal one. A biography usually starts when a person is young and ends when they die. But the gospel of John, it doesn't finish when Jesus is died. It continues on because the story is not finished. Jesus would rise again. And today as we remember, he has risen again so we have joy and confidence in him, his truth, and what he has done in his salvation.