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 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. The 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 and 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, will the 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. When he 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 Coc Coca-Cola. Their mission is what they are focused on. And as believers, Jesus is saying, don't consume yourself 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 ghost 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 2:32 – 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 that 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 and 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 of seasons which the father has put in his own plan. He will come back when the 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 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.

 

Facing the giants

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 22 MARCH 2026 – MR PHILIP GRAHAM

1 Samuel 17 - Facing the giants

 

Everybody likes to cheer on an underdog, don't they? We all love a good underdog story. We all love to see somebody that beats the odds, don't we? Or take on the giant, take on the impossible and come through as the winner.  But tell me this morning if I was asked to for a show of hands and says who likes to be the underdog I would be pretty confident that nobody in here would put their hand up and say yes I like to be the one that's at the very bottom of the pile. I like to be the one that's the underdog. We like to cheer on the underdog and we like to cheer and hopefully the underdog will win and it makes a good story, doesn't it? But none of us like to be in that situation. And there's no doubt this morning there's some of you here and maybe you're in that very situation. I don't know you. I don't know your home life or your circumstances, but you're maybe faced with opposition this morning. You're faced with a giant that seems too strong for the resources that you have. Have you faced a giant where there doesn't seem to be a way out? Maybe you've faced a giant this morning or this week and there doesn't seem to be any way you think that you can win. But here this morning, we read in God's word of a young man who found himself in that very situation. There are so many traits in David that all of us can relate to. We can look at David's testimony, we see how he walked with the Lord, how he had a close relationship with the Lord. But in the same token too, David, like the rest of us, was a sinner. And David sinned against God. And of course we know about Bathsheba and how David let the Lord down and he let his people down. He let his family down. But then David was restored. And maybe as many times as we study David, we see ourselves in David and we can compare ourselves to how David reacted. And we too can relate to how David felt. David would definitely be have to be one of those characters in the Bible that I really enjoy studying. And as we come to look at him this morning, we see that David faced a giant. A giant who was out of this world, a giant who was larger than life. But our focus this morning is on David's response to all of this. How did David respond when his giant appeared? How did David respond to those who were watching on? As we look at how David responded, may we learn from his actions, may we learn from his attitude to his giants.

First of all, I want you to look at the crisis at hand. We all know the background to this story. As we read in verses 1 to 11, the Israelites were at war. They were at war with the Philistines and they had come to a standoff. Nobody was winning the war. And now the Philistines, they have rolled out their ultimate weapon if you like - Goliath. And Goliath the giant, he was giant in nature. He was a giant. Everything about Goliath was enormous. And the Israelite army was now in crisis because the Israelite army weren't expecting this. They weren't expecting this monster to appear on the battlefield. They were facing a challenge all of a sudden that they believed that they couldn't win. They realized this giant was so big that he could annihilate all of them. The crisis we face in our own lives. That crisis can take us by surprise as Goliath did these Israelites. Let's look at the characteristics of this crisis. Here's a characteristic. This crisis was larger than life. A champion named Goliath. He was from Gath. He was over 9 ft tall. Can you imagine this man standing in front of you? I think some of us read the stories and we see the pictures of David and Goliath and we don't totally comprehend how big this man was. The scripture gives us all the details. And I think it's important because the scripture details here how big this guy really was. Because I think the scriptures want us to realize that this guy to the human mind was totally indestructible. To the human mind, to the human heart, this guy would have put terror into those even that would have seen him walking down the street. Can you imagine bumping into Goliath and the size of him, nine feet tall? It tells us some of the characteristics of this guy here. He had armour on him. The armour that he would carried and it was 57 kgs. Can you imagine that weight on your chest? Not only that that but his legs were covered in bronze. Think of the weight of bronze and a bronze javelin and he had a spear and the shaft of the spear. A “weaver's rod” is 4 inches round. Can you picture the size of this man's hand? This guy was enormous. He was an absolute brute. He was indestructible. And as far as Israelite soldiers were concerned, Goliath was so big he couldn't be defeated. I'm sure they felt every emotion going when they seen that man. They would have felt fear. They would have felt anxiety. They would have felt helpless. Maybe you're facing a giant this morning. Yes, he hasn't got a physical appearance of Goliath, but to you in your heart and your mind, you're facing something so big that it brings terror into your life. You're facing something so big that you feel helpless, that you feel out of control, that every time you think about it, you're sick to the very pit of your stomach. The giants we face today are no different to the one we read here in the Bible. I don't know what your giant is this morning. That giant could be something as big as cancer. You've got a diagnosis that seems it's the end and what am I going to do? Maybe you have a failing marriage or financial problems and they are giants in your life and things in your life seem to be falling apart. Or maybe you're here this morning and you've nothing that I have mentioned, but you have something in your heart and it's massive to you. And maybe if you were to tell it to somebody else, they might say, "That's not a big deal" but to you this morning, your giant, it feels bigger than you are. It feels mightier than your It seems like it's going to take you down. It is larger than life. Notice something else about this crisis. Not only was it larger than life, but this crisis, it was going to defy our power. This crisis defies our power. You see, Goliath stood it and he shouted in verses 8, 9, and 10, and he was taunting the Israelites. He said, "Who's going to come and fight me? Who's going to come and take me on?" The Israelite army were in despair.  Goliath was defying the power of the Israelites and that's what giants do to us - they defy our power, they make us feel powerless they make us feel helpless. If you're anything like me you like to be in control of your life, you like to be in control of what you do at work and at home And I'm sure like the rest of us we like an easy ride. When a crisis comes along, well, that puts that all to bed, doesn't it? Because we like things to run smoothly. You like to be in control. But all of a sudden, when a crisis comes, everything becomes major. Everything seems to unravel. And you know what? That could be a problem at work. It could be a problem at home. Or maybe it's the inability to defeat some bad habit. But when the crisis appears, it defies our power. It makes us feel helpless. It makes us feel hopeless. But not only does the crisis defy our power, the crisis won't go away. We read in verse number 16 “and the Philistine drew near morning and evening and presented himself 40 days.” This crisis just wouldn't go away. And that's the problem with crisis. They just don't always just disappear. You know, this crisis wouldn't go away. This crisis was here not just for one day, not just for the afternoon or for the week. 40 days, this giant, this crisis turned up. It defied the armies of Israel. It showed its power. It turned up. And for 40 days, this crisis wouldn't go away. And that's the nature of crisis because if we don't deal with the crisis, it will eventually deal with us. You know, it's no good pretending the crisis doesn't exist. It's no good pretending the crisis will just disappear because by its very nature, it will continue to torture and torment you. And the problem is that most crises are easy to ignore at the early stages. It's rare that a situation goes from good to crisis level overnight. Usually there's a period of deterioration. In the situation were maybe marriages break down, there's a breakdown in communication. First of all, people stop talking, people stop communicating. That's how it starts off. It doesn't happen overnight. It's a gradual thing. And then all of a sudden it goes to crisis level and the whole thing is a mess. And very rarely a crisis is the result of a spur-of-the- moment decision, but it's usually a slow progression of detachment. When you get into financial difficulties, it usually starts off as a bit of an inconvenience. And if you don't deal with it whenever you need to, if you don't deal with it at the very start, that crisis will escalate and all of a sudden your financial problems reach crisis point and they seem to become unmanageable. If we try to ignore the crisis, it just simply won't go away. But that brings me to David's response this morning. David's response to this crisis. Yes, this crisis was larger than life. Yes, this crisis defied all human logic. This crisis wouldn't go away. But look at David's response. In the midst of this crisis, David arrives at the scene. He sees Goliath making his challenge. He sees the battle. He sees the Israelite army. They are overcome with fear. Can you imagine David arriving at the scene and there's chaos everywhere? And did you hear your man? Did you hear what's going on? Listen to him. He's shouting again. He's coming for us. What are we going to do? How are we going to match that? The Israelite army were in chaos. And David's response, listen to what he says. Verse number 26. “David spake to the men and stood by and saying, "What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine and taketh away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine? And that he should defy the armies of the living God." You see, David was able to put the giant into perspective. David was able to put this crisis back in its place. He says to the the Israel army, "What? Why is all afraid of this unclean Philistine? This Philistine who's standing up there? Yes, he seems bigger than everyone, but why are you afraid of him?” He doesn't see what all the fuss is about. He realises the Israelites have taken their eyes off the only one that can rescue them. He says “this unclean Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God.” And here's the key this morning for so many of us. We need to keep our eyes on the living God. That was David's response to this crisis. He was reminding the Israel army, this Philistine army have so many gods. They have so many gods. And guess what? They're not even real. Their gods are dead. They're worshiping things that aren't real. They have their hope in Goliath. They're champion of war. Unlike today friend there's so many people and they take their eyes off the living God. You see the difference here is that David worshiped and he followed he had complete confidence in the one true living God. Today there are so many people and they follow gods, they follow religion, they follow people, they follow things, they follow everything other than the one true living God. And that's why people get themselves into such crises. That's why people get themselves all wound up in in circumstances beyond their control because they have their hope in gods. They have their hope in things that are not real. We think of Buddha this morning and he is dead. We think of Allah and he is dead. We think of the popes who people have put their hope in -they are all dead. But friend, this morning when we come to worship, when we come to God's word this morning, we're not taking it out of a story book. We're not taking this story out of a self-help chapter here to make us strong and to go out into the world tomorrow morning feeling that we can conquer our giants. No this morning we come to worship the living God. The living God who's in control of everything. The living God who holds each one of us who are saved in his hands. the living God who knows all about your circumstance this morning. The living God who understands how you're feeling. David had a relationship with the living God. And so should this Israelite army. But they had forgotten all that. They had taken their eyes off the one who could save them. They had taken their eyes off the one who had helped them. Had they forgotten about all that had happened before? Had they forgotten about the plagues in Egypt? Had they forgot how God had dealt with Pharaoh, who no doubt was larger than life, who had seemed to have control over all their lives. And what did God do? God took him out of the picture. He took them out of Egypt and then they come to the Red Sea and all of a sudden the Red Sea opens in front of them. Had the Israelites forgot about Almighty God? Had the Israelites forgot about Jehovah, their great God, the one who was in control of everything, who controlled the wind, the rain, who controlled the elements. But yet, this giant stands up in front of them and they quake at their knees. They quake at their boots. We can be critical of them, but we have to challenge our own hearts because we are just the same. We look around us and we see the beauty of God's creation. We see what God continually do does. But maybe you're looking at the news this morning and you're seeing what's going on in Iraq and you're thinking, "Lord, what's going on? The world is in crisis. You need to look to the living God this morning. Take your eyes off what's going on. Turn the news off, don't get consumed by the news. But as you turn on the news, pray over it and say, "Lord, yes, it's happening around, but guess what? You've already told us it's going to happen in your word. And you know what, Lord? You're coming back soon." Look to the living God because he is in control. That's what David did.  Don't take your eyes off the living God. Make sure you're in touch with the living God this morning. Don't wait till the crisis hits. And so many of us do. Don't wait till the crisis hits before we turn to our Bibles. Be in your Bible every day, every morning or every evening. Whenever you can get a chance, get into God's word. Make sure your relationship is right with the one true living God. For when these crises come, and they will. Don't think you're immune from crisis. They will turn up and whenever they do make sure you are in touch. Make sure you're in touch with the living God. Don't go grappling for verses whenever the crisis hits. Be in touch with God today for tomorrow so that when the crisis comes, you'll be able to look back at that verse and say, "Lord, yes, you give me that verse. You told me that you're in control. Lord, you have told me I'm in the palm of your hand. Lord, you have told me that I am yours now. I believe it. I trust you, God. I trust you that you've got me in this crisis." That's what David was saying here. He was saying to the Israelite armies, "God has brought me through so much and here's God's going to do it again, but you've got to trust him. You've got to believe him." You see, David's response to this crisis was just like the old hymnwriter. David was saying to these Israelites, God is bigger than any mountain. God is bigger than any giant. God is bigger than any problem that I can or cannot see. God is more powerful this morning. Do you believe it? Do you trust him? Do you understand it that God has you? God is mightier than anything you will face this week.

Secondly, I want you to look at the critics. If we aspire to be anything for the Lord, if we aspire to do anything for him, you will face criticism. You will face critics. If David had adopted the fearful attitude of the Israelite soldiers, nobody would have paid any attention to him. If David had landed on the battlefield that day and said, "Oh, isn't it terrible what's happening? Oh, this world is falling apart. It's terror. What are we going to do?" If David had presented that negative attitude like everybody else here, he would have been completely ignored. Nobody would have pity any heed to him. If David had joined the pity party, he would have been welcomed with open arms. But David didn't. Because David had a different attitude. David was going to be criticized. And David is not the only man in the Bible who was criticized. If you've been criticized this morning for doing something positive for the Lord, praise the Lord this morning because you're doing something right. You know, if you've been criticized this morning, you're in good company. We look at God's word. We have David. We think about Noah. Noah was building an ark. The people thought he had lost it. What was this guy building an ark for? We've never seen water before. And they criticized Noah. We think of Moses. He came to lead the Israelites. Moses, the guy from the wilderness, the guy who was looking after for the sheep. He was criticized. Whenever you want to do something positive for the Lord, don't be surprised if you get criticized. Look at verse 28. “And Eliab, his eldest brother, heard when he spake unto the men. And Eliab's anger was kindled against David.” Eliab was angry. He was critical. He was running his critical eye over David. That's something about a critic this morning. When people start to criticize, they're usually obsessed with stupid, trivial matters. Look at Eliab here. David had come. He'd said he was reminding them about the living God. And Eliab's going, "What are you doing here?" He was obsessed with trivial things. hat did he say to David? “Where's your sheep? David? We are in the middle of a battle here. Goliath is about to annihilate the Israelite army. The whole army is in disarray.” And what's Eliab worried about? “David, where is your sheep?” Isn't that so pitiful? Isn't that poor? the criticism that David received in the middle of this crisis and they're worried. Eliab thinks that David should be worried about his sheep. Can you believe your ears? His critical spirit was coming out. The bitterness was coming out of Eliab. He didn't want David there. And that's what critics do. Whenever you're doing something for the Lord, when people start to criticize you, they'll pick the stupidest, silliest things to try and annoy you with, try to make you feel even smaller, try to make you feel irrelevant. Something else about critics. Critics look for the worst in people. You know, Eliab went on "David, I know your pride and the naughtiness of your heart." He started to pick holes in David's character. He started to point out all the things that he thought he could get David on. “Well, I know you're only here for a nosy. I know you're only here to gossip, to take back home what's going on here.” But it was all a smoke screen. Eliab wasn't actually doing anything. He was joining the party here, the pity party. He was down here with all the people that were discouraged and disheartened and didn't know what to do. Eliab wasn't going to go and take on Goliath. But the minute that David stood up and said, "Who's going to take on this man?" Eliab gets all critical and he starts to get cross. But here's something really helpful for you this morning for when people start to criticize. Let's look at David's response. David's brother criticized him. His own brother. That must have been hard. His own family started to criticize him, started to put him down. He accused David of neglecting his responsibilities. What did David do? Look at verse 30. “And he turned from him toward another.” David turned around. If Eliab wasn't going to listen to him David went over and said to the next boy, "Here, what's going on here? Have you forgotten about the one true living God? Who is this Philistine? Who is going to defeat him?" David turned his back and he ignored the criticism. David didn't get all revved up. And that's really important because it's in my spirit, too. When people criticize, sometimes it hurts. You want to protect yourself and you want to prove that you are right and they are wrong. And especially when people are criticizing and they're making false accusation, you want to make sure everybody hears the right side of the story. But how hard it is to turn your back and say nothing because the Lord will vindicate you this morning. And that's what David did. He turned his back and lab and he went and he told somebody else. He didn't need to try and start a full-blown blazing row with his brother. No. David done wisely. He turned his back and he told another.

Finally, I want to close with the contest. Until David stepped onto the battlefield here he was regarded as a little kid with big ideas. He was just a little shepherd boy. He looked after the sheep. But once he lined up with Goliath, it became obvious that David was mightier than all the men in the Israel army. David dictated the terms. Verse number 40, he took a staff in his hand and he chose five smooth stones out of the brook and put them in a shepherd's bag. Goliath was forced to fight David on David's terms. Not with a sword and with a spear, but with five smooth stones. Even Saul tried to get David to take on armour. Saul tried to get David to wear his armour. David realized that he had never proved that armour. He had never swung that sword. He never held that shield. And he couldn't go into that battle knowing that he hadn't proved his weapon, knowing that he hadn't proved what he was wearing. And that armour would have ended up being a hindrance to David just because it was so cumbersome and so bulky. If David had worn Saul's armour into that battle, people would have been talking about it. “There's David. Look, he's got Saul's sword. He's wearing Saul's helmet.” He's wearing Saul's colours. He's got the shield. He's got the king's shield.” And if David had won that day with Saul's armour on, that would have been the talk of the whole story. And David left that armour behind because you see, David had proved the Lord time and time again. And David didn't want armour. He didn't want something that was going to hold him back. Secondly, David refused to be intimidated. As he went into battle that day, he refused to be intimidated by Goliath. Goliath was bigger, larger, louder than he was. But as David went into battle that day, he refused to be intimidated. Verse 44, we read, "The Philistines said to David, "Come to me, and I'll give thy flesh to the fowls of the air, and to the beasts of the field." Then said David to the Philistine, “thou comest to me with a sword and with a spear and with a shield, but I come to thee in the name of the Lord.” The very end of that verse says that “all the earth may know that there's a God in heaven.” Think about the challenges that you have in your life. How do you speak to your giants this morning? What is your attitude toward the contest that you are experiencing where you sit right now? Are you intimidated? Are you afraid? Are you fearful for the week ahead? Or do you dare speak to your giant this morning? "Today, this day, the Lord will deliver you into my hand." Do you speak over your giants this morning? Do you pray over them and remind your giants that the Lord is in control? That the one true living God has got you in the palm of his hand? David's response to this contest is amazing. Verse 47, he reminds his giant, "The battle is the Lord's." Verse 47, the battle is the Lord's and he will give you into our hands. David response to this contest can be summarized by this simple statement. “The battle is the Lord's.” I don't know what you're going through this morning. I don't know the giant that is sitting beside you in the pew this morning, that's in your mind, but can I remind you that the battle is the Lord's. You've tried to fight your own battles. You've tried to paddle your own canoe and it hasn't worked. But now the Lord's saying to you this morning, “the battle is mine. I will defeat your giant this morning, but you've got to call on his name. The answer is not that David was braver than all the soldiers of that army. The answer is not that David was brave and the soldiers were cowards or that David was a winner and the Israelite army were losers. No, David could face Goliath because he believed in the one true living God. Do you believe in the one true living God? Can I invite you if you're not saved today to come and meet this one true living God? This God who can change and turn your life around. Are you saved? Are you washed in his precious blood? The Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins. He has taken your sins away and you can be forgiven this morning. Would you plead that promise over your giant this morning? Would you plead his precious blood over that giant? David believed in God. David believed in God's goodness. And David believed since God is good, the crisis cannot last. Since God is good, the critics, they can't be right. And since God is good, the contest this morning can't be lost. But you have got to leave it with the Lord. You've got to believe that God is in control. You've got to claim the promises. The battle this morning isn't ours. The battle is the Lord's. And you may be facing a Goliath in your own life. But remember David's response. David's response to the crisis was, "God is bigger than my problems." David's response to the critics, he ignored them. David's response to the contest was, "The battle is the Lord's." You know, I'm not naive to think that there's not a problem or a or an issue that will catch us unawares and it'll catch you at the worst time. But when it does catch you, turn to this verse, 1st Samuel 17:47, and remind yourself that battle is the Lord's.

 

The Open Door of God's Salvation

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 16 MARCH 2026 pm – PASTOR HENRY CASKEY

Revelation 3 verses 7 to 13

 

Whenever we come to the book of Revelation here and in particular these early chapters, we find here that the Lord Jesus Christ is speaking to his disciple John who's on the aisle of Patmos. Now, he's out on the isle of Patmos because of his testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ. He has flustered a few feathers. The government doesn't like him. And so they have him separated. They have him isolated. And they place him away out in this little island all upon his own. And he's there in his own. And the Lord comes. Isn't it wonderful sometimes whenever we think we are cut off? Isn't it wonderful sometimes whenever we think, well, we are not of much use. There's not much use that I can do. Here was John out in the isle of Patmos. I am sure he would have wanted to be on the streets of Jerusalem or whatever the case may be preaching the word of God. But it wasn't to be. But yet whenever he was out in this place, the Lord came to him and the Lord spoke to him and the Lord gave him a tremendous message. Now I know here in this portion of scripture we have been reading is about a door of service but I want to change it around. I want us to think of the door of salvation tonight. I was speaking to someone recently just and we were speaking about the COVID days. We were thinking about the doors that were closed during that pandemic and we started to think of the various restaurants, hotels, shops, social clubs, public houses and even the churches, the doors were all closed. The pandemic closed the doors at that time. But then we were thinking that there was one door that the pandemic could not close and that was the door of God's salvation because right through the pandemic, God was moving and God was saving precious souls. God opens a door that no man can shut. No man can put his hand to the door that God has opened and close that door. God sets this door before you and me tonight. In verse number eight, it tells us that we have very little strength. There's nothing that we can do of ourselves to save our precious souls. It took God's great love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God had to take his only son Jesus Christ, sent him down into this sin-cursed world, to die upon an old rugged cross there at Calvary just to save our precious souls. In verse number eight, he says, "I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it."

I want us to think first of all that this is a precious door. This is a precious door because there is only one. When there's only one of something, it becomes very rare. It becomes very, very precious. I don't know whether you noticed in the news this week or not, a life belt has turned up from way back in the days of the Titanic. It's down in the Titanic quarter at this moment in time and it's going to be there on display for a little while. Then it's going to be sold. The news reader said he couldn't imagine what price would be put upon that life belt. Can you imagine the price that could be put upon the salvation of God? Could you imagine the price that could be put upon this door that God has to offer? We used to sing with the children, “One door and only one. And yet its sides are two. I'm on the inside on which side are you?” That's a wonderful challenge tonight, isn't it? That I am on the inside knowing that there was a day whenever I took the Lord Jesus Christ as my own and personal Saviour and I stepped in beyond that door and took him as my Saviour that night. But then the challenge comes on which side are you this evening? We were thinking of the doors this morning in our children's address. We have a lovely picture when it comes to the ark. Remember when God saw his wonderful creation in Genesis chapter 6, he said ”God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth and that every imagination of his heart was evil continually. And God was sorry that he made man.” God was sorry about his creation. He took Noah to the one side and he explained to Noah that he was going to destroy the earth with a flood. But he says to Noah "There's a refuge. There's a remedy to what's going to happen." Man had turned away from God. Man had turned his back upon God. Man had rejected God. And yet God in his great love and his mercy, comes to Noah and says, "I'm still going to make a refuge. I'm going to still make a way of escape here." So he gave to Noah the instructions of that great boat, that great ship, that great ark. And Noah set about to build. And as he set about building, he set about preaching. He preached about the mercy and the love of God for every human soul. He invited men and women to be ready when the doors would be open to come into this ark. But you know, in that ark, there was only the one door. It was precious. There's only one door into heaven tonight, and it's so precious. Wouldn't it be awful tonight if we were to miss that door? Wouldn't it be awful tonight if we were to neglect to go through that door when God flings it open for us and tells us that we might come. “Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.” There's no expense to it. There's a remedy for sin tonight. Whenever Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden and sin come into this old world through Adam's fall it passed upon every generation. Every little baby that was born into the world since that has been born as a sinner. The Bible says even in conception that we were conceived in sin. We were born in sin. We were shapen in iniquity. That's the state that we're in tonight. But God says there's a remedy. And he says “I'm going to send you a remedy.” Just as he said to Noah, I'm sending a remedy for this situation in the world. He sends to you and to me this evening his only son. How precious is that? Do you remember whenever the Lord Jesus Christ went down into the waters of Jordan? Do you remember when John was baptizing and he said to John, he says, "I need to be baptized”. Whenever John baptized him and as he walked up out of the waters the heavens opened. The spirit came down in the form of a dove and it rested upon the Saviour. Then the voice from heaven came  "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." He was the one that came into this world. He was the one that came into this world to seek and to save that which was lost. John the Baptist when he saw him coming approaching, he pointed to him and said, "Behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." This door that we're talking about tonight is so precious because God has opened it for you. This is God's own heart. This is God's own love. This is God's own mercy. And he opens up the door of heaven for you. It's so precious.

The story was told of George Whitfield on one occasion. He was conducting open air meetings and preaching on the streets of England. An atheist man was running down the street as fast as he could to where Whitfield was preaching. Another man met him and he looked at him coming down the street and knew the stand that he took. He said, "Where are you going to?" He says, "I'm going down to hear Whitfield." The man says, "But you don't believe what Whitfield preaches?" No, he says, "I don't. But he believes it?" Whenever we talk to people about the Lord Jesus Christ, about the cross of Calvary, about God's great salvation to men and to women, do we believe it ourselves? Do we believe it tonight? Oh, this door was so precious. Jesus spoke about the sheepfold and how he was the good shepherd. He said "I am the door. By me if any man enter in, he shall be saved." Heaven has but one door, and that door is Christ. Peter could say that himself. He said “there's no other name given amongst men under heaven whereby we must be saved.” It's a necessity to be saved. One day Jesus told the story of a man who looked into a field and he saw something very, very special about this field. What did he do? He went home and he sold everything that he had because he wanted this field. There was a treasure underneath the soil that was second to none. He had bought something that was of great, great price. God's salvation tonight is something that is of great price and something that we dare not miss out upon. So this door, first of all, it is precious.

But not only is it precious, it's personal. Do you notice what it says? He says, "I have set before thee an open door." This is a precious door, but it's a personal door. God's salvation tonight is a very, very personal work. It's a work of grace by God in the heart of sinful man.  The invitation comes to you tonight - will you come to Christ tonight? Will you trust the Lord Jesus Christ? Will you allow him to come into your heart and into your life? Will you allow him tonight to take away your sin? Will you allow him to be your Saviour and open up a door in heaven for you? Whenever Peter preached in Acts chapter 2 there was an uproar in the streets of Jerusalem. They had come from all parts. Every nation was represented in the streets of Jerusalem. And they heard these disciples preaching to them the wonderful word of God in their own language, but they couldn't understand it. And they gathered together. Some could hear them speaking and some said they were drunk. But Peter got up. He stood before them and he says, "These men are not drunk." He says this is that which was spoken of by Joel the prophet way back centuries before. He says that God would pour out his Holy Spirit. This was the birth of the church of Jesus Christ. And Peter got up his feet and he began to preach and he took the theme of the Lord Jesus Christ.  He told how the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world, had done so many miracles around about, how he was approved of God, how men had rejected him, how the religious leaders offered him up to the Roman authorities. He was taken out and nailed to an old rugged cross, his hands, his feet, and a crown of thorns upon his head. His back was opened up like a ploughed field. And there on the cross of Calvary, he suffered bled and he died for the sins of a lost mankind. On the third day death could not hold him. They went to that place where he was buried. The stone was rolled away. They looked in and the angel says, "He's not here for he is risen." The Spirit of God came down upon the crowd that day. The crowds that were gathered in the streets of Jerusalem that day and some 3,000 souls were saved. Do you remember how Jesus spoke to the religious leaders? “You will not come to me that you might have life?” That was that was their verdict. He says you will not come. He says “I have been before you, I have preached and opened up my heart to you. I've invited you to come along. But you will not come that you might have life."

It's a presented door as well. He doesn't hide it. He doesn't camouflage it. He presents this door to you and to me tonight. He says, "This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased." Do you remember that young man that that came to the Lord Jesus Christ? He said, "Good master what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Here was a young man who had so much in life. He was young. He had all of his life before him. He was a ruler. He had great prestige and prominence in the society. He was rich. He had all the money that he could ever want. But he knew in his heart of hearts there was something that was lacking in his soul. And that which was lacking in the soul was the very fact that if he was to die, he would be lost and lost forever. And so he came to the Lord Jesus Christ and he says,  “Good Master what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He thought eternal life was something to be inherited. He thought it was something that could be handed down to him. And when the Lord told him, he says, "You go and you sell all that you have. Then come and you take up your cross and follow after me." That young man couldn't do it. But the Lord didn't hide it from him. He presented it to him. He says, "This is what you need to do if you want to be saved. If you want to have eternal life, if you want to live with me forever and ever in that place called heaven, here's what you must do." And that young man considered it. He thought about it. He added up everything about it and he turned his back and he walked away. And you know, even the scriptures tell us the Lord beholding him loved him. He loves you tonight. He loves you tonight with an everlasting love. Do you remember how Jesus explained it to Thomas? Thomas says, "We don't know where you're going. How do we know the way?" And Jesus said, "I am the way." He presented it. He laid it before them. He says, "I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life." He said, "No man cometh unto the Father but by me."

It's a protected door. "No man can open this door. No man can shut this door." If you're prepared to come, to leave your sin behind you, if you're prepared tonight to step out from the crowd, if you're prepared tonight to come to the cross of Calvary and cry out onto the Lord and say, "Lord, you've died for me. Lord, you've died to take away my sin. Will you come into this heart of mine? Will you come into my life? Will you save my precious soul this evening?" And you know that's what he'll do. But you've got to come and you've got to trust him. On the day of Pentecost people heard the word of God and the Holy Spirit came and opened up their hearts and they believed on the Lord and 3,000 souls were saved. But they weren't saved on mass. They were saved individually. Every one of them who believed that day had to cry out for themselves. They had to cry out unto the God of heaven for themselves. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” And one by one they were getting saved. One by one they were stepping out on the Lord's side. Now they weren't all saved. 3,000 were saved. A lot more went back. A lot more turned their back. They heard the same message. They heard the same invitation. They heard about the same Christ. They heard about the same open door. 3,000 that day were saved individually. If you're to be saved tonight you've got to come yourself. Can't depend on anybody else for you. In Acts chapter 16, we read of that Philippian jailer. That old Philippian jailer that night had been charged with keeping Paul and Silas safely. He'd been charged with that. Maybe he had been out in the streets and he had heard of Lydia. He had heard about this young woman that had come down to Philippi to sell her goods and something had happened to her just out by the riverside. He had heard about how she had been saved, how she had come to trust the Lord Jesus Christ. But you know that didn't do him any good. And then he heard about the little girl with the spirit of divination. She could tell fortune. She brought her masters much profit by this fortune telling. And then he heard about how she had been delivered, how this demon spirit had been cast out of her, and how she was of no profit now to the governors. He'd heard all this, but you know, that didn't do him any good. And then these two preachers were put into his care and he took them and he beat them and put them into a prison cell and put their feet in stocks. At midnight that night, there he was lying upon his bed. He was fast asleep and there was an earthquake and the tremors went through the whole building and the foundations began to shake and the doors were flung open. The man got up out of his bed and he thought to himself the prisoners have fled, I'll be put to death in the morning and he drew out his sword and he would have  run his sword through himself whenever Paul says “do thyself no harm”. They just explained to him the word of God and how he could be saved. And now it was a personal decision. It was personal for him. Paul could say, "This is how I was saved." Silas could say, "This is how I was saved." Lydia could say, "This is how I was saved." But it was personal for him. What would he do? Just like Pilate as he stood before Christ, “what shall I do then with Jesus which is called the Christ?” What about you?

Dr. Chalmers served as a parish minister for some 12 years and he preached to a congregation, but he wasn't saved himself. He wasn't saved. He hadn't gone through that door himself. He hadn't made it personal. The door has been provided by God. It's God that sets it before you and me. No church can do this. No keeping of the commandments can do this. No living the best life that we possibly can can do this. Jesus says, "I am the door by me if any man enter in." That's the action tonight. We know what Jesus has done. But are we prepared to get up tonight and enter in? Are we prepared tonight to believe and trust in him alone? He did this out of love for you and for me. He loved you with an everlasting love. He could see you in your sin and there was no other remedy. And so he took his only son, Jesus Christ and he sent him into this world to make us new creatures in Christ Jesus for all who believe in him. It is provided tonight. Tell me tonight, have you accepted it? Have you accepted it tonight?

 

 

The valley of the shadow of death

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 15 MARCH 2026 – PASTOR H CASKEY

PSALM 23

 

It was during the revival in the Hebrides when Duncan Campbell got up to the pulpit and called upon a man to open in prayer. That man got up to his feet and quoted that little text of scripture “I will pour water on him that is thirsty and floods upon the dry ground." And then he paused for a moment or two. He continued by saying, "Lord, I don't know about Duncan Campbell this morning. Lord, I don't know about the elders of this church this morning, and I don't know about the person next to me or front of me or behind me, but Lord, I know myself, and I'm thirsty for the things of God this morning, and I claim your promise. You said, "I will pour water on him that is thirsty." Up until that point in that area of the Hebrides, apparently, it was very hard. It was very difficult. And after that man's prayer on that particular morning, God began to break through and bless the area. It is responsibility of the individual person, not the responsibility of the preacher, but it is the responsibility of each and every one of us this morning to come before God.

 

The 23rd Psalm is such an encouraging psalm, such a challenging psalm.  It is one of those psalms that you can read whenever you go to the house of mourning. You can go into the home where there's a newborn baby and the joy that's in that home because of the newborn baby is so delightful and yet you can sit down and read the 23rd Psalm and share some thoughts and it opens up into such a delight to read and I have sat in many homes recently using this psalm but I like to break it up into this way. As I go through this psalm this morning, I'm going to dwell just in one part of it.

 

As you look at the psalm this morning, it tells us there in verse number one, the Lord is my shepherd. We can see there something of the decision. The psalmist says, “the Lord is my shepherd. I'd put my trust and I'd put my faith in him.” But you know, not only that, there's a dependence in that first verse as well because he says, "I shall not want." He says, "I put my faith in the in the Lord this morning and I'll not want." You see, the Bible says that no good thing will he withhold from him that walketh uprightly. And that's our part if we're saved by the grace of God. In verse number two we read "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters." That's the direction to go in. It says in verse number three, it gives us something of his delights because it says, "He restoreth my soul and he leadeth me in the path of righteousness." And then we come to verse number four and we see something of the despair there because the psalmist says, "Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death," he says, "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." Then we see something there in verse number five of the defence. For even in the presence of enemies, the Lord says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies." And then in verse number six, we see the destiny. It says, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Thank God this morning with the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior we have heaven as our home not only for a while but forever more. But I want us to think this morning of encouragement through the valley of the shadow of death. The psalmist here says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death," he says, "I will fear no evil for thou art with me."

 

First of all, I want us to notice here the valley's picture. The first thing that comes into my mind is a very low place. It can be a very dark place. It can be a very intimidating place. Whenever you get down into the valley, you're down between two mountain peaks. And when you get down there, you're looking up to the tops of the mountain peaks and it can be so intimidating. You can feel so closed in. You can feel so claustrophobic and maybe the way through the valley seems long and it's dark. And sometimes we go through stages like that in our life. The psalmist was here speaking about it. He says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death," the psalmist knew all about it. He knew all about this way that he was going. In verse number two, it says, "He leadeth me beside the still waters." We all love to walk beside the still waters. We all love to feed upon the green pastures when things are going so well, but it's so different whenever we come to the valley. It's so different whenever we go down into that dark and lonely place and yet we find there all the time that the shepherd's still leading because that's what the psalmist said. He says “I'll fear no evil.” He says “even though I go down into that dark valley I'll fear no evil.” Why? Because I'm the king. Not at all. Because of many battles under my belt? Not at all. He says, "I will fear no evil, for thou art with me." Sometimes we need to be prepared for the valley, don't we? We need to get the mindset for the valley to know that even in the mountain peak whenever we're up there and the blessings of God are all around about us and everything is going so so well and the very next day we're plunged into the valley, the Lord's with us. David the shepherd boy and then of course the king of Israel. He had many experiences but you know he could testify to this in 2 Samuel 22 he says “As for God his way is perfect.” God’s word says “The Lord is a buckler to all them that trust in him.” He could just simply say on all occasions, the Lord knows best. That's what we can say and that at times sounds so glib doesn’t it? Maybe it's easy to say it from the pulpit. “The Lord knows best.” But sometimes it's very difficult when we're going through that valley, isn't it, but we need to always stop and pause and remind ourselves that sometimes whenever we can't see the shepherd, he's always there. Because that's what the psalmist says, “thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” He may not see the shepherd, but he could feel the rod. He could feel the comfort from the shepherd staff. Do you remember Job? Whenever Job was down in his valley, do you remember what he could say? He says, "He knoweth the way that I take." Even whenever those three friends came and began to criticize him and sat around him and brought all manner of ridicule to him. Even whenever his wife walked in and looked at him and said, "Would you not curse God and die?" And yet Job could say, "He knoweth the way that I take”. In such a short space of time Job lost everything he had. He had a great farm. He had much by the way of herds. He had much by the way of riches. He had a lovely family all around about him and in a very short space of time everything was taken from him. He was cut down even in health and yet he could lift his eyes up and say, "He knoweth the way that I take."

It was a very dark place that Job was in. Poor Job descended into it. But in the midst of it, Job was prepared to allow God to lead him and to direct his pathways. Sometimes the valley of the sheep is a difficult road. But you know, I'm told by commentaries that when shepherd would lead his sheep that way, there would always be an abundance of water in the valley. And there would always be abundance of grass and pastures for the sheep as they would pass through. And don't forget, they were just passing through. Whenever you and I are in that deep place, whenever you and I are going through that dark and lonely that place, the Lord's taking us through it. And there'll be an abundance of grace to help us and to keep us in that place. Maybe that's where you're at this morning. Maybe you're at that dark place. Maybe nobody else knows about it, but you're there this morning and you feel the pressure of it. The psalmist says, "Thou art with me." What's he doing this morning? You see, as he took the sheep through that place, what was he doing? He was taking them down through that valley. What to do? To bring them up onto the higher ground. And maybe that's why you're in the valley this morning. It's not to leave us destitute in that valley. It's not to forget about me. It's not to forsake me. But it's to take me through the valley to the higher ground that God has for me this morning.

 

The valley's pace this morning. Because notice what it says here. “Yea though I walk.” It doesn't say “yea though I run.” It doesn't say “yea though I sprint.” It says “yea though I walk through the valley.” This valley may be dark. It certainly is a low place, but notice there's no rush because the shepherd knows best. He's walking his sheep through the valley. He's not driving them through as quickly as he can. They're walking through it. This strikes me as a very slow process. Maybe the shepherd and the sheep could be in that valley for some time. Maybe you've been in it for some time. Maybe this morning you'd love to run through that valley. Maybe you'd love to sprint through it. Maybe you'd love to get out of it as quickly as you possibly can, but to haste your way through it would be to miss out on the greatest joy that God has for us. We get the picture of someone walking. The shepherd would be taking care not to rush his sheep, not to cause any damage to them, not to cause any hurt to them. It's a very, very slow pace. And sometimes that's what life is like. Sometimes we

often hear people say, "Oh, the tunnel's long. The tunnel's dark." And there doesn't seem to be any light at the end of it whatsoever. Sometimes we talk about it as a plod. Maybe you learn some special things that you don't learn any other time. The pace here of the sheep was a slow pace.  Maybe the problem has existed for some time and you have prayed and prayed and somehow nothing seems to happen. There seems to be no answers to the prayers and you're in that place and you feel alone and you feel abandoned and you feel destitute,

but the problems exist and all the praying doesn't change anything one way or another. The Psalmist says, "Yea though I walk in that situation, I'll fear not." Why? Because the Lord's with me. the sheep could see the shepherd and this is a lonely place. It's a dark place and I've been here a long time but still the shepherd is in front of me and still he's leading. We're going in the right direction. Do you remember Joseph? He was a young man of 17 years of age. His father came to him one morning and got him out of bed and he said, "Joseph," he says, "your brothers are all away down there minding the sheep." He says, "I wonder would you go down and find out all about them and bring a report back."

The young man got up and took whatever victuals that the father had for the brethren there, and off he went. And for 13 years he never returned. For 13 years he never saw his father's face. For 13 years he was in the valley. It must have been an awful place for him. Do you remember how when Joseph met his brothers and the brothers were so against him. They were so angry and bitter. There was such a hatred for him and they would have put him to death. But instead they sold him down into Egypt. And he was taken down into Egypt. And there he was placed in the marketplace. Just a young lad of 17 years of age. Can you imagine that? And he's standing there in the marketplace and all these bidders are around about him and they're buying slaves. And this man Potiphar comes up to him and he pays the price for him and he takes him down into his home and the Lord is with him. And Potiphar knows the Lord's with him because he sees the blessing. The psalmist says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow, I will fear no evil for thou art with me." And Joseph, maybe Joseph didn't even feel it. Maybe Joseph didn't even realize it. But Potiphar knew that here was a young man and there was something different about him in his house. He had nobody else like him. There was no other slave like him. There was no other servant like him. This young man, there was something special about him. The Lord was with him. And then of course you remember what happened in Potiphar's house, Potiphar's wife took a fancy to Joseph and then she accused him of something that was he never did. And he was taken from Potiphar's house and he was cast into prison. And there he was sitting in this prison house. And even there in the prison house even the keeper of the prison realized this young man is different. The Lord's with him, even going through the valley. As far as Joseph was concerned, he was going through the valley. 17 years he was going through the valley. Here he is now in the prison cell. Everything has turned upside down for him. Everything has turned sour for him. From the love of his father's house, from the routine of his work in his father's house, here he is now sitting in a prison house. How has all this happened? He's going through the valley and the pace of this valley is slow as far as Joseph is concerned. On another occasion two young men were dropped in with him, a butler and a baker and you remember how they had the dreams and Joseph was there and he was so concerned about those men and he interpreted the dreams for them. He said to one of them "you will be reinstated." And he looked at the other, but he says, "I'm sorry, you'll be put to death." And then the butler was taken out and reinstated to his position again in the king's house. Joseph had one word for him. He says, "Don't forget about me." Poor Joseph was turning to human help. He was going through this terrible time and he thought to himself this was the way out. When the butler went back into his position he forgot about Joseph, he forgot about the young man that helped him in the prison house and that young man was still going through the valley and he was forgotten about. Until of course you remember the dreams that the king had and he was released. But imagine for those 13 years he never saw his father's face, never sat under his father's roof. For two of those years, they were spent in a prison house. The valley can be long and the valley can be hard. In Proverbs chapter 2, we read this. “He preserves the way of his saints.” Do you remember Jairus? He had a daughter and she was only 12 years of age who was dying and there was nothing he could do for her. I'm sure in his position he knew plenty of physicians and he knew plenty of doctors, but there wasn't anything that anybody could do for his daughter until he realized Jesus can do something. And off he went to find Jesus. You see, Jairus was in a valley. He was in a dark place. He was in a very low place. And he went off to find the Lord Jesus Christ. And the Lord listened to his plea to come back to his house and lay his hand upon his daughter and she shall be raised to health again. And Jesus says, "I'll come." But do you remember as he came, as they walked together, there was a bit of a crowd around Jesus and the Lord stopped. It was all because there was one lady who had an issue of blood for 12 years. She had heard about the Lord, and she was at the side of the road, and she was reaching forth to touch the hem of the Lord's garment and when she touched the hem of his garment, she was made perfectly whole. But the Lord stopped. I am sure Jairus was really starting to panic. Maybe Jairus was looking at this woman and thinking to himself, “Lord, would you not come on?” Where is Jairus? He's in that very low place. But it was a slow place. He had to wait on the Lord. Maybe you are in that valley, watching over a family that has gone astray. You're in the valley, but you've got to wait on the Lord. Isn't that what the psalmist said? He says, "Wait on the Lord.”

And he repeats himself in that Psalm 27. He says, "I say, wait on the Lord."

Are we waiting this morning? We want to step out of the valley and step into the light. But the Lord says, "No, you've got to wait.”

 

The valley's presence. It is in that valley where the psalmist finds his greatest joy. He says, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me." Whenever Joseph was in that prison house the Lord was with him. He didn't forsake him. He didn't leave him. David proved right there that in the midst of that valley that God's presence was with him. He felt the very presence of God. And maybe that's where you are today. You are in the darkness and the loneliness of that valley, but somehow you can testify today that you can feel the presence of God. Whenever John Wesley

lay upon his deathbed at 90 years of age, his followers were gathered around him and they were singing a hymn, reading and praying. Wesley raised himself up and he said “best of all, God is with us.” Wesley realized and felt the presence of God around his bed. I think of the Apostle Paul when he was speaking to the young Timothy. He says, “Timothy, everybody's forsaken me.” I'm sure he's thinking about some of his friends, maybe those that he has met with in fellowships and in churches and he has encouraged them. Maybe even those

that he had seen saved and they've all walked away from him. But he says, Timothy, he says, "The Lord's with me." He says, "The Lord stood by me." He says, "When I stood before the emperor," he says “the Lord was at my right side.” Maybe this is easy to preach this morning but when you're in that valley,

maybe it's hard to take it in. Maybe you are sitting already saying, "Oh, preacher, that's easy for you, but you don't know what I'm going through. You don't know the pain that I'm in. You don't know the suffering that I'm in. You don't know the heartache that I have. You don't know the burdens that I have. You don't know the weight that's upon my shoulder this morning. It's okay for you to say that.” I'm not saying it – God is saying it this morning. He says, "I'll stand by you." He says, "Don't you be afraid. I'll never leave thee and I'll never forsake thee." Remember whenever Paul was going through that valley he described it as a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet him. It is as if he says someone was striking him in the face. Paul prayed thrice but what was the answer? And the Lord says “no I won't. But my grace is sufficient for you.” The psalmist could prove the presence of God. Paul could prove the grace of God. And thank God this morning we have the grace of God that leads us, directs us, and keeps us. We have the presence of God with us each and every day.

 

The valley’s peace. The hymn writer said, "There's peace in the valley for me." With God's presence with him, the psalmist could say, "I'll fear no evil. I'll not fear when I'm in that place." Someone quoted the scriptures to DL Murray one day, the evangelist. “What time I am afraid I will trust in thee." Murray said,

"I can show you a better one." And he lifted up the word of God and he turned to Isaiah 12:2. He says, "Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust and not be afraid." The writer to the Hebrews could say, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." He goes on, “the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” The Lord is in the valley. Even in the very shipwreck that the Apostle Paul was in, when there was no sun, no stars for guidance, the angel of the Lord drew near to Paul and gave him that great promise that there'll be no harm to him or to any other. As Paul sat in the prison house, he says to Timothy, he says, "The day of my departure is at hand." But he says, "I am now ready."

 

The valley's prize. The psalmist knew that he would walk through the valley

and out the other side. That's the prize and that's where you're going this morning. You are in the valley, yes but you're going through the valley. The psalmist says, "Yea, though I walk through,” not into it to stay, but “through it."

The prize of the valley.