3 men, 3 crosses and 3 choices

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 8 MARCH 2026 pm –

MR JASON CRUISE

READING; Luke chapter 23

 

 "And the whole multitude of them arose and led him unto Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, we found this fellow perverting the nation and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a king." And Pilate asked him, saying, "Art thou the king of the Jews?" And he answered him and said, "Thou sayest it." Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, "I find no fault in this man."

Verse 20. “Pilate therefore willing to release Jesus spake again to them. But they cried, saying, "Crucify him! Crucify him." And he said unto them the third time, "Why? What evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him go. And they were instant with loud voices requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison whom they had desired. But he delivered Jesus to their will.” 

Verse 32. “And there were also two other malefactors led with him to be put to death. And when they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified him. And the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they parted his raiment and cast lots. The people stood beholding, and the rulers also with him with them derided him, saying, "He saved others, let him save himself. If he be Christ, the chosen of God." The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar, and saying, "If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself." The superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew. This is the king of the Jews. And one of the malefactors which were hanged reeled on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us? But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dust not thou fear God, seeing, thou art in the same condemnation? and we indeed justly for we receive the due reward of our deeds but this man hath done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, "Father, into thy hands I command my spirit." And having said thus, he gave up the ghost.”

 

Tonight we are coming to Calvary, to consider three men, three crosses, and three choices. You can picture the scene just outside Jerusalem. Three crosses stand that morning. There was nothing really unusual about that. Many people had been crucified there at Calvary just outside the city walls. That day really was no different. One by one, each of these men were led out to Golgotha's hell. Many people as they entered the city and as they left the city would have looked on. Many would have mocked. Many would have scorned. Many would have derided these men as they hung for all to see. But I want us tonight to consider these three men. We will indeed see that there is a great difference in their character, a great difference in their behaviour and in their attitude in the face of death. As we consider these three men we will indeed see that two of these men are hung upon the cross guilty as charged. But there is indeed another man, the man on the centre cross, the eternal son of God. And he is a man that is innocent. A man that has committed absolutely no sin and no wrong. For 33 and a half years, this man has walked this earth absolutely perfect and pure before man and before God. The Roman governor who has condemned this man to the death of the cross has himself had to acknowledge that this man indeed is innocent. He has said those words, “I find no fault in this man.” The man on the centre cross is absolutely sinless, absolutely pure and absolutely perfect. You see the one on the centre cross is the son of God and God the son and he hangs there on that centre cross for the sin of all humanity. He hangs there for the sin of the man on either side of him. And he hangs there for the sin of all humanity. That includes the preacher and that includes you. The eternal son of God laid down his life at that place called Calvary for you. He laid down his life for you so that you indeed could have eternal life and know that assurance of sins forgiven. All four of the gospel writers make mention of these two thieves. But it is only Luke's gospel that tells us about the conversation that took place that day. Let us consider tonight this conversation that took place. These two men that hang upon the cross either side of the Lord Jesus are there because of the consequences of their sin. Maybe you are shouting back at the preacher and you're saying, "Preacher, I have never done anything as bad as those men." And that may well be true. You are maybe shouting back at the preacher and you are saying, "Well, I'm a perfectly good person." And that's probably right. Can I remind you that you're not good enough to enter heaven in and of yourself. Those men that hung either side of the Savior that day were there because of their sin. Their sin had caught up with them. Each and every one of us fall short, we are sinners in the sight of God. Romans chapter 3 verse 23, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Paul reminds us there in Galatians chapter 3 verse 22 “But the scripture hath concluded all under sin.” There are 8.3 billion people in the world today. Each and every one is born affected by sin. Each and every one of us fail tonight to meet the standard that heaven requires. Heaven is a place that you will never be because of your sin unless you come and put your faith and your trust in the risen Lord Jesus. Unless you come as a repentant sinner and come and accept him as the only Savior. Romans chapter 5 verse 12 “wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin and so death has passed upon all men for that all have sinned.” Each and every one of us are affected by sin and so we must come and put our faith and our trust in the risen Lord Jesus.

 

The first thief that we read about in verse 39.  I've written over this man the cross of rebellion. “And one of the malefactors which were hanged reeled on him, saying, "If thou be Christ, save thyself and us." This man makes mention of the name of Christ. That would tell me that I would believe that this man knew that there was a promised Messiah. He makes mention of the name of Christ. Maybe this man was brought up in a home where the Torah and the books of the prophets were read. He perhaps knew something of the Old Testament scriptures. But here this man because of his sin now hangs upon a cross outside the city. This man perhaps had a privileged upbringing perhaps, brought up in a religious home. Have you had a privileged upbringing? I wonder, can you look back to times whenever you grew up in a Christian home? Perhaps you had Christian parents, Christian grandparents, and from your earliest days, you heard the word of God. You were taken along to Sunday school. You were brought along to the gospel meetings and you know the word of God, but you do not know the God of the word. And tonight you are still in rebellion towards the Lord. You are on that broad and crowded road out to a lost and a Christless eternity. There are only two destinations – it is either heaven with the Lord or it is indeed hell without the Lord and eternally separated from the love of God. Notice here what this man says "Save thyself and us." This man's not interested in salvation. He's simply interested in getting back down from the cross. He's interested in getting away with his sin and getting away with his crimes. Maybe that's just like you this evening. You are just interested in enjoying your sin and getting away with your crime. And tonight you are shouting “I will get saved just some other time. I get saved some time, just a little longer. I want to linger in my sin. That's the man here upon the first cross. I have called it the cross of rebellion.

 

But then I want us to think about this second cross. And I have written over this cross the cross of repentance. The cross of repentance. Look at verses 40 and 41 ”But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dust not thou fear God, seeing, thou art in the same condemnation, and we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds. But this man have done nothing amiss.” Just like the first man, he has lived a life of sin and his sin has caught up with him and now this man is condemned to the death of the cross. And here as this man hangs upon the cross, he begins to think about what is taking place. I believe that this man now begins to think about eternity. This man started out just the same as the first man. Mark chapter 15 verse 32 “and there and they that were crucified with him reviled him.” Matthew tells us in chapter 27 verse 44 “the thieves also which were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth.” You see this man on the second cross, he has started out exactly the same as the man on the first cross, he has had exactly the same attitude. But I believe that this man now realizes that he is on his way out in to eternity. There is a change that begins to take place in this man. This man says “we receive the due reward of our deeds.” Here's a man and he's condemned. But I believe that now he becomes convicted of his sin and he realizes the life that he has lived and he  acknowledges that what he has done was wrong. He says we receive the due reward of our deeds. This man begins to realize that he is indeed a sinner and that he is lost. If you are ever going to be saved, you are going to have to realize that you are a sinner and that you are lost. No one can ever be saved until they realize that they're lost. Here's a man now as he hangs upon that cross, as he awaits his time of death, as he is about to go out into God's great eternity, this man realizes that he can do absolutely nothing in order to save himself. But he has indeed come to realize that the only one who can save him, the only one who can help him, the only one who can meet his need as he goes out into eternity is the one who is hanging upon the centre cross. It is still the same today. The only one who can meet your need as you look out into eternity is the one who was nailed to the centre cross at Calvary. The only one who can meet your need is the eternal son of God, the Lord Jesus. Acts chapter 4 verse 12. “Neither is there salvation and any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” He is the only Savior of sinners. Through love he was willing to be nailed to that old rugged cross. Through love he laid down his life so that tonight that you could be saved. Queen Victoria was once at Balmoral and before Queen Victoria left Scotland again for London, she told her horseman that she wanted to visit one of the elderly ladies that lived near the estate. Queen Victoria got into the carriage and the horseman made his way to the home of the elderly lady that lived in a cottage just around the corner from the estate. Queen Victoria went in to visit that elderly lady. Queen Victoria had this fashion where she would often read the Bible to those that she visited. She read the Bible to this elderly lady. And whenever the time come for her to leave again, the elderly lady said to Queen Victoria, "Ma’m, whenever you come back to Balmoral again, I may not be here.” This elderly lady wasn't too well, and she believed that very soon that she would be passing away." She said to Queen Victoria, "If you return and I'm not here, will I see you in heaven?" Queen Victoria said to that elderly lady, "Yes, you will, but only because of the precious blood of Jesus." If you ever want to be in God's heaven, it'll only be because of the precious blood of the Lord Jesus. If you come and put your faith and your trust in him, you can be saved. We are thankful that we set forth tonight a God who is forgiving. You can be born again of the spirit of God. Notice the conversation between this dying thief and the Savior - verses 42 and 43. “And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, "Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise." Notice that this thief whenever he comes to the Lord in repentance, the Lord answers him immediately. He didn't answer the first thief whenever he reeled on Christ. He got no reaction from the Saviour and he got no answer. But this thief whenever he cries out to the Lord in repentance immediately the Lord answers. If you were to cry out tonight in repentance to the Lord in an instant the Lord will answer you. The Savior gives to this penitent thief a great comfort. He says there to the penitent thief, "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise."  There is no halfway house. There is no holding place. There is no purgatory. The Savior gives this man great assurance. If you ever want to be in God's heaven, you are going to have to come as this penitent thief and you are going to have to come and cry out to the Savior, and you can be saved in an instant. The Apostle Paul reminds us that “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This man, he couldn't send for a preacher. He couldn't send for a pastor. He couldn't send for an elder. This man couldn't go home and tidy up his life. This man couldn't even bow his knees to pray. But here upon that cross, he has come to put his faith and his trust in Christ and he knows the assurance of sins forgiven. This man has faith in the Lord. That's how you and I get saved. We get saved by faith. Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9. “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. If you're trusting in anything other than the Savior tonight, can I tell you it is futile and it will take you down into the caverns of the damned in hell with absolutely no way back. Absolutely no second chance and absolutely no rerun. We have thought about the first thief and we see there the cross of rebellion. We have thought about this man here on the second cross and we have written over him the cross of repentance.

 

I want us to think finally about the man on the centre cross. And I have written over him the cross of redemption. Verses 44 to verse 46. “And it was about the sixth hour. And there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." And having said thus, he gave up the ghost.” You can picture the scene here in your mind's eye. When the sun should have shone at its brightest, the Father hid this earth in darkness and there his son upon that centre cross bore all your load of guilt, bore all your sin and your shame. We think of how the prophet Isaiah was able to say, "But he was wounded for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him. And with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” There upon that centre cross the Lord Jesus, the one who was absolutely pure, absolutely perfect, absolutely sinless, the one who the writer to the Hebrews could say was holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners, bore all your sin. There in the darkness, he underwent the divine judgment of a holy God. And we're thankful tonight that we can tell you that the divine justice of God has indeed been satisfied. The price is paid and victory has been declared over death's dark sway. And tonight, if you would only come to him, if you would only come to the Lord tonight in repentance, you'll be forgiven in an instant. and know your name recorded in the roll book of heaven, the lamb's book of life. And you can say like the hymnwriter,

 

I hear the accuser roar of ills that I have done,

I know them well, and thousands more.

Praise God. Jehovah findeth none.

 

There upon that centre cross at Calvary that day, love for humanity was indeed displayed because through love the Lord Jesus laid down his life for you and for me. The Apostle Paul reminds us, "But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." It is often said that one of these men died in sin, one of these men died to sin and the one in the centre cross died for sin. But I have to remind you this evening that this conversion of the thief upon  the cross, the one that we would refer to as the penitent thief, is the only deathbed conversion that we read of in our Bible. Do not take it for granted that you will get a deathbed. There are very few deathbeds today. There were many people awoke this morning and they had great plans for this evening. There will be many people who will go to bed tonight and they have great plans for tomorrow. And just in the twinkling of an eye, ushered into God's great eternity. no deathbed. Don't take it for granted that you will get a deathbed. Maybe tonight you are saying, "I will not get saved in this gospel meeting. I will get saved at a later date. I'll get saved at the gospel meeting next Sunday night. Or I'll get saved at the gospel meeting in the summertime. Or I'll get saved at the gospel campaign in such and such a town." Don't take it for granted. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 27 verse one, “boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Don't leave the gospel meeting tonight still tramping the broad and the crowded road. But come and put your faith and your trust in the risen Lord Jesus. come tonight and close in with the message of the gospel and come to know Christ whom to know is life eternal. John chapter 1 verse 12 “but as many as receive him to them give he power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his name.” We read also “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” It doesn't say you might be saved. It doesn't say there's a possibility you'll be saved. It doesn't say if you're a better person you'll be saved. No it says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved." It's sure and certain. Salvation is available for you tonight.

 

Walking with God

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 8 MARCH 2026 – MR JASON CRUISE

READING: HEBREWS CHAPTER 11 VERSES 5 – 10, 17 to 19

 

"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him. For before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God. But without faith, it is impossible to please him. For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed, and he went out, not knowing whether he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” 

Verse 17. “By faith Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac, that he that received the promises offered up his only begotten son. of him of whom it was said that in Isaac shall thy seed be called accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead from whence also he received him in a figure.”

 

The epistle to the Hebrews is a great treasury of encouragement, edification, and exhortation for the believer. J. Charlton Stein, who once wrote a commentary on the book of Hebrews, said that the apostle could be summed up with two words. ‘Christ the supreme.’ As we read through the pages of scripture, we are reminded here of the supremacy of Christ. In Hebrews chapter 1 and the verse number three, we read there, “when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high.” Whenever we come to chapter 10, we read there, "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering often times the same sacrifices which can never take away sins. But this man after he had offered himself once he sat down on the right hand of God. The Lord Jesus came to be that once and for all, a forever a sacrifice. But we're thankful today that you and I have put our faith and our trust in a risen exalted Lord. We're thankful today the cross is bare, the tomb is empty, and that there is a throne in heaven that is occupied by the all victorious Christ of God. Across the pages of the epistle to the Hebrews, we could write ‘Christ supreme.’ These chapters declare the supremacy of the Lord Jesus. He is sat down today at the father's own right hand. You'll remember how there in the tabernacle there was no chair. There was no seat on which the serving priests could sit. They were always going about the work. But you and I today have one who is our great high priest who has sat down. He sat down because the work of salvation has been completed by him upon the cross where he offered that once and for all forever sacrifice for sin. Christ supreme. But whenever we come into chapter 11, it changes slightly because in Hebrews chapter 11, we read here about the faithful of ages past. This is often referred to as God's roll call of faith. It's sometimes referred to as God's hall of faith. And here we read about 14 men and two women that are named along with other women and prophets who are unnamed. Look with me just there down at verse 32 of Hebrews 11 “And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson and of Jephthae, of David also and Samuel and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword. out of weakness were made strong, watched valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were saw asunder. Were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins. Being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth.” Here we have read about men and women of a great calibre. And I wonder, dear friends, how are you and I standing for God in the day and age in which we live?

These were men and women that stood strong for God in their day and generation. I put the question to myself and to you this morning. How are you and I standing strong for God in our day?

I want us to think this morning about just three men that we have read about here this morning. We have read about Enoch. We have read about Noah. And we have read about Abraham. This morning we could say about Enoch. We could say Enoch walked with God. Concerning Noah, we could say Noah

worked for God. And concerning Abraham, we can say Abraham worshiped God. Turn to Genesis chapter 5. Genesis chapter 5 verse 23 and 24. “And all the days of Enoch were 365 years and Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him.” This man Enoch was the seventh from Adam. In verse five, we read that he lived for 930 years and then at the end of verse five, it says, "And he died." When we read about Seth in verse 8, we're told how he lived for 912 years and then it says, "And he died." We read about Enos there in verse number 11. He lived for 95 years. And then it says at the end of verse 11, “and he died.” Concerning Canaan, it tells us there in verse 14, how he lived for 910 years and he died. We think about Mahalaleel there in verse 17 and it tells us there that he lived for 895 years and he died. Concerning Jared, it tells us there at verse 20 that he lived for 962 years and he died. But whenever we come to the seventh man, Enoch, we find that death had no power over Enoch. The number seven in scripture is the number of perfection. And as I think upon that, that would make me think about the perfect man, the Lord Jesus because just as death had no power over Enoch and the Lord took him straight to heaven and the number seven being the number of perfection, I think about Christ and how death had no power over him. The apostle Paul tells us there in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose the third day according to the scriptures.  We put our faith and our trust in the perfect man, the Lord Jesus, the one who rose victorious over sin and over death and over hell.

Just three simple thoughts about this man Enoch. First of all, we read there in Genesis 5 verse 24, it says, "And Enoch walked with God." What a statement to be written over the life of this man. Spiritually speaking, how are you walking this morning? How are you walking daily? Are you walking daily by the Savior's side? This man Enoch knew the Lord intimately. This man trusted in the God of heaven. He knew God closely. Do you and I live a life where we know God closely and intimately? Does the preacher and does the hearer today seek to cultivate that life of prayer? Do we set aside daily a time wherever we can come and commune with the Lord? Do we set time aside daily where we can come and read and study his precious word? The neglect of personal and private prayer and Bible study is the first stepping stone on the pathway of the backslider. Make sure day and daily to set time aside to talk with God and to read his precious word that you and I would be built up in our most holy faith. Make sure that you have that quiet time. If you and I are ever to do anything for the Lord, we need to spend time with the Lord. Whether it was Elijah at the brook before he stood at Mount Carmel, whether it was Joseph in the prison before he went to the palace, or whether it was David in the cave before he sat upon the throne, they were all brought to that place where they had put their trust and relied solely upon the power and the provision that God and God alone provides. Remember those words of David. Psalm 18 and the verse number two. "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my strength in whom I will trust, my buckler and the horn of my salvation and my high." These are the words of a man who has a close relationship with God. Here is a man who sought to know God intimately. That's the type of man that the psalmist David was. That's the type of man that Enoch was. I hope that that's the type of man and woman that you and I would attain to be.

Then secondly, concerning Enoch, what was the result of this relationship that he had with the Lord? Hebrews chapter 11 verse 5 "For before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God." What a testimony. Could that be written over your life today? That you live a life that pleases God. Whenever the Sunday suit is on the hanger and the working clothes are on, when you and I are far from the gaze of the pastor, the preacher, the church elder, when we're far from Christian brothers and sisters, whenever we're far from the fellowship, the assembly of believers that we meet with on a Sunday, could it be said of you and that he had this testimony that he pleased God. Do those we come into contact with day and daily throughout the week, maybe in the workplace or over the garden fence, those of our neighbours and friends – do they see in us a person who is a witness and a testimony for the Lord?

Then lastly concerning Enoch, we read there in Genesis 5 verse 24 "And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him." Because of the relationship that Enoch had with the Lord, today he's in heaven. There was that time whenever he left earth and he went to be with the Lord. and he's going to be with them for all of eternity. That's just the same for you and I. Whether the Lord may come or call, we can look forward to that day whenever we will forever eternally be with the Lord. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus in John chapter 14 "Let not your heart be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also." The Lord has never failed nor broken a promise. Our Saviour has a place for you and for I in heaven. And one day we will be with him. What great words of comfort and assurance. Enoch is in heaven today with the Lord because of the relationship that he had with him. And one day because of our relationship with the Lord, we too will be in heaven with him. Enoch walked with God.

 

But then let us think about his great-grandson Noah. Noah worked for God. It says there in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 7. “By faith Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet moved with fear prepared an ark to the saving of his house by the which he condemned the world and became the heir of righteousness which is by faith.” Noah lived in a day and a generation of much evil and depravity. Yet Noah sought to live a life that honoured and glorified the Lord. He lived in a time whenever “the wickedness of man was great in the earth

and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Sounds familiar, doesn't it? It sounds just like the day and generation in which you and I live. And yet in Genesis chapter 6 verse 9 concerning Noah, “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generation. And Noah walked with God.” In the day and generation in which Noah lived, all around him were living in rebellion towards the Lord. And yet here is a man and the word of God tells us that he was a just man and perfect in his generation. Here's a man and whenever the Lord comes along and he asks him to build the ark, this man is obedient. Look with me there at Genesis 6 verse 14 “This is the word of the Lord to Noah, make thee an ark of gopherwood, rooms shalt thou make in the ark and shall pitch it within and without pitch.” Then look down at verse 22 “Thus did Noah according to all that God commanded him. So did he." Here we see now the Lord has come to Noah and he has commanded him to build the ark and Noah is obedient. We don't read here that Noah ever questions the Lord. We don't read that he ever doubts the Lord. But Noah worked and laboured faithfully for the Lord. Noah was faithful and Noah carried out what God requested. Peter tells us there in 2 Peter chapter 2 that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. And as Noah stood daily building the ark, some would tell us maybe as much as 120 years perhaps. And as he built the ark, you can just imagine the mocking, the sarcasm, the scoffing, the insults, the ridicule. Yet Noah remained faithful in the work that God had called him to do. You can imagine there the ark as it stood upon the dry land. What a statement. What a testament to the judgment that was to come. And Noah was faithful. And he preached to the people about the coming flood. He's a man that never saw one convert but yet, he was faithful to what God had called him to do. Whenever the time came to enter into the ark, it was only Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives. Noah was faithful. And what God had asked him to do, he finished the work. He saw the ark completed. And all the ridicule, all the mocking, all the scoffing had no effect upon him. Think about the day and generation in which you and I live. There are Christians today and we come under much attack here in our own land but more so around the world. And yet they stand strong. Can I encourage you to stand strong. And if the Lord has called you to do something for him, whether it be here in the fellowship or maybe somewhere else you're involved in some form of outreach, can I encourage you to be like Noah and continue to be faithful in the work and in the labour that the Lord has called you to do in this day and generation. CT Studd once said those well-known words, "Only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last.” How are you and I working for the Lord? Enoch walked with God. Noah worked for God.

Finally in Hebrews 11, we read there about Abraham. Abraham worshipped God. We read four times that he built altars. I am sure that he built many more altars but four of them are recorded for us in scripture. We read there in Genesis 12 verse 6 how he built an altar at Sichem. Genesis 12 verse 8 he built an altar at Bethel. Genesis 13 verse 18 he built an altar at Hebron. We read there in Genesis 22 verse 13 he built an altar there at a Moriah. This showed a lifestyle of worship and dependence upon God. And what a witness to those that lived around about him, those altars would have been. Whenever those idol worshippers and pagan people came near to where Abraham lived and they would have seen the altar, they would have known that here lives a man who worships the God of heaven. We live in a day and generation when sad to say there are some people and whenever they make their way to church on a Sunday morning, they would almost put their Bible in a shopping bag in case someone would see it. That wasn't the type of man that Abraham was. Abraham was not scared to let those that lived around about him know that he had come to put his faith and his trust in the God of heaven. Don't be scared to carry your Bible. Don't be scared to be seen to be making your way to the house of God on a Sunday morning. What a witness this true worshipper of God, Abraham, was. What a witness you can be in this day and generation in which we live. The first time that we read of worship in our Bible is in connection with Abraham. I have no doubt at all, of course, that Adam, Abel, Enoch, Noah all worshipped God. But the first time that we read of worship in our Bible is, of course, in connection with Abraham. It's there in Genesis chapter 22. The Lord tells Abraham to get into the land of Moriah and there to offer Isaac up as a burnt offering. If that was you or I, we would maybe have waited a few days, maybe hoping that God somehow would change his mind. But not so with Abraham. Because in the very next verse we read these words. “And Abraham rose up early in the morning.” Here was a man and whenever the Lord instructed him to do something, he didn't wait and hope that it would change. I wonder if that was you or I? I think we might not have even got out of bed the next day. and maybe not the day after and maybe not the day after that. But here's a man was going to follow through with what the Lord requested. And whenever we come there to verse 5 of Genesis 22, we read “And Abraham said unto his young men, "Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship." Despite the circumstances that had now come in upon his life, here was a man that was a true worshipper of the Lord. The altar, the place of sacrifice and worship. What a witness. What a testament to the faith and worship of Abraham to all those that lived around about him. Those that had put their faith and trust in idols and in their false gods, whenever they would have came past the altars of Abraham, they would have known that here is a man who is a true worshipper of the God of heaven. Genesis 12 verse one "Now the Lord had said unto Abram, get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house unto a land that I will show thee." Abraham left behind those that he knew and he left behind lands in order to follow the Lord. He put God first. Do we put God first. What was the result of the relationship that Abraham had with the Lord? James chapter 2 verse 23 tells us that he was the friend of God. He is that friend that sticketh closer than our brother and one who will never leave us nor forsake us. Abraham was nomadic. That means he was a tent dweller. In Hebrews chapter 11 we read how “he looked for a city which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God.” He dwelt in tents. He was a pilgrim here on earth. And I would press it upon you today - don't drive the tent pegs in too deep. In this world we are only passing through. Our citizenship is in heaven. Yes, I know that we have to work, pay our bills, etc. But don't get too comfortable. We're only here for a short while. We too will soon be with the Lord.

These three men that we have considered here this morning set for us a godly example to follow. Enoch, Noah, Abraham. Enoch walked with God. Noah worked for God. Abraham worshipped God. May you and I in our lives emulate all three. May we be like Enoch, that man who had that close and intimate relationship with the Lord. May we be men and women of prayer and men and women with the desire to study the word of God. May we be like Noah, that man who was obedient and faithful in his labour and work for God. Even while those around about him laughed and sneered and mocked and derided, still Noah was faithful in the work that he was called to do. May we be like the patriarch Abraham, that man who was known for building altars, the place of sacrifice and worship. May we be known as men and women who are true worshippers of the Lord. May you and I be like those men and women that we read of in Hebrews chapter 11, God's hall of faith.

 

Look unto me and be ye saved

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2026 PM - MR CRAIG DENNISON

ISAIAH 45 

In this portion of God's word, God makes many wonderful promises. In chapter 44, Cyrus is selected to be God's shepherd. We maybe think that a strange thing that our God would call a heathen king to be a shepherd of his people. But Cyrus was a chosen vessel of the Lord. God used him to release the Jews from their captivity. So in many ways we could say that Cyrus was a redeemer. He was one who saw people redeemed and brought out of bondage and set at liberty. And of course that is what Christ does for his people. He takes us out of the bondage of sin and brings us into his glorious kingdom. Now Cyrus himself we could say is a type that is a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a Saviour of God's people. He brought them out of bondage. He restored them back to Zion. and he enabled the true worship of God in Jerusalem again. So Cyrus himself was not a true Saviour. He couldn't get men to heaven, but he was a little foreshadowing of the Saviour that God would send. Now in verses 1 to 4 of chapter 45, we are told the great things that God will do for Cyrus to enable him to release God's people. Verse one, we're told that he will subdue nations, loose the loins of kings, and open gates. We're told in verse two that God himself would go before Cyrus to prepare the way. In verses 5-7, we have the proof, the evidence of God's eternal power and his sovereignty over all creation. In verses 5-6, God declares himself to be the only God. Verse 7, God lists his power in creation. He tells us that he is a peacemaker and that he even permits evil to happen. He doesn't ordain evil, but he allows it to happen. Some people take verse 8 to be a prayer, and it's certainly something that the Lord's people can pray if it's in accordance with his will. But I agree with the commentators who believe that this is this is God revealing his precept. What God has planned will always happen. And in verse eight here we have God revealing what is certainly going to happen. “Drop down ye heavens from above and let the skies pour down righteousness. Let the earth open and let them bring forth salvation and let righteousness spring up together. I the Lord have created it.” So this is the Lord revealing what he is going to do and pouring out his spirit upon the earth, turning men and women to faith in his son. But dear congregation, notice something amazing about this passage here tonight. Isaiah is not prophesying directly into the ear of Cyrus because Isaiah was a prophet before Judah went into captivity. In the days of Isaiah, he ministered to the kings of Judah - Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah. So Isaiah lived long before Cyrus. And God is not speaking directly to Cyrus either because Cyrus is not even born when these words are recorded. Isaiah preached this message 210 years before they came to pass. So God gave Isaiah a message about Cyrus to preach 210 years before it would be fulfilled. Because God in his foreknowledge, in his sovereign predestination knew that Cyrus would be born. He knew that Cyrus would come to power. God knew the Jews would be in captivity and he ordered Cyrus to release the Jews and he gave the order before Cyrus was even born. He also ordered Cyrus for the temples to be rebuilt again and they were we read of that in 2 Chronicles chapter 36. But as we come down tonight to our verse 20, God here makes an offer and it's an offer not just to the Jews but to all the nations which Cyrus is going to release from captivity. Verse 20, “ye that are escaped of the nations.” So God here is speaking to the nations of the world. And he has an offer for them. And he tells them in verse 22, "Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth. For I am God and there is none else." God makes an offer of salvation. And it's not just an offer to the Jews. It's an offer to all the nations of the world, to sinners from every different type of nation. The offer is the gospel offer. It's the same offer that God gave to Adam in the Garden of Eden. God, after Adam and Eve had sinned, God promised that the seed of the woman will bruise the serpent's head. So, he promised a Saviour. And of course, Christ is the seed of the woman. He bruised the serpent's head at the cross of Calvary. But the Lord in the garden, he also showed Adam and Eve how the Savior was to come and how the Savior or was to be the sacrifice for sin. You'll remember in Genesis it says that God made Adam and Eve coats of skin. But where did he get the skin from? He got it from an animal. How did their son Abel know the right sacrifice to bring to God of a lamb? They were taught it by their parents, Adam and Eve. Whoo taught it to Adam and Eve? God taught it to Adam and Eve in the garden. Whenever he took an animal and made a sacrifice and took the skin and made coats for them, that is what I believe. And to be more specific, I believe it was the second person of the Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ, who made that sacrifice in the garden and showed Adam and Eve, "This is what I'm going to do. I'm going to be the lamb of God. I'm going to be the one that bears your sin upon the cross of Calvary." So, it's the same offer that was given to Adam. It's the same offer that was made to Noah. Come into the ark and you'll be saved. And Noah and his family were in the ark. they were saved. And it's the same offer that God has given down through the generations. Look unto me and be ye saved. Well, let's look tonight at the subject of the gospel offer. Four things I want to leave with you in a very simple message as we think of the gospel offer.

First of all, the gospel offer is a great offer. It is a great offer. And I don't mean it's a great offer like you would maybe get on a car coming up to the end of the tax year. It's not a great offer like there might be on Black Friday. It is far greater than that. It is a great offer for a number of reasons. First of all, it's a great offer because of the reason we're having this offer. And the reason God is making an offer to you and me is because we need this offer. Our sin has separated us from God. The sin of Adam had him kicked out of the garden. And we have been sitting against God ever since. Our sin is piled up like a massive mountain of debt. And it doesn't matter how hard we work, how much we try, we can never clear this mountain of debt against God. It just keeps piling higher and higher and higher. And God comes to us in the gospel and he offers to  remove our mountain of debt against him. He promises to remove our sins against him. He even tells us that he will cast our sins into the depths of the sea that he will remember them no more. This is the great offer that God is making to us. We who have sinned against God and offended him with our law breaking and our idolatry, God is offering to forgive and to pardon that sin. If you ran up a big debt in your credit card, a big massive, imagine your credit card company forgot to put a limit on your credit card and they just let you spend and spend and spend and you racked up debt into the tens of millions of pounds. Well, there's no way that I'm sure most of us, if not all of us, could ever pay that back in our lifetime. Doesn't matter how hard we worked. if we worked 24 hours a day, we wouldn't be able to earn enough money to pay back the credit card company. Let me say there is nothing you and I can do to pay off our debt of sin. Our debt of sin is too great. And yet, God makes us an offer. An offer. So, think of the one who makes the offer. He says, "Look unto me. Look to me. The one who made you, the one who is your creator. Look to me, the one who gives you life, the one who sustains you, the one who holds your very breath in his hands. Look to me. He doesn't say to look to anybody else. God says to look directly to him. We don't need to look to a priest or a bishop. We don't need to look to dead men's bones. We only need to look to God directly ourself. the one who is our creator, but also the one that the Bible says is our judge. Because the scriptures are very clear, God has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man, the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he has appointed, heir of all things. So the one who is telling us to look to him is our judge. The judge tells us to come to him and look to him for forgiveness and pardon. Again, I venture to say if you racked up a hundred penalty points in your car licence and you were told to go and see the judge, you'll be pretty fearful knowing that the judge has the power to suspend you from driving, take away your licence, and ban you from the road. But if the judge sent you a message saying, "Come to me. Come and see me and seek forgiveness and I will forget about all your transgressions." I venture to say he would rush to the judge. You would probably be banging on his door at 6:00 in the morning saying, "Judge, I'm here. I'm here. Wipe away the penalty points for my licence. Give me a clean license again so I can drive.” Well, here the judge of all the earth tells us to come to him, tells us to look to him. It's a great offer because of the one who makes the offer. And what is the offering? Well, he's offering you pardon for your sin. All your sins against God, he is willing to pardon. He is willing to give you peace with himself. Because the truth is, our sin sets us at war with God. That's what our sin does. God has no fellowship with darkness. God has no fellowship with sin. Yet God says, "I want you. I want fellowship with you." But first of all, we have to deal with this problem of your sin. And God says that he will deal with it. And it's a great offer because it's not just an offer for this life, dear friends. It's an offer for all eternity. There's some offers you get in this life and they expire the moment you die. There's a man I was reading the paper many years ago. He bought a lifetime airline ticket and it allowed him to fly with a certain airline as many times as he wanted. And that man has made sure he's got his money's worth out of that airline ticket flying all over the world. But that airline ticket will one day expire. Whenever that man dies, that airline ticket will cease to exist. He can't pass it on to his relatives. He can't take it with him where he's going. It has a limitation. But whenever God offers you salvation in the gospel, it's not limited to this world alone. It's for the next life as well. Because there's coming a day, whenever you and I, and perhaps we don't like to think about it, but there's coming a day when we'll breathe our last breath. There will be that time we'll go to bed for the last time. We'll put on our socks for the last time. We'll kiss our loved ones for the last time. And then the Bible says there's eternity. But God has given us an offer. But this offer can only be seized upon during this life. One second after death, it is too late. “Behold, now is the day of salvation. Behold, now is the accepted time.” The scripture says, "Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, and call ye upon him while he is near." We are told in scripture, it is time to seek the Lord. And it's time now. Oh, there's many a second after death are full of regret for not having taken Christ up on this gospel offer. It's a great offer, everlasting life with God in heaven. But think of the alternative. The alternative to having the gospel and having salvation for all eternity. The alternative is not to have the gospel and not to have salvation, not to have heaven, not to have God, not to have Christ, not to have peace, but rather the alternative, is to face the wrath of God for sin, to have the anger of God, to have the fury of God. The Bible says it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of a living God. We're told of the rich man in Luke 16 that he opened up his eyes in hell being in torments. We are told that those who reject Christ will hear these awful words, "Depart from me, ye cursed. I never knew ye." So, the alternative to accepting this great offer is to reject it, and it's not to be saved, but it is to be lost. So that is why we say that the gospel offer is a great offer. There's no better offer for you and I to have.

Secondly, tonight the gospel offer is a free offer. It's a free offer. And the offer is to all the ends of the earth. It's not just limited to a couple of people there in the Middle East. It is an offer to all the ends of the earth. God makes this a free offer to all nationalities, to all religious groups. If you're trapped in the religion of Islam, God has an offer for you. If you've been brought up in a Roman Catholic home, brought to trust in the works of the flesh and to follow the teachings of the church, this offer is for you. It is an offer to the rich and an offer to the poor. It's an offer to those of all educations and to those of all social groups, regardless of your wealth or your job or your education. This is an offer for you. So no man can look at this text and say, "Well, it's not for me." No, it is for you. It's for all in Coleraine, all on this island, all on this planet. This is an offer for all the ends of the earth. And it's an offer without money and without price. In Isaiah 55 verse 1 the prophet says, "Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters. And he that hath no money, come ye, but and eat, yea come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." And that's the sort of supermarket that you'd like to go to, isn't it? where you can just go and buy stuff without money and without price. That's a sort of supermarket that would be full with people going in day and night. Going in and taking stuff without having to pay for it, without having to give any money. That supermarket, well, wouldn't be a very good business plan, but it would certainly be very popular. And yet, the Lord is saying, "That's what I'm offering you. I'm offering you salvation. I'm offering you heaven. I'm offering you everlasting life. Come to me. You don't need money. You don't need to pay for anything. You don't need to do anything. Just come and freely receive my great salvation. That's what the Lord offers. Now, some people say, "Well, it can't be that simple. Surely there is something I would have to do." Well if there was something you could do, then there would be no need for Jesus to come into this world. No need for Jesus to go to the cross of Calvary. No need for Jesus to take the wrath of God for sin upon his own body on that cross. If there was something you could do, then Jesus didn't need to come and die on the cross. But because there's nothing that you can do, he had to come. He had to suffer. He had to take sin upon himself. He had to face the wrath of God and bear our punishment because there's nothing we could do. All we have to do is come without money and without price and receive. So dear friend, it's a free offer because there's nothing you can contribute. Jesus paid it all. Every sin paid for on the cross of Calvary. Sins past, present, and future have all been paid by Christ for those who come to him. So, it's a great offer. You'll not get a better offer. It's a free offer without money and without price. 

Thirdly, it is a sincere offer. Now, there's some people maybe read in the newspaper an offer and it maybe sounds too good to be true. A holiday for £5 and then you read the small print and there's all these hoops that you have to jump through and taxes to pay. It's not really £5. It's more like 500 by the time you have met all the conditions. But dear friends, this is a sincere offer from God. He says, "Look unto me and be ye saved." That is the summary of the gospel. Look to me and be saved. We're not to look anywhere but God. We're not to look to men. We're not to look to the religions of this world, to institutions, to buildings. We don't look to our baptism. We don't look to the Lord's table. We don't look to any of these things. We look directly to God. Now yes, these things have their place, but in the fundamentals of salvation, those things do not save. Nobody has been saved by water or by taking wine and bread. Those elements do not save. We're to look directly to God. And can I say, that this is a sincere offer because God doesn't lie. Men lie, but God cannot lie. We can do something that God cannot do. We can tell lies. God cannot tell lies. It is impossible for God to tell a lie. So if God says, "Look to me and be you saved," that is the truth. That is a sincere, genuine offer from God. If we look to him, we will be saved. And there's also a promise. God promises to receive sinners. In John 6:37, the Lord Jesus said, "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." So the Lord Jesus Christ has promised to save the sinner that seeks him. He doesn't say, "If you apply, I might receive you." No. Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out. And a person might say, "Well, I've lived a terrible life, an awful, sinful life. I've done so many bad and wicked things. My debt of sin is 10 times higher than the chiefest of sinners. Surely he wouldn't receive me." No, dear friend, the promise is for the whosoever will. But he will receive you, but he will not cast you out. This is the great promise that Christ gives in the gospel. It is to the whosoever will. John 3:16, “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 doesn't have an asterisk in his Bible with a long list of disclaimers. No, “that whosoever will believe will have everlasting life.” Peter preached in Acts 2 21, "And it shall come to pass that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." And Paul said the same thing in Romans 10 verse 13. So there's the whosoever will seek God, whosoever will cry to God for mercy, whosoever will call upon the name of the Lord will be saved. In Revelation 22:17, John said, "And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." So, dear friend, it is a sincere offer. But this sincere offer, if I can make it very simple for you tonight, is summed up in one word. And that word is come. That is the simplest word to understand. We say to a one-year-old, "Come." And they come, because they understand that word. Well, God says to the sinner, "Come to me." Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me and I will give you rest." Jesus cried, "If any man thirst, let him come to me." John 6:37, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." Revelation 22. And the spirit and the bride say, "Come." And he that heareth say, "Come." We can't make it any simpler. God says to fallen men and women, "Come. Come to me and be saved." So, it's a sincere offer with a promise to receive all those who come to him.

But let me finish tonight. We've thought of the great offer, a free offer, a sincere offer. But let me say, it's the only offer. It's the only offer you're getting. It's the only offer any of us are getting. Here in our passage tonight in Isaiah 45 verse 22, the Lord says, "Look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth. For I am God and there is none else." He says, "I am God. I alone am God." He says, "There's none else. Nobody else can save you. Nobody else can forgive your sins. Nobody else will receive you into heaven. I alone will do it. So it's the only offer you're getting. The Apostle Peter preached, "For neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. The Lord Jesus Christ himself preached, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." No man cometh to the father but by me. He said, "I am the door. By me. If any man enter in, he shall be saved." He doesn't say there's many doors or many ways. He made it very clear. He alone is the Saviour. So it's the only offer, the only offer that God is giving to us. But it is a great offer, a free offer, and a sincere offer, and it's one we would be fools to reject.

In closing tonight, why do men reject this offer? Well, some people say, "Oh, well, it's too good to be true. No way God would just forgive my sin like that." Well he didn't just forgive your sin like that. He sent his son to the cross and he unleashed hell upon his son so that you could be saved. God's divine wrath for sin was led upon Christ. It took an eternity of hell upon Christ so that you and I could be saved. It wasn't just that God casually decided to ignore and pardon your sin. He punished Christ in your place. Others will say, "Well, I don't need it. I'm good enough." Well, if you measure yourself against some of the great sinners of the world, you might be a little better than them, but you're still a sinner. You're still in need of salvation. You're still one who is going to stand before the judge of all the earth, who will list all of your sins, more than you even are possibly aware of. And how will thy fair on that day, standing before the judge as he lists all your crimes against him? And other people say, "Well, I'll find an alternative. I'll find my own way." Well that would be pinning your hopes on thin air because there is no other way. What will be the outcome of those who reject the offer? Well, the reality is those who reject Christ reject heaven. They reject God. They reject peace with God. And they choose for themselves eternal damnation. Tonight we implore you in the gospel, listen to the word of God.  He says, "Look unto me and be ye saved for I am God and there is none else." So tonight, if you haven't, look to him and come to him through the Lord Jesus Christ, believing that he is your Saviour, that he died on the cross to redeem you from your sin, and that he alone will grant you forgiveness and pardon and peace with God.

 

The Persevering Church

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY 2026 - MR CRAIG DENNISON

READING: REVELATION 3 VERSES 1 TO 13

I want us to look at one of the letters that the Lord Jesus Christ wrote to the church in Asia. And it is the sixth letter, the letter that he wrote to the church in Philadelphia. Now, what do we know about this place called Philadelphia? Well, it is a town that was situated in a valley. It became an important centre for trade and many passed by and did their business there. It was founded in the year 189 BC but it suffered terribly in the earthquake of AD70. Now the name Philadelphia means brotherly love. It is two Greek words put together. The word brother and the word love. It was given this name by its founder King Gumz II in honour of his brother Atalus II for his steadfast loyalty. So the king named it in honour of his brother. Now Christianity had a long lasting impact upon this town of Philadelphia. The Scottish minister, Robert Murray McShane, noted that in the 1800s, Philadelphia had a population of 2,000 people. There were five churches and 800 professed faith. So 40% of the town professed to be Christians. But sadly, after the events in Turkey in the 1920s, the Greeks fled Philadelphia in a mass exodus, and there's little to no Christianity in the town today. But in its day, Philadelphia had a church and it had a faithful church. It had a church that was highly commended by the Lord Jesus Christ for their steadfast loyalty to him. Now, one of the striking things we can note as we read through the letters to the seven churches is that only two churches received praise from Christ without any rebuke or admonition whatsoever. Smyrna, the suffering church, was praised by Christ, and Philadelphia was praised by Christ. But the other five churches received rebukes and warnings from Christ. Only two were praised without fault. Now, we have to remember the Lord Jesus Christ is never unfair in his assessment of the churches. If there are things to praise, he will most certainly give praise. If there is a rebuke needed, he will give that honest rebuke. But just because the church in Philadelphia and Smyrna did not receive any admonitions from Christ at all, don't mean that they were perfect churches. We're not saying that Philadelphia was a perfect church because even the purest churches under heaven are still subject to a mixture of both truth and error. There's no such thing as a perfect church. And the reason there's no such thing as a perfect church is because of all the people who walk in through the doors. None of us are perfect. We are all fallen sinners. We're all rebels like Adam. We all bring our own thoughts and ideas and we all bring our own pride. We all bring our own ambitions. So as soon as men walk in through the door, it ceases to be a perfect church. There's no perfect church here on earth. The only perfect church is the church glorified, the church in heaven. And the Christians have that great hope that one day we will join with the saints in that perfect church. But in saying that it should be the desire of every Christian and it should be the desire of every church to be praised by Christ. Now some churches they want the praise of men. They want worldly recognition. and they want to be acknowledged by society as being a a good influence for their humanitarian efforts, for their good works, for all the efforts that they make in the town. They want to be praised by other churches for the size of their congregation or their music or even their preaching. And many people today in churches they want the praise of men in the world. But that's not the type of praise we should be aiming for. We should be seeking to be a church that has the praise of Christ, to know that we are doing his will and not our will. That we are doing things his way and not our way. And sadly, we can all fall into that trap. Even preachers can fall into that trap. They can preach sermons that they know people will like, that won't ruffle any feathers, that will get them a pat on the back as they go out the door.  They can avoid difficult or challenging portions of God's word. And they can do things just to try and please men. Well, dear friends, we should all seek to be God pleasers and not men pleasers. Well, the church in Philadelphia were praised by Christ. Why were they praised? Well, I believe they were praised for their consistency in the faith. Put simply, this was a church like Caleb that wholeheartedly followed the Lord. They persevered in their love to Christ. They persevered in duty and in service because persevering is what Christians are called to do. Now, persevering is not always easy. In fact, persevering can often times be the hardest thing to do. We face opposition when we try to follow Christ. We face hostility. We face abuse. We face pressures to conform to this world. And we are laughed at. We are mocked and we are scorned. But the Christian is called to persevere. And the truth is if one is a Christian they will persevere because that is a mark of a true believer. They press on in the midst of evil and wickedness in the midst of laughter and mockery. They press on. They take up their cross and they follow Christ. So as we think of this church in Philadelphia here this morning, I have given this church the title of the persevering church. And there's three things I want to leave with you as we think of Philadelphia, the persevering church. They want worldly recognition. and they want to be acknowledged by society as being a a good influence for their humanitarian efforts, for their good works, for all the efforts that they make in the town. They want to be praised by other churches for the size of their congregation or their music or even their preaching. And many people today in churches they want the praise of men in the world. But that's not the type of praise we should be aiming for. We should be seeking to be a church that has the praise of Christ, to know that we are doing his will and not our will. That we are doing things his way and not our way. And sadly, we can all fall into that trap. Even preachers can fall into that trap. They can preach sermons that they know people will like, that won't ruffle any feathers, that will get them a pat on the back as they go out the door.  They can avoid difficult or challenging portions of God's word. And they can do things just to try and please men. Well, dear friends, we should all seek to be God pleasers and not men pleasers. Well, the church in Philadelphia were praised by Christ. Why were they praised? Well, I believe they were praised for their consistency in the faith. Put simply, this was a church like Caleb that wholeheartedly followed the Lord. They persevered in their love to Christ. They persevered in duty and in service because persevering is what Christians are called to do. Now, persevering is not always easy. In fact, persevering can often times be the hardest thing to do. We face opposition when we try to follow Christ. We face hostility. We face abuse. We face pressures to conform to this world. And we are laughed at. We are mocked and we are scorned. But the Christian is called to persevere. And the truth is if one is a Christian they will persevere because that is a mark of a true believer. They press on in the midst of evil and wickedness in the midst of laughter and mockery. They press on. They take up their cross and they follow Christ. So as we think of this church in Philadelphia here this morning, I have given this church the title of the persevering church. And there's three things I want to leave with you as we think of Philadelphia, the persevering church.

Number one, notice the recognition of their perseverance. In verse eight, the Lord Jesus says, "I know thy works." Now, I think those opening two words there are some of the most comforting words in the whole of scripture. The Lord Jesus Christ says, "I know. I know, he says, I know your struggles. I know your trials. I know your difficulties. I know your temptations. I know your persecution. I know what keeps you up at night. I know what you're struggling with and the battles you face. I haven't forgotten you. I haven't abandoned you. I know. I know everything that you're going through. And surely those are  words of great comfort for the Christian personally to hear Christ say, "I know." But they're also words of great comfort for the church because the Lord says, "I know. I know what's going on in your church. I know all about your difficulties. I know the pressures that you face in society. I know." The Lord says, "I know." And that is a comfort to those who are seeking to be faithful. The Lord knows what we are going through. Well, what did he praise them for? Well, we assume it to be the spreading of the gospel of Christ. He recognizes their efforts. He recognizes that they are a church and they are seeking to win souls to the Savior, bring the lost into the kingdom. He could also be praising them for defending the faith against attack. We know they had enemies, those who maybe took issue with the gospel message. And the Lord says, "I know that you're defending the faith. I praise you for this." So the Lord recognizes their perseverance. In verse 8, he goes on to say, "Thou hast a little strength." Now, the Lord acknowledges that this is not the strongest of congregations. In fact, he says they have a a little strength. He's not being rude about them. He's just being factual. This is a church with a little strength. Now, we're not told why  the Lord refers to them as little, but we can maybe make some assumptions. Maybe they lacked the gifts of ministry. Maybe they didn't have the most gifted of preachers within their churches. Maybe they didn't have the most educated of scholars to present and to teach the Bible effectively. Maybe they lacked communication skills. Maybe they didn't have financial resources to do evangelism. Maybe finances were a struggle. Maybe the congregation was older and frailer and they weren't able to do the things that they used to do before. And we could go on. But with the little strength that they did have, they used it for the Lord. They didn't give up. They didn't retire. With a little strength, this church persevered and pressed on.

I remember many years ago, I was living in England and our work had a its annual meeting. They had a motivational speaker come, a man who had spent many years in Kosovo clearing landmines. and he was recounting the story of how one day when him and his field were in the team that a landmine went off and before he knew it he was flat in his back looking at the sky and he said he went to move his legs and one of them didn't move but had been blown off in the blast and he said whenever he looked down and saw the horror of his injury and he saw those around him who had been killed or maimed He felt like just closing his eyes and giving up. But he says, "I knew if I did that. I knew if I closed my eyes, that would be me. I'd be gone." So he said with every ounce of strength that I had, I rolled onto my belly and on my elbows shuffled back to the safe zone. And he said, "It seemed to take an age. And it seemed to take all the energy I had just to move an inch. But I knew if I didn't that I would be dead. With the little strength that he had, that man persevered to get himself to safety and to the safe zone.

It might be, dear friends, that maybe we are tempted to give up. Maybe we're tempted to say, "Well, we have laboured for years and years and years and we're seeing nothing happen." Maybe like Elijah's servant who went up to the top of the mount one time and he came back down and Elijah sent him another time and he came back down. And by the time that servant was going back to the top of the mountain the seventh time, he's probably thinking, "What's the point of this? There has been no raincloud the first six times. Why is there going to be one the seventh time? Why am I bothering going again?” And yet when he got to the top, he saw that little cloud the size of a man's hand. And look at the showers of blessings that that brought in those days. Maybe we're tempted to think, well, what's the point of preaching? People aren't coming in. What's the point of evangelism? People aren't coming in. What's the point of witnessing to people? People aren't coming in. Well, dear friend, that is the Lord's business. You and I are only called to be the sowers of the seed. We are only those who go out and plant. The scripture says, "One planteth, another watereth, the Lord giveth the increase." With the little strength that we do have, and we do have a little strength as individuals and as a congregation, with the little strength that we do have, we're not to bury that talent in the ground. We're to use it for the Lord. We are to use the little strength that God has given for his service and for his glory. So let us not think that we are at an end because we're not. Today you and I, we have a little strength. And the Lord wants us to use that little strength for him. He's not asking us to go and  evangelize the whole of Coleraine in a single afternoon. But with a little strength we you and I can make an effort and we can make an impact upon our community. 

Whenever the missionary to India William Carey arrived in India, he laboured for eight years and didn't see a single convert. Eight years. Did he give up after one year? After his five-year plan saw no converts, did he give up? No. He went again and again and again and he kept preaching and then the Lord didn't just save one, he saved a multitude. There was a whole community started based upon the works of William Carey. Remember when William Chalmers Burns went to China. William Chalmer's Burns was used mightily by God in Scotland and in Canada. Whenever Robert Murray McShane left his pulpit in Dundee to go on a missionary trip to Israel, he asked William Chalmers Burns to fill his pulpit for a matter of months and whenever Chalmers Burns preached in Dundee, there was revival. In fact, such revival that it spread throughout Scotland and news of the revival even reached Robert Murray McShane in Israel. What is happening in his church in his absence? He tried to get home early to be part of the blessing. So William Chalmers Burns was used in Scotland. He went to Canada and the Lord used him there. But then the Lord called him to China. So he went to China and he preached there. Same messages that he preached in Scotland and Canada, but nothing happened year after year. Nothing happened in China. It was 20 years before William Chalmers Burns saw his first convert in China. 20 years. But he didn't give up. The Lord called him to be faithful. He remained faithful and he kept preaching. We are not to be weary in doing good for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.

Notice also in verse eight what the Lord praises them for. He says, "And has kept my word." This is a church that has kept my word. Now, I have to say this is essential in earning the praise of Christ. If you and I as individuals and as a congregation want to be praised by Christ, we have to keep his word. We have to be faithful and we have to be obedient. Whenever we keep his word, it shows obedience. It shows that we obey God in listening to his voice. Children who don't listen to the voice of their parents are not obedient children. And so Christians who do not listen to the voice of their heavenly father are not  obedient children. But it also shows love. It shows that we love our God and we want to keep his word. And it demonstrates that our desire is towards him. But also in verse eight, Christ praises them for not denying his name. You see, Christians in Philadelphia, they face the same pressure that all Christians face to deny Christ, to turn away from the faith, to follow after the world. Peter  faced this temptation in the courtyard of the high priest's house when people said, "You're one of his disciples. You're one of his followers." Peter denied. Paul was brought before Jewish leaders, Roman governors, Greek scholars, and they debated with him, but he didn't deny Christ. Well, it's one thing for us to be a Christian privately in the secrecy of our own homes, but are we willing to confess Christ publicly before others? Are we willing to let others know that we are Christians, that we are believers and followers of the Savior? Not just that we go to church on a Sunday, but that we follow the one who is the King of glory. This church was recognized for their perseverance. It was evidenced by their works, the keeping of the word, and not denying Christ's name. I wonder if the Lord were to write to us here today, would he praise us for the same things as well. 

Secondly, notice their responsibility to persevere. Whenever we receive praise, it can have one of two effects upon us. It can cause us to become lazy and to rely upon our past efforts or it can motivate us and inspire us to continue to work hard. Well, the Lord wanted to ensure this church did not become lazy. So, he gave them instructions. In verse eight, the Lord says "I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it." So in writing to this church, the Lord doesn't say, "You've tried your best. Sit down. Put your feet up." He doesn't say that. No. He tells them, "I'm praising you for your faithfulness, and I've opened a door for you. I have set before thee an  open door, and no man can shut it." So this is a door that the Lord says is open. It's not a shut door. It's not a locked door. It's a door that they're going to have to worry about any man shutting. They're not going to have to try and find this door. No, this door is before them. And the Lord Jesus wants them to enter through this door. He doesn't say just admire the door. No, he wants them to go through the door. Now, one of the hardest things to discern as a congregation is how do we advance the church? What doors should we try to open? What should we try to do as a church to to reach people and to see more people come in and to see more conversions? Well, so often we forget that it's not us who opens doors, but Christ who opens doors for us. And sometimes we are so determined to see the work of God advance that we maybe try to open doors ourselves. We don't want to be seen as being lazy, so we try this door and that door and another door. We want to be seen as a busy church, so we don't wait for God to open doors. We don't even pray for God to open doors. We try to create our own doors and go through our own doors, not realizing that Christ might not want that particular door opened. There could be times when we are pushing a locked door and Christ could have it locked for a reason. This is where prayer comes in. We ought to be praying for open doors. Praying for the Lord to open an effectual door before us. And thinking of this theme of open doors, it is biblical to wait and pray for God to open doors for us. In Colossians 4:3, the Apostle Paul writing to the church at Colosse, he said with all praying also for us that God would open unto us a door of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ for which I am also in bonds. So Paul asked this church of Colosse to pray that God would open a door of utterance to do what? To preach Christ, to speak Christ. Not where they could find cheap and affordable bouncy castles. But where they could preach the gospel. That is what Paul asked the church at Colosse to pray for. Pray for a door of utterance. And dear friend, the prayers of the Bible are to be our prayers as well. If Paul told people to pray for a door of utterance to speak Christ, that is a door we should be praying for. God, open a door for us to preach Christ to these people. In 2 Corinthians 2:12, Paul says, "When I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord." So why did Paul go to Troas? Well, he didn't go to dig wells, and he didn't go to establish a school. He went to preach. And what did the Lord do? He opened a door. a door there in Troas us for the preaching of the gospel. So here in two verses we have seen that the door is linked to the preaching of the word. Another example 1 Corinthians 16:9 Paul said for a great door and effectual is opened onto me. So here Paul acknowledges that the Lord has opened a great door but not just an open door but an effectual door. That is there will be much fruit, much results from this door that has been opened. In Acts 14 verse 27, Paul and Barnabas when they were come and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Who opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles? It wasn't Paul. It wasn't Barnabas. It was God. He opened the door. Paul and Barnabas went through it. So dear friend, we are to pray for God to open doors, great doors, effectual doors, not to entertain people, but for the preaching of the gospel and for the sharing of Christ's name.

I remember many years ago I was having lunch with a woman in Wales and she was telling me that whenever she was young, she had so many ideas of how she wanted to serve the Lord. She wrote them all down in a big list and she went to her minister with all these ideas saying, "There's so many things we need to be doing. I can't possibly do them all." And the minister said to her, "Well, I want you to go home and pray over your list and which ideas are yours and which are of the Lord." So very wise advice. And she thought he was just trying to get out of doing some of her ideas. But she went home and she started praying over her great list of ideas. And one by one she started stroking them off until there was only one left and it was to go and serve the Lord. She went to Bible college. She met her husband and they laboured for years in Africa as missionaries. And she says if she hadn't been doing her list, she never would have had time to go to Bible college to study and to learn more, meet her husband and end up serving the Lord in that means. 

You and I can have ideas, and there's nothing wrong with having ideas, but we have to make sure that those ideas, they are the will of God. We have to make sure they're the door that the Lord wants us to go through. If it's not for the preaching of Christ, if it's not for the sharing of the message of the gospel, we have to question, is it the great and effectual door that the Lord wants us to do? I know some churches, they go out into communities and they cut grass and they paint fences and so forth. And while there may be a place for some of that if it's not the sharing of the gospel, it's a humanitarian effort, it's a good work. The church is called first and foremost to go into all the world and preach the gospel. That is the calling of the church. If we are not if we don't have the that single eyed focus for the preaching of the gospel, then we're not fulfilling the great commission and we're ultimately not behaving as a church. So, we are to pray for open doors, open doors for yourself and open doors for your church. But another thing the Lord recognizes here or sorry another thing the Lord gives them as a responsibility we see in verse 11 “the Lord says hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown.” Not only were the church to go through the door of service but they were commanded to hold fast to that which they already had. The Lord is saying here don't compromise with the world. Don't be lowering your standards just to please people. Keep my word. Don't deny my name. Hold fast. You know, the greatest temptation could be to lower our standards to get people in. Well, we'll do away with the old hymns and we'll get into modern music and we'll have all the instruments of the day. 

There's one church like that in Scotland. I remember a man who went to that church and this is what he said. He said, "Oh, yesterday the singing was so good, we didn't even need to open the Bible. Didn't even need to read the Bible. Didn't even need preaching because the singing was so good." They have 500 people at that church and they're now building a mega church. And yet, that was what he said. The singing was so good, we didn't even need to open the Bible. That's an abomination in the eyes of God. That is not God pleasing. That is pleasing men with music and with entertainment. Christ is saying that this church they are to continue as they are, though small they are faithful. They have a little strength. They are to go through this open door without changing. Well, we must be those who hold fast to the word of God. Let's not lower our standards to please the world. 

But then thirdly and finally here this morning, notice the reward for perseverance. And the first reward we see in verse 9 is that their enemies will be converted. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie. Behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Now, some interpret this to mean that the enemies of the church will stop persecuting them. Others take it to mean that the enemies will be converted to Christ. Well, I believe it's the latter. I believe this is an open door for the preaching of the gospel and the effectiveness of the preaching of the gospel. such an effectiveness that even the enemies, those who persecute the church will come and join them. When it says they worship before thy feet, it doesn't mean they will worship the Christians. It means they will worship with the Christians, worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. So what an open door. These hard Jewish hearts will be opened to worshiping the Savior. They will join with the believers. Now man can't do that but only God can do that. And surely that's what we want to see. Even our enemies converted to faith in Christ joining with us sat here praising and worshiping God. So the first reward enemies converted. Second reward kept from temptation. Verse 10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.” Now surely the biggest fear that we have in life is failing Christ. Failing him, letting him down like Peter did whenever he denied him. Peter went out and wept bitterly. And surely we fear failing the Lord, ruining our testimony and grieving our Saviour. Well, the Lord promises that those who are faithful to him, he will keep them from temptation. And then the third reward is that they will be made a pillar. Verse 12 “him that overcome will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out, and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem. I will write upon him my new name.” Now, look at the imagery that the Lord uses to describe faithful Christians. A pillar. You and I maybe don't think of ourselves as pillars. We maybe think that if we're anything in the church of God. We're a little stone. We're a little grain of dust. Yet the Lord doesn't look upon his people that way. He calls us pillars. He refers to those Christians in Philadelphia as pillars. What beautiful imagery. And that is the reward that Christ will give us when our earthly journey comes to an end here that we will forever be with him in heaven. We will be made that pillar with him in the new Jerusalem. What rewards do you seek as a Christian? Thought of well in the community or in the church, a life of ease and comfort. Well, the greatest reward is to be part of Christ's kingdom here on earth, but also in heaven as well. And that very thought ought to encourage us to persevere. Our time in this earth is only a vapor. There's heaven to be gained and heaven to enjoy for the Christian. We live in a day when Christians need great encouragement. We live in an evil and sinful world. Sin certainly seems to be abounding. There is hostility to Christianity. There's pressure to conform. And sadly, we look around us and we see many churches that are compromising and denying the faith. We need encouragement to persevere. And here in this letter to the church in Philadelphia, the Lord gives us a letter. And it's a letter to persevere, to hold fast to the faith, not to deny his name, but continue to be faithful, continue to seek open doors prayerfully from God for the furtherance of the gospel and the making of disciples in our nation and further afield as well. So dear friend, if you're weary today, if you're struggling, if you're thinking of giving up, may this be a letter for you, encouraging you to press on towards the mark of the high calling in Christ Jesus.