The story of Zacchaeus

Sermon notes from Sunday 9 and 16 February 2014

Luke 19 verses 1 – 10

A wonderful day for Zacchaeus and for Jericho.  Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem yet he came through the city of Jericho.  Jericho had been cursed by God in the Old Testament yet he would enter into this place for you and me.  It was a wonderful place for Zacchaeus’ home.  There is never a day like the day when Christ comes into our hearts and lives.  Verse 5 “and when Jesus came to the place.”  The place being of course the sycamore tree into which Zacchaeus ran and found shelter.

The place of elevation.  Verse 3 tells us something of Zacchaeus.  A little man of stature.  It left him with a mighty problem naturally and physically speaking.  This man could not see Christ.  The moment he came out of his front door there was such a massive crowd on the streets of Jericho.  This man had a problem physically speaking.  He couldn’t see the Lord with his natural eye.  He had to get into the place where he was elevated.  He saw the Lord approaching, every feature of him as he passed by that way.  Naturally speaking we cannot see the Lord Jesus Christ.  Why?  Because the god of this world has blinded our minds that we might not see the Lord with our natural eye. (John 12 verse 40)  We have to get into the place of elevation to see the Lord himself.  There is only one that can do that – the Holy Spirit himself.  This man could have stood in the crowd and missed the Lord.  This was the time of the Jewish Passover.  Naturally there were a large number of people in the city, a mighty crowd of people.  This is what attracted them to Jericho.  News of the man, the Messiah and the things he was doing.  He might have attracted a large crowd.  They wanted to see this man and to see what he would do.  When Herod sent for Christ he wanted to see a miracle done by his hands.  Jesus actually never spoke to Herod because Herod had silenced the voice of John the Baptist who spoke of Jesus Christ.  You know we can silence the voice of Jesus for one last time.  Zacchaeus was hindered from getting a glimpse of the Saviour.  He needed an elevated place, a place where he could see the Lord.  It is important we gather in a place where the word of God is opened and the name of the Lord is exalted.  This man felt his responsibility.  It was not on a man nor on a place.  He knew the only way to see Jesus was down to him.  Remember John the Baptist one day when the crowd was all around he said “behold the lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world.”  He pointed to the Saviour as the only one who could save.  He is the only one that matters.  He came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost, to die on the old rugged cross that you might be saved.  “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men; who hold the truth in unrighteousness.” Romans 1 verse 18.  People in that day were oppressing the truth, hindering the truth.  Paul went on to say “For Christ sent me not to baptise but to preach the gospel not with wisdom of words lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.” (1 Corinthians 1 verse 17)  I don’t want to use any language to make the cross of no effect “and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2 verses 4 and 5)  Am I elevating myself or Christ?  Paul asked himself.  That is why you and I need to be so careful as to our conversation and conduct not only in every day life but in the very place where we gather together.  We need people to leave the house of God with that fragrance of the Lord on them not with some witty phrases from the preacher.

The place of revelation.  In this tree Jesus revealed the plan and purpose for him.  I’m sure Zacchaeus was amazed.  He was a tax collector, the chief of them, hated by all men.  Here was the Lord making conversation with him.  Maybe never thought the Lord might speak to his heart and soul.  Heard about Jesus and made effort to get into a place of elevation.  He heard his name being called from the lips of Christ.  That was the plan and purpose revealed to him. “Make haste and come down.”  God would take pleasure today just to speak to you by name.  He knows everything about you today.  As we sit in this house today Jesus might very well utter your name, might ask you to step out.  Only as sit under the word of God that revelation takes place.  A place of revelation and elevation.  “Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life and they are they which testify of me.” (John 5 verse 39)  Jesus told his disciples.  The word of God is like a mirror and in it we see something of the situation we are in.  We are sinners.  May feel we are good people, very religious people but the word of God says I have been born into this world as a sinner and need someone to take away my sin.  That someone is Jesus and he is speaking to your heart today.  In chapter 2 of Acts when Peter stands to preach the word of God what happened – the Holy Spirit came and they were pricked in their hearts.  That was a revelation of what they were.  The crowd asked “men and brethren what should we do?”  Peter told them “repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins.”

The place of consideration.  Verses 5 and 6 Zacchaeus begins to think of his options.  He was told “come down.”  That is your consideration, an option.  You have got an option in this house because God invites you to be saved.  Maybe as a child of God he invites you.  God wants to deal with you.  Zacchaeus maybe felt “I could sit here comfortably where I am but if I were to come down I would have to make it public.”  A stand for Christ.  People would see his reaction, make a stand before the people.  What will I say to my friends?  This was a place of consideration.  As we come into the house of God, as he is elevated and revealed to you there is a great consideration of what to do.  Will I take him into my heart, allow him to take away my sins, can I trust him to consider all of my wrongs?  In verse 8 the past comes before him.  Maybe as he thinks on this he remembers people he has offended, things that will have to be made right, goods returned, apologies to be said.  All these things are going through his mind as Jesus spoke to him.  What are you considering today?  There is a battle going on in your heart.  If I was to take my stand today what would I tell my friends?  How am I going to stand in the work place?  Maybe as Zacchaeus thought of his tax collecting he had added a percentage here and there.  He was a rich man, maybe he was short changing the government.  Maybe fiddling them for his own good.  All of this was going through his mind.  There are considerations going through his mind.  Maybe he begins to consider eternity.  Have you ever really thought of eternity?  If you die not saved you will go into a lost eternity.  It is nothing to joke about.  What about that place called hell?  Revelation 21 verses 7 and 8.  Heaven is a real place but there is a lost sinners hell too. 

The place of salvation.  He answered Christ’s call “make haste and come down.”  He came down as quickly as he could.  He received the Lord Jesus Christ joyfully.  Will you receive him today?  What Zacchaeus didn’t realise at that point was that Jesus would never pass through Jericho again.  Wouldn’t it be awful to know you need to be saved and to say no and then to realise that is the last time you would hear the voice of God?  This is the day of God’s salvation not tomorrow.

The place of separation.  Zacchaeus came down and went with Christ.  Are you still trying to keep the candle burning at both ends? 

Luke 19 verses 1 – 10

Jesus is on his way to the cross and he passed for a moment or 2 in Jericho.  In John 4 we find he made his way through Samaria when he stopped at a well.  There a woman comes out to draw water.  As he speaks to her she becomes a child of God and goes out to tell others of who Jesus is and what he has done.  When Jesus comes to Jericho he meets with blindness.  The man Bartimaeus cries out and when Jesus passes by he gives him back his sight.  Now he is dealing with spiritual blindness.  As he comes to this sycamore tree he sees Zacchaeus.  He didn’t need to know his name.  He stopped just where he was and gave him an invitation to come down.  It was up to him what to do.  His responsibility was to respond.  It is similar to us today.  He knows all about us.  He stops with you today and invites you to come to him.  Will you respond?  What does this experience mean to Zacchaeus?  What will happen after this?  Will he accept salvation and begin a new work with God?  It was his responsibility to keep his eye on the Lord, to continue his relationship with God.  Verse 5 “and when Jesus came to the place.”  That was the verse we looked at last week.  The place was the tree where Zacchaeus was.  We found it to be a place of elevation.  Here he met the Lord.  It is important to be in a place to see Christ.  It was also a place of revelation.  When he spoke to Zacchaeus and showed him the plan he had for his life Zacchaeus knew nothing about it.  There was also a place of consideration.  He thought of his past, his options and his eternity.  Where would he be when he died?  Where would you be when you die?  It was a place of salvation because Jesus said “today has salvation come to this house.”  Is that your experience?  It was also a day of separation because he was separated unto the Lord that day. 

Verse 9 “and Jesus said unto him this day is salvation come to this house forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham.”  This is a day that is initially marked in a child of God’s life. 

A change of course for success.  The emphasis today is on simply believing.  That is all we need to do.  Believe on the Lord and trust him for what he did on the cross of Calvary.  The scriptures tell us about repentance.  Before we come to the place of trust we need to come to the place of repentance first.  To turn from sin, from our wicked ways then trust the Lord as Saviour.  It is then we begin a walk with him.  We are in an age when all you have to do is believe and then you go out and live whatever way you want to live.  Man’s responsibility has to come into it.  “I beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” (Ephesians 4 verse 1)  Salvation changes your nature, heart, thoughts, minds, actions right from the inside out.  The old pig doesn’t go back to wallow in the mire.  The dog doesn’t go back to his vomit again.  The drunk does not go back to the pub again.  It is a complete change of direction.  We were born in sin and shapen in iniquity but Jesus died on the cross that he might do something special for us - to save our soul.  He died to change our natures, change of lifestyle, a change in the way we begin to think and act.  After this meeting Zacchaeus began to think so differently.  Remember when the fisherman were mending their nets at the sea shore and Jesus said to them “follow me and I will make you fishers of men.”  Jesus told them they were now changed by the Lord himself.  There should be a change in our lives today.  Zacchaeus knew a change of course.  Here was a man employed by the Roman government to lift taxes.  It gave him the opportunity to make money for himself.  He was rich.  He was able to keep the government happy and lining his own pockets at the same time.  Something happened on this occasion - verse 8.  He began to think of others.  When salvation entered into his heart he began to think less of himself and more of others.  Remember Matthew who sat at the tax collectors booth.  Jesus passed by one day and told him “follow me.”  We read about the multitudes lining the streets of Jericho yet the Lord spoke to one man. 

A change in his company.  This man may have joined the crowd to see Jesus but couldn’t do that because of the multitudes of people.  He got himself into a place where he could see the Lord.  Maybe he came out with the crowd but he didn’t go home with the crowd.  In verse 7 the crowd ridiculed him.  He stepped down from the tree.  Think of that place called Calvary.  See the Lord God’s son hanging there for you and me.  He is there to fulfil God’s great redeeming love for the lost.  Think for a moment of the thief on the cross.  Just before he closed his eyes in death he poked fun at Christ.  Those religious leaders and Pharisees and scribes gathered around that scene ridiculing him.  “He saved others yet he cannot save himself.”  “If he be the king of Israel let him come down from the cross and then we will believe.”  Matthew 27 verse 44 “The thieves also which were crucified with him cast the same in his teeth.”  The 2 thieves were still mocking him even at that point of death.  All of a sudden something happened.  One of the thieves stops and said “we are here because we have done wrong but he has done nothing wrong.”  Remember on the day of Pentecost when the believers came into a special relationship with each other.  “And all that believed were together and had all things common.” (Acts 2 verse 44)  Remember in Revelation and John’s vision “these are they that have come out of great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them clean in the blood of the lamb.”

A change of communion.  In this man’s heart there was an idol of money.  No communion with God.  When salvation entered in he put Christ first in his life.  Is he first in your life?  “If I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation I restore it fourfold.”  He was ready to do business with God.  “They turned from their idols to serve the living God.” (Ephesians 1 verse 9)  Maybe it is time to come out of that sycamore tree, to come down to where IGod is, to begin your work with God.  Will you turn from your sins and trust the Lord to save your soul?

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble

Sermon notes from Sunday 5 January and Sunday 26 January 2014

 Psalm 46 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

As we set out to another year no matter what burdens, difficulties we can come back to this verse and take this as our anchor.  The author of this Psalm is unknown.  Some interesting features about him.   He lived through difficult and trying days as he wrote this psalm - verses 2 and 3.  This person witnessed something of the marvellous work of God - verses 9 and 10.  He had first-hand experience of some of these things and has the inspiration to pen them so that we might find comfort in these verses and be encouraged and challenged through these words.  Notice here at the outset of the Psalm what he speaks of …

God’s person.  Something that interested me here is the first 2 words “God is”.  To the Psalmist God was very real.  This was not something mythical but someone who filled his heart, soul and every part of him.  From the moment he woke in the morning he knew the power and presence of God walking with him.  God is not someone to pick up on a Sunday morning when you go to church, not someone who sits up on the top shelf of cupboard that is lifted down from time to time when things are difficult.  He is someone who went with him day by day.  The Psalmist David said in chapter 23 “I will fear no evil” for he knew the Lord was walking with him.  Remember the 2 walking on the road to Emmaeus.  They had left behind the scene of crucifixion, the tomb was empty and there was confusion in their minds.  The Lord drew near and he went with them.  They realised the presence of God drew near to them, going with them through dark and difficult times.  That is the Saviour we have.  No matter what difficulty we face we can be sure the Saviour will draw near and go with us.  The Psalmist was giving an encouragement and challenge to put God first over all other priorities.  God can be personal to us.  “The fool has said in his heart there is no God.”  He has set God aside, explains him away.  When we see the atrocities happening around the world we begin to question why it is happening.  Once we begin to leave him out God has to try and get back into our lives.  Genesis 1 verse 1 “in the beginning God.”  Simple and straight forward.  Before him there was nothing else.  He was always there in existence, step by step right through creation.  He filled the heavens with stars and the moon and the seas with every fish.  The Psalmist could say “my help cometh from the Lord who made the heaven and the earth.”  He had no doubts about God or his person.  Sometimes even believers have problems listening to God and don’t know what to believe.  The heavens declare the work of his hands.  They testify God is in existence.  He could see it through all he saw around him.  He put his title to it.  As we go out into this new year may that be our motto.  God is not something to be set aside.

God’s protection.  “refuge” means something to flee to.  When we see that we know it speaks of something secure, safe from the presence of the enemy.  He had in his mind the cities of refuge.  When the Israelites came into the land of Canaan God told them to make 6 cities of refuge, special places of safety and security.  If someone by accident kills another person and if the city of refuge was close at hand to flee to that is where he might be safe.  Maybe that is what the Psalmist had in mind.  God is our refuge, a place to run to where we can feel secure.  The city of refuge was only for the innocent.  We have a Saviour today who takes in the guilty.  As we come into the world we are guilty before God because we are sinners.  We can never come to that place prepared for us because of sin in our hearts.  None that defileth can enter in.  Peter when preaching to the elders in Jerusalem said “there is none other name given amongst men under heaven whereby we must be saved.”  The transaction must be done this side of eternity.  The only place is at the foot of the cross.  Though you be guilty you can come to the Lord, repent of your sin, confess your sin to him, he will take you in as his child and there you will find security from all the attacks of the enemy.  Is God your protection today?

Psalm 18 verses 1 – 17

“God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46 verse 1

“God is” = he is our reality.  “our refuge” something to run to, to flee to when things get too difficult for us.  “our strength, a very present help in trouble.”  When Martin Luther, the great reformer who stood against the Roman Catholic church to try and put it down, when he got into a time of discouragement would say to his friends “come let us sing the 46^th Psalm.”  In Psalm 45 he looked to his right hand and all of his friends forsook him but there was someone he found could be near.  That strength hasn’t changed.

The source of this strength.  Psalm 18 verses 1 and 2.  The God of heaven is our strength today.  God is our help.  “Trouble” covers everything that will come against us.  Somehow couldn’t find better word that encompasses everything.  Sometimes we worry about things.  That is what God calls trouble.  The fear of the unknown.  God has found to be a present refuge.  Men have proven it to be true down the years.  He is always there when ever trouble comes.  In times of health, wealth, sickness and poverty he is there at all times.  “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for the Lord is with me.”  This is a true valley out in Israel.  When you descend into that valley it gets darker and darker, right down in the depths so pitch black you cannot see anything.  The Psalmist knew that valley when he led his sheep down into it.  It is a spiritual valley.  He knew that one day he would have to walk through it.  The word “very” means exceedingly.  When the days grow dark where do we turn to?  God is still our strength.  He is there, the source of our strength.  Psalmist could say “I love thee my strength, my God, my refuge.”  Philippians 4 verse 13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul talked about his thorn in the flesh.  He got before God and prayed thrice to the Lord and pleaded with him to take it away from his life.  The Lord said no I will not, in your weakness you will be strong, I will renew your strength day by day.  You might have to carry that thorn day by day but you will receive strength to carry you.  Paul had to suffer what he thought was unanswered prayer to bring him to the place where he knew God would strengthen him.  Maybe God has to bring us to the same place today.  We draw from God the strength we need for each day.  Deuteronomy 33 verse 25 “as thy days so shall thy strength be.”  You will not prove God for tomorrow until it comes.  God is our refuge and strength.  Caleb could say “as yet I am strong this day as I was in the days of Moses.”  Joshua 40 verses 7 and 8.  The story of Samson in Judges – his strength was in God through his hair.  When the woman Delilah cut off his hair he rose up and went out as at other times but he hadn’t the strength this time.  “He wist not that the Lord was departed from him.”  He forgot the source of his strength.  Judges 16 verse 28.  Samson prayed “Lord strengthen me.”  Let’s get back to the place where we draw from God’s strength.  Isaiah 40 verses 30 and 31 “even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary and they shall walk and not faint.”

The secrecy of this strength.  Nehemiah 8 verse 10.  That is what we have to rely on.  “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation”.  We don’t serve the Lord out of tragedy, we serve him with love and there is joy from what he has done.  Imagine what he has done for your soul.  You will never be in a Christless lost hell because Christ has settled that issue.  All those who bow their knee will find him a refuge and strength.  When you are called to go through the shadow of the valley of death he will be there.  That is what the Lord has done for you today.  He gave himself on the cross of Calvary that you should never die and be lost.  In Acts 14 when Paul was preaching in Antioch pandemonium broke out in the streets.  Verse 3.  How much shame would we suffer today?  If you were to be laughed at, mocked, arrested, beaten would you rejoice that you were counted worthy to suffer for Christ?  Strength is evident in the times that are hard.  When facing those times draw from this source and the secrecy of our strength should be demonstrated.  Don’t rely on your own ability but God.  Joshua took over the leadership responsibility.  God called him to lead the people into the land of promise.  A tremendous responsibility.  God told him “be of good courage.”  Is there something in front of you, a burden, a task that worries you?  God comes to you and says “be strong, be of good courage.”  We need strength to go through it.  The secrecy of that strength is in the God of heaven not in your own ability, your own wisdom.  Allow God to have his way in your life.  “Be strong and very courageous, observe to do all according to the law, all that Moses my servant commanded thee to do.”  Joshua 1 verses 6 and 7.  We need that strength today.  Isaiah 41 verse 10.

The sufficiency of this strength.  It is there for a purpose.  It will suffice, will be there every time, enough for the occasion that you need.  Remember the story in Genesis of Joseph chapter 46.  Jacob comes to a realisation that his son Joseph is not dead.  For 20 years he lived as though his son was dead.  The truth eventually did come out.  This man had done so much evil yet truth was sufficient.  Jacob is invited down to Egypt to meet his son.  Only the strength of God kept that man through all those years.  When he heard the news Joseph was not dead he said “I will go and see him.”  Jacob was overjoyed.  At Beersheba he offered sacrifices to God just like his father and grandfather had done before him.  He still has time for God.  The God who helped him, strengthened him, stood by him.  As he waits before God he says to him “fear not for I will take you down to Egypt and I will bring you out of Egypt again.”  God wouldn’t allow his father Isaac to go down so why was he being allowed to go down?  Maybe there is a step you need to take and there is a fear about taking that step.

It is time to seek the Lord

Sermon notes from Sunday 12 January 2014 (am)

Hosea 10 verses 12 – 15

“it is time to seek the Lord”

It is time for you to seek the Lord.  God’s timing is maybe far advanced, maybe more so than we think – what time is it?

A time to consider.  God is drawing a line in the sand here, showing something very definite.  It is time to get things in order.  It is time to seek the Lord.  The Lord is saying to his people “use this time I have given you to consider wisely how you are living”.  Look at verse 13.  Here were a people living for themselves, no thoughts to God and sin.  They were only living for self.  You are living in borrowed time.  It is time to make a consideration, consider eternity.  What it might be like in a lost eternity?  Luke 16 tells the story of 2 men who lived their lives, died their deaths.  Notice their destinations and status.  One was carried right into the angels of heaven while the other man closed his eyes in death.  There was probably a great celebration to celebrate his life and honour him.  In hell he lifted up his eyes being in torment.  How much have you wasted time?  The summer is over, the harvest is past and you are still not saved.  How many times has God spoken to your life and heart?  Maybe you have come under conviction in past days yet you let it pass by.  Some times we think about our time and my time.  We cannot ever boast of tomorrow for we know not what it will bring forth.  Will you consider whether you are saved or lost, on way to heaven and home or on way to Christless hell?  Remember when Moses was taking the children of Israel across the wilderness to the land of Canaan.  When he met some of his family and friends he told them “we are going to the place God has given to us.”  He described it to his family but they would not come with him.  We cannot begin to explain what heaven will be like in all its splendour and beauty.  It is the place God has promised for us - “I go to prepare a place for you and I will come again that where I am ye might be also.”  Are you a candidate for heaven?

A time to change.  This verse gives a picture of work still to be done.  This speaks of a work the people were expected to do.  God is expecting something of us.  When the Holy Ghost comes into your heart and he shows you what you heart is really like and your need of salvation he asks and invites you to get saved.  There is only one thing you can do at this point in time – accept.  You could hear the voice of God and leave without ever hearing it again.  There is hope for you to come to Christ, to trust him as Saviour and Lord.  A work that has to be done.  Hosea says your land lies in waste.  It has to be well prepared.  You have got to take and break it up.  There is a work for you to do in repentance and confession of your sin and trust him as Saviour and Lord.  There has to be a change of course.  It is the picture of the farmer who neglects his duty to plough.  It is a picture of want and neglect.  Remember the 2 thieves on the cross beside the Lord.  They railed on the Lord and called him every name under the sun.  All of a sudden one went quiet and began to consider Christ.  He told him “I want to be with you in paradise today.”

A time to confer.  God says to this people the best thing you can do with this time I have given to you is to seek the Lord.  God has allowed this hour and the best thing you can do is seek the Lord.  The preparation is not complete.  We must consider our past and be willing to change our lifestyle.  We must be willing to confess who we are.  Who are you comparing your life with?

A time confirmed.  It is no vain thing to wait upon the Lord.  God will come in to that heart of yours and forgive you.  He will change your life and heart, will bring forth abundant fruit unto life eternal.  Now it is time to seek the Lord.  God is giving you time to get right with himself.  Will you use it and come to Christ tonight or turn your back on him yet again?

The values of Prayer

Sermon notes from Sunday 12 January 2014

Daniel 9 verses 1 – 19

Some important values of prayer.  Prayer is the very breath we breathe.  Whenever we think of how you were saved by God’s grace when we get alone with God.  When you bow your knees in that attitude of prayer you are getting into the presence of the thrice holy God.  He paved the way for us to come to him through prayer, through the death of his son, to make us his child.  It took his blood to be shed that we might be adopted into the family of God.  “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.” (Romans 6 verse 23)  Prayer is n Not just a religious exercise to make us feel good.  The prayer meeting is not something that we can opt out of.  It is a time when we come together in to the presence of almighty God.  Daniel was praying for something special, for the intervention from God in the life of the nation of Israel.  That is what we need today.  The intervention from God.  Men and women are going fast into a Christless hell for all eternity.  We need God to come but he doesn’t come to the unsaved in that way.  He comes to us as children of God.  There is a geat responsibility on us today.  Daniel prayed for God to intervene in his nation.  We need that same intervention spiritually speaking.  “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground for it is time to seek the Lord till he come and rain righteousness upon you.” (Hosea 10 verse 12)  Are you prepared to do that?

Daniel tells us something of the sacredness of prayer.  Prayer is instituted by God, the means by which we come and lift our voices to God.  To pray to God, speak to God in fellowship with God.  Verse 2.  Prayer for Daniel was an exercise based on the word of God.  The sacredness of the scriptures brought Daniel to that place of prayer, showed him his great responsibility and reliance on God.  He was studying the book of Jeremiah.  Perhaps God had brought that book alive to him.  It is always good to study a book of the Bible.  As we do that God leads us in a very definite pattern, seeing what God has to teach us.  It is a great exercise as you pray to have the word of God before you as it turns your heart and mind to God.  As you read through some difficult portion of scripture it means the Lord can shed light on the portion you are reading.  See Daniel here, a mighty man of God, a prophet taken away from his home town as a boy, kidnapped as Nebuchadnezzar came to Jerusalem, took him away to Babylon, he was fed the kings meat but Daniel wouldn’t touch it because he realised he would be polluted in his heart.  Daniel had his heart open to the things of God.  It is good to take a stand, to let nothing come into our hearts and minds that desecrate the things of God.  Daniel in the land of Babylon was there for good number of years.  God directs him to the book of Jeremiah and his eyes light on chapter 29.  As he read his own heart lit up.  He realised God was about to do something.  It took Daniel to get to his knees to pray about it.  The God of heaven was now interested in the people carried away from the land of Judah.  God hadn’t forgotten about them.  The devil will try to trick us up to believe God is not interested in our families, neighbours and friends.  He has an interest in them.  That is what Daniel was doing here.  He was in the word and studying the word.  He could see another explanation.  Jeremiah 29 verse 10.  God was writing to the elders with a special word. “After 70 years I will return you to Jerusalem.”  Daniel realised the time was coming to a close.  He prayed that God would come and remember his word.  It is wonderful to know God would remind us of his word.  He will answer prayer as he promised.  He knew 70 years were nearly accomplished.  God would reach down into Babylon and bring his people out.  Nothing is impossible with God.  Daniel was careful as he read through scripture.  He warned them about false prophets.  Verses 21 and 22.  Our responsibility.  2 Chronicles 7 verse 14 “if my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin.”

The sacrifice of prayer – verse 3.  He set his face.  Hebrews 4 “let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace whereby we might find help in our time of need.”  Chapter 8 tells of a vision Daniel had for God.  Notice the effects of that vision.  Verse 27 “I fainted and was sick certain days”.    It was a vision about the future end times.  God was showing to him something that would happen in the future.  Daniel said “afterwards I rose up and did the king’s business.”  We don’t know the space of time between that vision and this prayer in chapter 9.  He has to set aside some time to prayer.  He set his face to pray.  He sacrificed time.  It is not always easy to set that time aside.  A sacrifice to make time.  The disciples as they pondered on the importance of every day things Jesus said there was a more important task for the follower of Christ, more important than things to wear and eat.  The Lord said “seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”  If these other things get into your heart the cares of this world would hold you up.  1 Timothy 2 verse 1 “I exhort therefore that first of all supplications, prayers, intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men.”  Organise your life around prayer.  There is nothing more important than getting before the God of heaven and praying.  If we don’t pray we will not live long spiritually speaking.  The first thing to go in a child of God’s life is his communication with God.  We need to be careful.  Paul said “night and day I pray for you.”  Jesus went out in to the hills to spend a night in prayer for God’s help.  Acts 6 verse 4 “we will give ourselves continually to pray.”  If we want to see blessing in our families we need to come in to the place of prayer.

The seriousness of prayer.  He set his face to seek the Lord.  Notice how he does it.  Verse 4.  “With fasting and sackcloth and ashes.”  It comes seriously.  The seriousness of who he is, what he has done, what he can do.  Serious about sin.  Isaiah 59 verses 1 and 2 God was prevented from doing mighty work because of the sin in the lives of God’s people.  We need to be serious in our sin and confess our sins as we come before God.

The steadfastness of prayer – Daniel would stay until God answered prayer.

Spiritual bread to feed the soul

Sermon notes from Sunday 2 February 2014 (pm)

John 6 verses 1 – 14

Here we see the Lord Jesus Christ had travelled over the sea of Galilee.  There was an interest in this teacher and prophet.  They travelled to the hillside.  As he ministered to them, as the Lord looked on the multitudes he turned to Philip and said “whence may we buy bread that we may feed this people.”

The inescapable need that was presented – verse 5.  He lifted up his eyes, scanned the multitudes who had come to see and hear him.  He could see a multitude of people with a tremendous need, tired and weary and hungry.  He was moved with compassion.  He wanted to do something for them.  He turned to Philip and asked him “whence shall we buy bread.”  As he looked on this sea of faces he saw who they were – rich and poor, old and young, healthy and those in ill health.  He saw this tremendous need.  The disciples saw the need too.  They told Jesus to send the people home.  There is an inescapable need in every man and woman, boy and girl that only Christ sees.  There is only one need that Christ sees in the very depths of our hearts.  It in escapable.  Nicodemus came to the Lord through the shadow of night time to where Jesus was.  He came into the presence of Christ.  If people met him on his way that night they would have known he was an honourable man, religious, devout, caring.  “Except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  The Lord could see a man who wasn’t saved and wasn’t ready for the kingdom of God.  Maybe as God looks into our hearts he sees those who are not saved.  He still has the same compassion and pleads with you and I.  In Acts 8 there was persecution in Jerusalem.  The disciples had to move out and everywhere they went they preached the word of God.  Philip came to Samaria and gave the invitation to come to Christ.  Men and women were coming in their droves, and were being delivered of demonic spirits.  One man, Simon the sorcerer practised witchcraft.  He had tremendous power so much so that men and women were held mesmerised.  They all followed him because he had this power.  They thought he was a man of God.  The devil still has strong deception, can come to your heart, say you are ready for heaven and home, that you have nothing to do.  He can make you as religious as you possibly want to.  The Bible says Simon wanted the same power, to buy it for himself.  Here was Peter under the anointing of God telling him “thy heart is not right in the sight of God.”  Only under the anointing of the Holy Spirit the finger of God points to you, the question comes to you “is your heart right with God?”  If God was to call that soul from your body would it be absent from the body and present with the Lord?

The insufficiency of the provision.  The best efforts of man fall short of the need that was present.  They looked to see what they could gather up, only came up with one lad who had a few loaves and fishes.  There is a need in every heart.  Man can do nothing without it.  Take Jesus’ death on Calvary for his blood to be shed to meet that need of your sins forgiven.  The man lying at the pool of Siloam for 37 years.  Jesus asked him “do you want to be made whole?”  The first thing he said was “Sir I have no man that would put me in the pool when it stirs.”  The first man into the pool after the stirring would be healed.  He was looking to another man to help.  The need you have in your heart no man can help you but there is someone who can help and he invites you just to come.  Adam in his disobedience to God realised his shame and nakedness.  He sewed leaves together to make an apron.  Adam was not sufficient.  He shame was soon shown to all.  Maybe you have wrapped around you that robe of self righteousness, attendance at church, being present at God’s table.  Man has nothing to offer.  We have all come short of the glory of God.  The apostle Paul said when I stand before God I don’t want to do it in my own righteousness.  No-one had done it better than him.  One day he realised he would stand before God and that would be insufficient.  Only through faith he could stand and be saved.  What God has done on the cross of Calvary for me that is what God is looking for.  Are you prepared to do that?  The king in the gospels prepared a great supper because his son was getting married.  He put everything on the banquet table and sent out the invitations for all to come.  The king opens the door, steps in and gazes around at everyone settled around the tables.  One man has come in without the robes provided for them.  He was sitting in the midst of this great room in the finest of attire.  The king had provided for every man at the feast but this man decided to wear what he wanted.  God has made a way of salvation in his word.  He has given us the steps of that salvation.  He has given us the way he will accept us into heaven.  We say “I will dress myself in my religion, in keeping the commandments as best I can”.  The king looked on that man and he had him cast out of the banqueting feast.  When the Lord comes people will come and say “did we not eat and drink in thy presence, did we not do many mighty things in your name, did we not preach in your name?”  It is not sufficient if we ever want to be in heaven.  It has to be through the finished work of Calvary and no other way.  That is the requirement from heaven tonight for salvation.  “Nothing in my hand I bring simply to thy cross I cling.”

An intervention that was priceless.  See the disciples standing with the loaves and fishes saying “Lord that is all we have got what is this among so many?”  Can see the disappointment on their faces.  Jesus steps in.  He uses all that he was given.  When we have nothing to enter into heavens glory it is then Jesus can step in.  Remember the disciples on the boat when a storm got up. They rowed and toiled to get back to the shore.  They couldn’t do it but then Jesus stepped in.  You were dead in your trespasses and sin.  Ephesians 2 verses 2 and 4 “but God” steps in to that life of yours.

The inexhaustible powers of God.  The power of God knows no limit.  It would be easy for God to feed one as it was to feed 1000.  With God nothing should be impossible.  Have you come to the inexhaustible power of God?  A man once brought his son to the Lord.  He was worried about him.  He had brought him to the disciples who were not able to help him.  He then brought him to the Lord.  The Lord delivered that young man.  When the Lord does a work it is tremendous.  When the Lord saves a soul he is saved, when he forgives sins sins are forgiven from heaven.  Are you saved?  Have you been born again of the Spirit of God?  Do you know your name is written in the Lamb’s book of life?  There is coming a day when that is all that matters.  It will not matter what denomination you belong to, what creed or nationality you have been brought up in.  God will simply ask the question “what have you done with Jesus my son?”

The vastness of God's eternity

Sermon notes from Sunday 9 February 2014 (pm)

Exodus 14 verses 1 – 3, 13 – 16 and 23 – 31

In chapter 14 verses 1 and 2 they have been delivered out of Egypt and their course had brought them to this very juncture in time, right to the verge of the Red Sea.  As look out on the Red Sea they are facing the vastness of the Sea before them but when they look over their shoulder they can see nothing but the wilderness and the enemy coming in upon them.  Pharaoh and the Egyptians want to reclaim them again and bring them back to Egypt.  As we look out from this juncture in our lives we can see the vastness of God’s eternity and not one of us knows where take that first step will be in eternity.  This is preparation ground for eternity. 

The despair this people felt on their hearts, minds and souls.  They are trying to get out of the clutches of Pharaoh.  They felt they could never break that grasp of the enemy, could never get rid of them.  For 400 years they had spent in bondage in Egypt.  God promised that he would make of them a great nation under Pharaoh’s control.  Their bondage was hard.  The taskmasters asked them to collect straw in the fields to make bricks.  The bricks were used to build great cities in Egypt.  Their tally of bricks had to reach a quota at the end of the day.  God brought them out of that land and they were now looking to the vastness of the Red Sea before them with the enemy behind them.  Maybe God has brought you to that place of despair where he will save your precious soul.  In Acts 16 we read of the Philippian jail.  2 men were brought in to the jailer’s care.  He was told to look after them very carefully.  He thrust them into a dark cold cell, then he beat them and put them in stocks.  The last thing he heard from them was singing.  He was awakened by a great earthquake.  God brought him to that place to save his soul.  Do you know anything about the saving of your soul?  The jailer looked down the corridor and saw every door was lying open.  His heart failed him for fear.  He was going to take his own life.  That is not a new thing today.  There are people in such despair today and don’t know which way to turn.  For them the only way out is to take their own life.  Paul and Silas cried out to the jailer “do yourself no harm we are all here.”  They had the joy of pointing him to the place of salvation.  Maybe you are in that place of despair.  You need to be saved and maybe you realise that.  Verses 11 and 12 they thought going to die in the wilderness, such was the despair they felt.  Many today are caught up in drugs, gambling and alcohol.  Can you imagine the despair of the man who lay beside the pool of Siloam. (John 9)  For 37 years he lay there.  Imagine the despair he had in his heart.  He waited for the troubling of the waters and never thought he would be cured until one day he met the Lord.  “Would you like to be healed?” Jesus asked him.  “Sir I have no man to help me when the waters are stirred so that I may enter the waters and be healed.”  If Jesus was here right now he would be asking “do you want to be saved, to have your name written in the Lamb’s book of life, assured of a home in heaven?”  Many in society feel that same despair.  Paul said “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2 verse 2)  The sinner is in a fix before him – in front of him is a righteous God and behind him is the enemy. “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10 verse 31)

The direction that was given – verse 15.  God told the people to move forward.  God brings the people to that place of total helplessness.  He doesn’t leave us there though, he points the way out of the darkness where we are in.  It must have seemed the most ridiculous thing as he stood there in front of the Red Sea.  The command was to go forward.  The very next step would take them into the waters, into the unseen.  God was making a way of deliverance for this people from the enemy.  It would take courage and faith in the word of God.  If ever your soul is to saved it will take courage to acknowledge the situation you are in.  For you to step out and take the Lord as Saviour and Lord it will take faith in the finished work of Calvary, to acknowledge nothing else will get you into heaven.  He died on the cross to forgive you of your sins, paid the price for your sins.  What you have to do is acknowledge what he has done.  Remember when the children of Israel were going through the swollen rivers of Jordan and Joshua brought them through it.  The waters flooded the banks because it was harvest time.  The command was given to the priests at that time to carry the ark of the covenant on their shoulders.  Joshua told them to step into the waters.  There was a strong current flowing at that time.  It wasn’t until their feet touched the waters that the waters stood on either side and dried up.  A step of faith, that is what the Lord calls for every man and woman.  He asks you to step into the unknown.  God has given to you and I a direction that will break the power of sin in our lives.  “I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life.”  Maybe that direction might seem ridiculous right where you are.  Revelation 3 verse 20.  Jesus is standing at your heart’s door.  The handle is on the inside.  He is waiting for you to turn the handle and open the door.  This direction is not appreciated by every one.  As God speaks to your heart, shows you the direction you have got to take are you going to turn your back on him and say not for me or will you come to Christ?  It will take faith in the finished work of Calvary.  “Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  You can be gloriously saved.

The distraction of the enemy.  God opened the Red Sea and the children of Israel walked across on dry ground.  When the enemy tried to do the same they were not able to do it.  The Lord will break the grip of the enemy on your soul.  Remember the leper in the gospel who came to Jesus one day.  His life was in total ruins.  He was just a leper and it was a deadly killer like sin in our hearts.  It begins so harmlessly.  “But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust and enticed.” (James 1 verse 14)  It is like baiting a hook for a fish.  The fish is enticed when that bait is put into the water.  When that lust is conceived in our heart it bringeth forth sin and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death.  Leprosy would bring suffering and pain in the body and also death.  That is what sin brings also – separation from God in the next life.  David should have been out fighting with his army instead he was lying in his bed.  He went out onto his roof and saw Bathsheba.  He looked then he lingered and then he lusted and finally he lost out on God.  Will we play about with sin?   

The delight – verse 31.  They began to sing a song – chapter 15 verse 1.  In Acts 2 when 3000 souls were saved they began to praise God.  Philip came down to Samaria and preached the word of God.  There was great joy in the city.  The only thing that is offered to you is God’s free salvation.  What you do with Jesus Christ will stand for time and for eternity.  Wouldn’t it be an awful thing to reject him and go out into a lost eternity, remembering this night down through the ages of eternity?

A study on the land of Israel

Sermon notes from Sunday 27 October 2013

Genesis 12 verses 1 – 5, Isaiah 51 verses 1 and 2, Acts 7 verses 1 – 4

The nation of Israel is a unique nation in many ways.  Israel holds the place of supreme importance in the future of world events.  God gave this nation the word of God first and foremost.  Bethlehem was where God’s own son was born, he grew up in that land of Israel, he lived and died there.  We need to remember that it was from that place he arose from the dead.  It is to that place where Jesus will come again, where the nations will be drawn.  One day in the valley of Megiddo the greatest battle will take place.  Every child of God is gone home to heaven by this stage but now he will come again to reign on the earth.  His feet will touch down on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem.  In these days in which we are living in we are very near to the very day when Christ will return again.  The Lord Jesus could come at any moment in time.  He will take every child of God to be home with him.  If that were to happen today if God were to call every child home today will you be there?  Would you rise to meet the Lord?  Is your name written in the Lamb’s book of life?  Maybe you say ‘I have been brought up in a good home, sat in Sunday School, sat at the communion table, is that not enough?’  God asks for you to turn from your sin, repent, to know the blood of Christ applied to your life. 

Abraham was the founder of the nation Israel.  It is the only nation that can point to this and Israel is unique in this sense.  He was summoned by a call.  He lived in Ur of the Chaldees, lived in a secular society not unlike the one we live in today.  It was a rich and fertile part of the world.  It was into such a place that the call of God penetrated the heart of one man.  God by his call comes and he calls you to himself today.  How many times has God called you, spoken to you, invited you to come to him?  Joshua taking the children of Israel into the land of Canaan told them ‘you have a choice to make, you can choose the gods you served before the flood or you can choose the God of Israel.’  There’s many a call from this old world today to take up your heart and mind.  We need to be listening to the call of God and not take any other call.  Paul challenged the people of Athens.  They were a superstitious nation and had many altars, but they had never taken the Lord as Saviour.  They even had an altar to the unknown God.  Like society today we worship the gods of pleasure and luxury.  God’s call was to summon this man Abraham. He had a task for him to do which no-one else could do.  Abraham was living amongst a materialistic society.  God still calls today in the same form and fashion.  In Acts chapter 7 we read that before Abraham “dwelled in Charran (Haran)” the word of the Lord came to this man.  The call was “get thee out of thy country.”  God was clear with his call.  This is the second time he was coming to this young man.  He was told to get out from his family, country and kindred.  Abraham came half way to the land of Haran.  It would seem that whenever this man received the call he maybe went to his father Terah and told him of the call of God.  Terah said to Abraham “let’s be wise about this, you cannot just up sticks and go all that distance, we will go half way to Haran, set up our living there, wait and see what happens.”  He was influenced by his father Terah.  We need to be sure we are not influenced by anyone else.  In chapter 15 of Genesis God promised Abraham a son.  He was long in coming verses 2 – 4.  “This shall not be your heir” God said to him.  He went on to tell him he was going to be the father of a son not by adoption.  In Genesis 16 Abraham explains to Sarah they will have a son but nothing happens.  In verses 1 and 2 Abraham had this vulnerability in listening to others.  He listened to his father who stopped short of going to where he ought to be. Now he is told he will have a son.  His wife told him to use Hagar for this purpose.  Abraham listened again.  He got off course, again influenced by what she said.  There was a son born into that relationship with Hagar.  Verse 12 “he will be a wild man, his hand will be against every man and every man’s hand against him.”  A son born out of a wrong decision.  Abraham fathered that child who was called Ishmael.  He was the father of the Arab nation.  Every Arab nation is coming against Israel today.  They want them driven out into the Mediterranean Sea.  The problems stem from disobedience.  We need to be careful not influenced by a wrong decision.  Peter called by the Lord was influenced by John.  The Lord said to Peter ‘Follow thou me.’  Peter turned around and said “and what shall this man do.”  Jesus told him not to worry about him but rather follow him.  We need to get away from listening to others.  Abraham was the foundation stone of the nation Israel.  Don’t look over your shoulder for someone else to summon you today.

Notice Abraham was now surrendered to the call of God to him.  He showed him what way he was going.  God found this man whose heart was in touch with him.  God is looking for someone today whose heart is in touch with him.  He wants to do a mighty work through us.  Maybe God wants to bring revival today. And he will maybe do it through you today.  Abraham’s heart was opened to God’s call and he was surrendered the whole way.  His trust and dependence was on the one who called him.  God didn’t tell him ‘here’s the land I want you to dwell in it.’  No he showed him piece by piece.  Abraham responded to it, he knew it was from God.  It was special, it lingered in his heart.  The call of God doesn’t fade away.  The call of God rests in your heart.  God doesn’t give up on you.  He didn’t give up on Jonah.  He didn’t give up on Moses.  It took him 40 years to bring him back to that place he would have him to go.  He recognised the voice of God.  Do I recognise the call of God?  Do I know where God is leading and guiding me into something?  Jeremiah was the most unsuccessful man of God.  He saw a nation taken from under his feet, taken into Babylon.  Despite it all he never gave up.  He kept going on.  Didn’t care when the people turned against him.  One time when in prison God told him about a field.  Your uncle is going to come and see you, I have a field want you to buy it.  What would this teach?  It set an example of faith in the living God.  God told Jeremiah that the children of Israel would be taken into Babylon for 70 years and they would return by God’s leading.  God wanted Jeremiah to prove him in this situation.  “Buy that field off your uncle then you are really saying I believe what God says.”  In 70 years God would bring him back and he would have a field to work and build in.  His uncle came with the offer of a field and Jeremiah knew this was the word of God.  Chapter 32 verse 8.  Do we recognise God when he speaks to us?  He still speaks to us today.  The Holy Spirit takes his word and brings it to our hearts.  The responsibility is on us to recognise that word.  Remember Naomi in the book of Ruth.  Her husband came to her and told her they would have to move to Moab as there was no food in the land they were living in.  That family lived in Bethlehem Judah.  The name means the house of bread.  Here was this husband saying we are going to move from the house of bread for there is a famine.  He moved down to live in Moab.  It was a costly decision because her husband and 2 sons died.  Word came to where Naomi was that God had visited the land in which she used to dwell with food.  She packed her bags and went home.  She recognised this was the voice and word of God.  Do you recognise his word in this busy age in which we live? Do we set aside time or rush out into a day?  Do we spend time before the God of heaven?  Jonathan Edwards said he got up in the morning to spend time with God.  Has God spoken to you about something?  Does he want to come to our lives and show us something

Sermon notes from Sunday 3 November 2013

Genesis 17 verses 1 – 27

Every leader of the world when the debate comes up will ask “what are we going to do with Israel?”  Commentators can think about it and give ideas but no-one has the answer to it.  The same arguments come up time and time again.  We read about Israeli and Arab relationships and think about them.  Until we go back to the word of God, back to the book of Genesis then we will see that God has a regard for Israel that will never ever be broken.  A covenant made with Abraham for him, his family, his nation, his land.  This covenant will not be broken.  It is an everlasting covenant and is so important to the whole world history and the world’s future.  Abraham was summoned by the call.  That one God would make him a great nation.  Others can influence us away from that programme.  Maybe God has been speaking to you of the salvation of your soul.  God has been clear to you.  You have never been to the Lord, to the cross of Calvary, never given your heart and life to him, the one who shed his precious blood of Christ.  You perhaps think in your heart you are not a bad person, you do the best you can and when you add it all up you think you are on the way to heaven and home.  This heart can influence you but we are told in God’s word that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17 verse 9)  Maybe you are influenced by your family, by your friends, people you work with.  Somehow that influence is too strong.  Maybe God has been speaking about service to God and somehow you cannot get around it because of the influence of others.

Abraham was sensitive to the voice of God.  It came in the quietness.  Jeremiah was in prison when God spoke to him.  God can lay a finger on your life.  He is not confined to a certain place.  Jeremiah was asked to do a certain thing.  He knew it was the word of God.

Abraham’s submission to this call.  As he hears this call he was certain of it.  He was living in a very idolatrous system, people worshipped other gods of the sun, moon and stars.  In the midst of all this turmoil God comes to Abraham and says “I have a task for you.”  He tells Abraham to hear the word of God and to know the word of God.  It is one thing to come to that place where we submit to the word of God but a totally thing to say “take my life and let it be.”  He was ready to submit to God.  For Peter it was like that out in the boat.  One night he was out fishing but caught nothing.  The next morning as he was sitting on the shore mending his nets he was very discouraged.  He was simply getting ready to go out the next night.  Jesus told him to launch out into the deep and let down his nets.  Peter knew you didn’t do that, you don’t go out in the middle of the day to fish.  He told the Lord “we have fished all night and caught nothing, nevertheless at thy word we will do as you say.”  He did go out and caught a great many fish.  The Lord was teaching him a great lesson when he caught nothing.  Sometimes the Lord teaches us something very special in those barren times.  Peter was sensitive to the word of God but he also submitted himself to the will of God.  Think of Hannah.  She came first to the house of the Lord to cry and plead with the God of heaven – “if you give me a man child I will give him back to you.”  It is easy at that point.  She didn’t have a child and was bargaining with God.  God gave her that child and she gave him back to the Lord.  Samuel was raised in the house of the Lord.  What a wrench giving him back to the Lord.  She admitted to Eli that this was the child she had asked the Lord for.  Hannah had to turn her back and walk away, leave him in the presence of Eli to work for God.  She gave all she wanted and loved back to the Lord.  Are we expecting blessing but we are holding back from God?  Jephthah in Judges who fought against the Ammonites asked the Lord “give me victory this day and when I go home with that victory the first thing that comes out of my house I will give it back to you.”  God gave him great victory and the first thing that came out of his home was his little daughter.  Jephthah said “I have opened my mouth unto the Lord and I cannot go back.”  It was easy when the vow was made but he knew there would be a day when it had to be fulfilled.  When he discovered it was his daughter it was not a easy task to fulfil.  Abraham took Isaac and sacrificed him.  God told Abraham to prove how much he loved him.  Abraham surrendered to God and when he was just about to do it God showed him the ram in the thicket to be offered instead of Isaac.  Is there something God wants you to do for him?  Maybe God wants something of us that we find it impossible to give.

Abraham was separated by the call.  The call was to summon him to the work he wanted him to do.  If he wants to carry out God’s will everything else had to go.  Our sinful practices have to be set to one side and step out for God.  Genesis 12 “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 had to submit and surrender and separate himself for God.  God would make of him a mighty nation, a blessing to the whole world.  Maybe God wants you to do the same, a blessing in your home, in your fellowship, in this town, in this province.  You cannot do it in the situation you are in today because there is something you have to step away from first of all.  All Abraham had to do was obey.  That is all he wants you to do today.  “For the which cause I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1 verse 9)  There’s still a call for separation.  “Look unto Abraham your father and unto Sarah that bare you; for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.” (Isaiah 51 verse 2)  “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6 verse 14)  Paul gives the picture of 2 animals ploughing in the field.  He then goes on to say “come out from among them and be ye separate.”  In Acts 19 when Paul preached the people gave their lives to Christ but there were those who hardened their hearts.  Paul separated that band of believers and in the school of Tyrannus he taught them for 2 years.   We need to be careful when we worship that it is set in religious context.  We need to get into a place where God can really separate us to the word of God and submit to the will of God.

Sermon notes from Sunday 17 November 2013

 Genesis 21 verses 1 – 14

Why bother with the nation of Israel?  Israel is the most important nation in this whole wide world.  A nation God brought into existence.  He gave birth to the nation of Israel for a specific purpose – that he might bring forth the Saviour, the Messiah, the great sacrifice for sin.  He died on the cross for your place and my place.  The nation of Israel is not finished with yet.  A very important purpose has to be fulfilled in this nation one day.  It has already born much fruit.  That nation has given us the word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ himself too.

Think of the roots of this nation in Abraham, the rise of this nation, the rebellion of the nation and the restoration of Israel.  Ezekiel gives an image of the dry bones in the valley.  The question comes to him “can these live?”  Ezekiel replied “thou God knowest this.”  The valley of the dry bones represented the nation of Israel.  Those bones did come together when Ezekiel prophesied to them.  God breathed into them.  They still have a purpose to be fulfilled.

Genesis 21 needs to be read in conjunction with Galatians 4 verses 21 to the end.  Paul gives a commentary on this chapter in Genesis.  Paul brings it right up to date that affects our lives and the life of our fellowship too.

Isaac is born into Abraham’s house.  He was the son God had promised to Abraham.  Both he and Sarah were past child bearing age.  There was nothing they could do themselves to produce a child.  There is nothing we can do for the new birth, to save ourselves, to enhance our position with God.  We were dead in trespasses and in sin.  The Lord loved us so much that he gave his life for us.  The only thing we can do to know our sins forgiven is trust the Lord, turn from our sins and take him as Saviour and Lord.  The miracle in the days of Abraham - we can have that miracle today in the new birth in Christ.  We don’t have to go away hoping to be in heaven.  We can know we have full assurance that we will be there.

Notice firstly a conflict of interests.  This is at the roots of Israel.  Isaac was born into the home.  He was the son of promise.  Who else was in the home?  Ishmael was in the home.  He was the offspring of impatience and disobedience.  God had promised Abraham a son but years went by when they didn’t have any child.  Sarah told him to take Hagar her handmaid who would bear him a son which would please God.  It didn’t please God.  God had made his promise to Abraham that he would give him his son.  Sarah wanted to give God a help.  Ishmael was the fruit of a wrong relationship.  Galatians 4 verse 22.  Paul takes up the story of Abraham and Sarah.  Sarah realised they needed to cast Hagar and her son out of the home for the real joy to come to her and Abraham.  In verse 8 we see Isaac is beyond the infant age, probably at 3 or 5 years of age.  For 15 years Ishmael was the pride and joy as far as Abraham and Sarah were concerned.  Isaac was now the centre of attention.  Ishmael was watching all this.  He was a young teenager now.  Things had to be handled very carefully.  He maybe felt no longer important.  Verse 9 he was mocking Isaac.  He spurned him, mocked him, he was brunt of the jokes.  In the spiritual side we see something more of a concern.  The natural was attacking the spiritual.  Here was God’s plan being attacked in its infancy.  Is God speaking to you about something?  God is leading you into something today, service for him but you will be attacked.  Nehemiah went down to the city of Jerusalem.  The city had been burnt with fire but God wanted him to build up the walls again and replace the gates.  Night after night he went around the walls, saw the task around him and spoke to the rest of the people.  The enemy was looking down, saw all the people working together.  The enemy said “what do these feeble Jews do?”  Many today will look at us and they will laugh.  All we want to see is souls saved.  Sarah saw something else.  She saw the mocking.

Sarah saw a crisis that was impending.  She had the spirit of discernment.  She could see it coming before it happened.  Verse 9 she saw the mocking and knew that this could not go on.  Honesty had to be produced in this situation.  She knew she had disobeyed God when she told Abraham to have a child by Hagar and it was now bringing a crisis in her life.  We need to be careful, not to be side tracked.  There could be a crisis awaiting to happen.   Here was God’s own plan in jeopardy because of something that had happened 15 years before.  Eve never thought when she handled that fruit and took a bite and when she gave it to her husband to try it as well.  She never thought for one moment what the result of that moment of disobedience would bring right from that Garden of Eden.  We see the results of disobedience.  Achan never though as he ran into ruins of Jericho, never thought as he looked on the gold, on the Babylonian garment that this situation would ruin his family and his family circle.  He was judged and stoned as a result of that decision.  Ishmael is the father of the nations surrounding Israel today.  Psalm 83 verse 6 lists the nations that all came from Ishmael.  Genesis 16 verse 12.

A challenge that is imposed – verse 10.  By casting him out he thought everything would be ok.  The Psalmist tried to do the same with Bathsheba, to keep silence but it affected his very bones.  Psalm 90 verse 8 “thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.”  Dealing with something here that far outreaches any one of us.  Jesus died on the cross to deal with sin.  Verse 10 we cannot allow sin in our hearts and live the life of God at the same time.  Have I the ability to do it?  No but I have the ability to stand up to it, to ask the Lord about it.  We cannot harbour sin and expect God to carry out his plans.  Sarah told Abraham Isaac needs every chance.  Verse 11 it causes hurt to Abraham.  He recognises the situation as wrong.  It grieves us that we have to open up to things before God puts them right.  Some times we excuse things but if it is doubtful cast it out.

A confirmation that is important – verse 12.  God confirmed what Sarah said to be correct.  Verse 13 God did promise that Ishmael would become a great nation too.  Verse 14 Abraham rose early in the morning.  No sitting still.  He got Hagar and her son, provided them with food and transport and sent them on their way.  That is what happened in Berea.  They listened to the word of God then went home and searched the scriptures for themselves to see if the things said were true.  God has tremendous blessings for us but something has to be cast out first and foremost.

Sermon notes from Sunday 24 November 2013

Genesis 37 verses 18 – 36

We move on a generation or 2 in our thinking of the nation of Israel.  God’s people may have rejected and rebelled against him but one day he will take a dealing with them again.  He will raise a nation as he did before.  We have looked at Abraham and his 2 sons Isaac and Ishmael.  Isaac had 2 sons Esau and Jacob.  Jacob went on to have 12 sons, the tribes of Israel, the Patriarchs.  In Genesis 12 verse 2 he promised a nation and a land.  Israel is not yet done, one day it will inhabit every square inch of it.  In Genesis 26 verse 24 we see the promise given to Isaac and in Genesis 28 verse 15 that promise was given to Jacob.  What is included in the promise of God?

The promise of God includes patience to be able to deal with one another, to deal with the situations in our homes and family circles and to go out into society to work with others.  Patience is something that is worked at and it comes with time.  Notice what God said to Abraham in Genesis 15 verse 4.  God was promising him a son.  He already had one in the family and thought this was the one to be used.  God came back to him and said “no he would not be his heir.”  Verse 5 ”look now toward heaven”.  Maybe our hearts are in things that are not going the way we want them to be going.  Sometimes we need to get alone with God and allow him to show us.  As Christians we need to be looking up, getting ourselves off everything that is happening around us, get them fixed on the author and finisher of our faith.  Are we looking unto the Lord?  The one who died on the old rugged cross, who left heaven’s glory and came into the world to die for you and I to receive eternal life but now a little way down the road where are our eyes?  It takes patience for the promise of God.  Verse 6 and 7 “give thee this land to inherit it.”  That is how the nation of Israel will be.  This is what the nation would be like, under the control of God.  Verse 13 shows that it would happen 400 years later.  Now that would require patience.  Maybe God has given you a promise but maybe it is a long time since you heard that promise directly to you.  The promise of God takes patience.  Abraham went out not knowing where he went.  Hebrews 11 verse 13 “these all died in faith not having received the promise of God.”  They never seen the promise materialise in their lifetime.  They held onto it knowing one day God would accomplish it.  Are we still holding onto God for a loved one?  Sometimes we take the situation of instant meals or instant purchases into our spiritual lives and expect it to be there as soon as possible.  God doesn’t promise when we will get an answer from him.  It takes patience for the promise of God to materialise.  Not only do we see a promise here that included patience but …

The preparation God had to make for this promise to be fulfilled.  There had to be a degree of sacrifice.  Joseph in Genesis 37 was the brunt of all his brothers jealousy.  One day Jacob asked him to take food to his brothers and come back with a report of them.  The brothers had a hatred for this young man.  They watched the shadow of their brother coming to them.  He wore a coat of many colours, a coat of distinction that they didn’t have.  God had given him dreams of what would happen in days to come.  They had a hatred of him.  Joseph is a picture of Jesus.  He came unto his own and his own received him not.  Joseph was coming with food for his brothers but they turned their backs on him.  Maybe to this day you are still saying “I don’t want this life, I don’t want any relationship with Jesus.”  For every ounce of evil these men meant God was going to take it and turn it around.  God was preparing the way for his father and brothers to come to Egypt almost 20 years later.  Maybe it will take sacrifice on your behalf before you see the promise of God fulfilled.

A provision that was given.  He was giving them the means whereby they would begin their sojourn to Egypt.  There had to be a purpose and plan in it.  Maybe things are happening in your life that you cannot make much sense out of but God understands and he is working it out for you.  God is maybe preparing some work for you now.  God could see the bigger picture.  Genesis 41 verse 56.  Joseph was the one who sorted out this great famine.  Genesis 42 verse 1 God would bring blessing out of these circumstances.  Jacob saw there were corn in Egypt and said “lets go down there and buy the corn there.”  Sometimes our circumstances change in order to be brought into the place God can use us.  “I am God the God of thy father fear not to go down into Egypt for I will make of thee a great nation.”  Not what you are or where you would think you are.  God will make something of your life.  Genesis 46 verse 3 God gave that promise to Jacob so he knew he should go down to Egypt.  Paul and Silas had to suffer beating in a Philippian jail – why – just to see one man saved for God.  How was Paul when he had that beating?  He was singing and praising God.  Jacob was told to go down to Egypt by God not send his sons for it.  Are we in the place God would want us to be in for his glory?

The promise included persecution – Acts 7 verses 17 and 18.  God’s work still goes on.  The promise went on from generation to generation.  Jacob died and Joseph died but the work went on.  Moses died but there was a Joshua to take God’s people into the land of Canaan.  God didn’t leave his people without the possibility of someone taking over the work.  Elijah was taken into the whirlwind but there was an Elisha who would take the work of God.  Are you prepared to step into someone’s shoes to see the work accomplished?  God raises his own people to take up the mantle and go on.  Are we prepared like these men of old?  Are we holding onto the promise of God for our families and loved ones?

The promise also included the pleadings. “I have heard their cry I have seen their affliction and I am coming down to deal with it.”  God still waits for his people to cry, call and plead.  We have forgotten to pray.  We want the blessing but left the praying to one side.  God is waiting for his people.  “If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves and pray.” 

Sermon notes from Sunday 1 December 2013

Exodus 12 verses 1 – 13

The redemption of the nation of Israel

Last week we left the nation of Israel down in Egypt.  There was a famine in the land.  Joseph was there paving the way for his family to come down.  Deuteronomy 10 verses 22 400 years spent in Egypt in slavery.  When all hope was gone God came down once again and lifted them out of that place.  God wants our lives to be in the control of his hand.  To be in the palm of his hand.  I’m sure Jacob never thought for a moment dwelling in Canaan God would come in and stir up.  It was necessary and take him right down into the land of Egypt.  Maybe God is speaking today to do something for him.  Something we would never imagine doing.  Notice firstly …

The battle that is fixed.  When we go back to Exodus 4 Moses and Aaron coming down into Egypt.  Chapter 4 verse 29 Moses gathered all the elders of Israel together.  Verses 30 and 31 and the people believed and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel that he looked upon their affliction then they bowed their head and worshipped.  God has something great for you today.  God has something better for you today, to bring you into the land of blessing only if we allow him to do it.  Chapter 4 verse 31.  Moses and Aaron spoke unto the people about the battle that was fixed.  Chapter 5 verse 1 battle is fixed now going into presence of Pharaoh and asked them to let them go.  The response of Pharaoh in verse 2 “who is the Lord that I should obey his voice to let Israel go I know not the Lord neither will I let Israel go.  Reflects the hardness of every sinner’s heart.  Even here we can see how it was close to God.  We see Pharaoh’s heart was hard against the things of God.  The battle was on for the people.  See a picture here painted.  Egypt is a picture of the world.  The nation of Israel as sinners.  Pharaoh as picture of devil running over the world.  Sinners wander around the streets unconcerned in his very grip.  There is a great redemption plan fulfilled at Calvary.  Jesus took upon himself the form of a servant and died there to claim us back from the grips of Satan himself.  Jesus has broke the power of the devil over our lives.  Are you walking in the light of what Christ as done?  Are we taking the battle for precious souls into the domain of Satan himself?  Moses went down to argue the point.  Ephesians 6 we wrestle not against flesh and blood.  These people were not Pharaoh’s charge.  Moses had to win them for God.  Are we prepared to see soul saved under God’s redemption plan.  Exodus 17 Amalekites came down you choose out men this day I will stand on the hill top with the rod of God in my hand.  Got to face the enemy cannot run away not give up we must stand in that today.  Got to face it.  We must go out and warn as Moses did.  The battle that is fixed.

The barriers that are formed.  There is a battle being waged against the children of God.  Pharaoh was going to put up barriers to stop the people going out.  400 years later 2 million people were present would walk out under the redemption of God.  Pharaoh didn’t want them to go free.  He didn’t want to see this shepherd coming in from the wilderness that they should be led away.  The old enemy will trick and deceive us into thinking that we are not capable of standing against him.  Paul said we have to put on the whole armour of God.  We cannot enter into the battle with one piece missing.  Why because you will face the strategy of the enemy.  Satan doesn’t want us to enjoy God’s blessing.  Once God laid his hand on you his grace to save you once you surrender your will to him the devil was defeated became a child of God doesn’t want you to enjoy the word of God the house of prayer worship services at the evening gospel meeting joy of knowing on way to heaven and home.  Paul said we are not ignorant of his devices, will do everything to hinder us.  Paul tried to get back to the Thessalonians, he wanted to teach them the word of God.  He tried but explained to them Satan hindered me.  We will know the hindrances of Satan just as Moses knew the hindrances of Pharaoh.  Tried to discourage them.  Who is this Lord I do not know him.  Satan always tried to discourage those in God’s work.  He will do everything he can to bring us down.  Paul lost his friends, not one was willing to stand with him.  Elijah stood on Mount Carmel defeated the prophets of Baal.  The next day he was discouraged, out in the wilderness.  Notice what Pharaoh does here – chapter 5 verse 17 you are a people who want to go out and sacrifice in the wilderness but you are idle.  Up to know you have had straw to make blocks but now you will bring your own straw.  That will take the thought of sacrifice out of your head.  He always tried to discourage us, too much time on your hands.  When that happens the devil can discourage us.  Verse 21 the elders met Moses and Aaron and told him.  They began to blame Moses.  Pharaoh was turning the people against their leader.  The devil will come to you and turn you against a brother or sister in the Lord, breaks relationships, tries to discourage people.  Turns people against a Pastor and a Pastor against his people.  Satan loves to turn people against each other.  Satan keeps his people busy.  Whenever the plagues came the priests were able to mimic a lot of the plagues.  Pharaoh plotted to keep them thinking they were alright.  The blood that was in focus and the blessing for the future.

Sermon notes from Sunday 8 December 2013

1 Peter 1 verses 12 – 25

God had taken the children of Israel down into Egypt to see the rise of this great nation.  It was a rise through pain and persecution.  God wasn’t taking them down there to bring great comfort.  God would fulfil his word and make of them a great nation.  70 went down out of Jacob’s family to Egypt and out of that family brought 2 million people out.  400 years later he fulfilled his promise and he will continue to do that.  Peter talked about scoffers in the last days and that God is not slack concerning his promise, because he is not willing that any should perish.  We saw how the battle was fixed and the barriers that were formed. 

The blood that was in focus.  The fulfilment of this picture – Egypt is a picture of the world, Pharaoh is the picture of the devil and the children of Israel were under Satan’s control.  Now we see the lamb slain and the redemption plan of God put into plan.  It is a picture of God’s only son who was slain to save this world.  God was going to bring the people out of Egypt under the banner of the blood.  There was no other way.  How are you going to be saved, to be in heaven?  Who is the Lord coming back for?  Only those under the banner of the blood.  There is no other way to be saved than the way God set out. 

The blood that was appointed.  They were told very clearly in verse 12 God was coming to the land.  In Exodus 11 verse 4 we see one remedy for all.  “When I see the blood.”  The blood was appointed for all.  For the very son in the palace to the very son in the pauper.  That blood was for one and all.  When Christ died there is no difference because we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  We were all born in sin.  God stepped in with great plan of salvation on the cross.  He shed his blood for you and I.  There is no difference.  All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  It does not matter who we are.  God has appointed a way.  When we seek to ignore the way God has provided for us.  “There is a way that seemeth right unto man but the end of that way are the ways of death.”  God has an appointed way for you and I to come into his house to worship God that we might come into his house.  Not taking things for granted that we might come afresh and meet with him here.  Whenever we seek for him with all our hearts then we shall be with him.  We come in with our minds concentrated on the one who shed his blood.  Exodus appoints that very way.  In the holy place of the tabernacles in the model elected and for worship for the people on way to the promised land.  Once they arrived they built a temple but in the wilderness the tabernacle was erected each time they stopped.  Only the priestly tribe could erect it.  God appointed Aaron to be the high priest to come in before him, to stand in his presence, to bring the needs of the nation to God. He would take God’s word back to the people.  His sons were to be by divine appointments and they would help their father.  There would come a day when they overstepped the mark.  They took the censors, filled them with coal and went in to offer incense before God.  God said they offered strange fire, taken on a role they shouldn’t have taken on.  They usurped their position disrespecting a ministry God had given to them.  Fire went out from God and he consumed them that day.  In Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira watched the apostles.  At that time they sold a bit of property and took it to them.  They sold their land but when they saw the money they thought they could keep some back and gave the rest to the Lord.  When they gave it to the apostles Peter knew they were lieing.  There is a way God has appointed for you and I.  Aaron’s sons had disrespect for the way God wanted them to offer sacrifices.  Imagine if the people of Israel had done that on the night they fled Egypt.  We are living in a land today Paul wrote to Timothy about “in the last days men shall have a form of godliness but they will deny the power thereof.”  God has still in this day demanded blood.  You may have a religion but if you do not have a day when you come to the foot of the cross, when you can say you asked the Lord to come into your life and asked him to take away your sins you are then not saved.

The blood that was to be applied.  This was a great redemption plan of God to be exercised.  “When I see the blood”.  Every home had to have the blood applied on the door posts.  Here was a man who believed in what God said and applied the message to the saving of his family.  When God came down that night imagine what he must have felt when he saw the blood on the door posts.  Remember the instructions in the book of Joshua given to the spies.  They came to spy out the land and Rahab hid them to give them a safe way of escape.  She asked when they came back to save her house.  They told her they would be saved by the same cord she had used for them to escape from.  Rahab was busy and gathered all her family in behind the crimson cord.  Are we busy today?  Do we see the need in our own home today?  Do we see those still out on the way to a Christless hell?  Are we pleading that God might come and save them?  Are we gathering them in to God’s house that they might hear his word and be saved as a result?  Joshua 2 verses 18 and 19.  In Exodus 12 verse 22 we see the only safe place was behind the blood.  “None of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning.”  God is not looking for those better than anyone else.  For those who may be prominent in the church but only those who have applied the blood of Christ on their lives and are saved by his grace.  It is God’s great redemption plan.  Many today prefer the stories of a living Saviour.  Here in this lamb - as long as the blood was in the veins of the lamb it was of no value.  Think of what Christ did on that middle cross of Calvary when he gave his life for you and I.  The soldiers spear brought forth blood and water.  Is that blood applied for you today?  John Wesley couldn’t get over this step when he preached to the Indians and realised he wasn’t saved himself.  He was brought up in a good home and became a minister in the church.  John Wesley couldn’t see what value a dieing Saviour was.  He could see that he died for the world but not for himself.  Maybe that is our problem.  We think Jesus died for everyone else but he died for you and I. 

The blood that was accepted.  Verse 13 “when I see the blood I will pass over.”  That is enough for me.  The only requirement was the blood.  Colossians 1 verse 20 “having made peace through the blood of his cross”.  That night in Egypt I wonder how many didn’t comply with the word, neglected their duty and disobeyed God?  God looked at his son on the middle cross and it pleased him to bear your sins and mine.  He accepted that blood offered for you.    Is the blood applied to your life?  Do you know him as Saviour and Lord?  Thank God you can do today.  You can trust him with all your heart.  Don’t leave it another moment, come to Christ.

Sermon notes from Sunday 2 February 2014

Joshua 23 verses 1 – 16

Israel and her rebellion

We began a few months back to look at the nation of Israel.  This wonderful piece of land in the Middle East.  Israel indeed holds the key to all of the prophetic scriptures we have today.  Through Israel the Messiah came.  Through Israel you and I received the word of God.  Israel conjures up such major interest in all the political powers today.  One time the nation was highly thought of as it rose to great power in the ancient world.  Today she is more of a forgotten nation.  Some boast they will rise up and drive them into the sea.  Paul says in Romans 11 “hath God cast away his people?  God forbid.”  He was talking about the nation of Israel.  One day the nation of Israel will be the centre stage again.  One day the Lord will set his feet on the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem.  We noticed Israel and its past roots.  Abraham called out of Ur of Chaldees.  His son Isaac and grandson Jacob.  Prophesied they would be in the land of Egypt for 400 years.  Then we looked at the redemption through the lamb’s blood spread on the doors.  The children of Israel were brought out on that night from Egypt.

Israel and its rebellion.  Israel is in a state of rebellion today.  She is not in the land where it should be, cast out among the nations of the world.  One day she will be gathered and re-formed.  One day she will be in the land God has promised.

A rebellion through the privileges that are ignored.  There are lessons for you and I to learn today.  We have the most tremendous privileges bestowed on us yet ignored today.  We might say we are in a state of rebellion against God through the privileges we ignore.  God has relished all sorts of great gifts upon the children of Israel yet they lifted up their heads and hearts in rebellion.  Remember the prodigal son in scriptures.  Think of the privileges he had.  It led to a great rebellion in his heart and soul and his family circle.  He was brought up in a good home, under the hand of a loving father.  He wanted for nothing.  He had the best he could want.  His father had set aside a future for him financially.  One day he would take the privileges he had but he wanted to ignore those privileges.   He wanted it then and there.  He wanted to enjoy it now rather than in the future.  He took his inheritance and went to a land that was foreign to him.  He found friends and forgot about the privileges at home until one day he found himself without any job, a roof over his head or friends.  He found himself doing something he thought he never would do.  Sin takes us further than we want to go.  It keeps us away longer than we want to be.  He found himself amongst the pigs and wanting to eat their food.  Then the privileges of his home flashed in his mind again.  He thought he would return home and say sorry to his father.  We have rebellion in our hearts because we have set the privileges aside.  Deuteronomy 28 verse 63 “the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good.”  If you take these privileges for granted Moses said he will set you aside, take you out of all that.  What a privilege these Israelites had in being brought out of Egypt and slavery.  What a privilege if you are child of God, to know he has redeemed you from your sin.  The children of Israel were led through the wilderness, saw the visible sign of God’s presence through that pillar of cloud.  God was with them.  God made a way through the Red Sea, brought them to the flowing rivers of Jordan and divided them in front of their eyes.  Are you saved today?  Are you living in the blessing God has bestowed on you?  Joshua told this people God has given you a land you did not labour for, cities you did not build and crops you did not plant but you have soon forgotten about God and all the privileges he has given to you.

A rebellion that soon saw problems invited.  Imagine Israel in the land God had promised to them.  They had settled down.  They were told once they entered into the land they were to go and drive out the enemy before them but they didn’t do that.  They lived with their enemies, communed with them, fellowshipped with them.  Judges 1 verse 28 “and it came to pass when Israel was strong … did not utterly drive them out.”  They decided to make the inhabitants pay for living in the land.  In other words they dwelt amongst them.  Sin is serious.  Here was rebellion to God.  God had given them the land of blessing yet they were not fulfilling the blessing God had given them.  They were doing it their way.  We need to be careful.  It is important that you and I do not harbour anything in our hearts that would give way to the devil himself.  A bad spirit about someone else, don’t give ourselves over to a secret passion for criticism or gossip.  God says the man who speaks about religion and cannot bridle his tongue that man is a fool.  All manner of communication from these lips needs to be guarded.  We cannot afford to take any risks.  These things in our hearts need to be turned out.  When I see the privileges God has granted to me – saved and cleansed by the precious blood of Christ I need to be careful not to harbour things that are against the word of God.  Remember the woman taken in adultery.  The people pointed the finger at her.  She had been caught in the very act.  They said she should be stoned.  Jesus said “let him that hath no sin cast the first stone.”  When all the accusers had left Jesus told her to go and sin no more.  Romans 6 “shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid.”  The word of God hasn’t changed.  Israel began to look on these nations.  They said to Samuel on one occasion “see all these nations settled in the land, we no longer want a prophet of God but we want a king like all the other nations.”  Isn’t that the reason God would have them driven out in the first place?  “Be not unequally yoked.”  Why?  God is guarding our relationship with himself.  The children of Israel thought the nations had something they really wanted.  God told Samuel “this people have rejected me not you.”  That is the problem with unequal yoke.  Israel rebelled against God.  They placed their eyes on other nations and began to enjoy what they enjoyed.  This was to be a special people.  Deuteronomy 7 verse 7.  Remember Lot who chose the land that looked good?  Lot went a bit a farther.  He set his tent toward Sodom, then he entered into Sodom.  He became a governor in Sodom.  The pathway to Sodom is not quick but a step by step process.  A rebellion in the heart brings problems.  The Lord gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity.  They were a peculiar people unto himself.  Ephesians 5 verse 11.

Rebellion brings a penalty that was incurred.  The inevitable happened.  God removed them out of the land.  Deuteronomy 28 “and the Lord shall scatter thee from one end of the earth to the other.”  That is where the Jew is today.  God will draw them back again from every tongue and nation, plant them in the land he has promised to them.  There is a great warning to you and I today.  Romans 11 shows the picture of a wild olive tree – you and I have been grafted in to it.  God didn’t tolerate the natural branches in the tree, they were cut off because of their rebellion.  We are grafted in to that vine, to the body of Christ.  Think it not strange if you are cut off too because you are grafted in.  Do you know the Lord today?  Do you know the privileges he has given to you today?