A reflection on the past, a reassurance for the present and a resolve for the futur

Sermon notes from Sunday 31 December 2017

2 Corinthians 1 verses 1 - 11

It is always good to think back on this the final Lord`s day of the year, it doesn`t seem long ago since the first Lord`s day of the year.  Whether we want to do it or not there is no doubt about it we will look back at the past year of the things that took place in it.  We are encouraged to do that.  Things that brought some disgrace, things that thrilled us, things that abhored us.  We will look back because another year beckons.  We do not want to make the same mistakes as we made in the past year.  In verses 9 and 10 the apostle Paul is speaking about his past, his present and his future.  We are thinking today of the past and the present we are in and the future which is in God`s hands alone.  We are told not to boast of another day because it is in his hands today.  Here in this second letter to the Corinthians Paul was writing to a group of people just like you and me.  In that church there were men and women of all ages, it was a mixed congregation.  In the first letter he had a lot to deal with, there was a lot of trouble in that church.  There were divisions in it.  There was immorality in that church.  There was a lot of backbiting and gossip.  Paul had to write to them to correct that.  2 Corinthians letter is a bit different.  He was taking time just to see how his first letter went down.  As he does that he starts off with his testimony - "I Paul, the sent one of Jesus Christ is writing to you."  It is good to have a testimony, to tell people we belong to the Lord.  Not boasting of ourselves, in our salvation we have done nothing.  The Holy Ghost has convicted, converted and convinced us to keep on going on.  A testimony that is alive, that is vibrant.  Paul writing to this church was able to say "I still have this testimony".  In verses 3 and 4 he is giving thanks.  It is good to look back in the past year and see how God comforted us and we should give thanks for that.  Are we thankful today for all he has done for us over the past year?  Do we thank God for saving our souls?  Then in verse 8 Paul goes on to the subject of trials.  He is not rushing away from trials.  Paul is not saying that the Christian life is easy going.  We will have trials and difficulties.  Paul`s testimony, Paul`s thanks and Paul`s trials.  Then Paul guides them into this great truth in verses 9 and 10

"But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead; Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver; in whom we trust and that he will yet deliver us."

First of all he is making a reflection on the past.  He looks at his trials and troubles and says he has learned something positive from them. He wants to hand that on to you and me.  Every Christian goes through a time of trial and trouble.  Maybe as you look back on the year gone by you can testify to that.  Paul reminds us in verse 4 that during the time of trial and tribulation God was comforting us and the reason he was doing that - "that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble."  In the past year there has been hurt and pain and suffering and sorrowing.  Some of us have lost loved ones and that has brought pain.  Paul said we are not suffering as those who have no hope.  There will be tears, broken heartedness.  There have been those lost this year who have been very dear to us.  When we going through pain we are receiving a time of comfort from the hand of God.  Paul says that it is God who comforts us in all our tribulation.  What for?  That we might comfort others in any similar trial.  James takes it further "my brethren count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations."  Here is Paul describing his affliction as a time of comfort.  "we were persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed."  That phrase "cast down" is taken from the scene of the gladiators of the arena who came out to fight against each other, when one man lifted the other to break his back, to destroy him.  That is the term that is used.  So violently treated, despaired of our own lives.  Such was the severity of our trials.  We had this sentence of death in ourselves but God dealt with us.  We are lookng back on a year gone by, reflecting.  Paul was not only reflecting but recognising God`s hand on his life.  As we look back on our lives can we see the hand of God in all things?  One time Paul was in Damascus and things were going well for him, souls were being saved but then all of a sudden a rumour went around and Paul was ridiculed and condemned.  They planned to take his life but the disciples heard of it and put Paul in a basket then let him down over the wall to safety.  He recognised God`s hand in all of that situation.  On another occasion he was in Troas when he was stoned and left for dead but God raised him up.  Again Paul saw the hand of God in his life.  Did you see the hand of God in your life, in your family, in your home, in the trials and tribulations you went through?  What did Paul learn from these situations?  We should not trust in ourselves.  It is good to be like the apostle Paul - to trace our footsteps back.  There will be disappointments in ourselves and in others, no question about that.  Hard and difficult times, painful times, times of loss.  Let us look and see the hand of God daily.  Remember when Peter was arrested and cast into the prison house, sitting between 2 soldiers in chains.  In answer to the prayers of a church God steps into his life and God delivers him.  Have we seen God stepping in, in answer to our prayers in this past year?  God promises to never leave us nor forsake us.  God will be with us all along.

There is also a reassurance for the present.  "I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me."  Are we ready to be sincere in our Christian walk?  For whatever happens in the year ahead?  Paul learned most of these lessons when coming through times of hardness.  This is a man who came through times of prison, through beatings, stoning yet he could say "I know all things work together for the good of them that love God."  This is God`s way of bringing something good into my life and others.  This is not an idle boast but is only meaningful when we trust in God.  That is why he could say in Philippians 4 verse 11 "I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content."  There is very little contentment in this old world.  Paul was content with his lot.  Don`t forget this man had something in his own life that he prayed definitely to get rid of it but he was content with it. The pain, the hardship - why - because the Lord has said "my grace is sufficient for you."  That is why he could say "be careful for nothing".  Then he goes on to qualify it with these words "in prayer and supplication let your requests be made known unto God."  That is our reassurance today.  This is what God is giving to us.  Just like the 3 Hebrew children who were commanded to bow to the king`s god.  If they did not they would have to endure the fiery furnace.  That furnace was so hot even the guards when they opened it up were destroyed.  When Daniel and his 3 friends came through that fire there was not even the smell of smoke on them.

It gives us a resolve for the future.  I don`t know what will happen this day, this week, this year.  I do not even know if I will see any of it but I have a great resolve for the future.  

"Who delivered us from so great a death" that is the past
"and doth deliver" that is the present
"in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us" that is the future

Here`s my life and I am placing it in God`s hands for the New Year.  The Psalmist says "our help comes from the Lord".  Paul is not depending on himself.  David didn`t depend on himself when faced with the giant Goliath.  He told Saul he didn`t need the heavy armour given to him.  The Lord would deliver him as he had in the past.  As we look back on the past year and reflect on its pain can you recognise God in it?  Thank God for that reassurance for the present day we are in.  Whether the future be long or short he will be with us in the future.  He will never leave us nor forsake us.

Hope at Christmas time

Sermon notes from Sunday 17 December 2017

Luke 2 verses 8 - 20

The angels here in this portion of scripture left the very splendours of heaven and came with a message to us here on earth.  It tells us how they came down to the hillside that night and how the shepherds quaked with fear.  Remember the shepherds were used to dealing with wild animals yet they became afraid when the angels appeared.  The angels recognised that fear and told them not to be afraid.  Here was a message of hope for a people in a world without hope.  That is the thing we don`t have in this world - hope.  We do not have a hope.  Here was a hope that came from God`s own heart transmitted through the angels.  Men and women are perishing today because there is no hope in this world.  People are hoping in all sorts of things - the name they have, the good deeds they do, the church they attend, yes even the eldership they hold in those churches.  1 Timothy 1 says "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope."  The hope we have today is not in a creed, not in a book of laws, the good life I am trying to live.  My hope is in the Lord and in his saving grace.  Imagine if there was no Christmas, we would know nothing of that Christ that was born, we would have no hope.

There was a time when we had no hope.  Paul takes his paintbrush through his pen in Ephesians 2.  He takes them back to a time in the past.  Maybe we forget about this but Paul didn`t want his readers to ever get away from that.  If we did that we might get bigheaded and think more of ourselves as a result.  Paul takes the readers right back to the time before they were saved.  Psalm 113 verse 7 "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill."  The dunghill was a place of refuse, everything was brought there and dumped.  The Lord shows us we were on the dunghill, we were useless, helpless and without hope until he came down to that place and picked us up out of it.  "That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people." (verse 8)  We had no hope within or without.  God in his riches shows us our great need and sets us among princes.  "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen."  He forgives us of our sin and he justifies us for ever.  "Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience. Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others."  We once thought we were on our way to heaven and home but Paul tells us "at that time ye were without Christ."  Imagine what it is like without Christ.  "Ye were strangers from the covenants of promise having no hope."   What a tragedy to have no hope and without God in this world.  We might have thought life was not too bad, that there were some good things in life but Paul tells us that you were without Christ and without hope.  What about now?  In John`s gospel we read "the thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10 verse 10)  He wants to give us spiritual life, life more abundantly that we will enjoy in this scene of time.  Remember the woman who came out of duty into the synagogue one day.  When the Lord entered into the synagogue that day he looked at her - why - because she was doubled in 2.  Jesus beckoned her to come to him.  This lady could not straighten up.  The Lord pointed to the source of her problem.  Jesus said "Satan hath bound this woman."  How long had she been like this?  18 years.  What sort of hope would she have had?  There was no hope until the day she met Christ.  Is that not the way we were?  Until you knew something of his miraculous plan of salvation.  Perhaps you had never thought deeply of his death on the cross, never thought of taking him as Saviour.  Think of the man who brought his son to Jesus one day.  This man`s life was destroyed by the power of Satan.  His son was possessed by a demonic spirit.  This spirit would cast him into the fire and waters because he wanted to destroy him.  One day the man brought his son to the disciples but they could do nothing for him.  I`m sure his head was down after that experience until he took him to Jesus.  All hope had gone.  That is the way we were.  To have that wonderful announcement made of this great hope made.  There is hope in death for us.  You and I did not have that hope.  We were unsaved.  Now we have hope in life and death.  Remember Mary and Martha`s home.  Jesus often felt welcome in that home.  Sickness entered that home.  Lazarus their brorther was sick.  Mary and Martha could do nothing, they had to watch him slip away.  They sent for the Lord.  He was the hope they were looking for.  Jesus didn`t come.  Lazarus slipped away.  They knew if the Lord would come he would raise him to his feet again.  Mary and Martha both said to Jesus when he did arrive "if thou hast been here my brother would not have died."  What a hope to have in the jaws of death.  A hope that the unbeliever does not have.  Death is a sober, solemn thing, it is the last great enemy.  We will all face it.  You and I will walk through the valley of the shadow of death.  What about the hope you have?  Paul could say to the Thessalonians who were concerned about those who had died before them, `believers we have a hope for them who have died already`.  "I would not have you ignorant brethren that you sorrow not even as others which have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4 verse 13)  Hope continues beyond the grave today.  Mary and Martha watched as hope slipped away.    Lazarus` death didn`t shake their confidence - they knew Jesus would raise Lazarus again at the coming again of the Lord Jesus.  You and I have a hope in life but also in death.  When death comes that is not the end.  For the thief on the cross it was different.  As he looked at Christ on the cross he was convinced in his mind and heart that here was someone dying not for the sins of himself but for each and every person.  The moment he cried out to God he rested in hope that he would go in death to the paradise promised to him by Christ himself.  That is the hope the angels pronounced here to the shepherds in verse 14.

There is the hope of a great reward.  In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul gives an insight into the work he loved.  He was in the ministry of saving grace.  That is what he believed in.  He encouraged the believers through the hope of eternal life.  "For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope."  He was taking the language of the farmer.  There was work to be down in the ploughing up of the land.  That is a job for the expert.  The apostle Paul says that man that ploughs should plough in hope.  He has hope in his heart.  There is another man that thresheth and he has to thresh with that same hope.  Paul is talking about our work in the church of Jesus Christ.  There is a great hope beyond the grave and that is the reward we will receive.  As you and I preach and witness for God we are doing it for the great reward we will receive.  What is our hope.  "For what is our hope or joy, our crown of rejoicing? Are not ye even in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" (1 Thessalonians 2 verse 19)  Paul had witnessed among the Thessalonians, he had won them for the Lord.  What is the great hope I have in my heart?  One day when we are gathered around the throne of heaven that you will be gathered there too.  What is our work all for down here?  For the reward that God will give us one day

For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life

Sermon notes from Sunday 5 November 2017

Romans 6 verses 15 -23

"For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."  

There are 2 opposites in this text.  It reveals to us the penalty of a man or woman who ignores God`s salvation.  Remember how the young man given a million pounds if he could answer the question inside the envelope - how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation.  We are dealing tonight with the soul of men and the salvation of that soul.  He uses the analogy of a soldiers wages.  Wages are something we are paid for work done.  Wages for something we have earned.  Something here that we cannot earn, cannot purchase.  if this world could put together a package it could not save man from a lost sinners hell.  Salvation does not come by merit but rather by means of a gift - the gift of God to your soul.  Take a moment to go to Calvary, see what he had to bear.  Pilate`s ridicule and spat on him, pulled the very hairs off his face.  They beat him until he was unrecognisable, placed him on a cross, drove those spikes through his hands and feet.  There he hung bearing your sin and mine.  See how the Lord had to die for you.  Think of this text of scripture.  The gift of God is eternal life.  I wonder are we in receipt of that gift God gives us.  Was there a moment when we bowed and accepted that gift from God`s hands or are we still ignoring it, trying to get to heaven on our own way?  He who provides for this life alone but takes no care for eternity is wise for a moment but a fool forever.  Doing what you can to get through this life but forgetting about eternity.  One day you will realise you will stand before God.  The gift of God is eternal life.  The gift of God shows to me something of the goodness of God.  The goodness of God that would ever give you or I a second thought.  It is the goodness of God that leadeth men to repentance.  In the Old Testament scriptures when the children of Israel went down into Egypt God didn't forget about them.  He heard their groans and sent a deliverer to bring them out.  God doesn't turn his back on us.  The gift of God is given to us tonight.  It is the goodness of God that leadeth to repentance.  Without repentance no man can be saved.  You cannot be saved tonight by not realising you have failed and come short of God`s glory.  He has said if we confess our sin he is wanting you to open up your life to God.  You are a sinner that needs to be saved.  See the value God holds you in tonight.  he loves you with an everlasting love.  God`s love - he didn't turn away from the children of Israel when they were taken into captivity by King Nebuchadnezzar.  He didn't forget about them.  70 years later he brought them back to their own land again.  the goodness of God came down and found them.  Peter said about the scoffers they would come in the last day.  They will say about his second coming - where is the promise of his coming.  This is not slackness, this is a demonstration of God`s great goodness for He is not willing that any should perish.  If you are not saved and die in that situation where God is you cannot be.  Only one place you can be - in a lost Christless hell but he is not willing that you should perish.  The goodness of God leadeth men to repentance.  Sometimes there is a thought that God will not judge sin sometimes because he does not execute judgement there and then.  All is OK somehow sin is a trivial matter.  Sin cost heaven`s very dear and special one.  Jesus had to leave it, to come down into this old world.  One day he had to die just for you and I.  The writer in Ecclesiastes said "because sentence against an evil world is not executed".  Man believes it is alright to go ahead and sin.  Acts 17 Paul to the men of Athens "the times of ignorance God winked at it but now he commends you to turn away form your wickedness."  Trust Christ as Saviour. 

See also the grace of God.  The goodness of God sending his son.  The grace of God sent him down to this cursed world. it is the grace of God that leads us to repentance, that saves us.  The wonderful grace of God.  The gift of God is eternal life.  Are we prepared to take it?  Would you be prepared to reach out and take it tonight.  Man deserves the penalty of sin.  The wages of sin is death.  He deserves to be cast into a lost Christless hell.  It is the symbol and revelation of God`s love.  It is from Jesus my son as takes my penalty on himself.  We have sinned and deserve to die.  He never sinned.  He never deserved to leave yet he died.  he died that we might live.  He was just yet he died for the unjust that he might bring us to God.  Remember how God suffered long with Cain.  Abel went into the flock and took a lamb and presented it to God.  God was well pleased and accepted it.  Cain brought the very best of the produce, what grew that year.  He presented it before God.  God was not well pleased.  The way to approach God was through the blood of a little lamb.  If you want to be saved tonight you didn`t come through, bringing your best to get.  You come tonight as a sinner and take him as Saviour his precious blood no other name.  We can come in.  God was pointing to Cain.  Way he should come by a little lamb always will be the means to God.  Grace is that God will accept us as we are.  When I look at the cross I see the goodness of God and the grace of God.  I see also the glory of God on that day.  Jesus brought great glory to his father.  John 15 I have finished the world that thou hast given me to do on the cross.  He cried it is finished.  He glorified his father in glory.  The goodness of God draws us to God.  Grace that saves us.  Glory of God that carries us through.  Paul writing to Galatian church speaking of the various churches who he had never met "and they glorified God in me."  Thank God at the cross we see the glory of God.  At the announcement of Christ`s birth shepherds gathered on the mountainside guarding their sheep.  All the angels of the Lord came upon them and the glory of God came on them.  There was glory at the announcement of his birth and there was great glory at the cross of Calvary.  He conquered over death itself because he was raised from the dead on the third day.  He can save to the uttermost all that will come to him.  What must it be like in heaven.  As we come to the end of this meeting tonight, as the angels are looking down, angels looking into meetings like this.  Peter said can you imgine tonight what it must be like in heaven.  If you were to come to Christ you see the bible talks of the joy in heaven and the prayers in heaven and the glory in heaven over the sin that repenteth.  Maybe tonight as you look on the cross of Calvary and you see the one whose visage was married beyond any man.  Realise that you have sinned, realise that is the reason why he is there for you and I tonight.  You realise you will never be in heaven tonight.  You are coming in childlike faith.  Lord I have sinned, never be in heaven without you.  I want you to save my soul.  What a prayer and all heaven will rejoice at that decision you will make.

The expedition of the Lord

Sermon notes from Sunday 1 October 2017

2 Samuel 9 verses 1 - 5

Here in these verses we are reminded of David the king and we are reminded here of something of the expedition he is in.  In these verses David has gone to the house of Saul seeking for any remaining family of Saul.  Saul was by ths time dead and his 3 sons also were killed in battle.  David wants to make amends to the house of Saul.  He wanted to inquire if he could show kindness to anyone left of Saul`s house.  It is to this picture of kindness we want to turn to.  There is a greater picture than that of David showing kindness and mercy.  We see God and his great salvation, whenever God would take of his own beloved son and send him in to this world and die on a cross at Calvary.  That men would do the worst to him that was possible.  That Jesus would give his life a ransom for many.  That is what he has done for you tonight.  He has laid down his life for you tonight.  Look at this expedition of David.

A search instigated.  Notice where this search began - in the heart of David.  The servant Ziba did not cry out and ask David to show his mercy to Saul's remaining family.  It began in David`s heart.  He wanted to show mercy and kindness to anyone left in Saul`s family.  He was enjoying a time of relative peace and rest from all the nations around him.  "Then David sent and fetched him" verse 5.  As we gather tonight were did the search for sinners begin - in the very heart of God.  He has a tremendous love for you as a sinner.  John 3 verse 16.  God was reaching out to sinners.  In Genesis 3 Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden, they had everything they ever needed, lacked for nothing.  Satan entered into that Garden and sin entered into the world as a result.  Did God turn his back as a result?  Not a bit.  God came down into the Garden, in the cool of the day to renew that fellowship with Adam.  Adam is no longer waiting for that fellowship.  He realises that that relationship is broken.  He is running after him, comes to where he is.  The God of heaven comes into the meeting like this, comes right to where you are.  God draws alongside, right to where you are, he comes seeking and searching for you tonight.  The search for sinners began in the heart of God.  You can sit in meeting after meeting and listen to God`s word preached, hear all sorts of texts, something special happens when the Holy Spirit opens up your heart and you realise you are lost.  You will never get upset until that moment, then you begin to worry and become concerned at that point.  You can become converted.  There will be no conversion without the conviction.  The search for sinners began in the heart of God.  He didn't need to be informed in the Garden of Eden of what had happened there.  He knew already.  He knows how you stand in the light of eternity but still he comes and stands before you.  Isaiah speaks of the consequences of sin in chapter 59 verse 2 "but your iniquities have separated between you and your God and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear."  As far as God is concerned tonight there is a division between you and him.  That can only be dealt with when you trust Jesus as your Saviour.  In the days of Noah the hearts and minds of people were only evil continually.  A world that had rebelled, rejected him.  Their minds were only evil continually.  God was going to send a mighty flood but he found one man, commanded him to build an ark and all who came into the ark would be saved.  Only 8 were saved.  That takes us down to Calvary`s cross where Jesus suffered and bled and gave himself a ransom for us.  For that Christ died and he rose again for our sins.  In Jericho Zacchaeus climbed up the tree to see Jesus.  Jesus stopped at the tree and told him to come down, he was searching but Jesus was also searching for him.  He wanted to see the Lord for who he was and what he had done but the Lord knew all about him.  The Lord had to go through Samaria because there was a woman that needed to be saved.

The scope that was involved - verse 1 "is there yet any that is left."  Notice David`s question, his words of request.  There were no restrictions in this situation.  The search was wise and the search was open.  David was looking into this family.  He was not concerned whether they were male or female, sick or well, old or young, whether liked him or not.  He just asked the question "is there any left."  The scope of God`s salvation is wider and greater "for God so loved the world."  The width and scope of his salvation.  He is not willing that any should perish.  A sceptic spoke to the preacher "I cannot understand the meaning of one verse of scripture."  The preacher replied "there are many I do not understand, which one are you talking about."  The sceptic replied "In Romans it says Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated."  The preacher looked him in the eye and said "neither do I and multitudes like us, some things are hard to explain but I would like to come at it from a different angle.  My problem is this - it is the other part of it, "Jacob have I loved."  When I consider how the God of heaven could love a boy like Jacob or how he could ever love a boy like me.  It is hard to understand how God could ever love a sinner on his way to hell, who had turned his back on God but God gave him an opportunity to be saved.  Did you ever consider the scope of God`s love?  In converting Saul of Tarsus - such bitterness in his heart going out with hatred in his heart, going out to put people to death yet God met him on the road to Damascus.  We might say God knew the man Saul was educated and could use him mightily.  Did you ever contrast him with the thief on the cross dying, taking his last breath, having his last thought then he looked at the Saviour "Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom."  Jesus looked at him and said "today thou shalt be with me in paradise."  A decision for eternity in his dying breath - that God would reach out for him.   Maybe you think God couldn't and wouldn`t love me but he can.  If you are ever going to live until you are worthy you will never reach out to Christ.  He is reaching out to you tonight.  Sin separates us from God.  We have all sinned.  Sin doesn`t matter because there is no depth of sin.

The sympathy here that is imparted.  How would he do that?  He asked "that I may show him kindness."  I want to show kindness.  David`s plea to Saul`s house was to find those he could adopt.  Whenever we were born into the world we were born as sinners, born into sinners family, born into the devils family itself.  Something had to happen that we would be removed from that family.  Had to be an adoption, a new family had to be found.  That is what Christ has done for us tonight through his love, mercy and sympathy.  It didn't matter to David that this man was lame on his feet.  Ziba pointed it out.  It didn't matter to David whether he would be of any benefit or use to him.  He was going to show sympathy to him for Jonathan`s sake.  He was bringing him into his family.  It doesn't matter what our sin is.  He died for our sins that he might bring us into his family.  It seemed to be important to Ziba that he was lame on his feet.  Jesus was not deterred when he realised what was before him in Gethsemane, there he would be beaten and abused and crucified, dying on a wooden cross.  It did matter to him.  It didn't dampen his spirit.  Even when he saw his disciples sleeping, when he saw the crowd coming to arrest him, seeing Judas at the head and then kissed him, when they tore the hairs out of his face, ripped his back apart with awful lashes, when nailed to awful tree, he lifted up his voice "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."  You and I have rebelled and rejected him.  He would save us to the utmost.  Paul said he was the chief of sinners.

There is a security here that is implied.  David says "that I may show him kindness for Jonathan`s sake".  Jonathan and him were great friends, they made a vow "when you become king will you look out for my family."  David was making it good now.  "Be ye kind one to another, forgive one another even as Christ himself hath forgiven you."  That is security.  When you come and ask God for forgiveness of sin he is able to save to the uttermost, to save them that come to him.  That is the security you have, of your sins forgiven.  Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me."  How does it stand with you tonight?  When David sat in that house that day and asked "is there any one left" the honest reply came back "yes but he is lame on his feet."  If God is honestly here tonight and he is asking "is there any here that are not saved?" will you be honest with him tonight?  Will you come to him tonight?  Will you trust him and him only as your Saviour and Lord?

The vision for God's work

Sermon notes from Sunday 22 October 2017

Acts 10 verses 1 - 16

The vision for God`s work

We read of Cornelius sitting on his knees lifting up his heart unto the God of heaven.  God took notice of this man on this particular day.  His instructions were to send for Peter.  He would come equipped with the words needed.  Here was a man with desperate spiritual need.  He is praying for his people.  He realised the depravity in which the community lived in - "come over and help us".  There are many today who don`t know what they need.  Their hearts are empty, there is a void in their souls, searching, calling out for something as if they are saying "come and help us".  Paul was looking for service, trying to go this way and that but somehow God was closing doors because God had a particular route for him.  The attention Paul had for the work of God.  His heart and mind were open at one priority - to see souls saved.  An awareness to God`s voice.  He was asking the Lord which way he should go.  Bithynia and Asia.  We need to be there to preach the word.  God said no.  The alertness he needed to have.  This is the way the Lord wants him to go.  The assurance in his heart.  We need to be attending to the things of God, alert to the challenges all around us.  We need to have assurance that we are taking the word of God to our community today.  We have something that has power to transform and change lives.  Romans 12 verse 2.  Paul maps it out for us.  Perhaps look at it from a different angle in this same portion of scripture.

Notice the responsibility Paul had - verse 9.  A vision appeared to Paul.  He was sincere about what he was doing and asking.  Paul had a great responsibility about what he was doing.  We need personal responsibility on each one of us this morning.  As Paul slept it might have been a dream.  Thinking of those souls perishing around him.  That responsibility was on his shoulders.  What a tremendous responsibility.  Think of these great missionaries - William Carey went into the darkest continents to take the gospel of saving grace to a people dying and going into a lost Christless hell.  Many of these great missionaries left families, homes, good comfortable jobs and lives and set out to take the message of the gospel to people who were lost.  Paul could say "I am a debtor."  He felt the great burden for souls now because he was saved and on his way to heaven and home.  He wanted to reach out to others, to see them saved.  What a responsibility today.  There are souls dying and perishing all around us, going out into a lost Christless hell.  We have that responsibility today to these people.  We have something to reach them with.  In the gospel parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, Jesus begins to explain who is our neighbour.  A man went down and fell among robbers, took everything he had, left him lying in the dust, blood was running down his face.  They had beat him and left him there ready to die.  He was badly beaten and bruised.  We see a priest coming along.  He has a great responsibility now to pick this man up and help him yet the Bible says he looked him over and passed on the other side.  A Levite then came along.  He was of the priestly family too.  He sees the same picture and passed over on the other side.  The Samaritans and Jews had no time for each other, they wouldn't speak to them.  Then another man comes along.  Here he finds this man, looks on him with compassion, walks to where he was.  He cradles this man, lifts him up, he pours in oil for his wounds and bandages them up, he sets him on his animal and took him to a place of safety.  He felt a sense of responsibility for this man.  Responsibility to help him.  There is a responsibility on our fellowship today to reach men and women with the gospel of saving grace.  When Paul heard this man`s voice compelling him to come over and help him, waving to him, he had a tremendous responsibility on him.  Like the child who fell into the pit called for his daddy.  Then his daddy heard his voice and ran to where he was, reached down and picked him up.  The child asked him "daddy why didn't you come quicker?"  There are people sitting in their homes today who don`t know what they need.  They are looking across to where we are, looking at us coming and going to the house of God, crying, why didn't you come quicker?  Peter had that same compulsion.  He didn't want to go to this house - a Gentile and he was a Jew.  God was opening a door to him.  it was his responsibility to go.  Next weekend will be the darkest in the demonic calendar.  Satan will be making of the very date yet it will be celebrated by families around the province.  Shops are just full of it all, it is on a par with Christmas.  Decorations are everywhere.  We have a great responsibility that we might guide our children and direct them another way.  Satan is working out his evil plan.  Manipulating minds, being told it is fun and good.  When those same children become 19 and 20 and older and have children of their own what are they going to tell them?  That is the responsibility you have.  Suppose you were at the swimming pool and 2 children got into difficulty what would you do - would you sit there and allow them to drown?  Or would you raise concern with the attendant.  It would be your responsibility to draw attention to these 2 children.

The readiness with which Paul was about to act - verse 10 "immediately".  He doesn't waste time.  He doesn't stop to think about this.  There was someone crying.  The need represented work to be done, souls to be saved.  Paul went immediately.  Think of Gideon in the Old Testament.  He had brought in some wheat from the harvest and was threshing it in his house.  The angel came down with a message from God.  He was to be a mighty man of valour, to go out and lead his people.  He was to go out and bring down his enemy.  The times were difficult.  He began his ministry like Jeremiah of old.  Judges 6 verse 13.  He began to make his mistakes.  That angel came and said "the Lord is with you."  An argument was put up "if the Lord is with us why is all this happening all around us?"  When we get into difficulties we call, sometimes we raise our voices and ask why is this happening to us, where are the old miracles our father`s told us of, we have heard so much of what the Lord has done but where are they now?  This is a tremendous argument he is putting up.  Didn't the Lord bring us out of Egypt and now the Lord has forsaken us and brought us into the hand of the Midianites.  The Lord gave him a promise "have I not sent thee?"  A personal responsibility.  Gideon said he was from one of the smallest of all the families, the weakest of all.  Why would you pick me?  Paul didn't do that.  He immediately got up and obeyed God.  He was ready to do service at a minutes call.  Maybe today we need to say "Lord here am I."

The resources Paul took - verse 10.  He rose up to his feet and he took the old old story.  That is all he took.  After Paul and Barnabas were commissioned for the work they came to Paphos.  They were invited by a man, a very prosperous man, a deputy of that country.  He wanted most of all the bible.  It says he "desired to hear the word of God".  There is a hunger today, a desire.  Paul would take into that man in that area nothing but the gospel.  Has God spoken to you?  To as task you don`t feel you have resources for?  All Paul had was the gospel.  That is all you need, to take with you today.  You don`t need great intellect or ability.  Yes it may be useful but all you need today are the resources of the gospel message.  Just to tell a man or woman the greatest news that ever came into the world.  There is an onslaught today to put this book far out of the reach of generations.  They will try to silence you.  They have all the academics and professors then someone is sitting with a verse of scripture.  People in the past days, in the Reformation days was all they wanted to have this book, to know it and to use it.  Peter in prison in Acts 4 praying that the word would go forth.  Acts 24 that is the familiar account of Felix.  He came with his wife Druscilla and they were sitting in the court.  What was on his heart?  That Felix heard him concerning the faith in Christ.  We don`t know whether there was hunger in his heart, wanted to hear something of Paul`s faith.  The gospel is more that sufficient.

The reaction Paul found.  We don`t find out if he met the man in the vision.  Paul went and did what he was asked to do.  The reaction was out by the riverside Lydia was saved, a girl from the streets was lifted from demonic practice, a man in the prison house was saved.  All saved by the grace of God.  Paul took the old message of Jesus Christ dying on the old rugged cross, brought it down to the level of men and women.  Will you not be saved?  Trust him as Saviour and Lord.  That is the old message we need today - in the pulpits, in the open airs and around the doors.

Sowing in tears and coming again rejoicing

Sermon notes from Sunday 1 October 2017

Psalm 126, Matthew 13 verses 3 - 9, 18 - 23

The book of Psalms holds a dear spot in our hearts.  It is one of those books you would read in time of difficulty, perhaps even at night or morning.  The Psalms would be the very heart of the scriptures themselves - when you open up your bible chances are you will open them at the Psalms.  It takes that central role in the book.  Many quotations in the New Testament are from the Psalms.  Jesus sought to correct the Emmaus pilgrims who had just witnessed the crucifixion of Christ.  They didn`t understand fully what was going on.  It was to the book of Psalms Jesus turned to when he drew alongside them.  We must always be careful to treat them in their original context.  The surrounding issues if you like.  Psalm 126 is set on the return of the children of Israel who were coming back to their own land.  They had rebelled against God.  God had to chastise and correct them.  They had rejected God`s word.  He took them away captive to Babylon.  Their lonely situation is described in Psalm 137 "by the rivers of Babylon there we sat down, yea wept when we remembered Zion".  They didn’t realise what they had until it was gone.  Verse 2 "we hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof."  There was no call for harps now, nothing to sing about.  For the backslider it is hard.  There is nothing to sing about, they have fallen away from what they once enjoyed with God.  They enjoyed fellowship with God and his word.  Now it is all gone.  There was nothing now to sing about.  That is how the nation of Israel were.  There were those who tempted them - "how shall we sing the Lord`s song in a strange land?"  There are people who say they are backsliders, who can sit in the public house and feel the Lord`s presence all the time, the Lord is with them. We find in Psalm 126 they are on their way back again.  Verse 1 their return "when the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion."  Maybe the Lord has something to say to you today.  Maybe we need to tell him to speak on.  We would also see a reflection "we were like them that dream."  Verse 2 the rejoicing.  Verses 5 and 6 the reaction and in verse 6 the rewarding.  Verses 4 and 5 replenishing of the land.  There was a lot of work to be done.  Look at verses 5 and 6 today.  Think of the mission of our church particularly because it is the harvest season.

Psalm 126 verse 5 and 6 - the task that is experienced.  We are "they that sow".  Verse 6 "he that goeth forth."  There is a work to be done.  That is what the Psalmist was saying here.  The people have returned.  It is a great day of joy.  For 70 years they had been in Babylon under the control of the enemy.  No freedom, no liberty.  Here was the day when deliverance came.  The yoke of their oppressor was broken.  They were allowed to go back to their own land.  They couldn`t sit back and enjoy that.  God had done great things for them.  They were free to explain that and express it.  God had broken the yoke of the enemy on them.  This land would not produce what they needed without work.  The work hadn`t been done for 70 years.  They were going out to do a task, a work to be done.  A seed has to be planted.  Also getting rid of the obstacles first of all.  Patience to wait and then a harvest to be gathered in.  When God saves us he doesn`t save us to be an ornament but that we might be a gift.  A work to do.  The fields are white unto harvest.  Many precious souls need to hear the message of the word of God.  We are to pray for labourers to go out.  We should pray yes but we need to listen.  The Lord might turn it around to us and say "what about you?"  Nehemiah found out about the work in Jerusalem.   The people were there, the walls were cast down.  Nehemiah got down on his knees, confessed his sin.  Then he began to pray for the work in Jerusalem.  He was happy down there, had a good job where he was, he was good friends with the king, a comfortable position.  Prayed no doubt to the Lord "if you have anyone in your heart I want to pray for them."  Prayed in sincerity then the Lord said "yes I have a man fit for the task, it is you."  Maybe God is pointing his finger at you today, to go forth to do a task for him.  If there is no going forth there will be no harvest.  This people knew that there was a lot of work to bring this land to the place it should be.  God would be with them.  He was speaking of a man who was willing to rise up and work, willing to say "here I am let me do a work for you."  In Antioch God had something more specific for that church.  "Separate unto me Barnabas and Saul for the work I would have them to do."  No doubt reaching out to souls, reaching out and praying for one another.  The Holy Spirit spread hands on them, separating them for a work for them to do out on the mission field."  Verse 4 "being sent forth" there was a sending forth.  What does it say here - "he that goeth forth."  In Acts 17 we read of Timothy a young man saved by the grace of God under Paul`s ministry.  Well thought of by all the brethren in that area.  Paul would have him to go forth.  There was something more God wanted of that young man.  The gospel is a seed and there needs to be plenty out doing it, by taking it out into the highway and byways.  We have a part to play just as the sower prepared the seed for the field.  Are we prepared to go forth?  Romans 10 verse 14 "how then shall they call on him in whom they have not heard."  There are those around our church who have no understanding of the gospel of saving grace.  You can be the one to take it to them today.

The treasure that he bears.  Going forth weeping and he is bearing precious seed.  Recognises the value and potential of the seed he is carrying.  He takes time to look around, sees some of the ground is hard, the sun is beating on him.  It is the only basket of seed he has.  He wants to be careful with it.  Looks back to a time of trial and hardness.  Still bearing the precious seed.  Think of the persecution of the early church.  Paul playing havoc with the church, trying to close every door, expel every name of Christ.  The answer to that situation was of course Stephen, only a young man in Jerusalem but he goes forth.  God`s way of moving the church on.  Sometimes God does that.  Here we find Stephen as he went forth in Acts 8 verse 4 they "went every where preaching the word", planting some seed as they went along.  How do we see the word of God today?  Something that is precious, more precious than gold.  All gold you have will vanish and perish away.  When I stand here in the pulpit I am not standing here to preach a sermon but planting a seed because that is what this "living word" means.  It brings forth living seed.  Never be forgotten.  This man is bearing treasure.  A precious seed.  As it is scattered on the ground it is going to bring forth life.

The tears that are flowing.  He is weeping as he goes forth.  What would be the cause of the tears?  Back in his land, broken yoke of bondage, a precious place to be in now.  He is challenged to do something about the face of the land.  He is in tears.  Perhaps the tears are as a result of the reflection of what it had been, what the enemy had robbed him off.  When they had inherited - the land and it was a land flowing with milk and honey but now look at it - why - because they had rebelled against God.  Deuteronomy 6 verse 11 when came into land they had "houses full of all good things which thou filledst not and wells digged which thou diggedsst not, vineyards and olive trees which thou plantest not."  Deuteronomy 6 verse 12 "then beware lest thou forget the Lord thy God.”  It is easy to think of what we have, taking it for granted, get to stage don`t need God any more.  The Laodicean church were like that, plentiful didn`t need God at all.  They had everything they could want.  No money problems, good congregation.  The Lord said to them "you are poor, wretched and blind all the time, I am standing at the door let me in."  That is maybe what this people realised, what they had missed out on.  He is being brought back to the failures of before, had allowed this to happen themselves.  God had punished them for it but he had brought them back again to their land.  Homes wrecked, communities pulled apart.  These are the things that bring the tears as we work and witness and seek to spread the word of God.

There is the trophy here in its season.  This man`s eyes are on the harvest "doubtless come again".  Don`t you think what you are planting is a worthless task.  It is not.  You could give an invitation, say something to someone next week, might never see them again but in eternity they might stand around the throne.  A word in season.  The sowing yes and "doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him."  No sowing there will be no harvesting.

The confusion, clarity, challenge and caution of God`s plan for Christmas

Sermon notes from Sunday 10 December 2017

Luke 1 verses 26 - 38

This is the greatest plan every hatched and materialised.  It was made in the very heart of God.  God had this plan for your salvation, that you and I might be saved from our sin, that you and I might live with God for all eternity.  I do not know whether you can comprehend that today.  If this was to be the last day you ever lived, the last time before you closed your eyes and go out into eternity, to face the one who died for you - cannot take that in.  It is not something I want to think about but the alternative is to go out into a lost eternity.  Here`s the greatest plan ever made in eternity past.  Before this world was formed, when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden God promised on that day in Genesis 3 verse 15 "I will put enmity between thee and the woman."  He was speaking to Satan himself.  They would tell us today there is no such a thing as the devil.  Here was God himself speaking and challenging the devil himself.  "he shall bruise thy head and he shall bruise thy heel."  When did that event take place, when did God bruise Satan`s head?  On the cross of Calvary.  In Matthew 1 when the angel came to Joseph and told him that Mary was with child he told him "fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife; for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins."  Then the angel went on to say "now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet saying, Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."  Those words were said some 700 years previously.  Here were the writings of the prophet.  In Bethlehem all these writings came to fruition.  This is God`s plan.  It included Mary and Joseph.  It includes you and I today.  Here was the role of Mary and Joseph - what is my role at this Christmas time?

The confusion around this plan.  Imagine for a moment in the sixth century an angel Gabriel coming to Mary.  We are not told what Mary was doing at this exact moment - maybe household jobs but we are told God sent an angel right from heaven to the city of Nazareth.  The place where Mary was - to challenge her about God`s plan.  Something very wonderful yet Mary was in close touch with God to recognise his voice.  We have to be in a place where God can speak to us.  Not talking about being in church or meetings but in a place spiritually where we take time to listen to what God has to say.  We need to make time to sit in the presence of God, have his word open and ask him to speak and direct us.  Mary had a listening ear from God.  Think of the widow woman Elijah was sent to.  Everything was dry and barren.  She was commanded to nourish the prophet.  When Elijah came to the city he found the woman gathering sticks.  She was going to make a fire and a little cake for her and her son and then they would die.  She was in such poverty.  There were so many different widows in Jerusalem at that time but it was only this one that God came to, to look after his prophet.  She was preparing a meal for her and her son that they might die.  God had spoken to her, told her to nourish Elijah.  Have we an ear for God today?  To study and read the Bible - are we listening for what God has to say through his word.  God speaks to you with a little verse and if you were to tell others it would probably mean nothing to them.  Sometimes there can be great confusion around God`s plan.  God was coming to unveil this plan to Mary.  Maybe God will not give you the full plan but give it to you step by step.  Maybe there is a step God wants you to take even today.  When it comes to God`s salvation there is always confusion.  Mary asked the angel "how can these things be?"  Nicodemus came to Christ one night and was told "ye must be born again".  Nicodemus couldn`t understand how a person can be born again when he is old.  Maybe there is confusion for you.  Mary was told she would have a baby.  She looked at the practical side of things.  What would we say when Jesus comes and speaks to us?  "This couldn`t possibly work out".  Even Joseph was confused.  His wife to be was pregnant.  There was much confusion about this plan.  Is there much confusion in your mind about what you will do with God`s salvation today?

There is a clarity in the words God speaks.  Reference is always made to Mary thinking.  When the shepherds came she pondered all these things.  She was also thinking when the angel spoke to her.  Mary was slow to speak as she thought on the plan for her life.  God gave her clarity.  The child she would bear was for this reason and no other - to bear your sin and mine.  None other could offer atonement.  John spoke of him as being the "propitiation for our sins."  In other words atonement, make peace between God and me.  Why could he do that?  Because he was born without sin.  He had no physical contact with man.  If there had been that contact he would have been born with Adam`s fallen nature.  Christ came into the world to redeem the world.  He came for the sins of the whole world.  John explains it this way "in his love, not that we loved God but that he loved us."  As Joseph pondered he tried to make sense of what was happening.  His first thoughts were to put her away privately.  He didn`t want everyone to know about this situation.  As he thought on these things the angel came to him and told him Mary would bring forth a son and he would call his name Jesus.  Maybe there is confusion around this whole event and salvation for you today but you can ask God for clarity.

The challenge of this plan.  What must it have been like for Mary?  Sometimes we pass these things off.  Imagine for her at that time, a young woman to be promised in marriage to a man and knowing she is pregnant. Her husband was also having his doubts about the purity of his bride.  This was cause for divorce.  The strange thing is the first thoughts were not to do anything publicly.  He loved his wife so very much and didn`t want it to be a public disgrace.  The one to be born was to be born of the Holy Spirit, to take away the sins of the world.  Imagine the talk of everyone around her - pointing the finger at her.  Thank God the clarity came when Joseph surrendered to God`s plan.  Whenever we get saved that is not the end of it.  When Mary got the news she was going to bring a child into the world that was only the beginning.  The challenge of it - when God saves us he has a plan and purpose for us.  Work our your own salvation we are told.  Salvation doesn`t stop when we seek God.  We must be surrendered and we will be ridiculed but we must rise above it.  We should put our hand to the plough and not look back.  Like Mary and Joseph we will be misunderstood and laughed at.  Are you really taking your stand today?  Do others see the Lord Jesus in you and I?  Whenever Mary walked down the street did they realise this was the son of God she was carrying?  When the baby was to  be born there was taxation on the land.  They had a long hard trek ahead of them.  When they arrived in Bethlehem there was no room for them.  When things are not happening the way we think they should we must realise God has it all under control.  I am sure Mary wondered "how could we be in God`s plan if he is taking us down to Bethlehem, when we came there and found no room for us?  Surely God would have something better for us than this?"  When something goes wrong in our lives we throw up our hands and think what is God doing.  Maybe Mary and Joseph felt like us - maybe things were not going well for them but it was in God`s plan.  Paul was thrown into a jailhouse - why - because there was a jailer there who needed to be saved.  It was all part of God`s plan.  Onesimus, Philemon`s servant was led to a prison house where Paul was just so that he could come to faith as a result.

There is a caution in God`s plan.  Joseph was surrendered to the will of God.  When the wise men came to Herod he asked them to come back and tell him where this child was.  He was trying to destroy the child.  There is an enemy who wants to destroy the work of God in your heart and life today.  Herod wanted to befriend the wise men.  People today want to do the same - to destroy our witness.  Guard the life of Christ in your life.  There are things that glitter but are not gold. Paul warned the Galatian church of this.

A celebration of God`s plan.  Imagine when Mary brought forth that child, fed him, cuddled him.  This was God`s son, the Saviour of the world, God in the flesh.  What a celebration.  When the shepherds came through that door they left rejoicing.  Don`t become familiar with God`s plan.  Read it and rejoice with it if you are a child of God today.

Who shall inherit the kingdom of God?

Sermon notes from Sunday 19 November 2017

1 Corinthians 6 verses 1 – 11

I can well imagine that the apostle Paul was not a well-liked preacher.  He got under the skins of many, many people.  Not a very popular man.  When he came to a city or village there would have been opposition to him.  There was always an opportunity to strike at the core.  He sets out in verse 9 a bold statement so that there is no confusion or mistake made.  “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?”  The man that is not right with God has no entrance into the kingdom of God.  He is bringing this great truth to bear on them.  Is this something you have ignored or neglected?  That same warning comes to you and I tonight.  The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of heaven.  The apostle Paul tells us in the first 4 chapters about faith in Christ and how it brings unity amongst the people of God.  There should be a kindred mind.  You will not believe in many things I believe in but when we come to the cross that is where our unity is.  In chapter 5 faith in Christ means new desires, new life, new moral standard.  When it comes to chapter 6 we are looking at brother against brother, going to court about something they have differed over.  Here we see what Paul is getting to. 

Notice there is an error to be corrected in the thinking of men and women.  “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”  He is giving a great warning here about sin.  It is very dangerous and deceitful and ultimately will damn our souls in hell.  Don`t play with sin Paul says.  We were born with desire after sin.  Paul tells us not to play about with these things.  They are dangerous.  Maybe he was speaking to those who were saved but felt they were not right with God.  A transaction like that should have done something powerful in our lives.  A life changing transaction to be saved by God, no longer the same person.  In Christ you are a new creation, something happens inside.  There is a change.  Have you had that change in your life?  For some they still had the old desires, hungers and thoughts. That is what the apostle Paul is getting at. For these people it was just a name but there was no real change in their lives.  This is a life changing transaction.  He takes you from the kingdom of darkness and sets you on your way to heaven and home.  “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision but faith which worketh by love.” (Galatians 5 verse 6).  Don`t hold onto the old paths or traditions. Trust Christ as Saviour.  He will make you a new creature and that is what is important.  Not your church, communion table or good works, giving, not the church you were born into nor your minister.  Get to the cross, make sure you have trusted the Lord as your own and personal Saviour.  The Corinthian people’s heart had never changed, they were toying about with sin.  You and I have got to stay clear away from sin as possible.  Fools make a mockery at sin.  Did God look lightly on sin?  God did not turn a blind eye on sin.  Can only imagine those long lonely hours on the cross where Christ bore your sins on himself.  We can never imagine the pain he had to bear.  Every bone was pulled out of joint.  Such was the torture he bore.  This is God`s own son dying on the rugged cross.  This is God`s own son dying for the sin of the world.  Jesus cried out “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me.”  Can imagine the answer coming back from God.  Jesus had to endure that pain to save your soul.  The warning comes to you.  No unrighteous man shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.  Are you saved tonight?  Are you sure of that tonight?  Are you on your way to heaven trusting Christ as your own personal Saviour?

Paul encourages us to be cautious.  “Be not deceived.”  It is not something to be overlooked.  “If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves.”  Deception can come from without and deception comes from within too.  There are others who bring you a poverty gospel.  That you are all right, on way to heaven.  They tell you “you have attended this church for years and you are all right, you were christened and baptised so you are on your way to heaven and home, there is nothing to worry about.”  What does Paul say?  Do not be deceived.  There is too much at stake tonight.  Your soul in in the very balance tonight.  Perhaps this will be the last invitation you will hear to come to Christ.  Either accept Christ as Saviour or else reject him forever.  The bible tells us the heart is deceitful.  We say to ourselves “you know I am not a bad person”, well that is deceit.  “I am quite a religious person, I will make it to heaven in my own way.”  Do not let your heart deceive you Paul says.  John follows on that thought – “if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1 verse 9).  If we confess your sins.”  It doesn`t matter what sins they are.  Is that how you are coming tonight?  Are you acknowledging tonight that you are a sinner and coming, ready to be saved?  Poor Achan in the Old Testament.  He tried to cover his sin.  He tried to hide it himself.  He was a soldier, saw the spoil of Jericho city.  He thought no-one was looking, no-one would see.  He took the robe, the gold and silver.  He made his way out of that city.  He thought no-one would see him with all the noise and mayhem going on.  He took and hid it in his tent.  He thought no-one would ever know but God knew all about it.  He tried to cover it up.  Isn`t that what David did.  He had an affair with Bathsheba, to cover that up he planned to have her husband put in the front of the battle to be killed first.  David thought that is it, it is all covered up but God knew all about him.  God sent his prophet Nathan down to David and told him a story of a lamb.  Sin found him out.  Be not deceived tonight.  Wouldn`t it be awful to go through life, close your eyes in death and stand before God in heaven?

An excluded company.  Paul goes on to give a list of those that will be cast out of heaven.  Sin is the transgression of the law, punishable by death.  No matter what it is in my life I must give an account of it.  Sin has to be judged at Calvary’s cross judged there.  Even the bible makes it clear – there are 2 ways and 2 gates – which one are you going to?

There is an example here of a change.  Paul says “such were some of you but now you are washed, now you are sanctified, now you are justified.  If you come to Christ he will wash you in his blood.  Every sin has to go beneath the cleansing flood.  Will you trust Christ as Saviour and Lord?  There is an error that has to be corrected.  Don`t dilly dally or wait any longer, don’t tamper with sin.  Trust Christ and he will make you a new creature in Christ.  Is there new desires in your heart because you are born again of the spirit of God?  You can have that tonight.

A life changing experience - the stoning of Saul

Sermon notes from Sunday 7 May 2017

Acts 7 verses 54 - chapter 8 verse 8

I was listening to a programme and a lot of it was dedicated to a young man who spent some 32 hours on a surf board.  It was thinking about fears he had, what was going on all around him, could see no hope whatsoever.  It was a life defining moment.  Things that happen to us that mean life could never be the same again.  That young man`s mind will go back to that day drifting along in the sea with no hope until he saw the helicopter in the skies.  Or think of the young racing driver who was in an ordinary race at 120 miles per hour coming around the track when all of a sudden there was a stationary car.  He lived to tell the tale but lost both his legs.  These are life changing moments.  Life defining moments.  We have also a life changing moment for the young man called Saul who later became Paul of the apostles.  It was not only a life defining moment for him but for the church of Jesus Christ.  A changing of the course for the church.  Chapter 8 verse 1 there was great persecution caused by Saul.  A religious zealot who had been brought up in the Jewish religious faith.  There came a moment when that all began to change.  It happened as he stood and watched Stephen being stoned to death. Saul guarded the clothes of them that stoned Stephen.  Look at Acts chapter 22 verses 19 and 20.  Not only was Saul standing by but he was watching.  "I kept the raiment of them that slew him."  Standing in this religious crowd, they had quizzed Stephen, tried to get him to recant of all he believed in then lifted the stones to stone him.  If we could lift our eyes away from the scene we would see Saul standing on the opposite side watching all that was going on.  Here was a man being stoned to death at his request.  There was something there that left a mark on Saul`s life.  Have you ever had a life changing moment experience?  Look at the experience Saul had.

Saul witnessed the cause for which Stephen was stoned.  This religious zealot cannot see the gospel of saving grace.  Something had to happen.  For us when we come under the teaching of the gospel the Holy Spirit had to come and take that veil off our faces, lift it up so that we might see.  Don`t think that just because you are saved you are any better than anyone else.  A life defining moment happened.  Have you ever really thought about that moment when your last breath is about to be taken where will your soul be in eternity?  Saul witnessed something definite and real.  He signed the consenting note for Stephen`s death.  In Acts 6 we are introduced to this man Stephen. A conflict had arose in the church.  The Grecians felt they were being left out.  When did this happen?  "when the number of the disciples was multiplied."  When we see God working in a situation we also see the devil rising in opposition.  He starts the murmuring among the church members.  What was the answer to it?  We find men like Stephen stepping forward.  Verse 3 the apostles speaking to the laymen of the church.  They are described as "of honest report".  In other words they had a good name in society.  They were "full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom."  They wanted to appoint some over this business.  Ordinary men with special qualifications to sort out this murmuring in the church.  They had a longing desire for the things of God.  It is only when this desire is evident that we can know the working of the Holy Ghost within us.  Paul commended Priscilla and Aquilla - why - because when times were difficult for Paul these two would have laid down their lives for him.  We are talking here about real commitment, ready to die for the cause of Jesus Christ.  That is the sort of thing the unsaved are looking for.  Men and women prepared to see us not just taking up a pew on a Sunday morning but prepared to do something for the Lord in the rest of the week.  Paul referred to Mary and said "she bestowed much labour on us."  Not everyone is called to preach but that should not exclude us from whatever task God would have us to do.  The local fellowship is not just about the evangelist or the Sunday School teachers but the body of Christ working together to see men and women saved. In verse 2 the apostles have gathered together as a fellowship but now there is a division, a dispute has arisen.  They realised they couldn't do their own work and try to sort out this division too.    They would have to leave the study of God`s word and prayer.  They were not being big headed but they could see what was happening.  The enemy, the devil was involved in this.  The devil was trying to take away the word of God from their midst.  The apostles were asking them to choose out men full of the Holy Ghost, dedicated and consecrated to the Lord.  Are you and I today like that?  Here was a man ready to die for Christ.  As Saul of Tarsus watched this stoning he could see the same thing.  Agabus took Paul`s girdle and wrapped it around both his hands.  He then said that the person who wore this girdle would be bound, fettered, chained and imprisoned all because of the gospel.  The church turned to Paul and told him not to go down to Jerusalem because of this.  Paul said he was prepared to die for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Saul witnessed the calmness in Stephen`s suffering.  Stephen had a calmness in his approach to settling the dispute in the church.  That calmness only comes from the Spirit of God.  In chapter 6 verse 8 he was standing firm even at the point of death.  God was using him so very well that even the devil took notice of him.  The devil stirred up religious momentum that he had him arrested and stoned to death.  Think of Nehemiah in the Old Testament.  The word came to him that Jerusalem had been torn down and the people were not attending the place of worship.  God`s word came to Nehemiah that he wanted him to do the work but Nehemiah pleaded with God that he was not able.  He was only a cupbearer in the king`s palace, how could he do such a job.  When God is in something, when he separates us we can do it with his help.  When Nehemiah went down the enemies were grieved.  They saw a man who cared for the welfare of the people.  What a wonderful testimony.  Not out to make a name for himself or to become rich.  He left a great job in the palace serving the king, no doubt had a great wage and prospects but he left it all to go and serve the Lord.  He went and undertook the job God called him to.  Here is Stephen, when the enemy was in the church telling lies and stories, when they tried him and could not find anything to accuse him of.  Chapter 6 verse 10 they were able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spoke.  They were clever, asking him great theological questions but Stephen`s face shone like an angel.  The God who could make the calmness on his soul at the point of his death is the same God we have today.  You are afraid because there is something you have to decide today, let God take control and charge.

Saul witnessed the confession Stephen made - Acts 16 verse 15.  He was faithful to the end.  He started well, ran well and finished well.  Here he was being stoned and it was at that point that he looked up into the heavens and saw the glory of God.  He could see the Lord Jesus standing waiting on him.  What a great vision he had.  Imagine if that was our vision on the day we die.  Now contrast it with the sinners death.  Not saved, not born again of the Spirit of God, what do they see?  Not the glory of the Lord.  Before them is only darkness, a lost sinners hell for eternity.  A life defining moment is what you can have today if you come to Christ, trust him as Saviour and Lord.  There were men and women years ago burned at the stake for their faith.  Men like Martin Luther who led the great Reformation.  They died to give us liberty.  We should never give up that freedom to worship, to give out the tract on the streets so that men and women might be saved.

Saul witnessed a great challenge.  Did he leave this scene in bitterness?  Knowing the last breath was about to leave his body?  No, he said "Lord lay not this sin against their charge."  A young man of grace and compassion.  Could we pray for those who would hurt us as this young man prayed?  This was a life changing moment for Saul of Tarsus.  He would never forget about that moment in the future.  I trust God has brought you to a place where you will never ever forget because he wants to do something in your life from here on.  The pastor will never do it nor the evangelist, nor coming Sunday by Sunday - only the Lord can do it for you this very moment.