The names of God

Sermon notes from Sunday 23 September 2018 am Mr S Condy

Psalm 46

Uncertainty.  As we go through life every single day there are lots of things that are uncertain.  We are unsure of what we feel when we listen to the news.  We live every single day full of uncertainty.  That is why I love baking, you mix the ingredients and put it in the oven.  Even at that it is full of uncertainty because if I leave it too long in the oven it will be burnt and tasteless.  If you put your trust in the Lord there is one thing you can know, that you can be absolutely sure of - that God is true.  As we dig into the word of God we can know it is true, God is faithful.  When you read Psalm 46 we see that the Psalmist starts off full of uncertainty, he had fears and worries.  As you read on to verse 10 we hear these words "be still and know that I am God."  You can know God this morning, the one true living God.  Whenever you read that part and it says be still we think it mens to go to a quiet place and be still.  Yes it is good to be still in God`s presence and hear his word but the original Hebrew word means to let go, to surrender, I cannot but God you can.  Maybe you are going through difficult times, you don`t understand times when you feel afraid.  God says be still, I cannot but I trust fully in who you are.  As we go through the Bible right from Genesis to Revelation there are lots of names and titles for God.  He wants us to see who he is and what he can do.  To know the great creator I want to know you intimately, to have a close intimate relationship with you.  Who is God?

He is Elokim.  The most used name and title for God in the Old Testament.  When you come to Genesis chapter 1 it is used 32 times.  That alone means God is infinite, there are no limits, he cannot be measured, he is all powerful, he is in control of all things, a supreme judge over all the earth.  In the beginning Elokim created the heaven and the earth.  God is mighty and strong, that he was able to create the universe simply by speaking and it was so.  Just reading about trees makes you realise there are 16000 different species.  How amazing is God.  Whenever you read about the human body 242 billion new cells are created in your being every day.  God is so indescribable, whatever difficulty or trial you are going through today if you are a child of the king remember he is Elokim.  

"Ah Lord God! behold thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee. "  Jeremiah 32 verse 17.

He is also El Shaddai. 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways saith the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55 verses 8 and 9. 

Sometimes we can think why is this happening but remember El Shaddai - God`s ways are not our ways.  You have to be still to fully trust and let go.  His ways are greater than our ways. 

He is Yahweh, The name given to God.  In the English Bible the word LORD is always in capitals.  It means "I am who I am".  We see it in Exodus.  He is the foundation of truth in a world full of so much uncertainty.  He is truth. John 14 verse 6 "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father but by me " He is the foundation of truth, no beginning and no end, absolute standard of goodness, divine truth and beauty, there is no-one like him.  Be still, let go, why because he is the great creator, the great God almighty.  I am who I am.

He is Jehovah shalom.  I am the God of peace.  We can let fear infiltrate our lives every day even when nothing has happened.  Worry is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but it goes nowhere.  He is Jehovah Shalom.  He repeatedly says throughout scripture "do not fear".  We have no need to fear because God is in control of our lives.  What a wonderful thing to know.  John 14 verse 27 "my peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid. "   If you have put your trust in him today you don`t need to fear.  He has given you promise after promise that his ways are higher.  He is in the midst of the valley.  You will be with him for all eternity.  That is incredible to be thankful for.  I am safe with Jesus, my eternity is sealed with him because of what he has done on the cross.  He has done all for you to have your sins forgiven.

Elohim, Shaddai, Yahweh, Jehovah Shalom.  He is Jehovah Nissi, the Lord our God is our banner.  He meets us in the battle and fights for us.  In Exodus 14 verse 13 the children of Israel came before the Red Sea, the mountains were surrounding them on one side and they could hear the army of Egyptians rushing towards them.  They asked where is God even though they could say he was faithful in the past.  "Fear ye not, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord which he will show to you today for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today ye shall see them again no more for ever."  The Lord shall fight for you and ye shall hold your peace.  Whenever it is easy to fear, God`s ways are higher than Israel`s.  All they had to do was just be still.

God is Elohim the great creator.
God is El Shaddai the great almighty
God is Yahweh
God is Shalom, our peace
God is Nissi, he will fight for us when we are in the battle and facing trials. 

If you put your trust in God remember who God is, fully trust him even though you don`t know what is happening.  If you don`t know God as Saviour he has made a way to have your sins forgiven and know peace that one day you may go to be with him in heaven.  If you don`t have that peace and certainty of one day being with him for ever and ever you can know him today.

HOPE

Sermon notes from Sunday 23 September 2018 pm Mr S Condy

John 21 verses 1 - 17

There is a word that means a great deal, it is the word HOPE.  A powerful word.  That word hope can be translated as wishful thinking.  "I hope tomorrow that the weather will be great, that there will be sunshine all the way."  That could be wishful thinking.  What I want you to grasp and understand is that biblical hope is completely different.  It is not wishful thinking because if I have put my trust in Jesus hope means something different.  It is a sureness and confidence in knowing that God is always faithful and he always keeps his promises.  If you are saved tonight, have put your trust in Jesus, are following his ways then you have a great hope.  When your energy is spent and you are discouraged you have hope.  Whenever you feel like giving up, whenever you feel everything is hopeless you have confidence that God is always faithful and keeps his promise.  It is important to know where our hope comes from.  

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." Romans 15 verse 13.  

"And now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee." Psalm 39 verse 7. 

There are thousands of people who are looking for hope tonight and they are searching for it in the world, trying to find peace and hope and satisfaction in so many places.  The bible is full of answers.  As you read through the scriptures God says you will not find real peace, joy and happiness until you put your trust in Christ.  Hope is to be sure and confident that God is always faithful and keeps his promises.  It is found in Jesus.  Can we really have that hope that is talked about in the Bible?

In life plans do not always work out the way we want them to work out.  Sometimes our plans can go terribly wrong.  When you read the New Testament and come to the gospels gives a clear picture of what happened.  When you read the Bible it shows the disciples were men just like you and I, they went through hard times.  They had a great Saviour.  When you read about Peter he experienced a miserable heart wrenching time.  He was strong willed.  He was a passionate, expressive, courageous man.  Before Jesus was arrested and tried, during the Last Supper Mark tells us what happened afterwards.  After they left the Upper Room they went to the Mount of Olives.  

"And Jesus sith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd and the sheep shall be scattered." Mark chapter 14 verse 27.  

Peter speaks up in verse 29 "But Peter said unto him, although all shall be offended yet will not I."

Jesus then said to Peter "Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice."

Luke gives us an insight into the conversation.  Chapter 22 verse 31 "And the Lord said Simon, Simon, behold Satan hath desired to have you that he may sift you as wheat But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not and when thou art convereted strengthen thy brethren."    

Peter had seen Jesus doing amzing things.  Jesus was able to do great and mighty things because he was the Son of God.  Peter could see and recognise that.  The heart wrenching experience Peter suffered.

 

In Luke 22 verses 54 to 62 we read that 3 times Peter denied Jesus and then remembered what he had been told by the Lord himself.  It is so easily to ask why did he do this.  When you read Romans 3 verse 23 alarm bells ring.  "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  Every single one of us is born rebelling God.  We want to be in control of our own lives.  We are born as sinners, that we deny God every day.  He is a great creator.  The one who made us, who knows us intimately, calls and wants what is best for us but because of sin we must be separate from that holy God.  When you read that Peter denied Jesus and let him down Jesus offered Peter great hope.  It is not where it ends.  In Mark`s gospel we read of the women who came to the tomb.  Jesus the great I am, the perfect one, gave his life on the cross so that we could have our sins forgiven, to provide a way we could be part of his family, forgiven for ever.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James came to the tomb and saw the empty tomb.  The angels gave them this message.  

"And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified; he is risen; he is not here; behold the place where they laid him.  But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him, as he said unto you." Mark 16 verse 6 and 7.  

You see grace is getting something you do not deserve.  Peter denied his Saviour yet the angel singled Peter out.  Jesus cared.  Peter was so sorry he had let his Saviour down.  We have an amazing gospel message of good news.  The story is not just we are born in sin, we deserve to be separated and punished for that sin but because God out of his great mercy and grace gave his life, took the punishment, that he has made the way to have our sins forgiven, a way to have hope, real hope, real peace found in Jesus.  

"Blessed be the God of Father of our Lord Jesus Christ which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ froom the dead." 1 Peter 1 verse 3.  

That is inconceivable.  I am thankful that I have hope in Christ.  It is nothing I have done but  everything he has done for me.  Hope in a world that is difficult no matter what I feel, I have hope, no matter what happens tomorrow.  I have hope, peace and joy found only in Jesus.  Does that not thrill your heart no matter what you face tomorrow?  You have hope.  Do you know Jesus?  Are you saved?  The Bible clearly tells us in Acts 16 verse 31 "Believe on the Lord Jesus Crist and thou shalt be saved."  There is only one way to be saved tonight - through Jesus and trusting in him.  The Bible tells us you are lost.  That is not the end. God in his mercy and grace offers hope.  The question is tonight - what will you do with Jesus?  Peter received forgiveness and hope.  If you love Jesus and have put your trust in him thank him for the hope that God is faithful and good, that he always keeps his promises.  You can have that hope, sureness that you are safe and secure in Jesus because he deeply loves you and deeply cares.  You can have hope found in Jesus alone tonight.

The results of prayer

Sermon notes from Sunday 16 September 2018 am

Nehemiah 2 verses 1 - 11, 6 verse 18

I want us to bring us back to Nehemiah and the mindset he had.  Verse 15 chapter 6 tells us after 52 days the walls were completed.  It goes without saying if Nehemiah had not begun to build he would never have finished.  If we do not begin to do something we will never see it through.  It is easy to sit back and say "that could never be done" or "I wouldn`t have the time to do that" or "I wouldn`t have the ability to do it."  It was different for Nehemiah here.  It was God who placed this work in Nehemiah`s heart.  "I never told anyone what God had put in my heart to do in Jerusalem." (verse 12 chapter 2)  The task given by God was directed for him.  That is what makes the difference.  Our God does not fail or let us down.  He is with us every step of the way.  "The march of a thousand miles begins with the first step" a Chinese philospher said.  Chapter 1 verse 4 it all began with that one prayer.  What Nehemiah said came from that prayer.  Not just for the day but for several days, spending time in God`s presence.  4 things came out of that prayer.  The king`s heart was softened, Nehemiah`s resolve was strengthened, the people`s will was surrendered and the outcome was successful.  

The king`s heart was softened - verse 11.  Nehemiah turns it around to his own heart.  "Remember me today, will you remember me particularly in the sight of the king when I step into his presence, I will need his authority to leave the palace and go down to Jerusalem, you need to move in that situation Lord."  Maybe there is a situation you need to get before the Lord and say "I need you to move in a mighty way Lord."  How would he go into the presence of the king and tell him he had to go down to Jerusalem?  He was basically saying "I will secure the walls in Jerusalem, they will be a mighty nation again."  Maybe there is something in your life, in your family, in your home, you know what needs to be done but you cannot do it.  You need God today.  Nehemiah had a tremendous interest here in Jerusalem in the people of God, in the work of God.  It was coming from the heart.  Nehemiah was a very high, powerful individual in Shushan.  He was the kings cupbearer.  God was no doubt beginning to work in his heart.  When God begins to work in our hearts and all we can see is impossibilities that is natural.  Nehemiah was clear that God was speaking to him.  We read in chapter 2 that he never told anyone what God had put in his heart.  He went out at night and inspected the walls.  "If this was of God then God must work" Nehemiah was realistic.  "I had not before time sat in the king`s presence."  A time to be sad in the presence of the king meant death.  He could easily have taken Nehemiah out and put him to death.  Nehemiah knew he needed God to move.  He couldn`t approach the king himself.  Do we need God to move today in our family, in our circumstances?  Perhaps people who have never come to faith in Christ?  We need God to work, there is nothing we can do of ourselves.  We cannot convince them of getting saved.  We need God to work.  Nothing we can do of ourselves.  We cannot convince them of getting saved.  The only way is to get before God and pray for the situation.  Remember the queen Esther, a young woman who was married to the king of Persia.  In the kingdom was Haman who hated the Jewish nation.  He made a plot that he would put to death every Jewish man and woman, child, boy or girl.  Esther was the new queen, came to the kingdom at that time.  Mordecai was the uncle of Esther.  He knew what was happening.  He told Esther "you are going to have to make a stand, to go in before the king and explain what is happening and plead for mercy."  Maybe that is what we need to do today, to take a stand for God today.  Only then can we put feet to our prayers and become active.  Esther said it is not easy as you think.  Verse 11 of chapter 4 "all the kings servants and the people of the king`s provinces do know that whosoever whether man or woman shall come unto the king into the inner court who is not called."  There is but one law and that is to put to death everyone except to whom the king sets out the golden sceptre.  She needed to wait to be invited into the presence of the king.  She can only stand in a certain place waiting for the king to hold out that sceptre to her.  She was putting herself in danger.  She could have been put to death like Nehemiah, "nevertheless I am willing to risk that, go gather together all the Jews and fast ye for me."  Chapter 5 verses 1 and 2 after those days of fasting, God strengthened the kings heart and he invites Esther into his presence.  Is there a barrier in your life, something in your life you have to hold your hand up and say "I cannot move any further."  Is there a barrier to the preaching of God`s word today?  It will be answered only in the place of prayer.  We need to acknowledge it before God and allow him to work in our hearts.

Nehemiah`s resolve was strengthened - verse 2.  Nehemiah  knew what God had placed on his heart and what it would mean to him.  He got to prayer.  We have to step out.  "You can never taste the delights of the Lord until all on the altar you lay."  Maybe that is what we need to do today - leave it with the Lord.  He has told you what to do about it, now is the time to step out based on that word of the Lord.  Nehemiah was not strengthened while working in the palace but rather in the place of prayer.  Anything could happen to him including death.  "I was so strengthened".  Is there fear holding you back today?  You are afraid to take that step.  Maybe God is speaking to you about a work for him.  You need to step out and act on it.  Verse 2 Nehemiah had every right to be afraid.  The king asked him why he was afraid.  The first thought that came to Nehemiah meant death and executed.  That was the moment to pray.  He was sure he was in the centre of God`s will for his life.  God gave him the resolve in that moment to speak.  When Elijah went in before king Ahab with the word of God that there would be no rain for 3 years, the only place he proved God was standing before God.  We will face opposition when we are in these situations.  Mary broke an alabaster box to anoint Jesus` feet. The opposition came from God`s own people.  Sad today a lot happens like that, comes from God`s own people themselves.  God had now moved and sorted out the situation "grant me mercy in the sight of the king."  Remember the woman as they made their way to the sepulchre.  On the first day of the week only thought in their mind was who shall take the stone away.  Remember David facing the giant Goliath.  He was coming in the name of God of Israel.  Esther found that strength from God too.  For Nehemiah he fasted and prayed for 3 days and sought God`s will on the whole situation.

The people`s will was surrendered.  In chapter 2 verse 14 Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem, makes all the assessments, goes into the presence of the people.  A tremendous task.  How would he get through this?  Verse 18 "let us rise up and build so they strengthened their hands for this good work."  When this came to the ears of the people they surrendered.  All that came from this prayer meeting.  Here were a people sitting for the past 70 years, had enjoyed the blessing of God, taking them out of Babylon down to Jerusalem again.  What did they do?  They relaxed.  Didn`t do anything.  Nehemiah came down.  He told them what God wanted them to do and the people were challenged in their hearts.  As a result they rose up and said to Nehemiah "let us build." The church of Jesus, we ourselves, lack that commitment in this day." 

The task was successful - chapter 6 verse 15.  Our task will be successful.  We might never see great things happen, might never see it but it will be successful.  It will accomplish that for which I set it forth for.  Will you rise up today and say "let us build today, let us see the task of building the kingdom of God accomplished."

Blessings and benefits of praying for others

Sermon notes from Sunday 9 September 2018 am

James 5 verses 13 - 20, Daniel 6 verse 10 and Nehemiah 1 verses 1 - 6

We read from 3 accounts of 3 men - Elijah, Daniel and Nehemiah.  These men had one thing in common - they were men of prayer.  They were men who knew how to pray.  Think today of how many people are dependent on what we do this winter.  The souls of men and women that hang in the balance.  There are so many instructions in Nehemiah, encouragements, challenges in it.  So many directions for us to take and follow.  Whenever we have it in our minds, when we leave this scene of time behind, close our eyes in death, are ushered into God`s eternity, stand on the golden shore, the first person to meet us, to greet us, to take us by the hand will be our Saviour and Lord.  After the Lord wouldn`t it be nice to go around and find out about this man Nehemiah, ask him about some of the great characters of this book.  He had a great income and future yet gave it all up that he might come down into Jerusalem, gather the people together to pray.  It took so much out of him.  He was not a man who would sit on the fence.  He got down to the work straight away.  He had an interest in the people and work of God.  He inquired about the people then got involved.  We saw the impact it had on him but also the involvement it led to.  Chapter 2 verse 10 "it grieved them exceedingly".  Here are the enemies of God`s work set out to oppose him.  They were concerned that a man would come to seek the welfare of the children of the Israel.  Is the devil angry?  Are the demons of hell grieved today because you have compassion for others.  In chapter 1 verse 4 we come to the first of Nehemiah`s prayers, there are 11 in total in this book.  Look at the blessings and benefits that prayer brings.

There was a time of preparation in Nehemiah`s prayers.  There was a need for tears.  The walls are broken down, the gates are burned with fire.  The enemy could come in.  The people were scattered.  They did not know their God anymore.  It was a time to weep, getting down to business with God.  Nehemiah heard about the conditions in Jerusalem and did 5 things.  

He sits down - he has heard about the situation in Jerusalem and stops everything that he was doing.
He weeps and he mourns - it is the same weeping and mourning we have for someone who has passed away.
He fasted - goes without food and drink.
Then he prays - what was taking place in Jerusalem drove this man to his knees to pray.

When we think over the years how many great preachers and churches have been raised up, how many prayer times have been held - is that still the case today?  Prayer times have stopped, the people in the pulpits do not know God personally any more.  Maybe we need to take time to weep and pray once more.  Daniel was studying the book of Jeremiah when he stumbled on something very significant.  God told Jeremiah that the people would be in captivity for 70 years.  Daniel is now reading this and he knows it is coming up to near the end of the 70th year.  He knew it would be a time of movement by God and deliverance by God.  Prayer is something we must be careful of.  The example of 2 men - Daniel and Nehemiah - they set a time to seek God`s face.  Do we still set time for God today?  So busy in the morning that we set the prayer time aside.  Daniel took time each morning to pray to God.  Nehemiah realised that this was a big burden the Lord had laid on him.  He set to pray, he had to receive the power of God to take him through.  How do we handle problems and difficulties today?  When was the last time you took time to pray for people?  To be broken hearted, to weep and cry?

A time for praise.  Praise is also important in prayer.  What gave Nehemiah assurance coming into the presence of God?  Psalm 34 verse 18 "the Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart and saveth such as be of a contrite heart."  Nehemiah 1 verse 5.  We see the same in the book of Daniel - "O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments."  This is someone who needs our respect and reverence and awe.  "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil and canst not look on iniquity." Habbukuk 1 verse 13.  We need to still have great respect for him.  Here is a demonstration of great respect for the God of heaven.  Do we take time to come into his presence in preparation?  Take time to praise him?  Prayer is not just mentioning a few names and running out again as quickly as we can.  It is coming into the presence of God, realising who he is.  Praising him for who he is.  Thanking him.  Do we sit down before God`s presence.  Sometimes you cannot find words to pray but simply saying "thank you Lord for saving me" is sufficient.

A time to plead - verse 5.  He makes this great plea in verse 6 "let thine ear now be attentive and thine eyes open that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant which I pray before thee now day and night."  He admits the sin of the people, he is getting to grips with the seriousness of the situation.  He is open and honest before God.  He admits that he has sinned first.  We need to be careful.  There is an apathy amongst the people of God.  The people of God went back to Jerusalem.  God delivered them from Babylon, set them free after 70 years.  He sent them back to build the house of God, to get the walls built and gates restored, to gather the people together.  The people however went down to Jerusalem and settled down.  Some times that can happen to us.  We can be on fire for God when we first get saved but then we settle down.  The people in Jerusalem built their own houses but had no time to build the Lord`s house.  Solomon in his day realised the people he lived amongst were prone to fall short.  "If I shut up  heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land or if I send pestilence among my people.  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 and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7 verses 13 and 14

A time of personal engagement - verse 11.  Praying for himself then others.  "I pray thee thy servant this day and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king`s cupbearer."  There is a work to be done in Jerusalem but there is one problem - the king.  Nehemiah was a servant of the king.  If I go down and say to this man I want to serve another, I will be put to death.  If you grant me mercy and open the door for me I will work through it.  He trusted the Lord to open the doors for him.  It is easy to pray "send someone to do that work" but we need to pray "Lord what about me?"  Could you send me somewhere, open the door for me?  Nehemiah was serious about the things of God, had a burden for the things of God.  He needed God to soften the heart of the king.  He was praying for Jerusalem but also for himself.  The seriousness of the situation.  He could be put to death for the request he had to make of the king.

There is a lad here

Sermon notes from Sunday 26 August 2018 pm

John 6 verses 1 - 14

"There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves and two small fishes but what are they among so many?"

If you have ever sat down to a great novel or watched a great film the producer will put a caption "6 months earlier".  The director wants you to focus your mind and bring things up to date , he wants to explain those earlier moments.  "There is a lad here"  Out on the hillside there were some 5000 people who had gathered.  The commentators say that number could have swollen to 20,000.  Jesus has been teaching them, instructing them all day.  Now the time has come, the day is gone, what are they going to do with all these people to feed?  Philip questions even if 200 penny worth of bread would not be sufficient for them.  Think of what was happening a few hours earlier.  The origins of that great miracle when the Lord took 5 loaves and 2 fishes began in the home.  

A permission that was granted.  You can almost imagine that lad asking his mother to allow him to go and hear this great preacher on the hillside.  The man who was performing so many miracles.  The greatest asset in any home today is a mother or father who knows and loves the Lord as their own and personal Saviour.  That is the greatest transformation in any home - when someone comes to know Christ personally that is handed down to the family gathered at their feet every day.  In Acts 16 we read of a jailer.  One day his family saw him going out to his normal days work.  On this particular day he was given charge to keep 2 men securely.  There was something different about these 2 men.  They loved the Lord with all their heart, soul and mind.  They prayed and sang praises to God.  At midnight when that earthquake took place that jailer called for a light and he ran in and asked "Sirs what must I do to be saved?"  He realised something important - he knew he wasn`t saved.  He took Jesus as his Saviour and he brought the 2 men to his home that night.  He brought his family together.  Before the day was over his family all came to a saving faith in the Lord.  There is no greater joy than for someone to come to faith in Christ.  The lad was given permission to go and hear Jesus on the hillside.  Or perhaps that lad was there with his faither and mother.  It is great to see children being brought in with parents to hear the word of God together.  The bible does not talk about many ways but 2 ways.  The broad way at the end of which is hell and destruction and death.  Many are on it.  Then there is a narrow way and few there be that find it.  It leads to heaven and home.  Which road are you on tonight?  Have you ever invited the Lord into your life, invited him to be your Saviour and Lord?

A provision that was made.  The lad was granted permision.  That lad`s mother no doubt prepared for her a son a little lunch to take with him.  Here was a woman who gave her son that which God could use to the profiting of this miracle.  There is no greater miracle than that of the new birth, being transformed by the power of God.  Imagine coming into a meeting knowing you are not saved.  The man in jail came to Christ and asked the question "what must I do to be saved?"  He knew perfectly well he needed to be saved.  There is no greater miracle than the new birth, no greater miracle than coming into God`s presence, feeling the guiding of the Lord in his presence, showing you his perfect son who was without sin yet made sin for you and I.  He was set aside by all the religious leaders of his day.  As he hung on the cross his father had to turn his back on him that day, such was the seriousness of sin.  God says fools mock at sin.  It begins in the home - to teach little ones the way of salvation.  That rich young ruler had everything this world could offer - position, power, prominence but he didn`t have eternal life however.  He knew he didn`t have eternal life.  The Lord told him you know the commandments thou shalt not kill, honour thy father and thy mother.  The rich ruler replied "all these have I kept from my youth up."  There was something missing though.  The religious man was taught in the things of God but he didn`t know how to be saved.  Is it possible that that there might be one person who doesn`t know how to be saved?  Within that heart of yours there is something that will damn your soul.  It is called sin.  There is nothing you can do for yourself.  Your sin sent God`s son from heaven to the cross of Calvary.  He took your sin on himself.  He died and took the penalty for your sin.  You have to acknowledge that Jesus died there for you, that he is prepared to take it for you and is offering you eternal life.  This woman gave this lad something.  Remember in the house of Timothy Paul said "continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and are convinced of."  Timothy learned these things from his mother and grandmother.  Daniel was carried captive into a pagan land at 12 years of age.  He was brought into the kingdom of Babylon.  The king set down the best food and wine, he could eat and drink of these but Daniel purposed in his heart.  He said he couldn`t take of them.  He rejected the kings meat.  It would defile him in the eyes of God.  He learned that from his mother`s knee.  Moses was brought up in all the wisdom of Egypt.  There came a day when he had to decide.  The learning came from his mother when she taught him about the God of Israel.  There came a day when Moses was able to make a decision.  What a responsibility.  They could not bring him into the kingdom of God but they prayed that the Holy Spirit would take that which was planted in his heart and use it to the saving of his soul.  One day the Holy Spirit can use the word of God to save your soul.  Can you put your hand on your heart and say you are saved today?  Do you take time to instruct your children, to apply it to their hearts?  This mother gave him  something for his lunch and the Lord used it to bring food to the people.

The presentation that was made.  The lad was asked to bring the lunch to where Jesus was.  He never gave it a second thought to give that which he could do nothing with.  Here was a young boy willing to take his stand and present his lunch to the Lord.

The performance Jesus made.  He handed the loaves and fishes over to Jesus.  It was the Lord who performed the miracle not the lad.  When it was given to the Lord then the miracle took place.  It was not something the lad could do of himself.  The Lord would use the loaves and fishes.  The Lord is asking for faith the size of a mustard seed.  If the Lord has not made a change in that life of yours it is not his fault, it is your fault.  I wonder what you will do today?  Will you decide to follow Jesus?  Will you come and trust him as Saviour and Lord, begin to follow him?  You are on the broad road that leads to destruction and hell for all eternity.  The invitation is given to you to start for heaven and home.  Only the Lord can do it.  As the boy handed the loaves and fishes to the Lord it was the Lord who blessed it, took it and handed it to the crowd.  People say I cannot have that faith to do this but you can bring what you have to the Lord and he will use what you have, not what you can try and do.

Hearing the word of God and acting on it

Sermon notes from Sunday 2 September 2018 pm

Hebrews 2 verses 1 - 9

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip" verse 1

The Lord does not want selective hearing.  We need to give the earnest heed to this today.  This is a book written to a group of Jewish men and women who had come to the knowledge of saving faith in Christ Jesus.  They reallised deep down in their souls they had sinned, were shapen in iniquity.  The ritual they were carrying out week after week would never atone for their sins.  When they heard that Jesus came into the world and died on the cross for their sin they turned away from the gods they served and trusted Christ as Saviour.  They were now under extreme pressure and turning away from faith.  Some of them are losing their livelihoods, families for the sake of the Lord.  This word comes to them at a very prominent time.  Take heed to the things they had heard, hold onto them and keep them.  Satan doesn`t forget about you when you get saved, when you trust the Lord as Saviour.  Satan is on you until you take the last breath in your body.  He will try to discourage you, defeat you, bring so much to you.  God says take heed to what you have already heard.  In the word of God where is the danger - "lest at any time time we should let them slip."

The greatest privilege for you and I.  "which we have heard"  When the Lord gathered that faithful band of disciples before he was taken up into heaven he gave them the great commission.  He told them to go into all the world and preach the gospel.  What a privilege to hear the gospel especially when we are sinners and on the way to a lost hell.  Then someone comes to us, shows us we need not be condemned but we can be saved.  It is a wonderful privilege to hear that message.  They were to tell men and women of their lost condition.  We will never look to be saved until we realise we are lost in sin, unless we come to Christ, realise we are lost, on that broad road that leads to hell and destruction.  The disciples were to tell the people there was one mediator between God and man.  There is one way to heaven.  That is through Jesus` own blood shed on Calvary.  Someone said the bible is like a telescope.  When you look through it you see the worlds beyond.  As we read the word of God we can see eternity beyond.  If we merely look at the word of God that is all we see.  Nothing about eternity, just God`s word.  Remember how Paul answered in Romans 3 verse 1 "what advantage then hath the Jew?"  Paul said "much every way chiefly because that unto them were committed the oracles of God."  What a privilege to hear this wonderful message.  Paul said to the Jewish people what a privilege you had.  You first received the oracles of God, were given the inspired word of God.  Mary listened to the angel when told she would have a baby.  She listened and took it to heart.  Joseph also received a message.  It was sure and steadfast.  We need to give a similar good hearing to the word of God.  In Acts 10 Cornelius had a great privilege.  God heard his prayers and sent an angel right into his house.  God took note and was pleased with the works of this man`s hands.  That didn`t save him.  The angel said "send for Peter he will tell you words whereby you might be saved."  What a privilege we have to hear the gospel message heralded from every corner in our province.

The greatest priority.  The writer wants us to hear "give more earnest heed".  We have heard the greatest mistake.  When Cornelius received that heavenly visitor on that day he didn`t leave it like Agrippa.  Agrippa said "I will leave this until a more convenient season".  He wanted to hear him again.  When that message came to Cornelius he gathered all his family and servants together.  He sent for Peter in Joppa, nearly 30 miles away.  He realised his soul was in the balance.  Your soul can also lie in the balance as God directs you to Calvary and what you do with Christ.  It was Cornelius who made that decision.  The angel told him what to do but he had to act on that word.  He had to think for a moment whether he should send for him straight away or not.  He sent his servants immediately to Joppa to contact Peter and to come back to him as quickly as possible.  As we look to Christ suffering and bleeding for us on Calvary we have to ask the question "what am I going to do, wait and act another day or not?"  Jesus spoke of the sower going out to sow the seed.  He likened that to the man or woman sowing the seed of the word of God.  He said to those who heard "be careful of what you hear and be careful how you hear it."  There can be a danger of hearing the word of god that is able to make you wise unto salvation.  We need to be careful of how we hear.  You can hear without a great priority.  You can be thinking of what you are going to do tomorrow or what you were doing yesterday but you need to careful how you ought to hear - "give the more earnest heed to the things you hear."  Amos chapter 8 "behold the days come when I will send a famine of hearing the words of God." 

The greatest peril.  "lest at any time we should let them slip."  The wording is that of a boatman and he is making for the harbour and into safety.  As he comes along with his boat he falls asleep and instead of taking the turn to the harbour he drifts on past out into the angry sea.   Are we drifting on the sea of this old world?  Another picture here is used of a pot not holding in water, it is leaking.  It is the same illustration God is giving here.  We should give the earnest heed lest at any time we should let them slip.  Hebrews 4 verse 2 many have heard the finest preachers and the most powerful sermons but not saved - why - because we have slipped past.  We haven`t realised it was for us.  A decision needs to be made.  Have we allowed the things of God to slip from us?  It is possible that we haven`t applied them to our hearts yet and they have slipped away?  These things are slipping away from you.  There was a time when you were sold out for God, studying the bible and seeking the Lord, liked to come and congregate with the people of God but now over time things have slipped from you.  What a peril - of letting things slip.

The greatest price.  Toying about with the word of God.  We shall pay the greatest price if we allow these things to slip away from us.  We will pay it with our souls in a lost eternity.

What it means to follow Christ

Sermon notes from Sunday 9 September 2018 pm

Luke 9 verses 57 - 63

I suppose it is safe to say we live in an age of great apostasy.  Whenever we see many filtering away from the faith in God as Saviour and Lord.  The Lord in these verses is pointing out a great truth, following after him.  We need to get back to looking at the foundations.  When a house begins to crack you would begin to look at the foundations.  So many are turning away from the Lord, they haven`t got a foundation in the first place.  Today it is easy believism, a mere raising of the hand in a meeting and you are saved.  Maybe signing a commital form and you are saved.  There is no mention of the cross, no mention of sin or being sorry for sin, no mention of turning from sin.  None of these phrases are mentioned.  We meet in this passage 3 men who came to the Lord with a desire in their hearts.  The Holy Spirit turns the searchlight on them, we see their conversation and desires.  They want to follow after the Lord for whatever measure we don`t know.  Maybe they wanted to catch the limelight, to be seen as followers of the Lord.  Whatever reason they came with the Lord makes it clear what it would cost them to follow the Lord.  The Lord makes it clear what it would cost them to follow him.  It is good to count the cost of following after the Lord.  

Verse 57 "Lord I will follow thee withersoever thou goest."  Peter himself said "even it means death I will not deny you."  He didn`t realise what he was saying.  This man wanted to follow the Lord wherever he was going.  In verse 58 Jesus asked him "do you want to follow after someone who hasn`t even a roof over his head."  The Lord was saying to follow the Lord on these terms would be sacrificial.  Zacchaeus wanted to see the Lord when he came into the city.  He couldn`t see him because of the crowd so he climbed up a sycamore tree.  The Lord stopped at that tree and told him to come down.  He later said he was prepared to give everything up just to follow Christ.  To follow Christ it means sacrifice, turning away.  This man comes to the Lord and didn`t realise what the Lord meant.  Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he would never return this way again.  In Jerusalem he would be rejected by men, he would be beaten, abused, placed on an old cross outside the city walls.  There he would die an awful death.  He said "would you follow me to that?"  Is that what you are going to do?  It will take sacrifice to do that.  Perhaps this man had the best intentions but he hadn`t really fully counted the cost.  It is sad to see how many are caught up in the emotion of a meeting, they are determined to do something but there was nothing there.  Confronted with the reality this man seems to have disappeared into the shadows.  Didn`t he say that about the parable of the sower.  The seed that would fall in the hard ground, it had a certain amount of growth to it.  The sun comes up and the winds come and it is withered away.  People hear the word of God to receive it but when the reality sinks in it is a differen story.  There is no foundation to their commitment.  Jesus spoke of the sacrifice it would mean.  Matthew 16 verse 24 "if any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross."  Abraham when he was called was living in Ur of the Chaldees.  God told him he wanted him to leave his home behind, leave his family behind, leave his nation behind.  Can you imagine what it was to say farewell to all he had to follow the Lord?  When the rich young ruler was called upon to follow he looked at his wealth, his riches, his position in society, his popularity.  The Lord said all of it had to go.  Moses was a young man when he came to make a decision.  He had everything he could ever want, his education was second to none.  He was brought up in Pharaoh`s household with all its wealth.  Yet there came a day when he realised this was not the life for him.  He had to take a stand with the people of God, those who were beaten and tormented.  He had to forsake all he had.  He was mighty in word and deed yet he had to give it up for the sake of the Lord.  Is there something in your life that you are not prepared to give up to be saved?

There is a walk of sincerity.  Verses 59 and 60 a man heard the voice of the Lord saying "follow me".  He wanted to put off the decision.  "I have a father will you wait until I bury him."  We are not told that the man was even dead yet.  He just wanted to put off the decision to follow.  When the Lord came to Matthew he was sitting at the seat of custom or taxes.  The Lord said to him "follow me" and he arose immediately and followed Christ.  This man wanted to wait for a few days.  He had the desire to follow but he wanted to do it in his time.  We cannot pick and choose the day or hour of our salvation.  He just wanted to put it off.  In these days it was the responsibility of the young man to take care of his family`s needs.  He didn`t want to make a decision at that particular time.  It was his duty to make sure his parents were cared for, to bury them if necessary but we are not told here that the father was even dead yet.  This young man thought he could wait for a while.  The time to come to Christ is when you hear the Lord telling you to come.  The Holy Spirit works in your heart to show you Christ dying for your sins on Calvary.  There he shows you your great sin, then he says come.  That is the time to come.  Martin Lloyd Jones met a man one morning who said to him "Sir if you had made an appeal last night I would have responded."  Martin Lloyd Jones looked at him and said "well why don`t you come now?"  The man said "O no I don`t feel like it now."  Martin Lloyd Jones said "I feel it wan`t God that was speaking to you last night because if it had of been you would have been at my door this morning first thing."  It is not coming when you are emotionally ready but when the Lord speaks to our hearts.

It is a work of separation.  Verses 61 and 62 this man wanted to go home and say farewell to his family.  The Lord had something of this man`s soul in mind.  If he went back home maybe someone would put him off following Christ.  This young man had set his hand to the plough but he was about to take it off.  The fishermen in Matthew 4 as Jesus was passing were told to follow him and he would make them fishers of men.  Right away they followed him.  There was no mention of going back to their homes to say farewell.  They followed Christ immediately. Maybe the Lord is saying to you "will you follow me, will you allow me entrance in your heart?"  "If any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in."  There is a work of separation.  We have to be separated.  The woman caught in adultery was told "go and sin no more"  In other words "don`t be in the places of sin any longer."  The woman at the well left her water pot and went to Samaria.  Why? Because the water pot would take her back into the home where there was immorality.  She wanted to be separate.  This man wanted to say farewell to his family.  Sometimes that is what happens.  A person comes under the convicting hand of God, he hears the word of God and is challenged, then he goes out the next day and confers with someone else.

It is a work of steadfastness.  Verse 62 contains a stern warning. "No man having put his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."  The Lord gives the same warning to us as he did to this man.  When the farmer got his hand on the plough and his eyes on the marker at the top of the field he wouldn`t let go until he reached that point.  The Lord likes that to us today.  Maybe God is speaking to you, something he requests of you.  The Lord says if you take your hand off the plough you are not fit for the kingdom of heaven.  How is it with you today?  What`s holding you back from getting saved?  Is it the sacrifice, giving up of sin?  Is it something that holds you back?  Is it the sacrifice that is called for?  Is it the sincerity, are you ready to go on with the Lord?  Is it the separation?  What about the steadfastness, going on and going through with God?  Whatever the cost the man that hears the word of God, goes out and does it is like a man who build his house on a sure foundation.  When the winds and rain come the house will stand because it has good foundations.  The man who hears God`s word and forgets about it is like a man building his house on the sand.  When the wind and rains come it falls down.  Paul said there is no other foundation that a man can lay.  There is the foundation of good works but they will crumble.  There is the foundation of religiousity, self righteousness but these will crumble.  There is a foundation that is laid that no-one else can lay today.  When we lay our all on him we will be saved and saved for all eternity.  Are you on that foundation, a sure foundation?

A vision for the work of God

Sermon notes from Sunday 2 September 2018

Nehemiah 1 verses 1 - 11

Think of the situation Nehemiah found himself in.  What sort of character he was and the effect it had on his life.  Proverbs "where there is no vision the people perish."  Wouldn`t it be sad for us to have no vision, no vision of perishing souls, souls going out into a lost and Christless hell for all eternity?  Nehemiah got a great vision of the need all around him.  Here was a man who saw things, his eyes were opened by the Spirit of God.  He had voluntary service, saw what needed to be done and asked the Lord to send him into the situation.  Consecrated and committed to the work of God.  We see he spoke out.  We need to be a people who can speak out about things happening all around us.  Nehemiah had a great victory.  He achieved what he set out to do.  Do we really have a vision for those not saved or do we need to come afresh and say "Lord give us that vision."  We often sing the hymn "take my life and let it be consecrated to thee."  We never really think of the words.  If you were to go through that hymn would we be prepared to do all that it tells us?  Are we prepared today to give notice?

The interest that Nehemiah had for the work.  Notice where he is - chapter 1 verse 1 "in Shushan the palace".  Verse 11 "I was the kings cupbearer."  Living in a palace in all the luxury and splendour, really high ranking servant of the king.  He was the man who would say who would go in and see the king or not, he oversaw all that the king was to eat and drink.  Nehemiah had one passion - the work of the people of God.  Israel was a defeated people.  That nation God had promised so much to, he had brought them out of Egypt, brought them through the waters, gave them the land of Canaan.  As long as you serve me and look to me you will get the good of it, if you turn away then judgment will fall.  God patiently walked with that people but they had turned their backs on the God of heaven.  They began to worship gods of the people of that land.  They had said "we don`t want you any more God we want a king."  They wanted to be like every other nation.  Jeremiah 7 verse 13 "And now because you have done all these works and I spake unto you rising up early and speaking but you heard not and I called you, but ye answered not."  They were so taken up with sinful ways that they shut God out all together.  God had said to Jeremiah I don`t want to hear your promises for this people, intercession was no longer good, they had crossed the line, a line of no return, they had sinned and followed other gods.  Sin now must pay, the floodgates were opened.  God allowed Nebuchadnezzar and his armies to go down into Jerusalem, carrying away captive the people of Israel.  Jeremiah 15 "The Lord said unto me though Moses and Samuel stood before yet my mind could not be toward this people, cast them out of my sight and let them go forth."  Even with the mighty prayers of Samuel and Moses praying for their people God would close his ears.  Even today in our situation, our lives turning away from God as his people, his nation, God would not hear the prayers of his people for the province in which we live in.  Now in Nehemiah the Persian king was raised up to bring them back into the land of Israel once more out of captivity in Babylon into Jerusalem again.  Now they had been back for 70 years.  Nehemiah was living up in Babylon, in Shushan the palace, he had a good existence and was very secure.  One thing was on his mind - the work down in Jerusalem.  No doubt they would be in a good way of going again but what a sad message he received.  This man had a great interest.  Although he had a good job, living in luxury, was well off, his heart was for the people of God.  We can get so caught up in our work, the friends we have and all the pleasures they bring, so much so that we forget about God.  Sometimes our thinking of God can be low on our agenda.  We turn away, one little thing slips in and then another.  Do we have that interest?  Jesus talked about a man who fell among thieves.  There he was lying in the road, battered and bruised.  No-one had any mercy for him.  A Levite passed by, could see the body lying there on the road.  A priest passed by too.  He was a religious man with no compassion for this man lying in the road.  It was a foreigner who came on him and took care of him.  Have we that interest today as we see men and women walk past?  That is the interest Paul had as he stood in Athens.  He could see they were given over to idolatry.  He could see these people had nothing spiritually speaking.  His heart was stirred.  He had a natural interest in their souls.  Demas hadn`t that interest.  He preached for a while, followed Paul for a while, then he forsook him and the preaching of the word of God.  Abandoned the interest he had in the souls of men and women.  It is good to have an interest in the souls of men and women.

The inquiry he makes.  What happens - his friends came up from Jerusalem, he meets them where they are in verse 2.  Here`s a man in Shushan, the kingdom of Babylon, on his heart was the work of God and the people of God in Jerusalem.  Now he had the opportunity to ask his friends about the people and the work of God.  He could easily have said the right people are down there to help the people of Israel but no he had a interest in the people of God and the work of God.  Have we that interest in the work of God?  The inquiry Paul had.  He was lying in chains.  Philippians 1 he is speaking to those coming in to comfort him.  Verse 14 "and many of the brethren in the Lord waxing confident by my bonds are much more bold to speak the word without fear." Just because he was cut off from the work of God he was interested to know if the work was stopped.  Paul enquired about the work regularly.  Remember when he left Thessalonica and had to leave there quickly he knew the work was not finished.  1 Thessalonians 3 verse 5 "for this cause when I could no longer forbear I sent to know your faith lest by some means the tempter have tempted you and our labour be in vain."  "Forbear" is an emotional word.  He had to inquire about the souls.  That challenged me  - do we enquire about souls?

There is the impact this news on him.  He received a poor message in verse 3.  He thought to himself, the people have been done there for the past 70 years, surely they will have the work progressing.  The walls were broken down and the gates were burnt.  The gates were there for safety and protection.  We have to be careful with the walls around our lives that they do not break down.  The wall of our bible study, times of prayer, quiet times that they are not broken down.  We need to watch what we listen to.  We become discouraged.  The impact it would have.  It brought Nehemiah to his knees, he came unto the Lord of heaven for days and nights.  Nehemiah found out that the people wouldn`t put their backs to the work.  They were giving leeway to the enemy.  The impact of the word - Nehemiah 1 verse 4 "I sat down and wept and mourned certain days and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven."  Nehemiah prayed, we need to pray for our home, nation, church and fellowship again.

There is the involvement that it brings.  This is only the start for Nehemiah.  On his knees weeping and praying.  Then God tells him to go to Jerusalem and take care of the work.  He is involved now but only after he has prayed to the God of heaven.  We can only find out the purpose of God when we pray and seek God`s help.  Souls are dying as we speak, perishing into a lost sinners hell.  May God give us what Nehemiah had - an interest, an inquiry, an impact that it takes us to our knees but involvement - there is something I can do.