Christ's mission on earth; the means by which Jesus saves and the miracle

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER 2020

MATTHEW 1 VERSES 18 - 25

This is the account where Joseph is pondering over what to do in the situation he found himself in.  Mary his espoused wife is expecting a child.  His first thought was she had been unfaithful.  While he thought on these things God sent the clarity he needed by way of an angel.  The Lord knows what is heavy on our hearts today.  Here he sent an angel to where Joseph was.  Do we need God's word clarified today?  Sometimes the gospel message goes over our heads.  Philip asked the Ethiopian eunuch "do you understand what you are reading?"  The eunuch replied "how can I understand except someone explain it to me?"  The angel came to Joseph to help him understand what was happening in his life.

Christ's mission on earth.  "As Joseph pondered all these things" then he sees the angel and is told to call the baby Jesus "for he shall save his people from their sins".  He came for no other reason but to save, to restore us back into a relationship with God.  God was in the world reconciling the world unto himself.  Consider the God who made the heaven and the earth, he hung the stars in the sky and filled the seas with great fishes.   Then he made man in his own image and finally a woman from man's ribs.  As he looked at his creation he sealed it with the words "now everything was really good."  How can it be good when we experience sickness or pain, sorrow or death?  It all came as a result of man's sin.  That is why Jesus came into the world, to make amends.  Satan came into the Garden of Eden and directed Adam and Eve to believe a lie.  To eat of the tree in the middle of the Garden would result in death, not physically but spiritually.  All of creation groans in anticipation.  Christ came into the world to reconcile the world to himself.  "For the son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19 verse 10) Paul himself said "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners of whom I am the worst."  (1 Timothy 1 verse 15) The greatest need we have today is a Saviour.

The means by which Jesus saves - his atoning death.  If Jesus had never entered into the world and died for mans sin there could never be atonement.  He satisfied the demands of a holy God in heaven.  We can make the cross of no effect.  Man is a sinful being and the cross was God's way of reconciling the world.  Isaiah 700 years before the birth of Messiah said in chapter 53 verse 12 "Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death and he was numbered with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors."  He was pointing to the death of Jesus, how he would be crucified.

There is also a miracle here.  Every time a man comes to Christ it takes a miracle of grace.  In Acts 13 notice Barnabas' reaction to the people getting saved in Antioch.  When he came he realised he had seen the grace of God.  It is nothing of us but all of the Lord.  His grace, mercy and love - that he ever looked on us to save us from sin.  Barnabas could see something of the miracle of grace.  The blind man in John's gospel  - the people looked on him but couldn't understand the miracle that had happened in his life.  It is impossible to explain the miracle of grace in people's lives.  When we hear the message of the gospel something dramatic happens.   God comes in and saves us once and for all. 

The impact of Jesus' birth on Simeon

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER 2020 am

LUKE 2 VERSE 22 - 35

Over the Christmas time we have been looking at the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ and how it affected so many people.  Think of Mary when the announcement was made to her.  Also think of Joseph, that word brought a great challenge to his heart, he thought Mary had been unfaithful and he would have to divorce her.  God brought clarification to both Mary and Joseph.  Think of the impact on the shepherds who were brought in from the hillsides minding their sheep.  They left the scene in the manger praising God for what had been revealed to them.  Think of the people of Bethlehem who were full of joy at what God had done in their town.  Think of the wise men a couple of years later who came knocking on Herod's door.  When Herod heard the news he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.  Think today of the impact on the life of Simeon.  What impact has it had on your life?  Maybe even over Christmas as you have pondered the birth of Christ what does it mean to you today?  Simeon was a man of God and the news of the birth of Christ brought great joy and meaning to him.  Joseph and Mary were bringing the baby Jesus 40 days after his birth to be circumcised.

Simeon was a man who was faithful in his duty.  We are responsible to those in God's family today - to be encouragers and supporters of one another.  In verse 25 Simeon is described as "just".  That speaks of his standing before God.  He was righteous.  We read earlier of Elisabeth and Zechariah who were described as righteous.  They had a right relationship with God, born again of the Spirit of God, to know the Lord as personal Saviour.  To bow our knees, confess our sins to the one who is able to forgive us our sins.  The Shunamite woman recognised in Elisha that he was a man of God.  There was something consistent about that man.  Elisha had an impact on her life.  Simeon is also described as a devout man.  It showed in his life.  He had a good reputation, was well respected in the community.  In verse 25 we read he was waiting for "the consolation of Israel."  He was waiting for the promised Messiah.  He was believing in God's word.  Sometimes we can read God's word and we pass over it.  God wants us to hold onto that promise, to not let it go.  "The Holy Ghost was upon him" verse 25, "and it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost" verse 26 and "he came by the spirit into the temple" verse 27.  We need to be faithful, bearing a testimony, waiting on the Lord's coming again.  Paul talked about "turning from their idols and to wait for his son." (1 Thessalonians 1 verse 9)  Are you prepared for the Lord's coming again, are you prepared for that event?

Simeon was fruitful in his direction (verse 27).  Simeon was led by the Spirit.  He was in a right relationship with God and led by the Spirit to the temple.  Mary and Joseph were faithful in bringing the Lord into the temple.  As they were faithful God too was faithful in what he was doing bringing Simeon by his Spirit into the temple.  Only God can do that.  The Holy Spirit is the only one who can reveal to you your need of God.  Do we know anything of the promptings of the Holy Spirit?  Are we being filled by the Spirit of God every day?  Are we obeying God's word every day?  It is good to be led by the Spirit of God.  For Philip the Holy Spirit prompted him to go into the desert and there he was shown one chariot and told to go and speak to the person in it.  Philip obeyed and led the Ethiopian eunuch to Christ.  Do we know the promptings of the Spirit of God, to speak when we need to speak or to be quiet when necessary?  Whenever we are committed to the Lord he leads us and we follow him.

Simeon was focused on his devotion.  He took the Lord in his arms and blessed God.  He recognised this was the one promised to himself and all Israel.  He blessed the God of heaven as a result.  Paul said he had learned to be content in whatever state he was in.  He had everything he needed for time and for eternity.  Are you content today?  Can you say you are content with your lot because you have Christ as Saviour?  Are you focused today?  Simeon took the child in his arms and blessed the God of heaven for what he now had seen.  Simeon got his eyes on the Lord and that was enough for him.  Jesus spoke of a man who held a great supper.  He sent out invitations.  One had bought a piece of ground and therefore could not come because he wanted to go and see it.  The next man excused himself because he had a yoke of oxen he wanted to go and test out.  He was more interested in possessions.  The third man had relationship problems, he had just got married and he couldn't leave his wife.  They all had a focus on other things.  What are you focused on today?  The woman who came with her alabaster box of ointment into Simon's house broke it open and poured the ointment on Jesus' feet.  She was prepared to give the most expensive thing she had.  She was focused on him and wanted to serve him.  Are we focused on Christ today?

Simeon's faith was deepened.  He had received a promise from God - he would not see death until he had seen the Lord.  His mind went back to the word of God, when God gave him that promise his faith was deepened as a result of this day.  He proved that God cannot lie.  When God says he will do something he will do it.  Are we seeking to be guided by the Holy Spirit today?  When we get before his word do we pray "Lord open up your word today, help me to hear what you are saying today."  Are we looking for him, searching for him in the scriptures?  Are we believing in him today?  Simeon proved God's word was true.

Simeon had a fixed destination.  This meeting settled the issue for Simeon.  Here was a man who had seen the Lord's Christ and was ready for death.  Not one of us is prepared for that great step into eternity without first gazing unto the Lord himself, seeing him dieing on the cross for you and I.  He was paying the price for your sin and mine.  Jesus said "except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3 verse 3)  Jesus told the Pharisees "die in your sin and when you die you cannot come to where I am." (John 8 verse 21)  The thief on the cross took one look at the Saviour and was prepared for a life time in eternity.

The response of the shepherds to the message

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2020 pm

LUKE 2 VERSES 15 - 21

The shepherds on the hillside had been confronted by the angels.  They were told that a Saviour had been born.  It was the greatest message ever heard.  The shepherds left their sheep and came down into Bethlehem to find the baby Jesus in a manger.  When we come to the foot of the old rugged cross we realise and recognise that we come short of God's glory.  We can look to the Saviour of the world to have our sins forgiven.  As the shepherds gazed on the baby  they pondered the message.  When the angels first appeared they were afraid but the angels comforted them with the words "fear not".  Maybe over the past number of days and weeks God has been speaking to you.  You realise that you are not saved and there is a fear in your heart.  "I am come that you might have life and have it more abundantly."  The shepherds immediate reaction was "come now let us go to Bethlehem".  They didn't want it to pass them by.  They considered the message to the last detail.  Think of Nicodemus in John 3.  He came to Jesus by night.  He said to Jesus "we know that thou art a teacher come from God for no man can do these things except God be with him."  He had pondered the things of God.  He had listened to the Lord and pondered everything.  Remember the Bereans in Acts 17 after they had heard the message - "they searched the scriptures daily to see if these things were so."   Will you ponder over what Jesus came to do for you?  He left the splendour of heaven to step into the world.  He was rejected and placed on the cross of Calvary.  He died there for you and me that we might not be lost.  These were men who proved the message for themselves.  Luke 2 verse 20 "and the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God."  The people of Berea proved the message to be so - they searched the scriptures, they wanted to see if these things were true.  In John 4 the Samaritan woman spoke to the Lord.  She proved who he was and told those in the cities around her "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?"  They turned to her and said "Now we believe, not because of thy saying; for we have heard him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." (John 4 verse 42)  Will you prove the Lord for yourself?  In John 1 we are introduced to Philip, a man that had seached the scriptures to find the Saviour.  When he found Christ for himself he went and searched for Nathaniel "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."  Nathaniel replied "Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth" to which Philip said "come and see".  Will you prove the Lord today?  Prove him to take away your sins?  They praised the message - verse 20 "And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them."  When the Lord met the 10 lepers and they asked for his help, he told them "go and show yourself to the priests".  Only the priest could pronounce them clean,  As they turned they were healed but only one returned to give thanks and praise to God.  In Luke 7 we read the story of a woman who came into where the Lord was sitting at the Pharisees table.  She began to kiss and wash Jesus' feet.  The Pharisee was angry at this and said "this man if he were a prophet would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner."  The Lord knew his heart.  The Lord knows all about you today, what sin is in your heart.  He wants you to come to him and give him your life and he will give you peace.  They published the message - their message was about the child who was born.  A Saviour who had come into the world.  The Lord fills our heart with joy and peace.  He fills our mouth with the story to tell others about what he has done for us.  Will you accept Jesus for yourself today?  If you accept Jesus today will you publish it to others?

A life changing experience for Mary and Elisabeth

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2020

LUKE 1 VERSES 36 - 45

The angel had just appeared to Mary to announce the birth of Jesus.  He had also revealed to Elisabeth her cousin that she too would give birth to a child.  When the angel had departed from Mary she went to visit Elisabeth.  A life-changing experience would take place in both their lives.  They shared their news together.  Isn't it wonderful when the people of God come together to share what God has done in their lives?

The course of their lives.  2 lives whose course was very dramatically changed.  Our lives can be changed very quickly and dramatically too.  Perhaps through sickness, unemployment, a hospital stay, maybe a relationship in our lives.  Elisabeth would give birth to John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord himself.  He would prepare the way of the Lord.  Mary would give birth to the Saviour of the world.  What a position to be in.  Both these lives were changed by reason of a miracle.  What the angel said would happen to Mary and Elisabeth would have naturally been impossible.  Zacharias and Elisabeth were both elderly.  Elisabeth was past the age of child bearing and she was in fact barren (verse 7).  In verse 18 Zacharias admitted to the angel that he was old.  "For with God nothing shall be impossible." (verse 37)  How could Mary have a child - verse 34 "seeing I know not a man?"  The angel told her "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."  Immaculate conception, conceived of the Holy Ghost.  He would come into the world as the sin bearer, a sacrifice for our sins.  There is a miracle that can take place today for you.  A miracle of grace.  That we can be saved.  It is a work of God in our hearts.  God can reveal the depths of our hearts and then reveal the middle cross of Calvary.  On the middle cross Jesus died for a lost mankind.  If you are not saved today it will take a miracle of grace to change the course you are on.  The bible speaks of 2 ways - the narrow and broad way.  One leads to heaven and home.  We are also told that few find the correct road.  Don't rest on a false profession but trust him afresh.  There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.  Turn from your sin and come to the Lord.  

The company Mary sought.  "And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste into a city of Judah.  And entered into the house of Zacharias and saluted Elisabeth." (verses 39 and 40)  They were related by blood, cousins but also spiritually related because God touched and changed their lives.  Now they wanted to come together, to communicate with one another in fellowship.  Isn't that wonderful - the change that takes place in our lives.  God gives us a bond with other Christians.  Is there a longing in your heart for fellowship with others?  The journey Mary went on was some 70 miles.  It was not a comfortable journey particularly on foot.  It was fraught with many changes.  Remember the story of the Good Samaritan and how there were thieves and robbers waiting to attack those walking along the road.  Many today are living under great persecution, would love to be sitting in fellowship with other Christians.  Rejoice this morning that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.  The 2 men on the road to Emmaeus from Jerusalem experienced something that day, they met with Jesus personally.  As a result they wanted to be with people of the same company so they rushed back to Jerusalem.  The disciples in Acts 4 went to their own company.  Solomon when he came to the throne tried to sort out the taxes.  The elderly advisors told him to reduce the taxes and the people would follow him but when Solomon turned to those of his own age he was advised to increase the taxes.  Solomon divided a nation because he chose to follow his friends.  He also took wives who turned his heart against God.

The conversation they had.  Their conversation was all about spiritual matters.  Elisabeth said "Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.  And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?  For lo; as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.  And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord."  (verses 42 to 45)  Elisabeth told of the role Mary would play and the blessing she brought into her home that day.  Our conversation should be about Christ, always to uplift one another.  Paul said in Colossians 3 verse 6  "let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt."  Malachi 3 verse 16 "Then they that feared the Lord they spake often one to another and the Lord hearkened and heard it."  We need to be careful with our conversations as the Lord listens to them.  James 4 speaks of the tongue "Speak not evil one of another" and earlier "the tongue is a little member and boasteth great things.  Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity; so is the tongue among our members that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire of hell ... But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."  The 2 on the Emmaeus road, their conversation was all about what had happened in Jerusalem.  They were so disappointed that Jesus had died.  They thought he had come to relieve them of the Roman authority.  On the Mount of Transfiguration the conversation was about the coming death of the Lord.

The comfort this meeting brought.  Mary burst into song - verses 46 - 55.  Mary needed a sympathetic ear at this stage in her life.  She needed that encouragement from Elisabeth.  In the days ahead she would face finger pointing, criticism and even her family would turn against her.  For these 2 women their lives would change forever.  Has the miracle of new birth taken place in your life today?

The shepherds belief

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER 2020 am

LUKE 2 VERSES 8 - 14

In verse 14 we read one of the songs of Christmas by the angels.  Notice the verse before it "and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God."  In verses 10 to 12 we read of a revelation about the coming of the Lord.  It is as if God is showing to us that this great messenger came from heaven to pronounce the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Somehow he drifts back into the background and it becomes a time of celebration.  Let us join with the angels today to worship God and say "glory to God in the highest".  

This angel song in verse 14 shows the greatness of God.  Maybe like the angels to the shepherds we should direct our eyes to the God of heaven today.  Perhaps burdens are weighing us down today.  We are shown here the great domain and realm of God.  God over rules in our lives, takes the troubles and difficulties and stresses to reveal his great plan and purpose.  Joseph had a problem when he found his wife was going to bear a child.  "While he was thinking on those things", recognising that she had to be put away, God comes and speaks to him.  The heavens declare the glory of God.  Psalm 8 "when I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers the moon and stars which thou hast ordained.  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?"  Paul tells us something of the realms of the glory of God when he describes an incident of being caught up in the third heaven. (2 Corinthians 12 verse 2)  God's throne is above every earthly throne.  Paul calls it "paradise".  First we have the sky which is the first heaven, then the stars and moon the second heaven and finally where Jesus is the third heaven.  To the thief on the cross Jesus said "today thou shalt be with me in paradise."  Remember the plagues in Egypt and Pharoah asked for God to stop them and he did - God has control over all of nature.  Caesar was the Roman Governor through whom God brought about the birth of Christ.  In Micah 5 verse 2 500 years before the birth of Christ God recorded that the fulfilment of his plan would come about.  He is the mighty God today.  Isaiah the prophet said in chapter 1 verse 2 "hear O heavens and give ear O earth".  He called the angels in heaven and every living person on earth because the Lord has dominion over them all.  The Lord knows all about this pandemic - praise God for his greatness!

Praise God for his goodness in sending his son.  What did it mean to send his son?  We see his greatness throughout the Old Testament.  We see that when God opened up the Red Sea and the children of Israel walked on dry ground and when they were brought into the land of promise.  God has sent his only begotten son into this sin cursed world.  Think of Jacob in the Old Testament when he had to flee from his father's house.  He was away for 20 years then the Lord told him to return.  Now he would return with his wives, family, flocks and herds.  The great problem on his mind was meeting with his brother Esau.  Genesis 32 verse 10 "I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servants for with my staff I passed over this Jordan and now I am become two bands."  Maybe we should take time to dwell on that today when we think of how the Lord came at Christmas time.  God looked on the world that had rejected and rebelled against him.  We see the birth of the Lord, God's own son.  What is the plan - that he would come into the world and die on the cross.  Just like Jacob undeserving of his divine goodness.  He sent his son to die in our stead.  Consider what God has done for you, the richness you have in the Lord.  Peter in his book is taking the scoffers to task.  They were saying "where is the promise of his coming?"  In other words - we have heard so much about the Lord's coming but where is its fulfilment? Peter takes the scoffers to hand.  2 Peter 3 verse 9 "the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to usward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."  God's plan for you today is that you might seek repentance when you view the goodness of God - Romans 2 "or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forebearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" That is what God is looking for.  We wonder at the goodness of God.  The Lord brought forth by the virgin Mary to be the Saviour of the world.  Consider that.  The goodness of God.  God doesn't want to see you lost.  Will you come and see the goodness of God in dying for you?  Is there something greater in your life, greater than that?  "O taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is that man that trusteth in him." (Psalm 34 verse 8) 2 Corinthians 4 verse 4 "in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God should shine unto them."  Ephesians 2 verse 4 "But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us.  Even when we were dead in sin, hath quickened us together with Christ (by grace ye are saved)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."  We are thinking of the greatness of God, that he would bring his son to redeem our souls.

We can praise God for his grace - "and on earth peace and good will toward men."  Christ was coming to make peace through the blood he shed on Calvary.  It is all about relationship.  God sent his son to be the mediator between God and men.  We have a broken relationship with God today.  There is no other mediator but Christ himself.  If we come any other way we have failed miserably.  In John 14 Jesus said "my peace I give unto you not as the world gives unto you."  We can read about many problems we have and the philosophers can tell us many ways to find peace but it is only found in Christ.  "My peace I give you not as the world gives you."  Only God can give peace.  When we see the Lord being born in Bethlehem we see the greatness of God, we see his goodness in giving his Son on Calvary and the grace of God "that bringeth salvation for all men."  "Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." (Romans 5 verse 1)  "When a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him." (Proverbs 16 verse 7)  Jesus came to mend the relationship between you and God.  What a tremendous celebration we have today.  Do you know anything of the greatness or goodness or grace of God in your life today?  You can prove it by realising you have sinned, come short of his glory, confess that to him today and ask him to come into your life and save you today.

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER 2020 pm

LUKE 2 VERSES 8 - 14

Tonight we look at the revelation that the angels brought to the shepherds on the hillside.  The one born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes was to be the Saviour of the world.  He came to seek and to save that which was lost.  To save even you today.

Think of how they heard the news.  The shepherds were sitting around the hills.  Can you visualise the scene?  It was just like any other night for them, they were oblivious to what God was doing.  Mary had brought forth her firstborn son and laid him in the manger for there was no room for them.  Have you any room for him tonight?  The one who came into the world to save your soul?  The shepherds were so caught up with the days activity, they talked about what they had come through to get to this point.  They were oblivious to things around them.  The god of this world blinds our minds to the things of God because we believe not and so he has control over us. (2 Corinthians 4 verse 4)  Remember the story of the king who had a son getting married.  He held a great supper and sent out invitations but then came the excuses,  They had no time to attend this great supper - one had bought a piece of ground and couldn't come because he needed to go and see it.  Another had bought a yoke of oxen and he needed to try them out.  A third had just got married and could not leave his new wife.  When confronted with the gospel message, that Jesus has shown his great love for us through his son we say we have no time.  When Jesus stood before Pilate, 2 choices were made to him - either release him or crucify him.  The crowd told him that if he released Jesus he would not be a friend of Caesar's.  Verse 15 "which the Lord hath made known unto us."

Think of how the shepherds hungered - "let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us."  They wanted to see for themselves if what they had heard was true.  "O taste and see that the Lord is good."  You have to taste the word of God for yourself.  In Acts 13 Paul took the people right through the history of Israel, right to where Jesus came into the world.  He was rejected, suffered, bled and died on Calvary.  We then read "And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God."  There was a hungering that was evident.  Is there a hunger in your heart for the things of God?  On the Day of Pentecost when Peter preached the word God the people asked "what then must we do?"  On that day the Holy Spirit convicted 3000 people of their sin.

The shepherds also hurried - "let us now go".  They hurried to do something after hearing the word of God.  Sometimes we can put off finding Christ.  When Jesus found Matthew he was sitting at the table of custom.  When Jesus said "follow me" he arose and followed.  He left his task to follow after Christ.  Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus passing by that day but Jesus did not pass by, he stopped at the very tree he was hiding in.  Somehow Jesus is showing you your great need of savlation.  Jesus wants to be your Saviour today.  The Lord stopped at Zacchaeus' tree.  He had to make haste and come down to where the Lord was.  Paul said "behold now is the accepted time, behold now is the day of salvation.  The shepherds abandoned their sheep, left them behind and went to find the Saviour.  Maybe God is asking you to leave something behind, to come and find Christ for yourself.  Remember the rich young ruler who came to the Lord.  He came with haste but he wasn't prepared to leave his riches, his wealth, his friends, his position, his standing in society.  Is it possible for a person to leave in a sorrowful state because they turned from the Lord?  There is one who stands at your hearts door - will you come to the Saviour today?

They had a hope in their hearts.  In our unsaved state we are without hope and without Christ.  The wise men asked "where is he that is born king of the Jews?"  Will you come and find that Saviour today?

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER 2020 pm

LUKE 2 VERSES 16 - 21

The shepherds glance - they came with haste then they glanced and saw the baby, the Saviour of the world lying on the bed of straw.  This was a glance centred on the manger.  They listened to what the angel had to say on the hillside.  Look at verse 11 of chapter 2 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord."  I am sure as they left the hillside they wondered what this message was all about.  Perhaps they asked others they met in Bethlehem if they had heard anything about this baby.  Their interest was piqued as they came in to the stable.  They could see Mary, chosen to carry the Lord in her womb.  The shepherds were not interested in Mary though.  She wasn't the Saviour of the world.  They could see Joseph the earthly father figure but it was not to him that their eyes glanced but into the manger and a baby lying on the bed of straw.  It was not a royal bed, it was not attended by maids.  The place where Jesus was brought forth was a stable.  The very purpose he came into the world - to be our Savour.  He came to seek and to save that which was lost.  The glance was not to Mary or Joseph but to the Saviour himself.  Remember when Moses was told to make the brazen altar in the camp because the people had rebelled against God.  This brazen serpent meant the death sentencce was reversed.  As they looked  to the serpent they were healed.  The shepherds gaze was directed toward the manger.  Our gaze is not to the manger but to the cross of calvary.  It was a gaze to who was in the manger.  We are not looking to that wooden structure but rather the man on the middle cross.  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2 verse 5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." Many are standing in the faith of their church, all the various sacraments - baptism, communion but these do not save.

The clarity that came to the shepherds.  When they came their eyes were focused on that child lying in the manger.  How many times have you glanced at Calvary?  The shepherds did not come to a great palace or servants.  They bowed their knees and accepted this baby as the Saviour of the world just as the angels had told them.  Each of us must come to that very same place where we bow the knee at the foot of the cross, accept him for who he is and what he has done.  The Philippian jailer came to the apostles and asked "what must I do to be saved?"  We must realise that if we were to close our eyes in death we would be lost for all eternity.  The jailer had heard about Jesus and was now being told "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved."  That is the answer - getting before the Lord on the cross of Calvary and acknowledging he was dying there for your sin.  Isaiah the prophet describes that scene on the cross when he said "he was numbered with the transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors." (Isaiah 53 verse 12)

The shepherds were convinced in their minds.  They took in the scene, they could see the poverty but were looking at it spiritually not with the natural eye.  They were now convicted to the reality of what the angels said.  It took one glance from the thief on the cross to Jesus and said to the other thief "we deserve this punishment but he doesn't."  The Roman Centurion said "truly this was the son of God."  Will you glance today to Calvary?  As they made their way back to the hillside they told others what they had found.  Their purpose in life was to tell others what they had found.  We hear nothing more of the shepherds and one day people will hear nothing more of us either.  What witness will you leave behind?  That you witnessed to others about Christ?

A great change

Limavady Independent Methodist Church

Sunday 22 November 2020

1 Timothy 1 verses 12 - 16 - A great change

The apostle Paul opens up about his past life - verse 13 "I was before (before I met the Saviour on the Damascus road) a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."  Oswald Chambers said of this particular passage of scripture "it is the bedrock of Christianity.  Just because a man turns good it doesn't mean for one moment he has become a Christian.  Just because a man has given up certain habits in their lives it doesn't mean he has repented of his sin and they have been made a new creature in Christ Jesus."  Paul was pointing to the Lord himself.  He attributed the change in his life to Christ and the death on the cross and the power of God in his life.  We are going to find there is only one way to become a Christian and it is when something dramatic happens within.  It is when the Holy Spirit comes in, only comes through true repentance of sin and coming to faith in Christ.  Paul's message throughout the scriptures is "to the Jew and Gentile, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  All need to come the same way."  Acts 20 verse 21 Testifying both to the Jews and also to the Greek repentence toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."  Let's take a look at what Paul is saying here.

Paul is showing the assessment he has made of his life.  He is getting to grips with his life in the past.  First of all we see something of Paul's honesty.  What do we see in this man - an honesty as he assesses the past.  He is not airbrushing the past away but facing up to it.  He knows in coming to Christ he has to.  This was the honesty.  Here is the beginning of a genuine repentance.  Only when we come to that stage in our lives, to own up to what we are in this life that we can truly repent of our sins and trust the Lord as Saviour.  The ostrich hides its head in the sand and thinks there is no danger yet danger is looming all around.  The bible says "it is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment, the judgment is looming for every one of us.  The Lord took my judgment, he faced it for every man and he tasted death for all men.  Not all will be saved.  Only when you trust the Lord as Saviour that we will be saved. Paul attributed everything to Christ.  "I am what I am by the Lord Jesus Christ.  I am what I am by the grace of God in my life."  We need an honesty - are we willing to acknowledge our past and can look for something better.  Paul could "as I was before."  In the letter to Ephesians Paul says "we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works."  If saved by Christ we are a new creature in Christ.  The old things have passed away and all things have become new." Jesus himself said "by their fruits ye shall know them."  Paul says in the past he was a blasphemer.  Te only way he came to Christ was when the Lord drew near to him and called to him.    He said "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.  It is hard for you to kick against the pricks."  Paul was dealt with on the road to Damascus.  Paul says to young Timothy "I was a blasphemer."  That is different to the word we think about today when we think about blaspheming.  Back then it meant unbelief.  Paul did not believe in the Lord as Christ.  He had him down as an imposter that needed to be got rid of.  Jesus himself said to the Pharisees "Ye would not come to me that ye might have life."  Many have a great faith in God but they feel they have no need of a Saviour.  Maybe you cannot see your need of salvation.  The bible tells you have been born in sin.  The bible tells us that Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost.  You say "no that is not me I have been brought up in a good home, attended church, said my prayers, done everything I could possibly do, what more could I possibly do?"  God wants you to repent of your sin and acknowledge your sin.  God wants you to come to him.

We see his hatred.  He is speaking of a time here in the past before he met the Lord.  The day he met the Lord was the greatest day in his life, transformed from the life that he lived into the life he is living now by the grace of God.  God loved this man and sent his son to die on the cross, to die in his place.  He came to die, to save our souls.  Jesus stepped into our place on Calvary. Paul's past needed to be dealt with.  It had to be brought out into the open, it had to be dealt with. "If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins."  David battled with his sins. He only found comfort and satisfaction when he brought them to God and confessed his sins before God.  He acknowledged his sin before God and he was forgiven.  Paul says "I was a persecutor", that was his hatred.  "I was a blasphemer."  His honesty opened up this hatred he had.  He hated the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and he hated those who professed faith in him as Saviour and Lord.  In Acts 9 we remember the attitude he had when he left Jerusalem to Damascus.  In verse 1 we read "he was  breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord and he went into  the high priest and sought letters if he would go to Damascus - "he desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues that if he found any such was his hatred) of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.  Such was the bitterness and hatred.  If he found any (young and old, weak and infirmed) in that way (the Christian way) whether man or woman (such was his hatred and bitterness against the Lord and the Christian faith) that he might bring them bound to Jerusalem and in prison.  Paul to Agrippa in Acts 26 revealed something of the hatred he had in his heart "And I punished them oft in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme and being exceedingly mad against them,  I persecuted them even unto strange cities" (I chased them from city to city, I chased them from town to town, from village to village, I followed them with a great passion and zeal, I persecuted this way until death, binding and delivering into prison both men and women.  And when the blood of thy martyr Stephen was shed I also was standing by and consenting unto his death I kept the raiment of them that slew him.  This man was not going to change.  He was full of religion, full of good works but there was hatred against the Lord and Christ.  Nothing would change him.  Maybe we think we could never be changed.  There is only one who could change your way.  It is only through God's son when he came into world to bear your sin and mine. 

Notice also his humility.  What do you mean by humility - ready to acknowledge it.  The type of person he was.  Paul is telling Timothy about this - there was a time when he had to come before the Lord, when he had to bow at the cross, confess his sin and took it to the Lord.  There are no back ways to salvation.  This was serious to Paul.  This one time proud zealous Jew, ready to acknowledge all that had done to get right with God.  We ned to admit and own up to everything to get right with God, to trust him as Saivour and Lord.  All we can do.  Remember the one who came and asked "what must I do to be saved?  The rich young ruler asked "what must I do to inherit eternal life."  Nothing could do because Christ has done it all.  We cannot do anything.  All I am commanded to do is repent of my sin, to come before him in honesty and humility and to get before him at the throne of grace and there to confess my sin and believe that he is read to forgive my sin when I confess it.  We see something of the honesty and the humility in the conversion of Zacchaeus.  He was a very rich man.  Perhaps he lived in a lovely house in Jericho, wore fine clothes, everyone came to his house for meals, everyone was invited to his house for a good time.  This man was held in such high esteem in the local community.  What do we see him doing - we see him running down the street.  A rich man did not run.  He was humble enough - running for a purpose, he was running to the Lord Jesus.   He couldn't do it on the main street because it was packed with people was wanted to see the Lord.  He was longing to see the Lord himself.  Perhaps everyone was looking at him.  Didn't matter to him.  Then we see him climbing up a tree - why - wanted to see the Lord.  He was doing everthing he could to see the Lord.  Jesus stopped with him and challenged him.  Then Jesus want to his house.  He didn't ask him to just come down and walk with him and he would be saved.  He opened up his home to the Lord.  Zacchaeus said to the Lord "The half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken anything of man by false accusation I will restore him fourfold."  He was serious about his salvation.  No easy believism here.  This was genuine.  In Saul of Tarsus we see a man acknowledging the wrong in the presence of the Lord.  What a transformation in that life.

See also his hope.  He was not looking inward.  He told the young man Timothy of the type of person he was.  We read of the great change came into his life "who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief."  The grace of our Lord was exceedingly abuntant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.  He looked beyond himself, everyone else, realised only but one who could change his life - the Lord Jesus Christ.  It took the grace and mercy of the risen Saviour Jesus himself to change his life.  Nothing we have that can change our lives.  Not a turning over of a new leaf, was not trying better, not doing the best you can.  It was trusting in the grace of the Lord.  That is what it is going to take to be saved.  Verse 13 "I did it ignorantly and in unbelief."  Not excusing himself.  Acts 17 verse 30 "And the times of this ignorance God winked at" - he turned aside but then he says "but now commandeth all men every where to repent"  God called you to repentance.  The same repentance Paul of Tarsus used.  He brought it all to Christ, was washed in the blood of Christ.  No longer before this young man.  How many times has Jesus called.  Whenever you begin to exercise your mind, how many meetings has God called you before?  You put it off to another day.  There is only tonight who can save your soul.    There is only one who can rid your soul of sin - Jesus who died on the cross of Calvary to save your soul.

What is Christmas all about?

Limavady Independent Methodist Church

Sunday 22 November 2020

Luke 2 verses 1 - 7

In recent days we have been told that there will be another lock-down.  The church doors will have to close for a further 2 weeks.  Many are saying Christmas will not be the same.  I want to turn you to what Christmas really means.  It is not about the footfall in the streets although we do recognise the seriousness and importance of the economy.  I am not thinking of the Christmas trees, whether we put one up or don't.  It is not about the presents or the hustle and bustle.  Christmas is about the birth of the Lord Jesus, the Saviour who came into the world.  I want to turn your attention to it.  Maybe you are overwhelmed about why we need Christmas at all.  I am aware of the arguments about it being a pagan festival and the change in calendar dates.  In the midst of the doom and gloom just what is Christmas all about?  The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.  

We need to reflect on the plan that is unveiled.  Notice what it says in verse 7 "and she brought forth her firstborn son."  Speaking of Mary and the birth of the Lord.  The great plan for this lost world.  The great plan of salvation for you and I.  God took of the very best he had, his own dear son and sent him into the world.  An introduction to that plan is given in Genesis 3 verse 15.  Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden and told they could eat of everything freely but of one tree they could not eat because they would die.  They were separated from God.  God came into the Garden and Adam and Eve hid.  Adam said "I was fearful for I was naked."  God promised Satan "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head and thou shalt bruise his heel."  That is the very first mention of the gospel of saving grace, a Saviour that would come.  It was devised in eternity past, destined and prepared in eternity past.  Peter speaks of our salvation - "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last last times for you."  A plan veiled in the Old Testament scriptures unveiled when Mary came to Bethlehem that night.  Whenever Philip found the Lord in John 1 he went and found Nathaniel and said "we have found him  of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth the son of Joseph."  Isaiah the prophet said "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel."  Micah the prophet also foretold that Jesus would  be born in Bethlehem 500 years before he was.  These prophecies were given to them.  Philip told Nathaniel "we have found him" unveiled in the New Testament.  Genesis 3 man's disobedience and fall didn't take God by surprise.  God knew the events that would happen.  He didn't plan for man to fall into sin but he knew he would disobey.  God made a plan for your salvation and mine in sending his son Jesus Christ.  A plan unveiled.

A purpose that is virtually unthinkable.  Am I going to be disappointed that I cannot get out to the shops or attend the parties?  My mind is not set on these things.  Romans chapter 8 verse 32 "He that spared not his own Son but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things."  Paul writting to the Roman church spoke of God in heaven and the great love he had for each and everyone of us.  God loved you and he gave his only son that you and I might be saved.  You don't have to understand the full degree of God's salvation and the cross of God, just believe.  When I see Mary and Joseph coming to Bethlehem coming to a shut door and having to go to an outhouse and bringing forth her firstborn son, it is virtually unthinkable.  Have we pondered the message of the cross?  We need to recognise once more the Christmas message.

A passion that is unequalled.  When I read the words of John 3 verse 16 and take them word for word - "for God so loved the world".  God looking down into this sin cursed world saw you and I.  We were helpless and hopeless, going out into a lost Christless hell for all eternity.  He loved us.  From that great heart of love he sent his only son.  That night in Bethlehem the great plan of God was being unveiled to a fallen world as Mary and Joseph made their way through the streets.  Will you take God's unequalled love for each of us?  Is Christmas ruined?  Not at all.  Because behind it all is God's great plan for you and me. We were thinking a few weeks ago of those who fought in the wars.  They went away and never came back, to give us our freedom which we have today.  Think of God sending his son.  It wasn't a chance that he came into this world and died on the old rugged cross.  His purpose was to seek and to save that which was lost.  He was born to die.  In the Garden of Gethsemanw he lifted up his voice and said "not my will but thy will be done."  A love in his heart for man that is unequalled.  "Greater love hath no man than a man lay down his life."  Think of Barrabas who was set free while Jesus was crucified - what thoughts did he not have after that day?  This man loved me and gave himself for me.  Can you say this morning as you look on the hill of Golgotha that he is there where you should be?  The soul that sinneth shall die.  Jesus never sinned and could never sin.  He took on himself your sin and my sin.  See the great passion he had for me.  "I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2 verse 20)

A people in unbelief.  When Mary brought forth her son the world was going on.  One young woman giving birth to a child.  There was no room for them in the inn.  A people in unbelief.  He came unto his own and his own believed him not.  To them who believed he gave the power to become sons of God.  The circumstances will be different this Christmas - will that spoil Christmas for you this year?  Look further than the high street and look away to God's great plan.

A plan that was unveiled in Bethlehem

A purpose that was unthinkable

A passion that was unequal

for a people in unbelief.

Are you going to continue in your own way today or allow the Lord to come into your heart today?

The Lord is my Shepherd

Limavady Independent Methodist Church

Sunday 29 November 2020 pm

Psalm 23

This Psalm is one of the most well known portions of scripture and I am sure we have heard it preached over and over again. In the first 5 words of the opening verse we read David's statement of faith.  This Psalm sets a wonderful challenge to us - can you say "the Lord is my shepherd"?  The most precious statement ever uttered from the lips of man.

A precious statement - "The Lord is my shepherd".  David is not looking to anyone else, the Lord is the one to whom he is responding to.  This is the great creator and sustainer of all things.  There is none above him and none equates to him yet he became flesh and walked among man and died on the cross just to save you and me.   "There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin."  Whenever I sit back read that wonderful verse in John 3 verse 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life." I think of a world that is in rebellion and rejection, man has turned fast away from God to go his own way.  He loved you and I so much that he would send his only begotten son into the world - not to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved.  If you haven't come to Christ, to the cross will you come?  Psalm 8 "what is man that thou art mindful of him and the son of man that thou shouldest visit him."  Jesus did something on that day on Calvary no-one else could ever do.  Moses was mighty in word and in deed, the meekest of all men who went in before Pharoah and led the children of Israel out of Egypt.  He was mighty and meek but he could never redeem a soul from sin.  Think of Elijah standing before King Ahab.  He had power and authority.  He went up Mount Carmel and challenged a nation, he asked God to shut up the heavens and later to open them again but he could not redeem a nation.  Think of the archangel who assisted Hezekiah when the King of Syria's forces came against Israel.  The next day 185,000 lay dead.  The archangel could never redeem a soul.  It took the Lord's own son who did no sin, who was sent down into the world to die for our sins - that is "our shepherd."

A personal statement - "the Lord is my shepherd".  The Psalmist could say this of himself.  Not everyone can make this claim.  Moses went into Pharoah and demanded he let the children of Israel go.  Pharoah said "who is this Lord that I should obey him?"  Can you say 'the Lord is my Saviour"?  Pilate was standing in the Judgment Hall with Jesus.  He asked the question "what shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?"  It all came down to him.  What have you done with the Lord?  We are faced with the same dilemna today.  Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost.  When I come face to face with the claims of Christ then the same question comes back "what have I done with Jesus?"  What have you done with Jesus up to this point in your life?  Have you been born again?  Agrippa as he listened to Paul and looked into his face said "almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian."  It didn't matter who was sitting there, he realised it came down to him personally.  Is it possible that you are not saved?  That you can come so close to him and again reject the God of heaven?  Almost saved is to be completely and utterly lost.

A positive statement - "the Lord is my shepherd."  The Psalmist knows in whom he has been depending on.  A positive relationship not hope or may be.  When he faced Goliath the giant he knew he could face whatever would come his way.  You and I are going to face the valley of the shadow of death when we will step out to God's eternity but we can do so without fear knowing our judgment was placed on the Lord.

How can you be so sure you are saved?  How can you be sure of eternal life?  A man came to the apostle Paul one day, the Philippian jailer with a burning question "what must I do to be saved?"  The answer was so simple "believe on the Lord and thou shalt be saved."  Believe that Jesus came into the world for sinners and he died for you.  That he rose again the third day and one day he is coming back to take us home to heaven.  The angel told Cornelius "send for Peter and he will give you words by which you will be saved."  Remember the blind man who was healed - his testimony was "once I was blind but now I can see."

A professed statement.  He couldn't keep it to himself.  As the darkness draws in are you trusting the Lord?  Believe is all that is needed, repent and turn to Christ now.

Call unto me and I will answer thee

Limavady Independent Methodist Church

Sunday 29 November 2020

Jeremiah 33 verses 1 - 3

Jeremiah is in the prison house.  These are difficult times for him.  Chaotic times.  Confusing times.  Times of mayhem.  Commentators have their own idea about his prophecy.  It is a marvel indeed of God's grace and mercy that we have this book recorded for us.  At one time the scroll on which Jeremiah wrote his book was taken to Jehoiakim the king.  He took the scroll out of the priests hands and cut it up into little pieces and flung them into the fire.  God told Jeremiah to re-write the words.  Evidence of God preserving his word down through the years.  The amazing thing is that God spoke to Jeremiah.

The circumstances into which God spoke.  He was locked up under instructions of the king because the people didn't like his message.  The people wanted to quieten him.  The people followed idols and God brought judgment on the nation.  God told them they would soon have to surrender to the Chaldean people.  The false prophet told the people that God would rescue them but God had prophesied they would be in captivity for 700 years under Babylon rule.  Today we hear people telling us God will never prevent us from getting into heaven, that you can do what you want in this present day.  God says no sin will enter into heaven.  God sent his son into the world to die for our sins and is waiting for people to accept him.  This is the message Jeremiah had to give to the people.  Nothing is said of what would happen to Jeremiah, whether he would be delivered out of the prison house or not.  Think of Daniel in the lions den.  God didn't deliver him from the den but rather delivered him whilst he was in the circumstances.  The devil will tell us that if we are living near to God we wouldn't be in this situation.  It is reassuring to know that God is with us in the middle of the circumstances.  Are you listening for God to speak to you.  We need to be listening for the word of God through people and circumstances.  Our faith depends not on circumstances.  We walk by faith not by sight.  God is there in the middle of the circumstances.  Remember Samuel as he lay his head on the pillow at night - it was then God spoke to him.  It didn`t matter about the circumstances or his age or what he was living in.  Think of Mary's circumstances.  Wherever she was the angel came to her and told her she would conceive and bear a son.  Mary looked at the angel and I am sure for a moment she thought 'how can these things be?'  God wasn't thinking of her circumstances.  He was able to deliver her out of the circumstances.  This son would be the son of God.  God was working through the circumstances.  Think of Gideon threshing corn in secret.  God came right to where he was.  Gideon could see the Midianites as grasshoppers in the valley beneath.  The angel told him God would use him to deliver Israel.  Gideon looked at the angel and said 'you don't know me and my circumstances, I am from the poorest family in Israel, I am the least of my father's house.'  God wasn't worried about the circumstances.  Jeremiah was out on the streets one day and the next day arrested and put in prison.  God wants to speak to you in the midst of your circumstances.  God knows about your circumstances.  He has a message to speak through your circumstances.  Gideon gathered up 32,000 of an army but God reduced them to a few hundred.  Then God said 'go out and I will deliver you.'

The challenge that came to him.  God didn't come in and rescue him from the prison house.  Remember Peter when he was in a similar situation and the angel came in to where he was and led him out though the locked doors of the prison.  God comes in the midst of a difficult circumstance just as he did here for Jeremiah.  The Lord told him "Call upon me" in the loneliness of the place you are in.  Are we listening for God's voice and hearing what he has to say to us today?  God has allowed these circumstances to happen.  He has a word for you in the midst of the circumstance.  Remember Elijah in the cave, God came to him and said to him "what are you doing here?"  Then Elijah heard a strong wind coming up the hill side but God wasn't in that strong wind.  Elijah sees a fire so dramatic and feels a strong earthquake shaking beneath him. God was in neither of these things but instead he was in the still small voice.  God has a message specifically for you.  He loves you and knows your circumstances.  God sent his son to save you and he knows all about you.  It is a challenge to activity.  Jeremiah was called to do the only thing he could do - pray.  If there is one challenge for us today it is to pray, to get back to the state we were in before.  Some times we can find it difficult to pray.  Paul said to the Thessalonians "pray without ceasing."  To Timothy he exhorted him to "pray for all men".  The church is being called back to pray and to seek the face of God.  It is a personal challenge to Jeremiah and no-one else.  This call is a challenge of sacrifice - having to give up something else to get alone with God.  It means giving time and energy.  We are in a battle today against the enemy.

The confidence that comes to the prophet - "I will answer thee".  If God comes with a word from himself then listen to him.  Abraham set aside his own difficulties, his age and his wife's age just to believe they would have a son.  Abraham left his home not knowing where he was going.  He had confidence in God, to get down before him and ask him to reveal himself to him.  Jeremiah was not deterred.  God could overcome the barriers.  Think of Paul's thorn in the flesh.  He prayed to God many times about it but God told him "my grace is sufficient for thee".  Is God asking you to pray?  Is he challenging you today?  We have the confidence that God is there and he will help us to do it.

The claims God gave him - "I will show thee great and mighty things that thou knowest not."  God is asking you to do something and he wants to show you what it is.  In Daniel 2 we read of the king who couldn't sleep because of a dream he had.  He gathered all his wise men and asked them to tell him his dream and the interpretation of it.  They couldn't do it so the king ordered they be put to death.  Daniel stepped up and asked for time.  Daniel went in to the presence of God and God gave him the meaning of the dream.  Daniel went back to the king and told him "there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days ... he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart."  It was not for any personal glory but God's glory.  What God wants to do with us today is not for our own personal glory - it is for God's glory and honour that he wants to do it.

The lesson from the girdle

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER 2020 am

JEREMIAH 13 VERSES 1 - 11

Whenever we turn to chapter 13 we find that God seems to be giving a strange instruction to this young preacher.  He is to get a linen girdle, to wear it at his waist for a time.  He was to wear it then remove it and take it to the Euphrates river which was 250 miles from where Jeremiah was living.  He was to dig a hole and bury the girdle.  Then the Lord comes to him again and tells him to go and retrieve the girdle.  It would be a journey of 1000 miles.  When God asks us to do something today there might be difficulty.  When God speaks to us may we be prepared to do what he asks.  The lesson to be learned here is about the relationship of God's people to God himself.  The relationship had fallen away from God to become useless and fruitless.  Verse 11 "For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of a man, so have I caused to cleave unto me the whole house of Israel and the whole house of Judah, saith the LORD; that they might be unto me for a people, and for a name, and for a praise and for a glory: but they would not hear."   God wants his people to cling to him for a very specific purpose, for praise and glory unto the name of the living God.  The words "a people" in other translations interpret it "for my people"  We find that God is speaking directly to his own people.  We were thinking last week of the words "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 verse 14)  A relationship with the eternal God that we want to look at through the girdle.  

Significance of this girdle in its identity.  The girdle signifies an official relationship to the one who wore it  We identify with our Saviour, the one who came into the world to seek and to save that whch was lost.  You give your identity to him.  You bear his name in your life and in your actions.  John 13 verse 35 "by this shall all men know you are my disciples if ye love one another."  The relationship we have with the Lord  The people are looking on a love that comes from our heart for one another.  Think of Elijah the prophet in 2 Kings chapter 1. King Ahaziah, the son of Ahab was a very wicked king.  He would hear what God had to say but did not listen to it.  He walked in the ways of his father Ahab and his grandfather Jeroboam.  He had an accident one day when he fell through the lattice in his home.  From this time he became very ill indeed.  He sent his advisers to his false god of Ekron, Baalzebub to ask the question would he live or not.  God intervened by speaking to Elijah and told him about the transaction.  He had a different interpretation on the life of Ahaziah.  The advisers began to tell the king the message Elijah had given them.  Ahaziah asked them what Elijah was like.  2 Kings 1 verse 8 "He was an hairy man and girt with a girdle of leather about his loins."  The king sat up in his bed and said "it is Elijah the Tishbite."  The leather girdle gave his identity.  This was a man of God, a prophet.  When the high priest walked about he wore a colourful girdle but when he went into the presence of God he put on a plain white girdle.  The significance of his position.  The soldier's girdle held the instruments of war.  When Jesus went to wash his disciples feet he took a towel thus identifying himself as a slave.  When you take on Christ as your Saviour you take on his identity.  He asks us to cleave unto him.  In our work we demonstrate our ownership,, those who look on us identify us with Christ. 

The girdle is significant in its importance.  The Lord told Jeremiah to wear it for a while then hide it by the river.  After some time he was told to dig it up again.  When he did so it was marred, good for nothing.  Those who would hear this parable would get the meaning right away.  The girdle was one of servantship.  The significance of it is only seen when it is in its proper place - around the loins of a man, not buried in the hole beside the river.  We are only useful to God when we are in the place God would have us to be in that we might be of use, of value in these days we are living in.  We are living in days of fear.  God wants us to be in the place that we might be able to deal with people.  We can only do that when we cleave to the Lord.  God didn't want the nation to run after false gods but to cleave unto God himself.  I think of Saul of Tarsus who was saved on the road to Damascus.  God sent Ananias to speak to him.  Acts 9 verse 15 "go thy way for he is a chosen vessel unto me to bear God's name before the Gentiles and kings and the nation of Israel."  He could only be useful when he was in the centre of God's plan.  In Galatians chapter 1 Paul is giving his testimony when he reminds them that the news of his conversion filtered back to the little churches.  Verse 22 "I was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ.  But they had heard only that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.  And they glorified God in me."  Paul was the vessel, being used by God to bring glory unto God through his life  Is that what our lives are today?  Serving the Lord, walking closely to the Lord?  Are we bringing great glory and praise to his name?  John 13 verse 31 "whatsoever ye shall ask in my name that will I do but that the father may be glorified in the son."  God is glorified in your asking and pleading.  In Ephesians 6 there is great emphasis placed on the girdle in the life of the soldier.  He would gird up his gown into the girdle before going into battle.  Paul referred to the girdle as the girdle of truth.

The girdle is significant in its insufficiency.  Now we see the girdle in a useless state.  The prophet wore the girdle for a time then takes it to the river Euphrates, dug a hole and hid the girdle.  After a while God says to him to go back and get the girdle out.  The girdle is no longer complete, just in a pile of ashes, threads - what had happened - the water had destroyed the girdle by continual washing and drying out.  It was not where it should have been, of no use to anyone.  You and I are useless to God if we are not in the place where he would have us to be.  It was not to be hidden in a hole but worn by Jeremiah.  The people were useful to God when they were clinging to God, not when they were wandering afar off.  John 15 "I am the vine ye are the branches."  Jesus points to the vine growing the grapes.  The grapes grew because of the union with the branches.  The branches were there because of the union to the vine.  Have we that union with the Lord himself today?  John 15 "without me ye can do nothing."  Are we relying on the Lord today?  We live in a very self sufficient time without Jesus.  We can do nothing.  What if everything was taken from us?  What would happen then?  Paul to the Corinthian believers spoke of the fruit he had.  He was careful to acknowledge he was sufficient of himself.  2 Corinthians 3 verse 5 "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God."  God said to Paul "my grace is sufficient for thee."  We can only follow the master who died on the cross.  He is sufficient as we draw closer to him.

The girdle is significant in its implication.  What is the lesson God is speaking of here?  It was about a people who were departing from him, very soon they would turn their backs completely.  This very people would be carried away into captivity, into the land of Babylon.  John 15 verse 6 "if a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and is withered and men gather them and cast them into the fire and they are burned."  Are we walking afar off from God today?  Are we just going through the rituals?  Has something come in that means you are not where you once were?  Come afresh to God today. 

A timely reminder

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2020 pm

GALATIANS 1 VERSES 1 - 5

Reading through the book of Galatians one thought came to me - Paul was leaving with the churches a set of reminders.  He wants to bring these churches into remembrance of who they were, what they were and what they had in the Lord.  Paul is writing to correct the false teaching that had come in.  Paul had preached the unsearchable riches of Christ.  He preached God's salvation, showing men and women their need of salvation, revealing through the cross that they could have their sins forgiven, could be saved by the grace of God.  Men and women were coming and turning from sin, repenting of their sin, taking Christ in childlike faith, inviting Christ into their lives.  Then something happened.  When Paul moved away false teachers came in, took up the gospel but it was not the gospel of faith but of works  He called it a perverted gospel.  "I marvel that you are so soon removed" verse 6.  Then in verse 7 he says "which is not another."  These men were saying that although they were saved they had to keep to the Jewish religion.  Paul brought them back to a reminder verse 4 "who gave himself for our sins."  He was lifting up Jesus and remember what Jesus said "if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me." (John 12 verse 32) 

Paul is reminding them of what they were - prisoners.  He talks about the prison house of sin.  The plight of men and the problem that men has.  The greatest problem we have is the problem of the heart.  We are told in the bible that "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked" (Jeremiah 17 verse 9).  The bible also tells us the heart is full of sin.  Paul speaks here of the battle that is going on for the souls of men and women.  We are all born into the world as sinners.  We have rejected Christ.  We live in a world that has fallen into the clutches of Satan.  We live in a world where the fool mocks at sin, laughs at sin.  Whenever we see the seriousness of sin - Genesis 1, 2 and 3 - we find that God made a perfect creation. God made man in his own image.  He presented a woman of great beauty to help him in this life.  He took them into the Garden and said "of every tree you may eat freely but there is one tree you cannot eat.  It was the tree of knowledge of good and evil  In that day you eat of it you will die." (Genesis 2 verses 16 and 17)  Whenever Adam broke and disobeyed God's commnd something happened.  He took the very title deeds of this earth and handed them into Satan's hands.  Satan became the ruler of this world.  In Ephesians 2 verse 2 Paul was talking of past days, days before he was saved.  "Wherein 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."  Some tonight are ensnared by sin, chained to habits that they cannot break free from.  Ensnared by the sins of religiousity and good works, good character, feel no danger.  In Revelation 12 verse 9 we see a fourfold description of Satan.  The devil is a real person.  He is strong and mighty.  He is that great dragon.  He is "that old servant called the devil and Satan which deceiveth the whole world."  The characteristics of him which deceiveth the whole world.  That is why he can keep people blinded to the gospel of grace.  His subtelty.  His scope - "he deceiveth the whole world."  Paul reminds the church here they were in the prison house of sin.  We are prisoners of Satan and we need to be delivered.

Paul speaks of the plan God has made.  "according to the will of God." verse 4  Paul makes it clear when he came to preach it was not a gospel that he invented.  Verse 11 this was "according to the will of God."  Your salvation is the great plan of God.  He sent his son into the world to die upon the cross of Calvary.  No other plan could do it.  The plan was born in the heart of God.  It was no philosophy of man.  This was the will of God.  John 3 verse 16.  He loved us and did not want anyone to perish.  The only way to save us was to take his son and send him into the world.  On the cross of Calvary he would bear our sin, die and gave himself a ransom for our sin.  Have you claimed that, have you come to the cross tonight?  We see this great plan laid out in the Garden of Eden.  When Adam had broken God's laws, man had fallen into sin, broken the laws of God.  The only way to make amends was to come into the Garden, put the animals to death to make the coverings for Adam's sins.  He didn't walk away then.  Nor did he walk away in the Garden of Gethsemane when he prayed "let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not my will but thy will be done."  People say "I am trying my best, doing my best, say my prayers, what more could God ask."  God gave his only son, his best for you.  The plan that really worked out.  God's plan doesn't change.  He knows where you are.  He shows you what he has done for you.  Onesimus worked for Philemon.  One day he ran away from his master after he stole something.  He ran to Rome and again got into trouble.  He found himself in a prison cell with Paul who pointed him to Christ.  The Lord knew all about him, his sin, what he was trying to cover up.  God knows all about you and me.

Paul reminds us of a passion beyond all understanding - verse 4 "who gave himself for our sins."  Jesus, the one who knew no sin, who could do no sin gave himself for our sins.  He was willing to take our sins on his body at Calvary.  Paul takes the church back to the cross of Calvary.  Jesus dying on the cross for mankind takes us back into Genesis when he took the animals to make coverings for Adam and Eve.  He died to cover your sins and mine.  We have to accept that there was an innocent animal in Genesis.  Pilate could say "I find no fault in him."  His wife said to him "have nothing to do with this just man."  Judas said "I have betrayed innocent blood" when he threw the coins down.  When God saw the Lord on the cross he was satisfied.  Out of his love he sent his son into the world.  Warren Wiersbe tells the story from Martin Luther.  He and his wife were reading in Genesis 22 of Abraham offering up his son.  Martin talked about how the Lord died and his wife said "I cannot believe God would have treated his son like that."  Martin Luther said "he did and we may not understand but we don't have to."

Paul talks here about a power that is mighty - "who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil world according to the will of God and our Father."  Only Christ could come down into the world, unlock this prison house and deliver us from our sins.  The devil is mighty but the Lord is almighty.  The death and resurrection offers power like no other to deliver us from our sins.  God sets the prisoner free.  He comes to deliver us from this prison house we are in.  Saul of Tarsus remembered a day when he was so full of religiousity and good works.  He had letters in his hand to go to Damascus and if he found anyone who believed in Christ, had the power to arrest and put them in prison.  On that road to Damascus the Lord came down and he broke the power of sin and set him free.  The testimony of Paul - once persecuted the churches but now preaches the faith.  Such was the change in his life.  You can know his salvation that works and changes your life and sets you free.  Salvation that will take you to heaven and home. 

If my people ... shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face...

Limavady Independent Methodist Church

Sunday 8 November 2020

1 Peter 2 verses 6 - 10

Text: "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 verse 14

This is a mighty challenge to the politicians, the medical service, the British Army but most importantly to you and to me as God's people.  This verse comes in the context of a response to Solomon's plea.  He had built a house for God, he dedicated it with sacrifices then he lifted up his voice to God and asked "if the people turn against you, turn into sin and if they call out to you will you hear and answer them?"  The challenge comes back from God with the little word as a start - "if".  God's people are a varied people.  God has a confidence in his people.  Peter described them as a "peculiar" people.  They are a special redeemed people.  God calls them 'my people'.  That includes you if you have accepted Christ as your own and personal Saviour.  Was there a day when you realised Christ died for you sins and you were forgiven by God himself?  What a privileged people we are.  We are so diverse - young, old, rich and poor, some born into famour families, dignatories and monarchs.  When Jesus sent out the 70 he gave them power over demons and spirits.  They came back rejoicing.  The Lord said to them "rejoice not ... but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10 verse 20)  Think of the city of Philippi.  Lydia, a seller of purple who set everything aside to come to the place of prayer on the Sabbath day.  On the other side we see the cold hearted jailer who beat Paul and Silas and then threw them into the darkest cell in the prison.  When the earthquake came that man changed.  He became a child of God.  He washed and bathed their wounds, brought them into his house and set food before them.  Or think of Nicodemus the ruler of the Pharisees or Joseph of Arimathea.  When the challenge came they all stepped up to the mark.  Lydia said to Paul and Silas "if you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and abide there." (Acts 16 verse 15)  The Philippian jailer did not take Paul and Silas to the authorities but rather brought them into his own home.  Nicodemus didn't care about his religious leaders at the end of Jesus' life when he used his own ointments on Jesus' body.  Joseph of Arimathea was a faithful disciples but didn't take his stand to the last day when Jesus' own disciples had deserted him.  He went in and asked Pilate for the body of Jesus and buried it in his own tomb.  The challenge came to them and they all stepped up to the mark.  Are we going to do the same today?  Will we nail our colours to the mast today?  "If my people".  King George VI called for a national day of prayer when the battle was going against the allied forces.  Dunkirk looked like ending in disaster.  The people flocked to their churches to pray on that particular occasion in response to the cry from the King.  3 mighty miracles happened as a result.  There was the miracle on the ground - Hitler stopped the advance on the ground forces that day.  There was a miracle in the air - a storm came up that prevented Hitler's airforce getting off the ground.  There was a miracle on the sea around Dunkirk.  Further out there was a storm in the waters but around Dunkirk it was like a lake.  Such a mighty miracle happened that Dunkirk became the turning point in the war.  King George faced up to the challenge and called on the name of the Lord.  Are we going to be challenged today?  Will we allow the Lord to challenge us?  Will we ask for a miracle for ourselves today?

The people of God should be a vigilant people.  In these days of pandemic we are called to wash our hands, wear a mask and keep our distance.  As children of God we are called to be 'sober and vigilant'.  Why?  "because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour."  Spiritually speaking God is asking us to be watchful today.  we have an adversary today, he wants to bring us down.  The Galatian church had false teachers who came in after Paul left.  They taught the people that they had to become a Jew to be a follower of Christ.  Paul said he was amazed that they so quickly fell away.  Paul told them what they had been listening to was a 'perverted gospel'.  They needed vigilance.  David was not vigilant when he saw Bathsheba.  He had to have her then he put her husband to death.  Demas was not vigilant when he preached with Paul as a fellow worker but when he got his eyes on the world around him he departed from the faith.  You and I need to be vigilant today as the people of God.  Ephesians 6 tells us to "put on the whole armour of God'.  

We should be a visionary people.  We should see the need of people around us.  "If you turn from your wicked ways then I will hear."  Remember the disciples and multitudes who gathered on the hillside one day.  The day began to wear away and the people had a long journey back to their own homes.  The disciples also realised the people needed food to take them back to their villages.  They felt they would faint on the way.  They worked out that even 200 pennies would not be sufficient to feed every one of the people gathered that day.  They brought the Lord into the situation.  Is there a need in your home that perhaps needs the Lord to be brought into it?  "Where there is no vision the people perish."  Wouldn't it be awful if the people around us were lost for all eternity because we didn't step up?  The Roman Centurion in scripture had a servant who lay at the point of death.  He spoke to the Lord about it.  He wanted the Lord to speak the word and he would be healed.  The Lord said he would go and see the servant but the centurion said "I am not worthy that you should come under my roof."  It is one thing to come to church but another thing to get a vision, to see men and women going out into a lost eternity for ever.  Do we ever pray about the situations we are facing every day?  That is our responsibility today.  We cannot stay in the shadows anymore.  

We should also be a vocal people.  God wants to hear your voice today.  Perhaps he is challenging you to accept Christ for salvation.  Will you trust him?  He has paid the debt of your sins, opened up the door of heaven for you.  "sanctify the Lord in your hearts and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekeness and fear." (1 Peter 3 verse 15)

We can also be a victorious people.  The battle is over, the victory is ours.  Will you allow God to challenge you today?  Lydia had only opened her door and allowed the 2 men to come into her home.  The Philippian jailer could only wash the wounds of God's servant.  Mary took her alabaster box to anoint Jesus' body.  She took the opportunity given to her.  There is an opportunity to serve the Lord just for you - will you take it?  

Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them

 SERMON NOTES FROM LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 25 OCTOBER 2020 am

Acts 13 verses 1 - 5

This is Reformation Sunday when Martin Luther nailed the thesis to the cathedral door.  That man changed the face of Christendom.  Thank God for the man who stepped out, took the word of God into a lost and darkened empire.  The thought of Acts 13 is the various movements of the church of Jesus.  The disciples who gathered in the Upper Room were filled with Holy Spirit, they then went out onto the streets of Jerusalem and preached the gospel.  Persecution began and the church began to spread out.  The commission of the Lord was to go out into all the world and preach the gospel.  They were not to go using their own ability or intellect, it was not of what they would do but what Christ would do through them.  The church is still the same today - that we can do something for him through the Holy Spirit.  "not by might nor by power but by my Spirit saith the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4 verse 6)  Luke 24 verse 49 "And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high."  Before they took the commission into the world the Lord told them to tarry in Jerusalem.  Why were they to tarry?  Until they would "be endued with power."  Then we read in Acts 1 verse 8 "But ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." That was the great commission and the power to carry that commission.  "without me ye can do nothing" (John 15 verse 5)  

The acknowledgement God makes - God accepts this fellowship.  Brings it to our attention because he is going to stir up this fellowship for the furtherance of the gospel of saving grace.  How is he going to do that today?  He stirred up the heart of the early disciples to go forth with the gospel.  God hadn't to be told about this little church.  God had knowledge of this fellowship.  God sees and knows, he is not someone who sits afar off and sees nothing.  It is God who looks into the heart of man.  "Man looketh on the outward appearance but the Lord looketh on the heart." (1 Samuel 16 verse 7)  He knows every name in the fellowship, he has intimate knowledge of everyone.  God knows them - "separate unto me Saul and Barnabas for the work whereunto I have called them."  God knows our heart today.  He knows all that is going on in your life right at this moment in time.  Sometimes we like to take a back seat and God knows that.  Think of Acts 16 and the story of the Ethiopian eunuch.  Philip was told to go to a certain place.  God knew all about this eunuch, that he had been in Jerusalem and was now travelling home.  He needed help.  Philip knew nothing about him.  The God of heaven knew where he was and the position he was in.  He sends Philip down to where he was.  Cornelius in Acts 10 was sitting praying and pleading with God.  God came to him.  God sent his angel down to where he was with a message for Cornelius "send for Peter."  Cornelius didn't have to ask where Peter was.  God knew exactly where Peter was - in Joppa.  God knows everything about me.  God has such wonderful knowledge - Psalm 139 "thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off ... such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it."  God knows what we are thinking at this very moment in time.  God knew the heart of Martin Luther back in the 1500's.  He saw a man seeking after God, a relationship with God.  He could not find it in the monastery he lived in.  He prayed on his knees until they were calloused.  He fasted and whipped himself but he still could not find a relationship with God.  It was only found in God himself.  God saved that man, set him apart, sent him into the world to change it at that time.  He wrote a commentary on the book of Romans, a preface to the book of Romans based on the phrase "The just shall live by faith."  John Wesley was reached by that commentary.  Jesus stood one day in the midst of a man with a withered hand.  Jesus asked "is it right to do good or is it right to do evil on the sabbath day, is it right to heal him on the sabbath day or leave him alone."  The Lord looked on everyone that was there.  He was 'grieved at everyone of them because he saw the hardness of their hearts." (Mark 3 verses 1 - 5)  

The assessment that God makes.  As God goes into the fellowship what does God see?  He sees the disciples that are willing to exercise their gifts of ministry.  Acts 13 verse 1 thy were gathered together and serving the Lord.  God sees a people using their gifts that the Holy Spirit had given them.  Are you using the gift God has given to you?  Have you found how and what that gift is?  In this church there were prophets and teachers, they were showing the people the scriptures.  Wouldn't it be awful to stand before Christ one day and have empty hands?  Simply because we never discovered what our talents are.  Service for God should be all we have.  Think of the man with one talent.  He hid his talent - why "I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown and gathering where thou hast not strawed.  And I was afraid ..." (Matthew 25 verse 24)  Paul of Timothy 1 Timothy 4 verse 14 "neglect not the gift that is in thee."  Paul knew there was a danger of leaving his gift to one side and not using it.  Maybe you have been frightened, scared of being laughed at.  

The access God has.  God speaks here to the fellowship.  It is the Holy Spirit speaking.  The Holy Spirit actually does speak.  The third person of the Trinity.  Have we an ear to hear what he has to say to us?  In Revelation 3 Jesus spoke to the little church of Laodicea in Asia Minor.  This church was doing really well, they stood in need of nothing.  In Revelation 3 verse 20 the Lord is seeking access in to the church but the door was firmly closed.  They didn't want to listen to the Lord.  Can it be said of us that we don't want to hear what the Holy Spirit has to say to us.  We need to seek God for his work, pray that we might be better used to use the opening he gives to us.  Are we prepared to serve the Lord?  The Lord had 2 disciples in mind and he names them.  He didn't just say "separate unto me 2 disciples", he had 2 distinct characters for the task he had in mind.  He wanted Barnabas and Saul to do the work.  God knows your name, your heart, whether you are saved or not saved today.  He is speaking directly to you today.  He calls out your name today as he did Samuel of old.  Maybe God is challenging you today.

Notice the answer God receives - "then sent them away."  God had access to this fellowship, spoke to the fellowship, they took it seriously and set about doing what he wanted them to do.  Sometimes we feel if God is calling someone out into the work, we are nearly afraid to send them forth, afraid to let them go.  Let's be serious today.  Pray for one another in the fellowship.  First for yourself that God would revive your heart before he speaks to anyone else.