LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH
SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 26 MARCH 2023 am
1 TIMOTHY 1
The apostle Paul speaking to Timothy gave
him a commission that he should stand up for the gospel, to stand firm at
whatever comes against him. 1 Timothy 1
verse 3 “I am leaving you in Ephesus.”
Ephesus was a dark city, an idolatrous city. Here was this man Timothy, a young evangelist
– Paul told him to stand up for his faith, “that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine.” We need
to stand firm on the doctrine of the word of God. Paul and the leaders of the church were
always facing false doctrines. Jude 3 “exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints.” Faith is being
diluted today. In recent times Professor
Edward Sri, a Roman Catholic theologian has dedicated his life to sharing the
wisdom of the Catholic Church. I want
today to look at Mary and how man has distorted the teaching of the gospel
today. The origin of the Rosary – in 1300
Mary apparently appeared to St Benedict and gave him a set of beads and told
him to pray. Some argue it goes back further
to the sixth and the seventh centuries.
The order of the rosary – there are 50 beads set out in 5 sets of
10 beads which should be used to say prayers including the Our Fathers, Hail
Mary’s and Glory Be’s. Remember scripture
says we are not to use vain repetition when we pray (Matthew 6 verse 7). The object of the rosary – a prayer
that helps them. John Paul II said the
Hail Mary’s should be the central pivot of the rosary. “Hail Mary, Full of Grace, The Lord is with
thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb,
Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now, and at the hour of
our death. Amen” Paul said “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our
infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the
Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8 verse 26) Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the
life, no man cometh to the Father but by me.” (John 14 verse 6)
The identity of Mary. The Roman Catholics believe that Mary was
immaculately conceived, born without sin and had a bodily assumption at the
point of death. They talk of intercessory prayers to Mary. We read nothing of that in the bible. She is mentioned by name in Matthew, Mark and
Luke and again in Acts. She is not named
in John and the most common reference to her is in Luke 1 verse 26. In Luke 1 we read of 2 experiences of the
angel appearing to women. The angel
Gabriel was involved in 2 miraculous events.
First he appeared to Zechariah.
He and his wife Elisabeth were without children. The angel came to Zechariah and told him he
would have a child. That child was John
the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus.
The second time Gabriel appeared was to a young woman named Mary. It was in the city of Nazareth. Mary was told she would have a child and he
would be a miracle from God. 2 miracles
in the one chapter. “With God nothing is
impossible.” That message should
encourage us. Maybe we have impossible
situations today. With God nothing is impossible. Those people we pray for daily who we think
will never be saved – nothing is impossible with God. The scriptures identify Mary as living in
Nazareth. How did she identify
herself? “Behold the handmaid of the
Lord.” When the angel came in and told
her she would conceive she replied “I am the handmaid of the Lord” or “I am
just a slave or servant of the Lord’s.”
Luke 1 verse 47 “my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.” In other words – “I am a sinner saved by grace.” The identity of Mary.
The intentions of Mary. Just like any sinner saved by grace her
obedience has been to God. The angel
came from heaven to where she was and spoke of the days that lay ahead. It would involve a lot of sacrifice and suffering. When God speaks we need to be careful in
listening. It may mean leaving something
and it may even result in suffering. It
would be a sacrifice for Mary – “be it unto me according to they word.” She realised she was separated for something
special, realised she had a task to do for God.
Are we praying for that call of God on our lives today? We don’t stop praying for God’s will just
because we have got to a certain age.
Moses heard the call of God at 80 years of age. He saw the bush burning and knew it was not
burning out completely. God told him to
take off his shoes for he was standing on holy ground. When we open God’s word we are standing on holy
ground yet again. Think of the other
Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet in Bethany.
She was listening to God’s word.
Jesus said “she has chosen the better part.” (Luke 10 verse 42) Mary knew God’s word. She had it explained to her. It is good to study and memorise the word of
God. We just cannot read it and leave
it. It is “a lamp unto our feet and a
light unto our path.” (Psalm 119 verse 105) Mary was no different. It was her intention to glorify her Saviour in
doing what she was asked to do. Remember
when God looked down on the church at Antioch he said “separate unto me Saul
and Barnabas for the work I would have them to do.” Are we in the place God wants us to be
in? Mary wanted to act out the word of
God in her life. Mary’s identity was as
a child of God. Mary’s intention was to
live daily for God. We are the children
of God saved by God’s grace. Our
intention should be to glorify him in every aspect of our lives.
The importance of Mary. The role God gives to her in life will play a
large part in the history of man and the history of the church. Luke 1 verse 28 “thou art highly favoured,
the Lord is with thee. Blessed are thou among women.” We associate Mary with the Roman Catholic doctrine. She was chosen by God to do something really
important – to bear the one known as our Lord.
He came to be born into this world and to die on Calvary’s cross that we
might be saved today. Mary’s role can be
over emphasised, we have misinterpreted her role. God never intended her to have the prominence
given to her today. The Roman Catholics
believe that she was full of grace when they read the words “thou art highly
favoured”. It actually has no more meaning
than for every believer. Without grace
we cannot be saved. Doctor Edward Sri, a
theologian in the Catholic church was inspired by Pope Francis in his address
to visit Mary’s principle church in Rome.
He wanted to place intercession under her care. He said it was very moving and inspired him
to entrust his life, his family, his work to Mary. This is the same humble girl who received God’s
calling, saved by God’s grace to bring God’s son into the world.
The influence of Mary. The apostle Paul to Timothy and Titus talked
about taking up the baton of faith, that they had to stand up and be
counted. No other doctrine should be
allowed into the church. The influence of Mary is overstated today. The Roman Catholic church will turn to the
passage in John’s gospel of the wedding in Cana of Galilee. They had run out of wine and Mary turned to Jesus
to ask for his help. He responded “my time
is not yet come.” The Roman Catholic
church takes that conversation to bring out Mary’s intercessory power – she takes
our prayers and relays them to the Lord.
Pope Francis elevated Mary to the position of Queen of Heaven, that she
sits parallel to God himself. When
reciting the rosary beads there is a part that says people can be saved in
death through Mary. In the scriptures we
read of an occasion when Jesus was in a house with his disciples and someone
told him that his mother and brothers were outside wanting to talk to him. “But he answered and said unto him
that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his
disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father
which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
(Matthew 12 verses 48 to 50) Let us realise what the doctrine of the Roman
Catholic church is today. These
doctrines are coming in more and more.
We need to be careful and stand firm in the word of God.
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