No compromise

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 29 DECEMBER 2024 am – MR JASON CRUISE

2 CHRONICLES 18

This story was recorded of a time when Israel was divided.  There was Israel in the North and Judah in the South.  10 tribes in the North and the 2 tribes of Benjamin and Judah in the South.  King Ahab ruled in the North from Samaria while Jehoshaphat ruled the South in Jerusalem.  Ahab worshipped Baal and he was married to Jezebel.  Jehoshaphat stood to please the Lord.  Chapter 17 verse 3 “And the Lord was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim.”  Jehoshaphat was a man greatly blessed by the Lord.  Even the other nations around him were at peace.  Jehoshaphat knew great peace in his reign.  Chapter 17 verse 10 “And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were round about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.”  That reminds me of Proverbs 16 verse 7 “When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”  A man who the Lord had blessed.

Chapter 18 verse 1 "Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in abundance and joined affinity with Ahab." He came into association with the wicked king Ahab through marriage.  Jehoshaphat’s son Jehoram had married the daughter of King Ahab and Jezebel, Athaliah.  The consequences of this marriage were felt down in Judah for many years.  When his son came to the throne he was not like his father Jehoshaphat.  Chapter 21 verse 6 “And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, like as did the house of Ahab; for he had the daughter of Ahab to wife and he wrought that which was evil in the eyes of the Lord.”  Even after the death of Jehoram, his son Ahaziah came to the throne and walked in the way of Ahab.  The evil and wickedness of Ahab has now filtered down into Judah because of this marriage.  This should press upon us the great need to be in prayer for our sons and daughters and our grandchildren – that God would raise up godly men and women to be partners in life, wives and husbands who seek to serve the Lord in the years ahead.  We should be constantly praying that God will raise up godly men and women to be wives and husbands for them.  Athalia was eventually killed at the horse gate in Jerusalem – 2 Kings 11 verse 16.

Chapter 18 verse 2 “And after certain years he went down to Ahab to Samaria.  And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him in abundance and for the people that he had with him and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth-gilead.”  If you have a map in your bible you would realise that the journey from Jerusalem to Samaria was going northward yet it says “he went down”.  This is not referring to a geographical journey but rather to a spiritual one – he was going out of the will of God for his life.  That is why we need to be constantly in prayer to know God’s will for our own lives.  Up to now Jehoshaphat had sought to please the Lord but now he is going down to the wicked king Ahab.  It is just like the story of Jonah – he went down into the ship (Jonah 1 verse 3).  He was going out of the will of God.  Jehoshaphat is doing the same.  Chapter 19 verse 2 “And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly and love them that hate the Lord? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the Lord.” After the battle at Ramoth-gilead Jehoshaphat makes his way back to Jerusalem and he is met by Jehu.  He told him “where you went is not where the Lord wanted you to go.”  We need to be constantly in prayer for the Lord to show us how we can be in his ways at all times.  2 Corinthians 6 verse 14 “be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness and what communion hath light with darkness?”  Whether it be in business, in the marriage or socially we are not to be unequally yoked.  We are in the world physically but we are not to be in the world spiritually.  We must be separate in our lives at all times. 

Chapter 18 verse 3 “And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead? And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.”  This is a very dark stain upon the testimony of Jehoshaphat.  The last person Jehoshaphat should have wanted to align himself with was the wicked king Ahab in Israel.  It is far removed from Ruth’s reply to Naomi “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee; for whither thou goest, I will go and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people and thy God my God.”  King Ahab was a wicked and evil man.  1 Kings 16 verse 30 “And Ahab the son of Omri did evil in the sight of the Lord above all that were before him.”  King Jehoshaphat who had sought to please the Lord, to walk in the ways of God, now aligns himself to the wicked king Ahab. 

Jehoshaphat says the first wise statement in verse 4 “And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Enquire, I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today.”  Suddenly Jehoshaphat has realised that they hadn’t sought the guidance, the direction and the instruction of the Lord concerning this matter.  Sadly for many Christians today prayer is always a last resort instead of the first reaction.  By default Christians should be men and women of prayer.  1 Thessalonians 5 verse 17 “pray without ceasing.”  Writing to the believers in Philippians 4 Paul said “be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”  Paul is saying – for the big things bring it before the Lord in prayer and for the little things bring them before the Lord in prayer too.  Are we people of prayer today?  It was said of David Brainerd the missionary to the Indians that his life was one of a continual prayer meeting  He spent so much time in prayer.  Charles Spurgeon said “I would rather teach one man to pray than teach 10 men to preach.”  How much emphasis do we put on prayer today?  Jehoshaphat is not where he should be.  He is aligning himself to a man who is wicked and evil.  A man the Lord would not want him to be connected with.  Now he says “enquire I pray thee, at the word of the Lord today.”

Chapter 18 verses 6 and 7 “But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the Lord besides, that we might enquire of him? And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, There is yet one man, by whom we may enquire of the Lord but I hate him; or he never prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is Micaiah the son of Imla.  And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.”  Ahab has brought in 400 prophets.  None of these men had access to the ear of God.  They are not prophets of the Lord, not the genuine article.  Jehoshaphat asks “is there not a prophet of the Lord besides that we might enquire of him.”  What great words Jehoshaphat has said here.  Wouldn’t it be a great thing if kings and those in government sought and knew guidance from the Lord?  If they came and sought the instruction and direction of God?  Here is this man Micaiah and there is no-one outside of Christ himself that sets such an example in his day.  I am sure we are all looking forward to getting to glory to see Christ face to face.  We are also looking forward to seeing those of our families and friends who have gone before us.  I am sure there are many people from scripture we are also looking forward to meeting.  People like Daniel, David, Abraham, the apostle Paul, Peter, even Deborah and Phoebe.  This man Micaiah is the one I am looking forward to meeting.  These 400 prophets have been brought in  before the king and they tell the king exactly what he wanted to hear.  They tell him to go to Ramoth-gilead and there will be a great victory.  Jehoshaphat asks for a man with a word from God – Micaiah.  He is referred to as the four hundred and one prophet. He is not coming to tell Ahab what he wants to hear but rather what he needs to hear. 

Chapter 18 verses 12 and 13 “And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake to him, saying, Behold, the words of the prophets declare good to the king with one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and speak thou good.  And Micaiah said, As the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.”  These 400 prophets had come and told Ahab what he wanted to hear – you go up to Ramath-gilead and you will be victorious in battle.  Now Micaiah comes along.  The messenger told Micaiah what the 400 prophets had said and warned him not to say anything against what they had said.  ‘Don’t upset things, say the same thing, don’t go against the tide.’  Micaiah responds “as the Lord liveth, even what my God saith, that will I speak.”  If Micaiah was in the pulpits of our churches today he would be only there for the one Sunday, he wouldn’t be back for a second time.  Micaiah would be telling people they needed to repent and put their faith and trust in Christ.  As a result he wouldn’t be asked back for a second time.  I have 2 words written in my bible against verse 13 – “no compromise”.  Micaiah was a man of whom there was no compromise.  This was written approximately 900 years before the birth of Jesus.  Many people were worshipping Baal but here is a man who is willing to stand alone and stand for God.  A man for whom there was no compromise.  No wonder Ahab says “I hate him” in verse 7.  What a day of apostasy it was.  “There is yet one man.”  Could that be said of us today?  Maybe in the work place, amongst our neighbours when they are discussing biblical matters, those people unsaved, far from God want to know the answers from the bible.  Do they know of a person who might be able to help.  Would they know of you?  Could they ask you?  Could it be said of us today?  Micaiah would not be too popular in his day.  He came with a message from God.  Paul said to Timothy “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables.” (2 Timothy 4 verse 3)   Many people today have no desire for the word of God.  They have indeed turned to fables.  Paul told Timothy “preach the word in season or out of season.”  Whether it is popular or unpopular.  Ahab said of Micaiah “I hate him”.  There was a man for whom there was no compromise.  Faithful, steadfast in his service for the Lord.  His name meant “who is like Yahweh?”  As a result of his word he is put in prison. Verses 25 and 26 “Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city and to Joash the king’s son. And say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I return in peace.”  Micaiah like so many others in scripture – Jeremiah, Paul, Peter, John the Baptist was in prison for his faith and witness for the Lord.  Even today there are so many brothers and sisters who are faithful for the witness of Christ and are in prison around the world.  Micaiah – no compromise.  Faithful and steadfast.  As you and I look ahead into 2025 may we be like Micaiah.  Let us be as faithful as this man was in that day of apostasy. Hebrews 11 verse 32 “And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson and of Jephthae; of David also and Samuel and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance that they might obtain a better resurrection.  And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea moreover of bonds and imprisonment.”  There are those brothers and sisters in prison today for their witness for the Lord like Micaiah.  May we bring them before the Lord in prayer.

Chapter 18 verses 33 and 34 “And a certain man drew a bow at a venture and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for I am wounded. And the battle increased that day: howbeit the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even; and about the time of the sun going down he died,”  Now we see that the word of the Lord brought by Micaiah the prophet came to pass.  Those 400 men had not the ear of God.  They didn’t know what the Lord had in store for this situation.  Micaiah had the ear of God.  He could speak to the Lord in prayer like we can today.  God had told him what would happen at Ramoth-gilead.  That the people would be scattered on the mountains like sheep without a shepherd (verse 16).  That Ahab would be killed at Ramoth-gilead (verse 19).  Here is a man who took a chance with a bow and arrow.  He found his target – Ahab was smote and killed at Ramoth-gilead.  What the Lord said came to pass.  It did happen as the Lord had said it would.  A reminder to us that we can rely on every promise given in scripture.  2 Peter 1 verse 19 “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn and the day star arise in your hearts.”  We can rely on the word of God.  There is one promise in scripture – John 14 verses 2 and 3 “In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also.”  The Lord is coming again in fulfilment to that promise.  Jesus is coming for those who know him.  Not for a church built of bricks and mortar but a people built up by God’s word, a people who have their names written in the Lamb’s book of life.  May God by his grace make us like the prophet Micaiah, men and women with no compromise to the things of God, faithful and steadfast in the Lord’s work even in these days.

The Visit of the Magi

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 22 DECEMBER 2024 am – MR JASON CRUISE

MATTHEW 2 VERSES 1 – 12

Here in Matthew 2 we read about the visit of the Magi, coming to Bethlehem, coming to see the Lord.  God manifested in the flesh.  God was willing to step into the world.  In Luke we read of Mary bringing forth her son and wrapping him in swaddling clothes.  Then the shepherds, having been told about the birth of Christ came with haste and found the baby in the manger.  James Irwin, an astronaut on the Apollo 15 in 1971 went to the moon a couple of years after Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong and Michael Collins.  After he returned to earth a journalist asked James “don’t you think it was wonderful that you were able to walk on the moon?”  He replied “I think it is even more wonderful that the one who made the moon was willing to walk on the earth.”  I want us to think of the wise men who came to meet Jesus.  They were probably making their way from Persia or modern-day Iran to meet the Saviour.

Verses 1 and 2 “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.”  Notice the era that they came.  King Herod was on the throne.  This is Herod the great.  Secular history shows that he was a cruel man.  He had no sympathy for many people.  He oversaw the murder of children 2 years and under as he sought to find the Saviour.  When Herod was asked “where is he that is born King of the Jews?” he became concerned.  This was a threat to him and his throne.  He doesn’t want to give up his earthly throne.  A reminder that when we come to Christ, we have to give up anything that is central in our lives, anything that we worship other than Christ.  Anything that excludes the Saviour.  Herod believes this one has come to take over his place.  He doesn’t want to give it up.  He wants first place.  He doesn’t want to give anyone else this place.  Many ask “if they were following a star why did they come to Jerusalem when the Lord was born in Bethlehem?”  Surely, we would have done no differently.  These men studied the stars, they believed that as they saw the star there had been born one King of the Jews.  They assumed he would be born in a palace as a king and that is why they made their way to Jerusalem.  These men, the Magi came along to see the Lord.  “Where is he that is born King of the Jews?”  That was a declaration of the kingship of Jesus.  There was no-one ever born before who was born a King of the Jews.  We could think of many kings who have ruled and sat upon thrones in different countries.  Even our own king, King Charles born on 14 November 1948 was born not as a king but as a prince.  Here is one born a King.  Our own King did not become King until 6 May 2023.  Today as then, Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The angel said to Mary “And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son and shalt call his name Jesus.  He shall be great, and He will be called Son of the Most High.  And the Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David. And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” (Luke 1 verses 31 to 33)  The one we trust for salvation today is our great sovereign and he is coming back to rule and reign in fulfilment of the prophet Zechariah 14 verse 4 “On that day his feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem, and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south.”  He shall come there to the Mount of Olives and make his way to the eastern gate that has not been opened in 500 years since the time of the Ottoman empire.  Ezekiel 44 verse 2 tells us “Then said the Lord unto me; This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened, and no man shall enter in by it; because the  Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it, therefore it shall be shut.”  The one who we have trusted in is coming back.  There is going to be a second advent.  He is coming to rule and reign.  The wise men came and asked this question to Herod. 

Verse 3 “When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him.” Herod became troubled and all Jerusalem with him.  This is the last time Matthew refers to Herod as the king.  In verse 9 he is referred to as the king.  In Mark’s gospel our Saviour is presented as the servant, in Luke as the Son of Man, in John he is the Son of God but in Matthew he is presented as the king.  Matthew 1 verse 1 gives the genealogy of the Lord Jesus back to Abraham.  His line goes back through David.  A legal heirship to the throne.  The Lord is coming back to rule and reign one day.  King Herod and all Jerusalem were troubled by the question of the Magi.  They came searching – there are still people searching for Christ today.  If we speak to people about the second coming of Christ very quickly, they change the conversation.  They become very troubled.  They move it on to other things that are of absolutely no importance at all.  The most important thing is to be ready for the Lord is coming again.  Scripture does not tell us how many kings came but there were enough for them to come into the city of Jerusalem and make everyone troubled.  What a significant day when they came into the city.  Their dress was different, their culture was different, their speech was different.  They asked the first question in the New Testament.  They became troubled at the question.  If we speak of prophecy or eschatology which is the study of the end times, very soon people want to change the conversation.  John 14 verse 27 says “peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  The one we trust in for eternity doesn’t want you to be troubled.  He wants you to have the peace that passeth all understanding.  Having put our trust in Christ we can know all is well for eternity should the Lord come or call. 

Verses 4 and 5 “And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea; for thus it is written by the prophet.”  We can see here that these men, these scribes, had a knowledge of the Old Testament.  They would have become experts in the Mosaic Law.  The chief priests knew all about the Levitical offerings.  They had a head knowledge, they knew the scriptures but didn’t know the Saviour of the scriptures.  What these men are told and asked to do – the question they are asked, an answer can be given by them.  “In Bethlehem of Judaea”.  A fulfilment of Micah 5 verse 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”  Sadly, like so many today who can debate the scriptures, they cannot call God their Father, Christ their Saviour and heaven will not be their home one day.  We are so thankful that God is our Father, Christ is our Saviour and can look forward to the day when we will be in heaven and at home.  What our God says he means.  He means what he says.  What he has said.  When he said it will come to pass it will.  None of the promises of God will be unfulfilled.  Joshua 23 verse 14 “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth.  You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed.  Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.”  Our God is the one who keeps his word.  He means what he says.  He is able to bring it to pass.

Verses 9 and 10 “After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”  These wise men left Jerusalem and went 5 miles south to Bethlehem.  Maybe you have believed that the star they followed was the same star they had followed from the east.  I don’t believe they did – verse 9 tells us they followed the star from Jerusalem to Bethlehem.  These men are searching for the one who is the Saviour.  They were guided to where Christ is.  Surely, we can look back to a time when we were spiritually dead and in darkness, without hope and our Saviour brought us to himself.  We were brought to Christ and brought to the Father.  We trusted in him for salvation.  Colossians 1 verse 13 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.”  We have been delivered from the power of darkness and translated into the kingdom of his dear son.  The wise men were making their way through the darkness following a star that brought them to the Saviour.  We are thankful today for the work of the Spirit.  We were spiritually dead and in darkness.  We came to our Christ into a personal relationship.  Jeremiah 29 verse 13 “And ye shall seek me and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” If we know Christ, we can be thankful we have been filled with his Spirit.

Verse 11 “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”  The first thing to notice is – they did not come to the stable and an outside place.  They came to a house.  The shepherds are long gone by this stage.  Jesus is older now.  They did not come to the same place where the shepherds came in Luke 2.  They came to the house.  Notice they didn’t worship a king back in Jerusalem but now they are ready to worship Christ.  They did not worship Mary his mother or Joseph his father.  These men, before they presented their gifts, presented themselves.  So many today try to bring what they can do and what they have in themselves.  They haven’t acknowledged Christ as Saviour, the one who is able to atone for their sin on the cross.  These wise men came and presented themselves.  They fell down and worshipped Christ.  The Lord Jesus is central in this house.  In this home all the worship and focus and adoration is on Christ.  The crux of my message today is Christ.  Is Christ central in your home?  Is Christ central in my home?  But when the rubber hits the road on Monday morning is Christ still central in your life?  Right through the week from Monday on is he the one you worship and adore?  It is really easy to dress up as a Christian, to pray and read your bible but is he the focus of your worship and adoration later on in the week?  Is Christ central in your home?  Can we say like Joshua “as for me and my house we will serve the Lord”?  For so many today money is their focus, sport is central in their lives, work and business is number 1.  Let us make Christ central in all of our lives, the object and focus of our worship.  They presented themselves and then presented their gifts.  Gold, frankincense and myrrh.  Gold reminds us of royalty and deity.  The one these men have come and worshipped is the one born King of the Jews, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  His genealogy could be traced back to the King David.  We are reminded of his deity.  The one born is co-eternal with the Father and the Holy Spirit, co-equal in power and honour and glory.  Frankincense reminds us of his high priestly work.  Hebrews 4 verse 15 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin.”  We have one who is our great High Priest, our mediator.  He is at the right hand of his Father in glory.  He knows all you are going through and what you will go through in future days.  He is the great High Priest and is in glory today.  They also presented myrrh.  Myrrh in the bible was used for embalming and preparation of a body for burial.  The one born in Bethlehem was born to die.  The one who came from the realms of glory one day would make his way to Calvary to suffer and die for you.  Hebrews 2 verse 9 “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honour because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.”  Myrrh reminds us he came into the world to die, an atoning death for you and I.  We are thankful to the one who died on Calvary’s cross, who lay in a manger but gave up his body to a Roman cross and a borrowed grave.  He is not dead today, he is risen.  He is seated at the Father’s right hand side in glory. 

Verse 12 “And having ben warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.”  Here we see a change in direction, a change of course.  These wise men have come to the Lord Jesus and now as they make their way home, they travel a different road.  These men were travelling a road never travelled before.  That is the same for every one who comes to Christ.  In Matthew 7 we are told of 2 roads.  8 billion people today are travelling on one of 2 roads spiritually.  There is the broad road on which we are all born.  When we come to the Saviour we move onto the narrow road.  We are heading for heaven and home.  Have you ever come to Christ?  Are you still on that broad road?  Just like the wise men you can have a change of direction.  You can be changed onto a different road.  You can be heading for heaven and home.  Remember that the baby born in a manger became the man who died on the cross.  Some time ago I received a Christmas card with these words “wise men still seek him”.  If you have never come to know Christ, I trust you will come and seek him.  Then you will be born again of the Spirit of God.

The 4 words associated with Christmas - Hope, Peace, Joy and Love

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER 2024 pm – MR GEOFF FERGUSON

LUKE 2 VERSES 1 TO 14

Christmas is when we have an opportunity to celebrate and think of the birth of Christ.  Let us reflect upon that story whereby our Saviour came into the world.  The world also celebrates but many do not know the real meaning of Christ.  They associate it with drinking, eating, having parties.  Nowhere is the true meaning found that here in our bibles.  So many would like us to forget this story.  We take this time every year to reflect on Jesus’s story, to worship Christ in this way. Children will sing songs and lovely poems that remind us of the true Christmas story.  Tonight I want to think of the words associated with Christmas.

Hope.  We could ask the question – what is hope?  It is a term we use so easily from day to day – “I hope that this will happen”, “I hope we can go to do this or that.”  The hope that we read about in scripture is much more than simply hoping something will happen.  Hope of the nation of the entire world.  We often see this image every year.  The promise and birth of a Saviour.  Imagine the hope they were filled with on that night when the shepherds heard the message from the angels.  Their entire religious life was based on the hope that the Saviour would arrive.  They knew he was coming and now this was the moment.  Luke 2 verses 8 to 11.  Here we see that that moment they hoped for, waited for, had finally arrived.  What they had hoped for had finally come.  Not based on possibility.  Maybe will happen or maybe not.  Hope based on God who would keep his word and this thing would come to pass.  In the Old Testament the people had seen God’s great power.  They had seen him at work.  God would fulfil the hope given, certain that one day God would act.  The birth of Jesus represented hope of a redeemer, the fulfilment of a prophecy longed for.  That is the same Saviour we have today.  We have that hope and assurance now, that one day we might reach heaven.  Expectant hope we put our faith and trust in because of Christ.  We can have that hope.  Do you have that hope?  Is it based in the assurance we know we are saved? Christ himself offers hope.

Peace.  This world longs for peace.  We see battles and wars around the world.  They strive for peace but it is difficult to maintain.  One country fighting with another.  Countries tried to work hard together to bring peace and stability but it doesn’t always work out.  There is always problems.  Perhaps we lack peace in our families and in our work places, in our churches, maybe even in our souls.  The definition of peace is to stop conflict.  The word used in the Old Testament is so much more than that Hebrew word Shalom.  It describes the cessation of war.  Also develops in the picture of health and wholeness.  It denotes harmony.  Isaiah 9 verse 6.  The Prince of Peace – that is who our Saviour is.  What a wonderful day when the Prince of Peace came.  He brings fulfilment into each of our lives, brings contentment and fulness into each of our lives.  It means the offer of contentment, of having Christ as Saviour.  He brings peace to our souls.  Not temporary solution but it eternal.  Forever peace between us and God.  How does God fulfil this title?  Prince of Peace brings peace between God and man.  Without Christ we do not have peace because of sin.  We have been separated from God.  Sin came through Adam.  We cannot have fellowship with God.  There is one called the Prince of Peace who came into the world.  He fulfils the requirements required.  He is the one who makes peace between God and man.  In the end Jesus will come and make all things right, make all things new.  That is the peace Jesus offers.  Luke 23 verse 33.  Christmas points to Adam where the Saviour would have to die.  Through his work on the cross peace is made possible.  He went to the cross so we could have peace with God.  When he comes again some day this world will come to an end.  Revelation 21 verses 4 to 6.  We see there is an idea of peace.  One day Jesus will bring in a time of blessing in heaven.  There will be a day when all of this comes together.  We have peace now as Christians but we long for the day when every trial will be wiped away.  We should remember his birth but also what is still to come.  The first time when he came into the world as a baby, one day he will come again and take believers home to be with him for ever then we will experience peace for evermore.

Joy.  We can maybe take a look at it and say “what do we mean by that word?”  A feeling of great happiness.  Maybe children bring joy as they grow up.  It brings joy to see them growing and developing.  Maybe our joy is through sport or through a husband or wife or through our work.  Various things can bring joy.  Does being a Christian bring you joy?  Do you have joy in your heart  Knowing you are a child of the king of kings?  In the psalms we read of how joyful the psalmist is to know Christ and following after him.  Each of us have different natures, we have joy in different things.  Joy does not depend on people or our reaction to circumstances.  It is knowing we have been restored to be the person designed to be.  The connection between God and man broken through sin is restored through Jesus.  He has given us the opportunity to be made right again.  That should bring us joy – to know we can have fulfilment in our selves.  This baby born to Mary and Joseph could bring so much joy – Luke 2 verse 10.  Why was the message full of joy?  Verse 11 – a Saviour of the world has been born.  That in itself is enough for us to be joyful.  That God chose to send us a saviour.  When we think on that we begin to realise how much God loves us and we mater so much to him.  We matter so much.  He was willing to send his son into the world to live and die, to be crucified for our sins.  The birth of Jesus brought joy to all levels of society.  The shepherds were there in their work clothes.  They didn’t have time to wash and clean up.  The wise men had great wealth.  They were buying beautiful clothes and brought expensive presents.  Two different types of people, united in one person – the Lord Jesus.  He doesn’t have any preferences.  He is not worried about wealth or how much education you have.  He is not wanting any expensive gift.  He wants you to come as you are to him.  This is the joy the Saviour brings to us.  Come as you are.  You don’t need to meet any requirement.  He will restore you back to the person you were meant to be.

Love.  1 John 4 verses 9 to 11.  Christmas is a time when we like to show our love to one another.  We do it through giving and receiving gifts.  We also meet up together, eat together, spending time in each others presence.  We all like to receive presents.  Maybe asked for one specific thing.  Maybe we receive a surprise.  Maybe something big or small.  Maybe you are happy or disappointed with the present given.  How do you judge a present?  Do you judge it by wealth, size, weight, cost, usefulness?  How do you measure God’s present to you?  God’s gift to us was his Son.  He was given to be the Saviour of the world.  We can measure this gift by it usefulness.  We can see straight away the usefulness is that we might have life, that through his salvation we might love.  Verse 9 that is the usefulness that we might have this life Jesus is talking about.  John 10 verse 10 what a promise.  Not just life but life abundantly.  That life has meaning, is eternal, has benefits.  We could measure it by its cost.  Sometimes we can do that with the presents given at Christmas.  God knew what had to be done.  There was a price to be paid.  He knew what it would cost.  He sent the best – his firstborn as a child for the salvation of the world.  Can think of God’s gift by effectiveness, purpose for something.  This is what we can see about the love of God, it was intended to change you and I.  Verse 11.  We ought to love God. We are changed because we have been taken from darkness into light.  That light is the light of the gospel.  God wants to keep loving the world.  As we begin to share the gospel the message of the gospel can be spread.  Matthew 5 verses 14 to 16.  Does God’s love affect you?  Affect those around you?  It changes us into compassionate living.  People caring for the needs of those around us.  The Lord can use you to show his love to others.  Are ou willing to let his love change you and be shared with others? 

4 things to help us remember the true meaning of Christmas and each day of our lives.  If you have never trusted Christ you can do so now.  Ask the Lord to take away your sin.  Trust in Christ for his salvation, to change your life.  Christmas will be more special for you as a result.  A time when you can say Jesus is your own personal saviour.  When you can look back to the time when you trusted him as Lord and Saviour.

The Gift of the Messiah

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER 2024 pm – MR KEITH WILSON

MATTHEW 1 VERSES 18 – 25, LUKE 1 VERSES 1 – 20 AND ISAIAH 9 VERSES 1 – 7

A television interviewer was walking in the streets of Tokyo at Christmas. There Christmas is a commercial success just as here in Britain.  He stopped someone and asked “what is the meaning of Christmas?”  The lady replied “I don’t know, is that the day Jesus died?”

 

There is some truth in her answer.  We celebrate Christmas as the birth of Christ, yet we know he was born to go to a cross to die.  Verse 6 is one of the best-known prophecies of scriptures.  We looked at the Prince of Peace this morning.  How people can find peace through the blood of the cross.  Israel was in a terrible darkness.  Isaiah was telling of the future invasion of the Assyrians.  Isaiah 8 verse 22 shows that there was great darkness on the land.  Verse 1 mentions both the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali and he talks of light affliction on them.  But there will be greater affliction – a great darkness would result in a great light dawning.  What greater message could we give to a world that is lost in sin, to a world walking in darkness, in a generation in which we are living in?  A generation that does not seek God, is living as they please?  In a world where anything goes, that has thrust God out of the pulpits, the hospitals, the government, the schools, the universities?  This light would shine in Galilee.  God came to these people with a special blessing and the promise of a Saviour that would deliver people from their sin.  Maybe you are walking in a time of darkness at the moment.  The light has come – Jesus said “I am the light of the world.”  Here we are with this prophecy in verse 6 – do you see the significance of why Christ was born?  Why he was born as a baby?  Why did the Son of God enter into the human race and die on a cross at Calvary?  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”  Do you ever wonder why we give gifts at Christmas?  Really it does not matter if you were a pagan or an atheist tonight, living an immoral life tonight, pleasing people.  At one time I would have been standing with my family getting drunk at Christmas and waking up the next day with a hangover but we all still gave gifts.  “A son is given”.  If we could understand that God gave his son, the one he loved.  We think of the relationship between the Father and the Son.  We identify them as 2 persons, part of the godhead.  God has given us a Son.  He not only gave his son but a son was born.  Mary gave birth to a son.  She didn’t give a son but brought forth a son.  God from eternity past gave us a son.  The wise men gave gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh at the birth of Jesus.  Matthew 2 verse 11.  We are coming into deity.  They knew he was not just an ordinary child.  This is the Son of God.  He was made flesh to dwell among us.  They worshipped him – the God who had entered into humanity.  God who had left the splendours of heaven in the person of his son was pleased to choose a young virgin woman who would give birth to a son.  That God would reconcile with human flesh.  Gold is kingship, a king who would sit upon his earthly father David’s throne.  Frankincense spoke of Jesus’ divinity.  He was identified as the Son of God.  Myrrh represented his death.  It was used in times past to embalm bodies.  A king, the Son of God, preparing for his death – for you and me.  That he would bring us into union with God.  Take away our sin, make us fit for heaven.  Jesus said to his disciples “I and the Father are one.”  We are brought into union with God himself through the baby, the child born, the Lord Jesus Christ.  The child speaks of humanity.  The son speaks of divinity.  A child is born and a son is given.  When you open your presents on Christmas day you are opening that present because a son is given from God.  God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.  He is the everlasting Lord.  This is the son born to Mary.  He entered into humanity.  We are reminded by John “the world was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.” 

 

The gift was planned.  Jesus’ birth was planned from eternity past.  It was no accident.  He existed eternally as the Son of God and he became the son of men.  1 Peter 1 verse 20.  He was born to live a life that would one day lead to the cross.  There he would die for your sins and my sins.  Our sins separated us from God.  God gave us his son that he would die on the cross.  Isaiah 7 verse 14 “the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.”  This prophecy was given thousands of years before Jesus was born.  Micah 5 verse 2 “but thou Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel: whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting.”  Caesar Augustus sent forth a census that every man had to return to the place of their birth.  See the eternality of Christ.  There is no doubt about it – very few really know the meaning of Christmas.  Also very few have accepted the gift of Christmas.  I have never heard of anyone receiving a gift and not opening it.  A gift is not something you can pay for.  You cannot pay the price for sin.  It is a gift from God.  He gave his Son to die for your sin, to bring you into the family of God.

 

It was a purposeful gift.  To redeem lost mankind to God.  Man has broken God’s law.  The law cannot save him.  It is amazing how many are trying to please God.  That is why God gave his son.  That is why we celebrate Christmas.  Many think they will do their own thing and one day stand in heaven and hear God say “you did alright so come on in.”  Galatians 3 verse 24 “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”  To do what you could not do – Christ has pleased God.  Galatians 4 verses 4 to 7 “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”  If was all prophesied beforehand.  God used a young virgin girl.  He gave us his son to fulfil the law broken by us to bring us back to God.  There is nothing you can do to please God apart from faith in God.

 

The gift was also perfect.  The child had to be born without sin.  I don’t know if you have ever received a perfect gift, purposed just for you.  Well this gift was just for you.  Christmas is so lonely for many people.  They are heartbroken.  There is a gift you and I can receive – the perfect gift.  When he became human Christ represented God’s image to the church.  The glory of God was revealed to us through Christ.  He is the child born.  The divine nature and human nature was brought into union.  The nature of God is our nature.  When we come to Christ we take on a new nature.  We no longer live in the power of sin and the grave but in the power of Christ.  Christ died for our sin but was raised the third day.  He was the perfect gift, the spotless lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

 

The gift is precious.  The Messiah had to be born.  If God had not entered flesh he could not be our Saviour.  The child speaks of helplessness, one that is dependent upon the parent.  Jesus was made of no reputation so he could be identified with man.  Jesus was in the manger as a baby yet wise men came to worship him.  The shepherds also came to worship him.  He took on himself the limitations of a baby.  He was dependent upon his mother.  1 Peter 1 verse 18.  When the Children of Israel came into the temple with a lamb it had to be without spot or blemish.  Jesus is the perfect lamb of God given for you and I.

 

The gift was also powerful.  The son had to be given.  There was no other way to redeem mankind.  That is why there was no other way.  Man had no power in himself, in his flesh to stand before a holy God because God hates sin.  That is why sin is powerful.  “The mystery of the humanity of Christ that he took on himself in our flesh is beyond all human understanding.” Martin Luther.  God planned it – for his divine nature to be brought into union in his Son.  He took the form of a servant.  He became a child.  The son that was given involved the child that was born in order to redeem us from our sins. 

 

It is a gift that is personal.  He is not only the child born but the child that is given.  It is a gift for you and I.  When you are born into this world you are born in sin.  Your sin has separated you from God.  You sin will take you to a lost eternity but God has sent his son in the fullness of time to take away the punishment of your sin.  Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me.”  You cannot go through any other religion but only through Jesus Christ.  He is the answer for your sin.  God speaks to you tonight and he offers this gift of eternal life.  He has paid the price for your sin.  If you died without Christ you will take upon yourself that punishment the bible speaks of.  There is a place called hell.  If you end up there that is because you refused this gift that was planned, that was purposeful, that was perfect, that was precious, that was powerful, that could be personalised, you will refuse the Son of God.  The Son that was given.  He hasn’t come to rob you of life but rather give your life.  He is a great Saviour, a loving Saviour.  You can search for peace in different avenues but never find it – why – because God is the only way to find peace in your life and soul.  By coming to the Prince of Peace, to the one who died for you, the one who endured the agony of the cross.  The one who was whipped and beaten, who received the crown of thorns.  Who was spat upon and given vinegar to drink.  Who was mocked and isolated.  Even on that cross he could cry out to his Father “Father forgive them for they don’t know what they do.”

Peace with God

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER 2024 – MR KEITH WILSON

ISAIAH 9 VERSES 1 – 7

The Swedish inventor Albert Nobel created 5 prizes for chemistry, physics, mathematics, literature and peace.  We have heard of the last one – the Nobel Peace Prize.  It was invented in 1901 and presented to those who have done the most in promoting peace.  We live in a world that seems to have lost the peace that it once had.  There seems to be an absence of peace, globally and economically.  Family problems are all are on a higher scale than ever.  To find peace we have to go back to when the world was first created in the garden of Eden.  Many people are frightened and live in fear today.  Families and friendships are involved in rows over money and land.  Many of them end up in the courts.  Even Christians are taking each other to court over wills.  War after war, terrorism is rife in this world.  They are doing it because their god will give them peace – that is what is stated in the religion of Islam.  There is no peace in sin.  There is an absence of peace in our land.  There seems to be an absence in individual lives.  We read that in Isaiah 9 the latter part “the Prince of Peace.”  Verse 7 part of this prophecy has been fulfilled in the birth of Christ but some is still to be fulfilled.  Isaiah talks of the lion that shall lie down with the lamb (Isaiah 11 verse 6).  There will be peace one day on this earth.  “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”  One of Jesus’ titles is Prince of Peace.  The bible talks a lot about peace.  The word “peace” occurs 429 times in the New Testament.  In the Old Testament it also speaks a lot about peace.  The Hebrew word for peace is Shalom.  In this passage we read of the Prince of Peace.  We read that he was to come into the world to die for the sin and ultimately to bring peace to people lost in sin.  Sin brings bondage.  Sin takes away peace.  The enemy, the devil himself will try to come with a lot of thing to try and fulfil that longing of peace.  He will do it through many ways.  Think of famous people worth billions in the bank.  They could literally go into the town centre and buy whatever they need yet end up talking their own lives – because they have no peace.  Many choose satisfaction in others ways – alcohol and drugs and other vices.  The devil is trying to bring people into bondage.  The Prince of Peace is the only one who can bring peace.  Luke 2 verse 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”  Do you have peace today?  I am very careful when telling people that if they come to Christ, it doesn’t mean you will have no more troubles – actually you might see them increase because there is an enemy and he is trying to get and in and discourage and get your eyes of Christ.  There is joy that God gives in the midst of our circumstances.  Jesus himself said “I have not come to take you out of the world.” (John 17 verse 15)    He has come to give us peace, the peace that passeth all understanding.  Could you imagine the shepherds, the lowest of the low, not allowed to go into the temple as they were considered dirty, unclean, yet it was to them the angels declared peace and goodwill to men.  Maybe you feel you are insignificant, of no importance.  Those shepherds felt like that.  The angel did not appear to kings or priests, they came not into the temple to declare this peace – they came to a hillside, to the lowest of the low, to shepherds minding their sheep.  Jesus himself said “I have come to call not the righteous but sinners to repentance.”  Have you got peace this morning? The peace that only comes from God?  You can only get peace in the Lord Jesus, the one of whom it was said he was the “Prince of Peace”.  There will be a day when Jesus Christ shall reign on this earth.  We will be kings and priests on this earth with him.  One day Christ will bring perfect peace on this earth.  He shall be on the throne of his son David.  We shall be like him for we shall see him as he is.  It puts into significance the problems we have, not that I am undermining anyone’s problems – they may be family problems, medical problems, there may be children growing away from God, there may be psychological, mental problems or problems of loneliness.  There could be isolated problems no-one knows anything about.  We live in a world where there are all sorts of problems.  The Lord wants us to know he shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace.  God may come down and take your problems away but more likely he will not.  He can come in and give you peace in the midst of your problems.  When we get our eyes on him and realise, he is Wonderful, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace.  One day it is he who will sit on the throne of his son David.  He is the Prince of Peace.  One of the most quoted bible passages is Isaiah 53.  Verse 5 tells us “But he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”  Christmas is a special time because we are reminded of the peace God gives.  I don’t know what lies ahead in 2025, whether I will end the year or not and neither do you but I have a peace that he gives.  He knows the future.  I am in his hands.  Do you have that peace?  Do you have the peace of God?  Do you realise he was bruised for your iniquities, the chastisement of your peace was on him?  Do you realise that you can have peace with God?  It is only possible through the Prince of Peace.  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”  That is the secret to perfect peace – keeping our eyes on God.  When circumstances are against us, when we wonder why a family member shuns us, when a work colleague mocks us or laughs at us or lies about us - how do I respond?  The peace of God is for those times.  Jesus is the key.  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”  Our mind could be on other people – family members, work colleagues, a way ward son or daughter.  When we have our minds focused on those things peace goes.  For the child of God when our minds are stayed on God, we can know peace.  The mind is a wonderful thing.  We could never fathom out how fully and wonderfully we are made.  We see each other today but don’t know what we are thinking.  You see the exterior of me but God knows what is going on inside.  He has promised to keep our hearts in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on God.  Our minds store interesting facts.  We can remember things we did as children.  How do you remember things?  Because the mind is a wonderful thing.  People are worried or sad at this time of the year because they have lost loved ones in their family.  It is a hard time of the year for them.  The enemy wants us to focus on those things, to get our minds off the Prince of Peace.  If you are here today and you are in trouble, distressed, downcast, defeated, whatever your case may be those problems may or may not be troubling you.  The peace you will receive this morning comes from the Prince of Peace who says “thou shalt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.”  I wonder as we do think back in our minds, do we remember a definite time when we heard the voice of God?  When we were convicted of our sin and we were brought to a place of repentance and we trusted Christ as Saviour?  We repented of our sin and started to follow after God.  We received peace into our lives.  Do you remember that time?  The enemy will try and throw everything at you but there is only one name that can bring peace.  There is no other way, no other name, no other religion, no other person living in this world today who can bring us into a relationship with Christ.  The Lord can give you peace with God.  I wonder do you have peace with God today?  If you don’t have peace, let me tell you how to get peace today?  Colossians 1 verse 20 “and through him God reconciled everything to himself.  He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.”  There was a time when the Son was born into this world but there was also a time when he was eternal, with his Father in heaven.  John 1 verse 1 says “and the word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us.”  He was not coming into the world to be stoned to death.  He was not going to have a heart attack like some us might one day.  Jesus was not going to die that day.  He was destined for the cross.  That is how you get peace.  If we need that peace and want it in our life it is only through the blood of Christ.  God is satisfied with the blood of Jesus on the cross.  How many will say today, “this is not for me.  I am not a sinner before God.”  They are robbing themselves of being reconciled with God.  They believe there is another way but there is no other way.  “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.”  How do you find peace with God at this Christmas time?  I love this time of the year because of the focus on Christ, the focus is on one born in Bethlehem’s stable.  If we just stayed in the manger where the baby Jesus is and never get to the cross we miss the point of Christmas and why he came into the world.  He came into the world that we might be reconciled, have peace with God through his cross.  You must receive Christ into your life, you must be born again.  The flesh you and I are born in will die one day.  We cannot do anything about that.  This child born so long ago can do something for you today.  The angels first came to the shepherds and later Jesus himself said “I am the good shepherd.”  He is the one who can give peace.  Have you got peace with God today?  So many don’t have that peace.  If you are a child of God and don’t have peace then maybe your eyes are on the circumstances.  God wants us to remember that perfect peace we can have in him today.  If you are not a Christian today, it doesn’t matter what you say, you don’t have peace.  You might have a false peace.  That happened in Jeremiah’s day.  God said through his prophet that he would send them into Babylon and false prophets told the people not to listen to Jeremiah.  God did send judgment and they didn’t know the peace offered to them.  Peace is only through the cross of Jesus today