The Power of Worship

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH 

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 9 NOVEMBER 2025 - MR PHILIP GRAHAM

2 KINGS 3 VERSES 1 TO 20

As I read this during the week doing my devotion and came down through this portion of scripture, verse 15 jumped out and the little phrase "but now bring me a minstrel." My title today is The Power of Worship. I remember that "all scripture is given for our instruction" and that means every phrase matters in God's word. What is the reason for that little line in the passage? It is easy to skip over this verse. Maybe we would even say Elisha wanted music to calm him down so he brought music out. Worship can be a hot topic, there are different and various interpretations of what it really is. Let us take God's word today and apply it to our hearts. Let God's Holy Spirit apply it in such a way that we might be changed as a result. What led up to the point where he asked for the minstrel to be brought? And a miracle followed from this request? 

After the death of Ahab, Jehoram his son came to the throne. Moab was a small nation that rebelled against Israel's control. We read in verse 4 that they paid 100,000 lambs and 100,000 rams with the wool to Israel. They now saw the chance to break free from tribute. Jehoram saw what was happening and he went to Jehoshaphat, King of Judah and asked him to come and help him fight against Moab. Instead of travelling directly north they went south and picked up the King of Edom. For 7 days they travelled together when they ran out of water. They were trapped in the wilderness of Edom. Now they had no hope. They were panicking. The quest they were on was desperate. They turned to the prophet Elisha to see what he could do to help them. They came to Elisha for guidance but he was not ready to speak. His heart was troubled. Before he could speak he asked for a minstrel to be brought. Then the hand of the Lord came on him. What followed is not just a message but a miracle. God brought water to a dry valley and victory in the battle.

First, notice the prophet's problem. He had a troubled spirit. Verse 14. Elisha was not one bit happy. He was unsettled. I wonder if that had been you or me what we would have been thinking. These 3 kings had landed at his door looking advice. Would you not have been quaking in your boots? Elisha meets these 3 heads of state and is not happy. He realised something wrong was going on. He gives them a dressing down. What courage that took! These kings were not like today's kings. They had the power to cut off his life. He points out what is wrong. If it hadn't been for Jehoshaphat the good king Elisha would not have listened to them. There was one wicked king, Jehoram, 1 pagan king, the king of Moab and one good king Jehoshaphat. They came looking for advice. It was a proud and political situation. It brought to my mind the idea of "being unequally yoked together". That is what these 3 men were like. Elisha would have sensed that these men practised idolatry. They didn't go to their own gods but came to the living God. They were asking his advice. Isn't it true that many don't believe in God when things are alright but when things go wrong they will go seeking for God. They knew God's presence does not move in the presence of rebellion and unbelief. Elisha was struck with frustration. Why is Jehoram doing this? That is why Elisha is disturbed. Have you ever found yourself in that place? Perplexed, frustration. God's word does not flow freely when there is anger and a distracted heart. God must first quiet our spirits. The greatest obstacle to hearing God's voice is the noise we experience in our own lives. How many times are we so preoccupied with things happening in our lives? The noise of our world. The culture around us. All prevents God's message getting through to our hearts. How much noise is there in our lives today? Some of the noise I experience in my life is not just work related. There is social media. Someone once  said that scrolling kills the soul. We should be flicking God's word open instead of scrolling. Noise clouds our vision of God's inerrant word. This is a challenge to my own heart - I get trapped in that scenario too often. There is nothing like getting into God's word and getting rid of all the noise. The prophet's problem - he had a trouble spirit.

Secondly, the prophet's preparation. "Now bring me a minstrel." Worship changes the atmosphere. Elisha understood something that many believers don't understand today. Instead of forcing God's message he started to worship. When your spirit is troubled your heart becomes clouded. Elisha knew that worship could do what worrying could not do. It could shift the atmosphere and calm his heart. It involved the presence of God and became a moment of transformation. The minstrel was someone playing an instrument. Music often invites the presence of God. Remember when David played the harp for Saul - he invited the presence of God into the situation. The atmosphere shifted from frustration to faith. From dryness in the desert to expectancy. Worship can be continuous. It can set off a gradient of views. You will agree that there is no power like that when worship is raised. Worship is more than music playing on any instrument. He did not ask for a soldier or a strategist or someone to come with a sword. He asked for a song. Why? Because he understood that worship matters. Worship has a way of turning confusion to clarity. Addressing restlessness and giving revelation. Had Elisha read the psalms and remembered the truth of "be still and know that I am God?" We live in a fast paced world. We spend our time reacting to things that it is so hard to be still. It takes practice, determination and effort. When we take time to worship, calm will fill our souls. It invites the presence of God. That is vital. We need to understand that it is not music itself that fills the place. It is the worship behind the music that opened the way for the divine presence and power of God. Praise is welcomed, God's presence is felt. When you cannot feel God's presence start worshipping. When we don't know the way to turn start to sing. God often speaks in the attitude of praise. If you have gone through heartache and are dry, when it is hard to concentrate and get your mind focused. When your mind is in turmoil and there are things you don't understand. When you read God's word and it is dry. When you are struggling and your mind is in the wrong place. When you feel you are getting nowhere. When you come to the place you don't know what to say or do. When your heart is confused and it feels impossible start to worship. Lift your voice in praise and worship. Sing the truth and proclaim openly how great our God is. Thank God for all he has done for you. How good and great he is. It might not make much sense to you but when you start to worship in truth and confess how amazing our God is change will start to happen. Notice the order in verse 15 - the music fist then the message. He didn't try to prophecy until he had prepared his heart to worship. Worship should not be a distraction. Not some way to turn our thoughts away from the confusion in our lives. It is time to evaluate our motives and methods. Worship is preparation of the heart. Preparing ourselves to receive God's word and instruction. The word will flow easier because it is already tuned to heaven's frequency. There is no point in turning up and going straight into the word without preparing ourselves though worship. We need to take time to prepare. Collective worship is also important in churches. For many it is another aspect of our service. True worship is so much more. It sets the tone for the meeting. It prepares our heart to receive the word. It calms our soul. Not whipping us up or getting us on a roller coaster. That is when it becomes all about us. If you base your worship on emotions it is not real because one time we are up and the next we are down. True worship invites the presence of God and prepares the way for the word before we hear it. 

Thirdly, the prophet's power. Where did he get his power? "The hand of the Lord came upon him." The hand of the Lord represents the spirit of God. He didn't receive the word until his heart was right. We read many times of the hand of the Lord in God's word. When the hand of the Lord rested on men and women they did extraordinary things for God. God's Spirit took control. I wonder are you ready for God's Spirit to take control? Not a moment of human inspiration, it was not something worked up. He was not getting the people into a frenzy. They welcomed God when they worshipped. His heart found a resting place. Do we worship God daily? Do we come with expectancy for the Holy Spirit to move? Worship is such a wonderful thing. It turns deserts into rivers. The Lord told Elisha to dig ditches and then the Lord filled them with water. God performed a miracle. Streams of provision were filled when the hearts are turned to God. Hearts are moved in ways not expected. 

What are some takeaways from our passage today?

When you are spiritually dry don't give up but try worship.

When you don't know what to do and the words won't come out, worship first.

Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.

Worship invites God's presence. Miracles happen. Strength comes. 

Elisha did not receive the word of God until he paused to worship. A heart that was quieted before the Lord.

Steps in Finding Peace with God

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2025 pm - PASTOR HENRY CASKEY

LUKE 18 VERSES 9 TO 14

There is something very special about the gospel. The meeting gives us an opportunity to revisit Calvary. 

Jesus tells a parable. He often told parables from people and situations he saw as he travelled. Think of the sower going out to sow the seed or the lost sheep wandering away. The good shepherd brought it back to the fold. He gave his life for the sheep. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. He speaks here of 2 men who were poles apart spiritually and socially speaking. One was a religious man, a Pharisee while the other was a Publican or tax collector, a despised man. He was hated because of his occupation. If anyone met him in the street they would cross over away from him. The steps he took in our story brought peace to his heart. In verse 9 we read the reason for this parable - "which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others." He knew there were those trusting in themselves to be righteous before God. I am sure you have met them - the nicest people you could ever meet. Sometimes you meet them on the doorsteps as you give out invitations to evangelistic missions. They will tells you they do the best they can, they go to church every Sunday, they never miss communion, pray and read their bibles every day and are ready to help anyone in the community. Good people, honest people, respectable people. They are trusting in themselves but they are not on their way to heaven and home.  Jesus turns from this religious man to the tax collector. 

Notice his attitude. This man comes in and acknowledges his sin before God. The word of God says the fool makes a mockery of his sin but not this man. He acknowledges before God he is a sinner. Notice he is standing afar off. The rich man wanted to be as near the holy of holies. He wanted to be heard and seen by others. Pride was pumping out of him. He had no time for the publican. His attitude was different. He knew sin in his heart. He knew it would take him to the caverns of the damned. He wanted to be right before God. Remember Achan, a young man in the Israelite army. The great city of Jericho was before him. They followed the battle plans and God gave them this city. But there was one thing they had to do - the spoil was God's. They had to be careful to do what God said and follow it exactly. He gazed across the city and saw the Babylonish garment and the silver. He swept them up and thought no-one would see him but God's eyes were on him. This tax collector is so different. He acknowledges his sin. Remember David and his relationship with Bathsheba. The most beautiful woman ever seen. He coveted her. He lay with her and she conceived. David sent for her husband. He wanted him to join his wife but he refused David's plan. Then David sent him into the battle so that he would face the enemy. Uriah was killed in battle. David thought everything was alright now. God sent a prophet with a story to David. A story of a rich man and a poor man. The poor man had a little lamb. He loved it, it was like family to him. The rich man had more riches than he could ever want. He took the poor man's lamb. David was furious. Then Nathan the prophet told David that he was the rich man. 2 Samuel 12 verse 13 "I have sinned against the Lord." He acknowledged his sin. It had caught up with him. Conviction had gripped him. This man's attitude was right. He couldn't even lift his eyes up to heaven. He acknowledged his sin. 

Notice this man's approach. He feels the weight of his sin. He knows the shame of guilt. We can imagine him coming into the presence of God. He acknowledges the reality of his sin. Think of the centurion's servant. He was at the point of death. The centurion came to find the Lord. He explained about his servant being so ill. Jesus was willing to come and heal him but the centurion said "I am not worthy for you to come under my roof but speak the word only." This man felt his unworthiness. As we begin to look at Calvary and what Christ did for us what does that do for us tonight. This man approached the Lord. "I am a sinner, I am hardly worthy to be standing in such a place." Think of the woman in John 8 caught in the act of adultery. The men who brought her wanted Jesus to agree with their law which say she should be put to death. Jesus said "let him that is without sin cast the first stone." That challenge began to hit home. Those guilty men, one by one, began to drift away. Jesus was left alone with the woman. They realised that they were as much a sinner as this woman they had brought to Jesus. Not one of us is guiltless. We all have sinned. We need to come to Christ. Peter on the day of Pentecost preached of the Lord coming into the world and of the many miracles he did. Then he pointed at the crowd and told them they took him and nailed him to the cross but on the third day he rose again. The crowd was standing listening. They asked him "what shall we do?" They were pricked in their hearts. God the Holy Spirit was there in the crowd. One by one they repented of their sin and turned to Christ. 3000 souls came to Christ individually. We must come the same way, every one of us makes their way to the cross of Calvary if we want to be in heaven. We have got to come to the cross of Calvary. 

The appeal. After he acknowledged his sin he makes a great appeal. "Lord be merciful to me a sinner." We cannot be saved in our own merits. It is all of the mercy of God. This man was crying out to God for mercy. He realised if ever he was to have peace with God it was all God's merits. I need God's mercy in this situation. He cried out for it. Have you ever cried out for it tonight? Have you ever come to the place where you realised you have sinned and come short of God's glory? Our problems are not too big for the Lord. He will take you in. Remember the young man who went off into the world to enjoy himself. He spent all he had and came to an end of himself. As he lay among the pigs he realised if he get home he would be far better off. His father was standing waiting for him. "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." This young man went home and the father met him. He wrapped his arms around him. The man said to his father "I have sinned." The father called for the fatted calf and prepared a feast. He said "this my son was lost and is now found."

The assurance he receives. Jesus told the crowd around him "this man went down to his house justified." The load of shame and guilt was gone. He went down a new creature in Christ because he called on the name of the Lord. Jesus paid the price of salvation and you can know forgiveness of sins tonight.

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A bottle in the smoke

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2025 - PASTOR HENRY CASKEY

PSALM 119 VERSES 81 TO 88

Psalm 119 is the longest psalm of all the Psalms. There are 176 verses. A lot of commentators tell us that the author of many of the psalms is unknown. A lot believe that David was the author of many of these Psalms. Some believe that David wrote these Psalms for his son Solomon to teach him the Hebrew Alphabet. Time after time the Psalmist is focused on the word of God. Some times he uses references like the judgments of God, the precepts of God, the statutes of God and the testimonies of God. There is one thing you will discover after reading Psalm 119 - the word of God is a much loved possession and of the greatest importance in his life. Time after time he comes back to the word of God.  What is the most important possession that you have? I used to love to visit an elderly man years ago because on his coffee table his bible sat open with his glasses on top of it. It was the most important thing he possessed. James Cooke was a great explorer in the 1700's. One day he was not feeling well and he decided to stay in his bed. He called for his servants to bring him the book. The servant looked at him strangely because he had a study full of volumes. "Which book?" he asked. James replied "there is only one book - the Bible." Isn't it wonderful to know how precious the bible really is. Recently we were thinking of Martin Luther and Latimer who went through so much to ensure we have the bible as it is today.

The psalmist is describing himself in verse 83 "for I am become like a bottle in the smoke." The first thing I thought of was the condition of the psalmist's heart. He was likening himself to a bottle - "I have become a bottle". He was referring to one made of animal skins. It was treated for the purpose of carrying something precious or expensive. You and I sit here today and are in possession of the Holy Spirit. How did that come about? One day God convicted us of our sins. Do you realise that you have sinned and come short of the glory of God? You will never be in heaven without a relationship with God. Maybe you have never understood that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish." Do you understand that God loves you and he sent his son to take your place on Calvary? Will you not trust the Saviour today to take your sins? When you do that he gives you the Holy Spirit. Something that is precious, expensive. In Luke's gospel when the Lord spoke of these wine skins he said new wine was something precious put into new bottles. Both are preserved. The Psalmist walks into the smoke house and knows what bottles were used at one time but now they are hanging up, no longer in use. Before a thrice holy God that is how the Psalmist saw himself. Feeling so out of touch with God with all the trials he was going through. The persecution he is going through. He feels like a bottle hanging up in the smoke house, black and shrivelled. It was going to take time to bring the bottle into a new phase. It brings heaviness to the Psalmist. This is the man anointed as king, a man after the Lord's own heart yet he comes to such a realisation. There are times when you feel so hopeless and useless. I have come away from a bed of sickness wondering if I have said enough. Sometimes we just feel like Elijah. He went through a spell like that. He had gone into Ahab the wicked king yet he had no fear of him. He had a message for him and he gave that message and fled. In 1 Kings 19 God finds Elijah out in the wilderness and what is he doing? Elijah is asking that he might die - "it is enough Lord will you take away my life, I am no better than my fathers." He had stood before King Ahab, he had depended on God and his word but now he is feeling useless. Maybe that is how you are feeling at this moment. You feel so abandoned and alone. You came in this morning in that state. You don't have to remain in that state. Remember Paul who was Saul of Tarsus hated the name of Jesus. He did everything in his power to put down the name of Christ, putting people to death for their faith. Remember how on the road to Damascus, taking the letters from priests with him to take captive any who followed the way, to arrest them and bring them back to the king. He was breathing out slaughters on that road to Damascus. There on the road the voice came from heaven. He was brought to his knees. That voice asked him "Saul, Saul why persecutest thou me?" Saul got up that day blinded in sight and had to be led by the hand to Ananias who revealed God's message to him. Then later in Corinth he is packing up his suitcase. He had had enough. It is a wonderful thing to know we can all feel like that. At times the Lord will bring us through some dark and long days. Sometimes we get to such a place where we feel abandoned, alone, frustrated, wanting to give up and walk away. The Psalmist could say here in verse 87 "I was almost consumed." Such was the heaviness of what he was walking through. The force of the enemies against him.

The circumstances that were prevailing. The bottle as it hung up in the smoke house was being affected by its surroundings and circumstances. As the smoke wafted around it the bottle was affected by all that was happening around it. Smoke made it shrivel and dry up, blacken. Such was the surroundings. It was being treated for the next assignment. Maybe whatever you are going through today God is preparing you for the next assignment. He is preparing you right now to step into that task. Notice something in this house. Smoke in the house was coming around the bottle. It does not say anything about flames or fire because it would destroy it. The smoke was treating it. The enemy tried to trip him in the paths he walked. Life was not easy for him. He was persecuted. He felt abandoned. Circumstances do affect us. When everything is going well it is like we are on the mountain top but when things close in around us we feel discouraged. Circumstances can make us feel bitter and hard. Do not allow the circumstances around you to affect you in that way. Remember the story of Naomi. Her family moved from Bethlehem Judah because there was a famine in the land. Bread was scarce. Her husband made a decision to take his wife and sons to Moab. They only went for a little time but were actually there for 10 years. Circumstances prevailed in their lives. It got them to make the wrong decision. It was not a good choice. The people of Moab were not a favourable people. When the Israelites were on their way through the wilderness to Canaan the King of Moab called on Balaam to curse them. Later they persecuted Israel for some 18 years. Moab was the place they should not have been in. First Naomi's husband died. She saw her sons marry into Moabite families then saw her first son die and finally her second. Her heart must have been broken. Then one day she heard wonderful news. It is a reminder to us all to never give up knocking doors, never give up pursuing in evangelism. God had blessed Bethlehem again with food. The moment she heard that she got up with her 2 daughters in law to return to Bethlehem. She had heard wonderful news. This was at the time of harvest in the land when she returned. Whenever she came to the border the people came out to meet her. After 10 years, with the loss of her husband and 2 sons the people that once knew her looked at her and asked "is this Naomi?" She was barely recognisable. She asked them not to call her Naomi but rather call her Marah for the Lord had dealt very bitterly against her. She was out of touch with the Lord but now the Lord was bringing her back. The circumstances that affected her life. Don't look at the circumstances, get your eyes on the Lord. We have all gone through circumstances that could have taken us down. Notice the word "almost" in Psalm 119 verse 87. God was equipping Naomi during her difficult time for the next stage. Her daughter in law Ruth would pave the way for the Messiah to come. The circumstances in Elijah's life. The Lord found him in the wilderness. Why was he there? He was no better than his father. He asked God to take his life. Circumstances brought him there. This is the man that stood before Ahab, had climbed Mount Carmel and called down fire from heaven onto the sacrifice. He had confronted all the prophets of Baal and eventually put them to death. Jezebel had said "I will have this man's life before long, he shall have no existence on this earth at all." When Elijah heard that he fled. All the things he came through - he did not fear the prophets of Baal or Ahab or even sitting at the brook Cherith now the circumstances of life are surrounding him and getting him down. He asked the Lord to take his life. He didn't want to go any further but the Lord was already preparing for the next assignment. There are kings to be appointed, prophets to be raised up. Paul in Acts 18 in Corinth he found opposition. People didn't want to listen to him. Circumstances really came in against him. He decided to go to the Gentiles instead. Then the vision of the Lord came to him. "I have much people in this city to reach." He was preparing him for the next assignment. We need to be careful that circumstances don't get us caught up in the wrong impression.

The cry of the Psalmist - verse 81 "my soul fainteth for thy salvation." This same man feels useless. He confesses how he feels. Let's be honest before the Lord today. How are we feeling today? Ready to cry out to God? Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart. Know how we feel and where you stand. Hezekiah listed to so many false prophets. God would use them against Zedekiah for they had turned against God. Jeremiah was in the pit, imprisoned. The command went out to bring him quickly to the meeting house. Jeremiah was asked "is there any word from the Lord?" Maybe you need to hear a word from God today. Maybe you need to cry "Lord show me yourself." Jehoshaphat came in contact with Ahab. "Will you go with me to face the enemy?" The reply "enquire I pray thee as to the word of the Lord." Ahab called in all the false prophets. Jehoshaphat's spirit said there was something wrong and he asked "is there not here a prophet of the Lord that we might enquire of the word of God?" We need to enquire of God. It is one thing to come and go every Sunday but when circumstances prevail against us it is good to call on the Lord.

The comfort the Psalmist draws on - "I hope in thy word" verse 85. When the Thessalonian church felt they had missed the resurrection. The false teachers said it was all over the poor believers felt that their loved ones had missed out on the resurrection. Paul explained what would happen in the day of the coming of the Lord, people would be resurrected, the voice of the archangel would sound, the trumpet would be heard. Then Paul said "comfort ye one another with these words." The comfort we gain from God's word. Let's protect it today. Draw comfort from it. The Lord says "call unto me." He wants you to call - "whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Cast your every burden on the Lord today - why - because he cares for you.    

Facing the Trials and Temptations of Life

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES - SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER 2025  - MR PHILIP ROBINSON

JAMES 1 VERSES 1 TO 4

https://youtu.be/Yb9jIR-kaHE?si=fOVe2RlSkguVfaVd

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41692565

In 2017 the BBC produced a programme titled True North: Crusaders - Keeping the Faith. It was a documentary following Crusaders Football Club chasing 3 titles through one season. It focused on 4 players - Sean O'Neill, Howard Beverland, Matthew Snoddy and Stephen Baxter. Each of these players had "trials" but as Christians they wanted to show how their faith in Christ helped at a crucial point in time. Stephen Baxter, the Team Manager had 13 members on his team who were known as the God Squad. They professed faith in Christ and the BBC followed them throughout the season. 

Various passages in scripture show how people had faith in God through difficult times. We can think of the apostle Paul who faced many trial in his life - he was shipwrecked, beaten and in jail. Abraham's faith was tried when he was asked to offer his son on Mount Moriah. As Abraham was about to slay his son the Lord spoke from heaven and told him to look behind him and find a lamb caught in the thicket. That lamb would be offered in place of Isaac. God provided the perfect sacrifice. Noah was asked to build a boat because a flood was coming. He had faith that God would keep to his word. Hebrews chapter 11 is a great chapter on faith. There are two words that is repeated throughout the verses - "by faith". 

The same is true of James chapter 1. As Christians we are always facing trials in our lives. Illness and death for instance. God is with us constantly through such times. We can take all our worries and fears to the foot of the cross. Remember the hymn "What a Friend we Have in Jesus"

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
what a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit
O what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

James 1 is a general epistle - one of 7. There are 2 simple thoughts found in these verses.

Keeping our eyes on Christ in the trials and temptations of life - verse 2

Keeping a joyful heart when going through trials is difficult. More time than not we take our eyes off Christ. We can become distracted by what we are going through. "Count it joy" is a command we need to follow. Even when it is difficult to have joy as a Christian it is important to remember we have joy that this world can never give. Many are trying to find joy in different things today. For instance in houses and cars. It is not wrong to have that joy but it can only really be found in Christ. Stephen Nolan once produced a programme on different religions. He said "I have all I could ever want yet there is a void in my life I cannot fill." This world will one day pass away. We will not take any earthly possessions with us to the grave. But as Christians we can have joy in our hearts. There used to be a children's chorus that said "with Christ in the vessel I can smile at the storm." No matter what we are going through in life we can smile all the way knowing God will help us through those trials. We need to keep our eyes and hearts on God. How? By reading our bibles, spending time in prayer, meditating on what God is saying. These things will help us through our trials. Keeping our eyes on Christ is important. As we look around us today there is no good news. We can become distracted by what is going on in our world. What matters is that we are God's children. When we come against a trial we need to rely on God. Then it is even more important to have quiet times daily. God will help give us guidance through prayer and reading his word. James 4 verses 8 "draw nigh to God and he will draw night to you." The example is of Peter in Matthew 14 verse 22. Peter was in the boat when he saw Christ coming towards him. He steps out of the boat, had his eyes on the Saviour but as he begins to walk on water he took his eyes off Jesus. He became more worried about the sea around him and down below him. He began to sink. He took his eyes off the one who could save him from sinking. Christ reached down and lifted him up out of the water. There will be times when we take our eyes off Christ but he is always there to pick us up again and set our feet on the right path. Man's natural ability is to go on his own way but not God's. Whenever we come to trials we need help. We don't like asking for help, we want to do it ourselves. But we discover very quickly that we cannot go through life without Christ. Christ will guide us through life. Like the captain of a ship it is his job to guide us into the harbour. Christ helps and guides us through life's storms. Maybe you are going through a dark valley - keep your eyes on Christ. He will guide you. Christ pulls Peter up out of the sea and he will do the same for us. He will be with us through the storm. The word "divers" is used to mean different and varied trials. We all face many different situations but as the Amplified Version states "having nothing but joy in the trials." Whenever we are faced with the temptations and trials the devil throws at us keep our eyes on Christ.

Keeping our eyes on christ during trials and temptations - verse 3

The author is speaking from experience in these verses. Commentators tell us that James was killed for his faith. Many Christians today are meeting in bombed out buildings. In Nigeria thousands of Christian Churches have been burned down yet if you went to them today the believers still gather in the ruins. They are giving thanks to God. If we were put in that situation man of us would be complaining. Many cannot even open a bible in a church service. Trials help us grow close to God. Whatever we might be facing we need to spend time with God in reading his word and praying to him. 1 Peter 1 verses 6 and 7 and Romans 5 verses 3 and 4. In the darkest hour what ever trials and temptations we are going through you will learn patience as you wait on God. Sometimes we have to be patient and learn it. Some of us struggle with that. In verse 4 James is speaking of patience that God gives through trials. God has a plan for everyone of us. We can learn to have joy in trials. It is all part of God's plan. The trial will produce patience in our Christian walk. Let patient have her perfect work. God will guide us as we live here on earth. We are not perfect. Everyone of us will sin. There was only one who did not sin - the Lord Jesus himself. People think that as Christians, when we put our trust in God we are perfect but we are not. We will sin every day. It will only be when we get to heaven that everything will be made perfect. We can draw encouragement from Christ being with us through each trial. Keeping our eyes during the trial. Christ saved us from our sins. He died on the cross and can help us through trials. Reading God's word and praying to him. It can be hard to keep our eyes on Christ when we see what is going on in the world today. Knowing God will call us home to be with him in heaven one day keeps us going on. Having patience in the trial helps us to draw close to God. One day we will be made perfect completely. Can I encourage you if you are facing something in your life today to take it to God in prayer. Hebrews 12 verse 1. Have that faith even as a Christian. Know God is with you today.

The Parable of Tares

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER 2025 - REV PAUL HANNA

MATTHEW 13 VERSES 24 TO 30, 36 TO 43

When you read the gospel accounts Matthew, Mark, Luke and John we often discover the Lord was flocked, mauled by the people. They surrounded him just to hear the word he taught them. John 7 verse 46 "no one ever spoke like this man does." He taught them in a different way, as one having authority. Not like the scribes and Pharisees. Why - because this was none other than God and God the Son incarnate. He spoke to them in a way that gripped and held their attention like no-one else could. Jesus talked about every day things and activities they would have been more familiar with. As he stood in the open air he taught about things in a distance - for instance the sower in the field, the birds that flew overhead, the flowers that stood and listed in the meadows. Mathew, Mark and Luke are synoptic gospels. Jesus spoke by parables. Tonight I want to look at one of his many parables. There are 38 parables in total, none are recorded in John's gospel. The word synoptic means seen together. John's gospel stands apart in that regard. The Lord used parables when addressing the people. A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. That is what the word comes from. Mark's gospel has the highest concentration of parables in it alone - there are 20 along. In chapter 13 of Matthew's gospel there are 7 parables from the Saviour. The parable of the tares is one of those. This is the only time this parable is recorded. There is much to learn and take away from this parable. The Lord spoke and taught through parables. This is the second parable in this chapter. As he addressed those great crowds in verses 1 and 2 we see the context. It must have been wonderful to be there and listen to Jesus. Did you know that we do not have a single recording of C H Spurgeon's voice. I would love to have heard what the prophets sounded like when they addressed the people. Some day we will meet them face to face and hear their voices.

Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away

The truth that was concealed. There are many things concealed today because the god of this world is most active. Concealing is his business at every turn. If he was open then it would prove God does exist. I love this time of the year when we remember the Reformation. Martin Luther marched the streets of Wittenburg and hammered the 95 theses to the door. He struck a blow at the foundations of time. I would rather think of that great event than anything else. The god of this world is most active, he does what he can to keep his activities under seal and wrapped. The church of Jesus Christ is largely sleeping today. What are we doing about this? This was done under the cover of darkness. The devil is ramping up. He believes more and knows more of the canon of scripture than anyone. He knows hiss end is coming. He knows his day is short. The church sleeps and the enemy is sowing the seed, trying to steal away the good seed of the word of God. The god of this world does not want us on our knees or even in the church once a week. The truth that is revealed.

When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. “The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this,’ he replied.“ The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ “‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’” 

There was a problem early on. No-one was aware of it. These things were done secretly without anyone knowing what was going on. The Lord knows everything that is going on, that has gone on and will go on. He is omniscient. He knows the state of your heart. He knows the reason why you will not come to the cross and have your sins forgiven. He knows that sin has gripped your heart but he also knows what the real reason is.  Maybe you know you are bound for a Christless eternity. The Lord knows what brought you in tonight. He knows that reason that you are harbouring in your heart that is keeping you coming to the cross. Maybe it is the hypocrisy of some friend or relative. You are not prepared to give way. In 50, 60, 100 or a million years time will it matter? If it keeps you out of heaven and in hell were the worm dieth? The Lord know all about you. This crime was committed while men slept. His enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat. The Lord knows all about that. He knows what reasons you are coming up with why you cannot come. Maybe you know you should get saved but not yet. The greatest lie of the devil is that you have plenty of time. He knows what you are saying and the state of your heart behind closed doors when no-one is around. Jeremiah 18 "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." We will reap what we sow. What have you been sowing your whole life? It will bring judgment. I am here to preach the good news. People may call me good living but there is nothing good about me. God took my sin willingly and paid my price in full. This same Saviour who knows your heart. Isn't it remarkable that despite knowing all that he still wants to save you from your sin? He still wants you to come to himself. He gives the invitation in Matthew 11 verse 28 "come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Will you not come and ask the Lord to come into your life? He knows all about your past. Will you not give him your present?

Here we have the problem initially concealed. Now the problem is revealed that all might see it. It brought forth fruit. "By their fruits ye shall now them." Whenever it brought forth fruit it also brought forth tares also. It was only at a particular stage that you could see them. Not early on. Quite a late stage of development. That crop was revealed to the servants. Commentators tells us tares were a particular weed, darnel. They look like the desirable wheat planted by the farmer, almost identical in every stage of development until the actual grain is produced. Then it becomes clear it is a fake. The problem only became apparent when the fruit shall appear. Is there fruit in your life? We should make our election sure. Are you saved tonight? Maybe you made a commitment years ago and signed a card. I remember working with someone who I tried to witness to him. He was a blasphemer of the worst kind. He turned around one day and said "they got me when I was yougn and I am alright now." The story transpired that as a young child he was taken to meetings and in one of those meetings he signed a card to say he trusted Christ as Saviour. In his estimation he thought he was ok. He was putting his faith and trust in signing some card some years previously. The tares developed at the same time. But they did not produce fruit. The servants realised what had happened. The Lord calls us to labour. Matthew 7 verse 16 

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" 

We receive a stark warning in verse 21. 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

It is so easy to point the finger at others but there are 3 pointing back. There will be a separation one day from God eternally. What about you tonight? Are you the genuine article tonight? Are you on the way to heaven? The farmer had the knowledge of what had happened. In the second half of our reading we read the master is the Lord himself. The servants quickly realised what was happening but the reaction of the master is made clear - he wanted to wait until it was harvested. Are you ready to stand before God one day? At the great white throne judgment? We are still living in the day of opportunity. We have had dozens of opportunities to hear the message of the gospel. What if this is your last opportunity. DL L Moody in one of his meetings told his audience "I want you to go home tonight and think seriously of the invitation I have given. Then come back to our next meeting and give your life to Christ." He regretted making that statement because the great fire of Chicago swept through shortly afterwards. Some of the congregation lost their lives. It was the final opportunity. D L Moody vowed never to do that again. It was said that by his labours under God the population of hell was reduced by a million souls. He vowed never to finish his meeting unless people got right with God first. I can never guarantee that you will have another opportunity to hear this message. What about you right now? We are told here of something that is yet to happen. Did you know that the bible speaks more of hell than it does of heaven? We are given more warnings about hell. Why? Because it is so important to heed that warning. Why would you not come? The scriptures command us to prepare. The preparation that is needed. Will you not come? Simply ask the Lord. He has done it all. He gave his life blood for you. Will you not ask the Lord to come into your life? The only opportunity is right now. Will you not come?

A Plenteous Harvest but the Labourers are Few

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 19 OCTOBER 2025 - REV PAUL HANNA

Matthew 9 verse 35 - chapter 10 verse 6, 16

I don't know about you but I love this time of year. Perhaps I inherited it from my mother. She loved the autumn. She was married in September and that love for autumn came to me as well. This time last year I was in Tennessee, America and the colours were lovely. It is so dry there, something like a postcard picture. I know that this is a hard time of year for farmers when reaping of crops is done. It marks the change between good growing point of the year and enduring the winter months using what was gathered during the summer months. It is the time of the year when everything seems to pause. You are now looking at a video picture of nature pausing. Maybe you know what I mean. A busy time of year in the farming calendar with all our weather problems and other factors. 

I love to trace the life and ministry and teaching of the Lord Jesus in the 4 gospels. He was always on the go. There was much indeed of the hustle and bustle involved in his talking, going and doing. Large crowds followed him from the inception of his ministry to the last, at the end of it all. We find the Lord teaching all classes of people. Chapter 9 verse 1 shows us a beautiful picture of the Lord entering into the ship. He passed over to Capernaum, the north coast of Galilee. Almost immediately in verse 2 they brought him a man sick of palsy and he healed him. The immediate reaction with the people - right away people were constantly watching him especially the zealots with an eye to accuse him. Verse 4 "he knew what they were thinking before it was vocalised." In verse 10 when he went to eat he was especially under particular scrutiny and attack from those around him. Yet again Jesus is on the move in verse 35. He was so busy in preaching, teaching and healing. Those are the 3 things he did. Verse 35 the Saviour was so busy, always on the move. Then he stops. 

Whilst Jesus was always on the move there were some notable times when he did stop and pause. Think of John 4 and the woman at the well. The disciples went into Sychar to buy meat whilst Jesus sat by the well at the hottest part of the day. He did that for a particular reason. He had a divine appointment with a woman. He knew all about her sin and he used her to reach many others to himself. At other times the Lord stopped and he did so with purpose and for a reason. Perhaps it is his plan and purpose that we are stopped - he has a word in season for you. Perhaps he has something for you to do in this area and he stops you in your tracks. I need this word as much as anyone else. Sometimes I take on far too much and I am too busy. What does the Lord say - Psalm 46 verse 10 "be still and know that I am God." I remember a time when there were 4 channels on the television and it stopped at midnight with the national anthem. Now today there are thousands of channels and nothing is on them. There is nothing new. God says stop while the world wants constant 24 hours a day noise. 

Verses 36, 37 and 38. He saw the need around him. Think of Luke 19 and the story of Zacchaeus. He wanted to see the Lord but he was too short and there were too many crowding the Lord. There was no way he could see the Lord until he came up with a plan. He climbed the tree and was just happy to get a glimpse of the Saviour. Again the Lord had a divine appointment with him. He stopped at the tree, looked up and said to Zacchaeus "come down, for today I must abide at thy house." Perhaps the Lord has a similar word for you today. Verse 36 then he turned to his disciples and tried to give them something of the burden he had for those individuals around him. Verse 37 talks of a spiritual harvest. It is a plenteous harvest but the labourers are few. When the Lord looked at those following him he didn't look at the outward appearance. He sees their hearts, what is on the inside. What is on our inside is reflected on the outside. He sees not only the outside but also sees what is on the heart too. Remember what we said in verse 4 - Jesus knew their thoughts. They didn't have to say anything, he saw the multitudes and was moved with compassion. He saw the need, on the inside not only the outside. 1 Samuel 16 the Lord was about to put his hand on the man after his own heart. Verse 7 "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." The Lord sent Samuel to anoint and choose the next king of Israel. All these great mighty men were marched past Samuel but God told him not to look on their countenances or the height of his stature. I live a couple of hours from here and drive a school bus for the pupils of Spa Primary School. There is a natural water near me. It is beautiful. Sometimes as I drive past I would slow down and even stop at it. I tell the children to look at it. It changes appearance every day. "No man ever steps in the same river twice for it's not the same river and he's not the same man." On that beautiful water there is a reflection of the mountain behind it. I can only see whats on the surface, I don't know what lies beneath. So too the Lord - he sees what is on the inside. Verse 36. He saw the multitude and saw the need in their hearts. He saw the depth of each individual. It moved him with compassion. My God seeth me. He sees your heart, your needs and is indeed moved with compassion for you. Think of his compassion. Did you ever really stop to really think of it? Especially if you are unsaved today. God knows your state. Have you ever stopped to think of the Saviour's compassion for fallen mankind? He willingly left heaven's glory. He was the Son of God, the only begotten Son of God. He came to this earth to die in the lowest of the low place. He came to heal the sick and raise the dead but his central purpose was to come and die for your sin. So that we might be reconciled to God. That comes from his compassion for lost mankind. "For God so loved the world." That word "so" is such a deep word. He willingly came. God sent and he willingly came. His love and compassion for us drew salvations plan. We find the word compassion 14 times throughout the gospels. Each and every time it is used by the Lord or in referring to the Lord in relation to his thoughts. Matthew 9 verse 36 is the first of those occurrences. Think of his compassion. Let us carry that thought away with us. It was the thing that moved him to do what he did. He was not only filled with compassion but moved with it too. When was the last time we were moved with compassion? To speak to someone about the Lord? There is a generation headed down the broad road to hell itself. Are we moved to stand in the way while the world burns? Are we not moved to tell them of the truth of the hope that is within us. The Lord was so moved because they were lost and he knew they fainted and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd. The word "faint" means to have no control, people just drop in front of us. In our own strength we can do absolutely nothing. Notice what the Lord commended to the disciples. He tried to give them something of that burden. he didn't just tell them as so many try to do in the business and church. They lead by their leadership - they are managers giving out instructions. They tell people what you should do and when you have done something wrong they tell you. We need someone like Jesus, to lead from the front. The disciples had to only watch the Saviour interact with people. In John 4 they went to the nearby city to buy meat. Jesus had that love to draw the woman to himself. In Sychar a revival came. For 2 days they came and spoke to Jesus but it all started with the woman. The firstfruits of revival. The disciples witnessed that incident. This was near the beginning of Jesus's ministry. Think of the instructions of the Saviour. The harvest has been a busy time in Northern Ireland. In the past I can remember going to pick the potatoes. It was a physical way of life. Now it is all machinery led. Many in the past were employed in the harvest gathering. Now we are governed by term time in our education system. School holidays are different here than anywhere in the world. Farming involved everyone. Everyone got involved. There is a spiritual application as well. Everyone used to get involved in the work. Children get off school in time to dig potatoes. Summer holidays were timed to allow everyone to work at gathering in hay. Bringing in the harvest became the priority. The spiritual harvest - is that our priority today? Or is it an extra shift to bring in more money? Is bringing in God's harvest our priority? Is there a challenge here for us? What am I doing? What is my priority today? Is is serving the King or is it taking an extra shift offered to us? I remember talking to a man who must be 90 years of age now. He talked about the thresher coming to the country. To thresh the corn involved a lot of people but today it only involves one man sitting in an air conditioned luxury combine harvester. In those days threshing corn was labour intensive. First the field would have been cut with scythes. A man who was good at this could scythe 2 acres of a field in a day. Then the corn was tied up into sheaves and rucks. They were brought into a stook yard with horses and carts. 10 or 15 rucks were stacked together. That all happened until around the 1930's when the thresher became popular and the real work began. The thresher would have parked up between 2 stooks of corn. It took 1 or 2 men to pitch the sheaves up into the thresher, then 2 or 3 were up top loosening the stooks and pushing them into the thresher. There was a man on the bags at the back. A couple of men were needed to draw the bales away. So in all it took 8 or 9 good men working hard to thresh the corn. Nowadays one man or perhaps 2 are involved. One man will take the corn away as well as the one man driving the harvester. Let us think of this in the spiritual sense. The Lord looked with his all seeing eyes. He saw beyond the extraordinary and said "the harvest is truly plenteous but the labourers are few." He exhorted these men to pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth labourers . We are called to field to work and labour. I attended a missionary convention a few years ago in Oxford. I asked the man what direction he wanted me to preach. The man told me the real problem today is that God's people are content to sit back and let the oversight do the work. "I am doing enough" is the cry. That stuck with me. That motivates me. The Lord is highlighting here the need. In the rest of the verses of chapter 10 God gave instructions on how to do that. This is how we ought to reach people for the Lord. We will do nothing unless we have got a burden for the lost. You have heard the saying "where there's a will there is a way." There are numerous excuses people give. When you find an answer for those excuses they will find another problem. The converse is also true - if you are determined to do something you will find a way. There was a man speaking to me the other day about playing an instrument. I said to him "if you really want to play it you will learn it." His response? "I don't have time to play."  In other words "for me that is not a priority." Let's get to that priority again. Do we have that compassion? Do we have a burden for the lost souls? If we really have that burden we would do something about it. God's word and his gospel changes lives but also eternities. Do you have that desire? Compassion? Burden for the lost? The Lord Jesus died for the lost around us. 
"And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

"If we could see the lost as Christ saw them how much more would we do." 

Amy Carmichael

I trust we have that burden for the lost that we would be moved to do as he wants us to do today.

What Matters Most - My Health

BALTEAGH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

FRIDAY 17 OCTOBER 2025 - REV KENNY HANNA

MARK 2 VERSES 1 - 12

All kings of things matter to us. Mark helps us to deep dive into these subjects, he cuts out loads of background details to get us right to Jesus.

Our physical health matters and people can help us to a degree - verses 1 to 4

This paralytic man had 4 fantastic guy. They are the kind of friends we all want. They will be with you in the trenches. They wouldn't let you down. You could trust them with your life. This man's 4 friends knew that mate's physical health mattered, really mattered. Look at the lengths they go to to get their mate to Jesus. They laid him on a mat, carried him to Jesus and when they get to the house find it rammed full of people so carry him up to the flat roof. Then they begin to make a whole racket. Imagine this was your house. It was not a small hole they made but a hole large enough to let this man down into the place where Jesus was standing. Would you want this to happen to your house? This paralysed man's mates did not care about this - verses 1 to 4. 

"And when he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 And many were gathered together, so that there was no more room, not even at the door. And he was preaching the word to them. 3 And they came, bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men. 4 And when they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him, and when they had made an opening, they let down the bed on which the paralytic lay."

These men couldn't possibly do anything more to help their friend. If I had gone there and the place was full I would not have been making a hole in the roof. People can help us to a degree but amazing though the friends were there is a limit to what they could really do for their friend. They came bringing to Jesus a man, a temporary care. Our physical health matters and people can help us to a degree. That is born out by verse 1 - where did this happen? In Capernaum. Jesus was at home. Capernaum was a prosperous place. It was situated off the main trade route. They were blessed by entrepreneurs. Capable people lived in the district. It was also a thriving fishing district. The land around it was good and fertile. Capernaum was prosperous, had many capable people in the area, was near a sea port. Although the people were rich they couldn't cure this man of his paralysis. They couldn't fix everything. He had wonderful friends, fantastic family but they couldn't fix everything. We know that don't we. Coldplay had a single titled Fix You with the words "I will try to fix you". They knew we can try to fix people but there are some things we cannot fix. We are really blessed to live in Northern Ireland. There is a warmth, a kindness in people. They want to help you. There is no other place in the world better to live. People are kind and want to help you. We are relatively well off. We have wonderful health care facilities so many other countries would love to have and yet despite all of that people cannot fix us and sometimes that includes our health. The physical man matters. Physical health matters to a degree. It makes us realise we need a greater than human help. If even the best human help cannot fix this man and people cannot help with all the wealth they had that makes us realise they needed someone greater.

We need to come to Jesus but our hearts are paralysed - verses 6 to 8

We need to come to Jesus but there is a problem. The problem is us. There is not just one paralysed man in this passage. In verse 6 the scribes are mentioned:

"Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

These men were well versed in the Old Testament and in particular the first 5 books of the bible. People would have listened to them and obeyed them. They would have been called rabbis. They were legal experts, able to instruct someone in all things. They were held in high esteem. When they came into your house you would have stood up. They had hearts as bad as the paralysed man. What is their reaction after Jesus forgives the man's sins? They are indignant as Jesus saying he can forgive this man's sins. 

"And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, “Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’? 10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 

Some of the scribes were questioning in their hearts if Jesus could heal this man. Jesus is God and knows what they are thinking. It means they cannot come to Jesus and don't want to come to Jesus. They accuse him of blasphemy, the most troubling thing to be accused of. The penalty for blasphemy is death. They had the same attitude at the beginning of Jesus' ministry as at the end of his ministry. Only a few of them came to know Jesus personally. When at the end of his ministry, Jesus goes before the Jewish Sanhedrin in Mark 14 they accused him of blasphemy once more. They condemned him to deserving death. Throughout his 3 years Jesus taught and healed but they refused to believe who he said he was. God's Son forgave sins. Their hearts are paralysed by sin and they remain paralysed themselves. Theologians say they had an inability to come to Jesus because of sin and don't want to come. Our hearts are dead. Paul said that in Ephesians 2 verse 1 "you were dead in trespasses and sin." Our hearts are paralysed to God but spiritually dead. It is not only a picture of you and I but of every human. We were made in God's image. Of all he has made we are the only ones to be made for relationship with God. God has made you for him. We are beautiful inside yet at the same time there is a brokenness to us. A deeper brokenness about us. Although we need to come to Jesus for salvation our hearts are dead to Jesus. We cannot come. We don't even want to come. if you have come tonight and are not following Jesus you don't really want to follow him. All of us are dead to Jesus. Our spiritual health is not great. Our hearts are paralysed to Jesus. They are dead. That is the incredible bad news but if I just stopped there and we sung the final hymn and walked out the door it wouldn't be a great ending. Your story doesn't need to end there. Jesus hasn't left us. He has come to us.

Jesus sees our need and he has come to us - verse 5

He hasn't left us in our brokenness. When you go to gather sheep inevitably you have to go back and forward several times to bring them all in. You will not leave them there. Jesus doesn't leave us there. This man had 4 friends, fantastic friends. I am sure that they knew what their mate's greatest need was - to meet Jesus. Jesus sees he has a greater need. To have his sins forgiven than being physicaly paralysed. He deals with his spiritual sin first. Notice he calls him "Son" - why - because he loves him. Jesus calls him son because he loves him so very much and this man is now his son because he has put his trust in him. He is adopted into God's family. Our health that matters most is our spiritual health. Sins forgiven. Not being in hell but in heaven with Jesus. That is the best news you will ever hear. He has come to us. Jesus heals the man physically. He is a kind of visual aid. To show that he can forgive spiritually. Both are equally easy for Jesus. Verses 9 to 11. This ties in with verse 7 - these religious leaders by accusing Jesus of blasphemy and saying Jesus is the Son of God admit he is the one who can forgiven sin.

Image you were invited to a garden party at Hillsborough Castle. You are introduced to King Charles and have a pleasant conversation. You go out after the day is over to discover your car wouldn't start. That is typical of what might happen. You go back in again and the King sees you. He asks what is wrong and you tell him your car wont start. He offers you his chauffeur you will take you home. Now lets go one better - the King sees you, comes over, hears your problem and then says "don't worry, my Rolls is outside, jump in and I will take you home myself." Now that would be amazing. King Jesus has come for you not in a car but on a cross to die for you, to forgive your sin, to give you eternal life and to take you not to your home but back to his home forever. This is really a story that is worth repeating. This is what matters most. This is what really matters. The King of Kings has come for us. he has come for you by being nailed to a cross. It is so amazing. See how the people respond in verse 12:

"they were all amazed and glorified God saying, 'We never saw anything like this!'"

I remember the night I gave my life to Jesus at a mission. I went home and I had never seen anything like that before. For the first time in my life my guilt was taken away. I had peace and contentment. I knew God had called me to himself and if I was to die I would go home. I was ready. I never had that before. There is no better story. Jesus has not abandoned us. He has not left us. What matters most - our physical health matters. Sure people can help us with it to a certain extent but one day my physical health will give up as will yours. What will you do then? If our physical health gave up suddenly without warning we need to be ready. To prepare now. We can only hope in Jesus who has come for us. I wonder will you come to him. He came down from heaven to us. Will you ask him to forgive you of your sin? He will give you everlasting life. You will be loved by Jesus forever. Heaven matters most of all.

What Matters Most? My Family

BALTEAGH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH MISSION

TUESDAY 14 OCTOBER 2025 - MR KENNY HANNA

MARK 3 VERSES 31 TO 35

We are thinking about what matters most - tonight it is about my family. We all love our families. We would do anything for our families. We would make any sacrifice for our families. We would go without ourselves for our families. What matters most is our family. Many of us would put our families at the top of our list of priorities. What I love most about Mark's gospel is that Mark cuts out a lot of background detail so he can get us straight to Jesus. All he wants is to get you and I to Jesus. That is what I want from these meetings. By God's grace, as God is at work, we want to see Jesus, to come to him. Let's begin at the beginning.

The danger of false hopes. There is a sober warning - verses 21, 31 to 32 and chapter 1 verses 19 to 20

For thousands of years there have been people who thought they were members of God's family when in fact they were actually not members at all. The danger of false hopes continues to be a real live issue today. It certainly was the case when Jesus lived thousands of years ago. His mother and brothers travelled a days journey from Nazareth to Capernaum. They thought he was not looking after himself, that he was out of his mind. They came to check on Jesus. Here is what Mark wants us to notice. Twice we are told Jesus' mother and his brothers are on the "outside" while Jesus and the others were on the inside. He states this twice so that we might not miss it. Surely we would expect them to be on the inside. It is strictly true that at Jesus' conception Mary expresses her trust in the Lord as Saviour - Luke 1 verse 47 "in God my Saviour". She was trusting in God to save her, to be her Saviour. We read in John 7 that Jesus' human brothers did not believe in him. Here are Jesus' family on the outside. The human relationship they had to Jesus leads to complacency on their part. They had a human connection to Jesus, growing up with Jesus in the same home but now they are on the outside calling to Jesus. What is wrong with calling Jesus? Simply this - Jesus is the one who calls. Back in chapter 1 verses 19 and 20 Jesus does the calling. The same thing is brought out in Mark 2 verse 17 "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners." Jesus is the one who does the calling - verse 32 "A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” This phrase is used 10 times in Mark's gospel in the sense of to control. Here are Jesus' human family trying to control him. Jesus' human family, his brothers at this point had a human connection and this gives them some kind of hold on him but they are on the outside when they thought they were on the inside. They thought they could control Jesus. They were on the outside not on the inside at all. Here is the warning to us - if we think we are on the inside with Jesus, we are actually on the outside. The danger of false hopes. We are used to hearing warning signs on the road. They scream 'get out of the way I am coming.' We see warning lights that alert us. In the distance you see police lights warning of an accident. They warn us of the danger ahead. There are warning lights here in our scripture. If we think we are on the inside, in Jesus' family heed the warning lights. If you are complacent and think you are on the inside of Jesus' family but in reality you are on the outside. Amazes me and saddens me at the same time that people will tell me "my mum and dad followed Jesus so I must be in Jesus' family too." Many will point to their baptism or the taking of the Lord's Supper as some guarantee to be on the inside. Very often people think it is being good to their family or neighbours that somehow they will gain favour with Jesus. Are you a Christian? Many will list the things they do. That is really a bad sign - because it shows they would rather rely on those things than on what Jesus has done for them. People think that a casual connection to Jesus brings us into the family of God.  What a disaster if Jesus comes back or we die and we face Jesus as our judge. We will discover that we have in fact never been on the inside. What an eternal disaster that would be. Is there a warning light for you tonight? If so, please heed it. It is so important to be inside Jesus' family. It is not about who we are or what we have done, it is all about Jesus and what he has done. Please heed the warning.

Jesus makes outsiders insiders, members of his family - verse 33 to 35

We have seen Jesus brothers who are on the outside. They are family humanly speaking. How do we get inside Jesus' family? Jesus looks around, closely observing the people and declares "here are my mother and brothers. Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and my mother." Those who live for Jesus and learn from Jesus are God's family. Romans 3 verse 23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." God is God and we are ordinary fallen sinful people. We cannot measure up to God's perfect standard. That means if he is going to make us insiders it will by his grace and love. We will only get in to his family by his grace and undeserved love for us. Grace is the opposite of how we live our lives. We are used to earning things. Young people study hard at school. They don't get the grades handed to them, they have got to do the work. They study. In a job whether it is on the farm or in business you have to work hard at it. Our lives are all about working to achieve things. What good news for us. God's kingdom does not work like that. Grace and love we don't deserve are given to us. I don't want a Saviour that is pulling me down every time I mess up. I don't want a Saviour like that. I want a loving, patient, kind Saviour who brings me into his family even though I don't deserve it. It is not about my performance. If it where I wouldn't be a Christian for 5 minutes. It is all about Jesus. Grace we don't deserve. Anyone of us can be part of God's family if we recognise ourselves as sinners. Anyone can become a member of God's family. How do we do it?

Jesus became an outsider to make us insiders - verses 34 and 35, chapter 15 verse 34

 Jesus became an outsider to brign us inside his family. He did it by his death on the cross. When he hung on the cross he was outside his Father's will. He was taking our sin and punishment. He cried in Mark 15 verse 34 "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Jesus died outside the city wall of Jerusalem. Outside of the closeness to his Father so we can be loved by our God. To be inside his family. A whole new family is created by Jesus. Looking around him he said "here are my mother and brother and sister." Jesus is busy in this world, busy making new family like you and I. We deserve to be outside with our sin but he was willing to bring us into his family. He put us on the outside so we could be drawn inside. We don't like putting ourselves on the outside even if it is for 5 minutes. Imagine you were in a large building with lots of different floor levels. There is a lift that takes you to each level but every time you try to get in the lift it is full. Finally it comes to the point where it is empty and you can get in but as you do so you notice a little old lade standing outside the lift. She looks lost and alone. So you step outside the lift and give her a hand to get onto the lift. You sacrifice your place on the lift. When Jesus died on the cross he put himself on the outside of his Father's love and care so that he could bring you and I inside his Father's love and care. The implications of this - there are only 2 places we can be in in life and death and eternity. We can be inside Jesus or outside. Where are you tonight? Are you inside or outside Jesus' family? If you were to die tonight where would you go? Inside or outside Jesus' family? If you were to die inside Jesus' family you would have a home in heaven but if you die outside you would be in hell itself. Jesus was outside his Father's love as he died on the cross. That is how much he loves you. That changes our view of family in this way. Rather than putting our family on a pedestal, making them more of an idol than Jesus is. When he brings us from the outside to the inside our priority is to come into Jesus; family. If you are on the inside tonight by his death on the cross you will pray for your family to come to Jesus. We can encourage them to come to places where they will hear the good news of Jesus. We can ask God to help us to live for Jesus so that our family might come to Jesus themselves. Our number one priority for our family is for our family to come inside Jesus' family. You need to start by giving your life to Jesus. If you want the best for your family it starts by giving our hearts fully to Jesus. If you want your family to be brought into Jesus' family you need to live your life as a witness to Christ. It is easier for someone to come to Christ if they look at you and see you following Jesus. That is what matters most. For our families are part of Jesus' family - that is what matters most. How is it possible? Because Jesus on the cross put himself on the outside to bring our families inside. How do we begin? By coming to Christ ourselves then by bringing our families to gospel meetings. Are you leading the way for your family to see Jesus in you and wanting it for themselves?

The fields are white unto harvest - the time, the place and the outcome

BALTEAGH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 12 OCTOBER 2025 - REV MARK NEELY

JOHN 4 VERSES 34 TO 38

I could honestly not give you a lecture on farming - about soil, silage, sprayers, slurry or seeds. Many of you know these things inside out and back to front. The principle of sowing and reaping. If you sow nothing you will reap nothing, if you sow sparingly you will reap sparingly, if you sow generously you will reap generously. I am actually one of those who prays that grass does not grow any more. When the bible speaks of harvest it is not mainly talking of wheat, barley or silage, it points us to souls, a spiritual harvest who need to be gathered into the kingdom of God. The big question is - have you been gathered into God's kingdom or will you be one of those bound up and thrown into hell's fire? Are you inside the fold or outside? Are you one of those who knows and loves God? Are you lost in sin or saved by the grace of God? When we hear of tragedies, a storm sweeps through an area, an earthquake shakes an area, a gunman who runs through our streets taking lives - it takes place all around us every day. Statistics tells us of thousands who step into eternity every year without the Lord. 40 people die every day in our province That is another bus loads of souls who will have gone into eternity today. Hell fills up with our neighbours, friends and family members we know. That is why we need a passage like this in John 4. In verse 34 Jesus has already been speaking to the woman at a well. He then turns to his disciples and says "I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." Jesus is saying "stop saying some day." The time is now. The place is here. The outcome can be glorious. Let's look at those 3 things - the time, the place, the outcome.

The Time - now. The disciples had returned from buying food from a nearby village. They were surprised to see Jesus talking to a woman of Samaria. She left her water jar and rushes to the men of the village "come see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?" As the disciples urged Jesus to eat something he tells them to lift up their eyes to the bigger picture. "Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest." Notice 2 things - there is a present urgency. Jesus is saying "you think the harvest is months away but it is right now." There is an urgency to the words. He is not talking of the barley or wheat harvest but of people. Very soon they will see people coming out of the town, people ready and ripe to be gathered into the kingdom of God. If it was true then its equally true today. There is a quiet revival going on today. Churches are beginning to find the younger generation, the 20/30 age group coming in through the door and have never been in through the door before. They are asking people to pray for their family members who do not know the Lord. A quiet revival. We are seeing it in Southern Ireland and long for it here in Northern Ireland. We want to see the Lord come and move here in a mighty power way. The harvest is not some day but the harvest is today. Jesus does not say it is time to repent and trust in him when things are more convenient, when you have lived life a bit more, when you have gone out and sown your wild oats then think of Christianity. No Jesus says the time is now. Perhaps some of you have been waiting. You have heard the gospel preached many times. You have felt its tug at your heart but told yourself 'not yet, another day, some time when it suits me better' but Jesus says 'lift up your eyes, the harvest is already here, the opportunity is now." Look around you today, the fields are white in your home. There is also a present urgency. Farmers can say the barley harvest is nearly ready but we will leave it to Christmas when the winds have scattered it and the rains have soaked it. It is your soul. God has given you this moment, this word. Don't presume you will get another time. The time is now. Hebrews 3 verse 15 "today if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts."

The place. I want you to notice what is happening here in this passage. It is not Jerusalem where Jesus meets with this lady. Nor is it in the temple. Not some religious festival. It is Samaria, of all places. Jews utterly detested the Samaritans. They saw them as half breeds, compromised, unclean, beyond the pale. The strict Jew wouldn't walk through Samaria if he could help it. Yet prior to this we read "he said I must go through Samaria." He had a divine appointment with this woman at the well. He talked to her about her need for divine living water. It shows us that the gospel is for the outcast. The very first people who heard Jesus declared him as the Messiah. The despised Samaritan woman with a string of failed relationships. The immoral, outcast, despised need you and they need me. Maybe some think this is alright for respectable people sitting around me who have it all together but I have messed up too much. i have too much baggage for Jesus to do anything for me. Jesus does not wait until you clean up. He meets you where you are. He met the woman at the well in Samaria. The gospel to the outcast. The gospel for this place. Jesus uses the language of harvest in a farming place. He speaks right to heart of people living there. He spoke to fishermen and talked to them about fish. When he spoke to shepherds he spoke of the good shepherd who would lay down his life for his sheep. To farmers he talked about the harvest. Many of you are from a farming background. Jesus is speaking to people who will understand his analogy. Look at the fields, the harvest is ready. He is speaking our language. Just as the farmer cannot delay that the field is ripe for harvest. When God is calling us the place is here. He is saying to us 'the time is now, this church service, this mission, this village.' Will you come to him - the place.

The outcome. Here's the encouragement - when the gospel is sown there is a harvest. It is like what happened to the woman in verses 28 and 29. She left her water pot. She forget the reason she went to the well that day. She found something, someone who influenced her greater than the need in her life. Some will come to discover that Jesus is more than anything else. In your life finding Jesus is infinitely greater than anything else in your life. The outcome in this story is changed lives. One woman's life is transformed and through her many others came to faith. That is what happens when Jesus saves a soul. The person does not just come to faith alone, it ripples out to friends and neighbours. The ripple effect. One life changed touches the lives of others. A man comes to Christ, his whole life is different. A woman receives the Lord and suddenly her children notice the difference. A teenager comes to faith and her friends notice the difference. If you come to Christ the outcome will not just be for you, the change will affect those around you. There is a picture of heaven itself when the final great harvest home happens. I am looking forward to it more and more every day. One day when I get to my heavenly home, when people are gathered from every tribe and nation, saved by God's grace, rejoicing in his presence. Will you be there? Do you know that you will be there? That you will be part of that harvest gathered in to heaven or will you be left outside? Lost for ever. A harvest time is decision time. You cannot postpone these things indefinitely. The farmer must act when the harvest is ready. the time is here. The place is here. The outcome is eternal. The woman was changed. The people in her hometown were changed. The people saw the difference in the woman and came to see for themselves. They confessed that this man was the Saviour of the world. The Saviour you need. He went to the cross, bought your sin and rose again. He offers you eternal life today. Don't say "tomorrow or some day when I have things sorted out." "Lift up your eyes the fields are ripe for harvest." The moment is now. Come and trust in Christ today. Join in the great harvest home of heaven. Now you are ready and are prepared - will you come to Christ tonight? Will you confess your sins? We must come to Jesus with hands that are empty. If you bring anything of yourself you are not accepting that salvation rests entirely on him. Come with nothing of yourself. Be like that tax collector in the temple. He beat his breast and said 'Lord have mercy on me a sinner.' He realised Jesus was everything to him. A sinner recognised he had nothing to bring but his sin. Will you come to Christ tonight? Believers do you recognise the fields are ripe for harvest? There is an opportunity for you to reach out to your friends your relatives, your work colleagues, the people you meet in the shop. The fields are white unto harvest. Will you get into that field now? Will we serve the Lord? If you are not saved will you be reaped into God's family tonight? By trusting in Christ as your Saviour and Lord.