The Macedonian Call

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

NOTES FROM WEDNESDAY 28 MAY 2025 – MR H CASKEY

ACTS 16 VERSES 6 TO 10

The man from Macedonia. His plea to Paul to come over and help them. In chapter 15 we see the arrival of false teaching amongst new believers in Antioch. New people had come in to these young believers. They had listened as the believers told them how to be saved and seen the believers going on with the Lord but they wanted to put in a little extra take – you need to heed the law of Moses. You cannot be properly saved without following this. Word came to the leaders in Jerusalem of what was happening. They sat down and talked about it. A decision was made to send Paul and Barnabas with their answer – do not heed to this teaching at all, it is not the teaching of the Lord. Acts 15 verses 28 and 29, 31. The believers were glad to get this confirmation. A reminder to us all – the enemy can get in so easily into our lives. He is so subtle. He comes as a minister of light and we have to be careful. The apostle Paul to the Galatians when he heard what was happening, how false teachers had come in to the believers and were preaching another gospel, said it was not another gospel but a perverted gospel. “Ye did run well, who did hinder you.” (Galatians 5 verse 7) The apostle Paul was concerned about it. We always have to be on guard. The devil can get in subtly. The devil is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. If he can get in so easily he will do so much damage. We have to be very careful. The apostle Paul, when he left Ephesius called the elders of Miletus to meet him. He told them “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.” (Acts 20 verse 39) In Acts 16 verse 36 something happens between Paul and Barnabas. Barnabas wants to take John Mark with him but Paul is not on for that at all. He goes off on his journeys with Silas while Barnabas goes with John Mark.

Notice in verse 6 – Paul’s desire. He comes to Lystra and teams up with Timothy in verse 1. Timothy was well thought of by the brethren. Paul had him circumcised because his father was Greek and mother a Jew. As Paul went through the cities, verses 4 and 5 we can see his desire – for the souls of men and women. He had a great love in his heart by the Holy Spirit, he wanted to see the church grow, people being saved, coming to Christ and growing. At one time Paul would have been coming through these places looking for people to lock up for their faith but now he was a different man. What a difference the Lord makes in our lives. Paul wanted to see the brethren, how they were doing. Were they going on with the Lord? “I want to preach the word to them.” Am I seeking to encourage others? Someone perhaps who is going through the mill? Someone who perhaps needs someone to come alongside them? Romans 1 verse 14  ^“I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.” Paul realised that at one time he was very religious, thought he was on his way to heaven but then the Lord stepped in and saved him. He showed me the truth. He took away my sins and made me a new creature in Christ. Once I leave this earth it will be absent from the body and present with the Lord but for now while I am here I will share the message of the gospel, to see others brought in under the sound of the gospel. That desire led him to this point – chapter 15 verse 16. We find him on the move, not sitting back. A desire that brings him to this place. A desire brings us into the prayer meeting to pray for the souls of men and women to be saved and then to grow. In Acts 17 we see Paul in Athens. Paul sees people passing by. He realises people are lost and his heart is stirred within him. He sees the whole city given over to false religions and an altar to an unknown god. Paul had a desire to tell them about this unknown god. How God loved them and sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world and one day he will come again too. When Peter was put in prison by Herod after he had killed James, the people gathered together to pray. Are we thinking of those in front of us and behind us – to see them saved? Do we have a desire to see people saved?

Paul also had a great determination. His desire led to determination. The 2 go together. 2 Corinthians 10 verse 16 “I want to come and preach the gospel to the regions far beyond you.” Our ministry is not limited, countless people are not saved. Are we pushing ahead? Determined? Not just happy to go out through the door each week? A burden but determined. Isaiah saw a vision with a clear call “whom shall I send and who will go for us?” Isaiah responded “Here am I send me” (Isaiah 6 verse 8)  Paul was going to push on into Asia. He set his heart on it. He set everything behind him. There was only one thing in his mind – the work of God. There was disappointment with Mark and a disagreement with Barnabas. The gospel was a higher calling. Everything had to be put back. It has to be the Lord first in all things. Here Paul would have pushed on but the Lord stopped him – notice verse 6. In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul speaking of the work reaching the lost said “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” (verse 22) He was determined to get alongside individuals that he might reach people with the gospel. 1 Thessalonians 3 verse 10 “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?”

Paul’s delays. There is no reason given as to why this door was shut to him. The Lord didn’t want him to go there. Sometimes it is like that for us personally. There is no reason why the Lord wants us in a direction at that particular time. Later on he could go. God has to hold us up for a reason unknown to us.

The direction becomes clear in verses 9 and 10. Immediately. There is no hanging about.  “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.” Remember Peter in Acts 10. As he prayed on the roof top he received word to go immediately to Cornelius – “Arise therefore, and get thee down and go with them, doubting nothing, for I have sent them.”

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 25 MAY 2025 pm – MR BRYAN CRUISE

LUKE 15 VERSES 11 TO 24

This parable is undoubtedly the best known parable Jesus told. In verse 3 we see that it is one portion of a parable. It is a parable about lost things – the lost sheep, the lost coin and here the lost son. The title The Parable of the Prodigal Son is actually not a right title. Perhaps we think the prodigal is the main individual in the story but he is not. The father is the main individual, he is the one constant throughout. He is the same at the start of the story as he is at the end of the story. One single constant man, individual. If we could give this parable a title it would be the Parable of the Loving Father. 

We read about this man in verse 11 that he had 2 sons, a younger and an older son. The prodigal represents sinners who repent and come to Jesus. The older brother represents Pharisees and scribes who think they are living right but grumble in their service. We are going to focus on the relationship between the younger son and his father.

The rebellion. The young son comes to the father and asks for a share of the inheritance. It was actually half of what the older brother would receive. He was perfectly within his rights to ask for this according to the Mosaic law. The scribes and Pharisees listening to this story would have said that he should have rebuked his son. But no, he grants him his request. The young son travels to a distant country, a Gentile country, a region outside Israelite land. Where he goes is outside his father’s loving care. It is evident in our story that these actions have already taken place in his heart – verse 13 “And not many days the younger son gathered all together”. It didn’t take long for his plan to come into action. He had already left in his heart. He had decided in his heart already “I am going to leave. I don’t belong here.” In this foreign land he squanders all in selfish, shallow fulfilment, losing everything. The far country is not hard to be found – it was already there in his heart. You can be here and in the far country. You can be in the Sunday School and be in the far country. You can be in the pastorship and be in the far country. You can be a baptised member and be in the far country. You can be on the membership roll and be in the far country. Individuals living in rebellion to the word of God and the will of God. It is not measured by how far we walk but how far your heart is from God. All it takes to be brought into a right relationship is to come in repentant faith, to put your trust in Christ for salvation. It can happen suddenly. You can move from the far country into a loving relationship with God his father.

After his financial disaster comes a natural disaster in the form of a famine. There is a famine in the land. There are 13 famines in the bible but this is the only one is referred to as a “mighty famine” verse 14 “there arose a mighty famine in that land.” Psalm 105 verse 16 “Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread." Famine in the bible times heeds the call of the master. This one did the same thing. This famine rose in this land. The younger son began to be in want. He began to starve. He began to work to a Gentile feeding pigs. A horrible job for a Jewish person. He must have been in a desperate position to take a loathsome job. The word “citizen” indicated a privileged person. Not everyone is a citizen of the country. It was a position of prestige, it was aprominent position. Not everyone was a citizen. This man was honoured in the community, the society. The younger son joins himself to this individual. The Greek word is glued. This was not some job contract. He was a beggar, like a persistent beggar he latched onto this rich man, wouldn’t leave his side. To get rid of him he told him to go and feed his pegs. It was not a job contract.  This was a way to get rid of this young man – “go and feed my pigs”. This is the picture of people clinging to this sinful world, end up wallowing in wickedness, waywardness and worldliness in this sinful world. This young man travelled into a far country in hopes of finding his field of dreams but instead found himself in a field of swine. Sin promises more than it can deliver. It promises pleasure, contentment and fulfilment but it never delivers on those promises. Until you find yourself in greater, deeper pervasions of sin. Sin promises joy but brings pain. Sin promises happiness but all it brings shame. Sin promises life but brings death. Sin promises freedom but what it brings is guilt. Sin promises heaven but what it brings is hell. Sin is a liar. It is also a swindler.  Hebrews 11 verse 25 “Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;” The bible tells us sin is only enjoyed for a season. You might think you can enjoy it for a long time but it is only for a season. It promises you an eternity of pleasure but it is only for a season. The bible says this young man grew so hungry that he longed to eat the pigs food. Sin will alter your tastebuds so that what once seemed abhorrent to you will seem pleasant. Sin can alter your taste.  He couldn’t find mercy. Verse 16 no man gave him anything. His friends had forsaken him. He had forsaken his family, now his so called friends forsook him. Once his wealth was gone so were his friends. The bible tells us the Lord is merciful. The Lord gave unto us his one and only Son. God the Father loved you so much he gave his only begotten Son. Mark 8 verse 36 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” Your soul is worth more than the whole world to God. All the money, power and authority in the world – your soul is worth more than that to God.

The repentance. The Prodigal Son was now in the situation where he was feeding swine and he begins to reflect on in his miserable existence. He comes to his senses. He sees his father in a new light. He devises a plan where he will return to his father, admit his sin. He will give up his rights as a son and take up a position as a servant in his father’s house. He begins to set off, begins to go, to leave. He turns from his lifestyle towards home. Summarizing his ministry the apostle Paul in Acts 26 verse 20 said “but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.” Repentance and faith can be understood as 2 sides of the same coin. Repentance is turning from sin to God. This young man realises his condition and turns from it.

The return. The father is waiting for his son to return. This father is unlike the shepherd and the woman in the previous stories. The shepherd goes out looking for the sheep, the woman looks for the coin. The father is different – he doesn’t go into the far country looking for his son. It was the son’s knowledge of his father’s goodness brought him to repentance. While he was a long way off he runs to his son. He ran to meet him. He kissed him. It was not customary for a grown man to run in Jesus’ day. How did he see son afar off? He was waiting for him. He was longing for the day when he would see him coming over the horizon. When he saw him he ran to meet him. There is no condemnation. He didn’t talk about all the things he had done wrong or said “I told you so”. The returning son has prepared a speech but the father cuts him off before he can finish. Verses 18 and 19. In verse 21 the father cuts him off before he can finish his speech, such is his love for him. When he said “I have sinned before heaven and you.” That was enough. He didn’t have to say anything more. He had said enough. The father told him to bring the best robe, the best ring and a fatted calf. A fatted calf would have fed the entire village. Usually it would be killed for a special occasion such as a wedding. Normally a goat would be killed for the return of someone. The father doesn’t question the son or lecture him. He gives him everything in his estate. We can see the love he has for his son.

The restoration. With this relationship restored the son is brought back into the privilege of being his son. Not the hired servant but a son. Ephesians 1 verse 3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:” When you come to faith in Christ you are made a son, a daughter, part of the family of God and given every spiritual blessing in Christ. It is the only family we are born into as well as adopted into. We must be born again. We are born into the family of God and adopted. We are sealed with the Holy Spirit, with the spirit of adoption. The double security we have. We have been born into it and adopted into it. It echoes the relationship. Jesus Christ has in his lineage with King David is related biologically through his mother Mary. He is legally a son through Joseph his father. You are born into God’s family. You are also legally adopted into God’s family when you come to faith in Christ. You receive all spiritual blessings. You have security in Christ. No-one can pluck you out of his hand. Will you come and know forgiveness from the father God? Will you not be restored into a relationship with almighty God.

The Divine Power

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 25 MAY 2025 – MR BRYAN CRUISE

JOHN 6 VERSES 1 TO 13

The well known account of the feeding of the 5000. In verse 6 we read “after these things” and we have to ask ourselves – “what things?” It does not immediately follow on from John chapter 5. There is a significant period of time between these 2 chapters. It is probable that 10 to 12 months have passed and that is a significant period of time.

Verse 4 mentions the Passover. This is the second of 2 Passover’s mentioned in John’s Gospel, the first being in John 2 verse 13. In fact John 5 verse 1 mentions the feast of the Jews. Jesus is now one third of the way into his 3 year ministry. Jesus sent his disciples out to the nearby towns, villages and countryside to preach and do mighty miracles. Now they have returned to report back on what had happened. They needed rest after their time away and that is why they went up the mountain in verse 3. Jesus had just been informed of the death of John the Baptist and with the Passover feast fast approaching there were lots of people gathering. Jesus wanted quiet time. In understanding all this you can start to work out why Philip reacted the way he did and also why they considered it an impossible task to feed 5000 people. That makes sense in our minds, you just cannot do it. It is ironic that the disciples had just returned from neighbouring towns and villages and the surrounding countryside, had seen amazing miracles in and through the power of Jesus’ name.  In Luke 9 we are told that Jesus gave them authority to do these things but he never takes it back. They were able to do signs and wonders but nowhere does it say he took that back again. “How will we feed all these people?” The disciples think that it is impossible even though they had just returned from months of doing signs and wonders in Jesus’ name.

Stranger still is the question that Jesus asks in verse 5. When these people came, Jesus turned to Philp and asked him “what shall we do?” Why did Jesus ask Philip this question? Well he was from Bethsaida and knew where they could find bread locally. In verse 6 we see that Jesus knew what he would do but he wants to probe the minds of his disciples. He did that often to see how his disciples would react. As we said last week parents are good at probing their children, asking them questions when they already know the answers. Philip replies “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.” 8 months wages would not be enough to feed all the people. Philip begins to calculate how much it would cost to feed the people who were approaching them. It depended on people not on God. Jesus bypassed human effort and does the impossible. Philip had a horizontal view but he needed a vertical one. “What can we do to feed all these people?” became “what can God do to feed these people?” We need someone to run up the cost of a venture but sometimes we look at it horizontally not vertically. We need to ask ourselves “what can God do in the need of this church, of my family, of our community?”

Andrew was the man who brought people to Jesus. Andrew’s name is only mentioned 12 times in the New Testament. On 3 occasions he brought someone to Jesus. In John 1 verse 42 he brought his brother Peter to Jesus and here in John 6 he brings a lad with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. In John 12 he brought some Greeks to meet Jesus. If there was an inscription I would like on my headstone it would be this – ‘here lies a man who brought people to Jesus.” It could be a woman or a Sunday School teacher or a Church Treasurer. What a thing to say of an individual.

Andrew brought a lad with 5 barley loaves and 2 fishes to the Lord. John is the only writer that records the detail of what the lad brought. Every gospel records this miracle but John 5 only mentions the barley loaves. Barley loaves were from the poorer class of individual. Jesus used them to feed 5000 individuals. Matthew’s gospel records that there were 5000 men “beside” women and children. 5000 beside women and children. Women outnumbered the men. That is true usually in the church work. The women outnumber the men. If you need something done in the church where would we be without the women? We find it in most churches. Praise God for women who are faithful and serve the Lord. Bible scholars and commentators say the number of people that day was closer to 15,000. Women and children were not usually part of the headcount in the bible. They were not considered in the head count. Considered insignificant. That is what the Lord does – takes the least of these and transfers them into a miracle. You might think of yourself as one of the least of these but God uses the least of these. God looks for the individual. He looks for the one overlooked. That is why the youngest son was not considered worthy to be brought in from watching the sheep. Andrew’s focus is of a little lad and his lunch – verse 9 “but what are they among so many?” Just like Philip. 200 pennies would not be enough. Andrew also says that 5 loaves and 2 fish would not be enough. He focuses on what they don’t have, that they do not have enough. Maybe you are here today and what you have to offer the Lord is not enough. Your gifting, your abilities, your capabilities are not enough to offer to the Lord. Little is much when God is in it. Whatever you can do for your local church or Christian organisation – remember  -little is much when God is in it. God can take it and use it. He can further the gospel through your little contribution.

Verse 10 the Greek secular word “sit down” described horticulture. The term represents the division between flower beds. It describes walkways where someone can walk between the flower beds to water them. These individuals sat down in groups and the disciples were able to walk amongst them. For 5000 people to sit down and probably more likely 15,000 – that would have taken some time. Miracles take time. Some miracles are instantaneous whilst others take time. Maybe you have been praying for some time in your family. You have been praying for years and are maybe at a point when you think ‘God why are you not listening?” Can I assure you that God is listening and moving. I was saved at 16 years of age as a result of God’s power. I had a grandmother who attended Limavady Baptist Church. She prayed every day for the salvation of all her 5 grandchildren. She died before she saw them all saved but they are now all saved today. She didn’t see the answer to her prayer this side of eternity. Some miracles take time. You can begin to plead and wrestle with God on behalf of individuals and that takes time.

For 15,000 to sit down was a miraculous thing. Whenever they sat down on the grass there were no walls, no gates, no-one to stop them coming. Anyone could sit down, anyone could eat at this feast, enjoy this abundance of food. We don’t know who sat down but we know they were all sinners. Everyone of them was welcomed into the banqueting hall of this feast. If you are not saved can I stress once again, there is nothing you can do to come and enjoy the Lord other than simply respond and believe the singular action of turning from your sin and turning to Christ. Come and enjoy the Lord.

The Lord took these fishes and loaves and gave thanks. They were given to the Lord. How did that young boy feel that day? He walks forward with trembling hands and hands over his lunch. He didn’t say ‘you take 1 fish and I will take the other’ or ‘I would like 1 loaf but will give you the other 4.’ He gave everything to the Lord, he kept nothing for himself. You and I as children of God are called to give everything to the Lord. Do we do that? Perhaps you are thinking ‘you are preaching to the choir Bryan’, yes but in the quiet place is that true? You have a gift, a capability, an ability and you don’t think it is much. The lad came and gave all to the Lord. Can you hear the voice of God to you today – ‘bring them hither to me and I will multiply them’? That is what Jesus did. The miracle happened that day. All the people were fed and filled by the Lord.

At the end of the passage in verse 13 we read “Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them.”  Fragments gathered up. Fragments are not crumbs. They are in fact large pieces of the loaves. This is not included in the other gospels, only John includes it. Why were fragments gathered up and put in 12 baskets? Why were there 12 baskets? I believe that there were 12 baskets left over because the disciples still doubted his power to provide so the Lord tells them to gather up 12 baskets. One basket for every disciple. A reminder for them all – later on in the chapter we read of Jesus walking on water to his disciples on the boat. The disciples would have had those baskets on the boat with them. They were still afraid even though they had a reminder of Jesus’ power. I have baskets in my life that I can look to when I doubted and I have seen the hand of God work. Maybe you have baskets in your history, times when you doubted and were scared but you seen God’s provision. The disciples saw the demand but Jesus saw the supply. For our Samson the Lord Jesus has not lost any of his hair. For our Solomon the Lord has not lost any of his wisdom. For our Immanuel the Lord has not ceased to be God. This same omnipotent Jesus provides for you. He is the same omnipotent Saviour. Jude 24 and 25 “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” He has the same glory, majesty, dominion, power and he intercedes for you today. You have the assurance today that he intercedes for you. Let’s not doubt God’s power on our behalf. Let’s live confident of our Saviour’s power and authority.

From the Roadside to Redemption

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 18 MAY 2025 – MR BRYAN CRUISE

MARK 10 VERSES 46 TO 52

FROM THE ROADSIDE TO REDEMPTION

This miracle in Mark 10 is the very final healing miracle of Jesus. Saying that there is the cursing of the fig tree found in Matthew 21 which takes place after this story. The Lord Jesus also healed the ear of Malchus, the servant of the high priest. On his journey from Canaan in John 2 up to this point in Mark 10 this was the last of the miracles performed in the ministry of Jesus before he gets to Jerusalem. I want you to notice 3 things in this story.

“And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.” (verse 46) Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, a blind beggar and Jesus the Son of David, the merciful master.

Notice firstly the beggar’s position. Bartimaeus in the eyes of society is at rock bottom. The first thing we see about him is, he is a beggar. He sat by the highway side begging. Jericho is a city mentioned in scripture previously. It was a city conquered because of its depravity. Zacchaeus chose Jericho as his base, shamelessly exploiting his people. Bartimaeus was a beggar amongst a sea of other beggars. The highway was more than likely swarming with beggars. Bartimaeus was not along in his begging. Matthew 20 verse 30 tells us of 2 beggars who sat begging by the wayside. There were probably more than 2. The gate of the city. The beggars came to the city gates each day. They were outcasts. They were hoping to catch people going in and out of the city at this time. Jews making their way to Jerusalem for the Passover. Trying to catch many pilgrims as possible. Begging alms from people travelling on the road. Jesus is coming into the city one day. The same city that Zacchaeus the tax collector had to climb a sycamore tree because there were many people. Just another beggar, a nuisance, one among many others. A beggar who had hit rock bottom. Also notice his name – Bartimaeus. Mark is very unique as he records someone’s name. We need to take note when he does that. Many others such as demons who were released were not named. Bartimaeus – Bar means son of. He was the son of Timaeus which means unclean, defiled, contaminated. This man Bartimaeus was the son of uncleanness, the son of defilement, contamination. On the authority of God I have to say – so are you. The bible tells us that sin makes us unclean in the sight of God. Ezekiel 24 verse 13 “It is sin that makes you unclean. I have tried to make you clean, but you would not be made clean from your sins. So you will not be clean again until My anger against you is finished.”  From the Old Testament people knew that sin made them unclean, unworthy to come into the presence of God. You cannot enter heaven in uncleanness. You cannot clean yourself up. That is not possible. “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64 verse 6.  We are as an unclean thing. No matter how good you are, what your righteousness looks like they are as filthy rags in the sight of a holy God. How then can I make myself clean? It is very simple. When you put your faith in Christ for salvation, the blood of Jesus Christ is applied to your unclean soul. God cleans you up. Only God can do it. 1 John 1 verse 7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[a] sin.” Maybe you think to yourself “you don’t know what I have done, I have deep dark sin that no-one knows about.” He cleanseth from all sin. Bartimaeus had hit rock bottom. He was also blind. Blind people were very despised and ridiculed. In the eyes of Jewish people they were considered sinners, under God’s judgment. For someone born blind or someone who became blind it meant you had done something wrong. God was punishing that person. John 9 verses 1 and 2 “And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?” The disciples thought the beggar was under condemnation of God and therefore born blind. Ostracised and alienated from society. The bible shows blindness as a metaphor for the sinful condition of men and women. 2 Corinthians 4 verse 4 “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Revelation 3 verse 17 “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:” You are blind to your own condition, your true condition before God. Nothing in yourself to merit salvation. Many believe today that because they are born into religion and culture they are going to heaven when they die. You are blind to your true condition. The only way to receive your sight is through Christ. John 9 verse 39 “ And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.” If you are not saved you are spiritually blind. How can you be made to see? Exactly the same way as Bartimaeus – you come to the Lord and ask for mercy.

The beggar’s plea.  Whenever the Lord was passing by – verse 47 “And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” Bartimaeus began to cry out. The word used to describe his crying was violent shouting. The same word is used in Mark 5 when a demon possessed man cried out. Bartimaeus cries out in anguish to Jesus. He was not going to let him pass by. He cries out in desperation. “Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.” That was significant. In verse 47 we read that people told Bartimaeus that Jesus was coming to town that day. Maybe he asked who Jesus was and they told him. When Bartimaeus cried out he didn’t say “Jesus of Nazareth have mercy on me” but rather “Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me.” Nazareth was a back water town, of little significance. Jesus was of a lowly birth. John 1 verse 46 “And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.” It indicates Nazareth was not a good place to be from. To be a Nazarene was to be despised. When people told him Jesus of Nazareth was passing that way and he called out Jesus son of David it revealed an incredible Messianic insight on Bartimaeus’ part. He probably heard all about Jesus. Perhaps his mind thought back to the Messianic promises of a Saviour. Isaiah 35 verse 5 “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.” When he heard Jesus could heal blind people this means he was the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. “Jesus thou son of David” – this phrase is used 16 times in the New Testament. Bartimaeus used it. He is aware and he knows Jesus is the Saviour of the world. He knew exactly who Jesus was. Do you? Perhaps you think “I believe the Lord was a great teacher”, that is not good enough. A lot of people believe that. “I believe that he was a prophet”, that is not good enough. “I believe that Jesus actually exists”, that is not good enough. Everyone in hell believes Jesus is real. It is not enough to believe he exists. You have to believe on him, put your faith and trust in him. Bartimaeus knew who Jesus was. He could see better than any man that day. He couldn’t see the dusty stranger walking down the road that day, wearing no royal robes, nor holding a sceptre in his hand, followed by a royal entourage. He could see better than any man. He was the Saviour of the world. He cried out for mercy. “And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.” The crowd told Bartimaeus to be quiet. They were embarrassed by his outcry. He was not following protocol. “Why would he spend time with you?” Bartimaeus didn’t care what crowd through, he cried all the more. They were a barrier that Bartimaeus had to overcome to come to Jesus. Maybe you are saying “I would become a Christian but you have no idea what my family would say, the mockery I would face in my work tomorrow.” Any individual that is holding you back from coming to Christ is an obstacle that has to be overcome. Bartimaeus cried out all the more. What happened as a result of crying all the more? Verse 49 “And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.” Jesus stood still. Here we have the Lord, the Saviour of the  world, the Son of God on his final leg of the journey to die for the sins of the world. He was days away from Calvary. Here in this scenario he stops and stands still because of Bartimaeus’ words. Joshua in the Old Testament bade the sun, moon and the heavens to stand still but here the Lord of the sun, moon and heavens stood still at the word of a beggar. He commanded Bartimaeus to be brought to him. Verse 50 “And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.” When Bartimaeus heard the command of the Lord to come him he rose to his feet, throws off his cloak in eager faith. He casts away his beggars cloak. That was significant. Bartimaeus was a beggar. In the Mosaic law the cloak was important to him. Exodus 22 verses 26 and 27 “If thou at all take thy neighbour's raiment to pledge, thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down: For that is his covering only, it is his raiment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious.” Bartimaeus had a beggar’s cloak. During bible times if they were a genuine beggar and blind they went to the local council, the city elders and they gave them a cloak with a seal on it. When you begged you throw off your cloak. This man is a genuine beggar. When he cast his cloak aside at Jesus’ word it was an act of faith. He knew he never would need it again. He would never beg again. He rose to his feet and walked to Jesus knowing that he would receive his sight.

The beggar’s pardon. Verse 51 “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.” The king of heaven, sovereign creator, the God of the universe offered the lowly outcast something. The Lord asked this question and Bartimaeus got straight to the point. He really wanted his sight and this is what he said. Full of faith. The evidence of his healing was obvious – verse 52 “And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus in the way. He had perfect sight. Instantly. One moment in total blindness the next in unimpaired vision. What was Jesus was saying to Bartimaeus? The healing of his blindness was a great miracle but not the greatest miracle in our story. We are not talking about the physical. Bartimaeus came and became a Christian. This man put his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ – notice it says “he followed Jesus in the way”. Whenever his sight was restored it was instantaneous. He was able to see where he sat. He began to follow Jesus in the way. Do you follow the Lord? Can you say with certainty “I belong to Jesus”? Maybe you are unsure – make sure. Leave no time for error. It was a good thing that Bartimaeus sought the Lord that day because the Lord would never be in Jericho again. Do not put off today what you might not be able to do tomorrow. Jesus may never pass this way again. We do not know what a day may bring forth. Maybe if you let him pass by you might never hear him call again. Isaiah 55 verse 6 “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near.”

  

The Divine Delay

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 18 MAY 2025 – MR BRYAN CRUISE

MARK 5 VERSES 25 TO 34

THE DIVINE DELAY

The story in Mark 5 takes place at a very interesting scenario. Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus’ daughter who was sick unto the point of death. While he is following Jairus he is interrupted by this woman who has had an issue of blood for 12 years. He is held back, he had to stop and heal her disease. He was delayed in going to one miracle in order to perform another miracle. 2 individuals – Jairus and this woman with the issue of blood. One man and one woman. One rich and the other poor. One respected and one rejected. One was a leader of the synagogue and the other excommunicated from the synagogue. Jairus’ delight was his daughter of 12 years of age and the woman endured despair for 12 years.

“And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,” (verse 25) This woman had a bleeding problem and she had it since Jesus himself was 20 years of age. This stigma of haemorrage problem was second only to leprosy. Luke uses the word “affliction” meaning to whiplash or scourge. He used the same word again when Jesus was scourged or whipped in Pilate's hall. This bleeding problem was scourging her body. As a result of her disease this woman could not live in her own home. She was ostracized in society. She was excommunicated from her friends. She could not attend the temple of God. She was shut out of the womens’ court. In Luke 21 we read the story of the widow who put in the mite in the poor box. That incident occurred in the womens’ court. She wasn’t allowed in there. As an Israelite she was cut off from the people of God, cut off from the people who were meant to gather and worship, to do life together.  She was cut off.

“And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,” (verse 26). She had spent so much time and money paying physicians, trying to be healed. In Luke’s account he does not mention her spending money on physicians but Mark doesn’t leave it out. She grew worse with all the money spent. Eventually she is at rock bottom. She realises the Lord is her only means to the remedy of her issue.

“When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.” (verse 27) Somebody had to tell this woman about Jesus. Maybe she overheard about him in a crowd, perhaps she enquired about him, maybe someone told her directly. Whatever they said they got it right. They had to tell the woman that he was a miracle worker, that he healed people before and perhaps he could heal her. Before you can believe right you have to be taught right about the Lord. To be taught right you have to hear right. What do you listen to during the week? We should be showing discernment in who we are listening to. If that person errors from scripture truth we must be diligent it out pursuit of knowing God for ourselves. She heard right and was taught right. It pursued her to action. Whatever you are taught from the word of scripture you are not only taught for the sake of being taught. You are not to be here just because you need to be. The fact that you are here today, that the message you hear should pursue you to action. She moved and then she went to find Jesus. James 2 verse 26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” Faith moved her forward. Sometimes in prayer meetings and church services when we pray for an outpouring of God, sometimes we forget to pray for a outpouring of the church. We pray and speak sometimes almost as if heaven has held out on us. As if we expect Calvary again, the resurrection sequel. We expect Pentecost again. You and I pray sometimes for God to move in our area, in our church, in our family without realising you are a move of God in your family, church, community and area. When you pray for God to move in such places you are a movement of God in such places. This woman heard right. She believed right and it made her move in such a way. The local church prays for a move of God not knowing we are it. The Lord Jesus will build his church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Hell is not advancing. Yes sin is abounding all the more. A gate is a stationery defence. Gates do not move. When it says that it is the church that is advancing, she is pushing against the stationary defence of hell. Hell is not advancing the church is. Christ is building his church. The church is advancing. This woman moved to find the Lord Jesus Christ.

“ For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” (verse 28). Luke 8 verse 44 tells us she came behind him and touched the border of his garment and immediately the issue of blood stopped. The word “touched” means to fasten onto or cling to. She clutched the hem. It is the same word in John 20 verse 17 referring to Mary Magdalene when she clasped hold of him in the garden. While it is possible she grasped the garment of the Lord Jesus all she needed was a simply grasp of the edge of his garment. That would have been enough. She touched the border of his clothes – a mustard seed size of faith. It only required a mustard seed size faith and that would have been enough. Luke 17 verse 6 “And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.” Notice it does not say be cast into the sea but rather planted. Such a faith can do things like this. She came and touched the border of the Lord’s garment. There are so many things we could have said about her touch. Some would say that she touched the finished work of Christ. That it was a seamless piece of garment from the top to the bottom. Later we read in John 19 verse 23 “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.” The soldiers were casting lots for that same garment. We read that it was without seam. 4 Roman soldiers casting lots for the garment of the Lord Jesus. Every soldier sought to leave with a piece of Calvary. They wanted the Lord’s garment. Would you not leave with a piece of Calvary today?

Here we have this garment that represents Jesus’ character and actions. One complete work, one uninterrupted piece of perfection. Jesus was perfect in everything he said, thought or done. “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” (verse 29) Incredible – not a penny to pay. The great physician didn’t give a hint of anything he expected of her. The gift was as free as air. This woman was held in the midst of all the crowd. It didn’t cost her a thing. Isn’t it aamazing that salvation is a free gift. We can do nothing to earn our salvation. The Lord did it all. Nothing required of you and I. This woman realised it required nothing only faith.

“And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?” (verse 30) Only Mark gives this account that Jesus turned around in the crowd. This woman’s faith got the attention of the Lord Jesus. He already knew the answer to this question. He looked about to see her. He knew exactly who touched him. The Lord is good at that – asking questions to probe a response. He asked questions simply to probe the mind of who is really listening. For them to come forward. The woman stepped forward. Before she does that the disciples asked a question. “And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?” (verse 31) The disciples asked a question first. The interesting thing is there are so many in this street that day. Everyone is touching the Lord yet this is the only woman affected in our story. Everyone is touching him at some point but she is the only one who actually touched him.  There are many people in the world who are just like this woman. She went and touched the living word of God by faith and her life was changed. Others touched him and no-one else is touched as a result. Many read the word of God and their lives are not impacted – why – because they don’t touch it by faith. The other people did not touch in faith and therefore were not changed. This woman was different. The word “pressed” used here is the Greek word compressed or jammed. In Luke 8 verse 19 Jesus' own family were not able to get near him because of the crowd. This woman was the only one affected. She touched him in faith. How difficult that would have been for this woman. She has had bleeding problems for 12 years. She is now anaemic, low in iron. She was weak and this was a massive crowd. No-one can get near the Lord. This weak woman in this uncooperative crowd has to battle her way to get near to Jesus and she did. Maybe if Jairus had come before this crowd the crowd would have parted because he is a man of respect. Not for her.

 

Then the Lord continuing on in verse 32 looked around about to see this woman. The Greek word “looking” is the same as our word perimeter or periscope. The Lord in turning around scans the crowd, looking at the perimeter of the crowd, waiting for this woman to come before him and that is what she did. “But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.” There was a reason she had to do this. The reasons she had to come forward were simple. Firstly for her own sake. Jesus wanted to be not just her healer but her Saviour. If she had simply walked away with healing in her body she would have never known the Lord as her Saviour.  But she does. “ And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” (verse 34) It also happened for Jairus’ sake. Perhaps he wanted Jesus to hurry to heal his daughter but he needed to see this miracle to give him confidence too. In verse 35 we read that Jairus had just witnessed this miracle of healing and it fuelled his confidence in God. He knew Jesus could heal his daughter because he seen a miracle with his own eyes first of all.  She also had to come forward because of society’s sake. Jesus did it for everyone to know he can heal people. An official declaration from the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone would know she had been healed that day.

This woman came forward and told the Lord everything that had happened. She told him all the truth. Everyone heard this woman that day. This woman came forward and touched his garment in faith. It was all she needed to do. Everyone heard her tell that story. Everyone saw that she was healed. That was all it needed to believe in him. To touch his clothes and you would be healed. Everyone heard and saw it. It happened as a result. Mark 6 verse 56 “And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.” Everyone heard and saw the testimony of this woman’s miracle and her testimony spread far and wide so much that in neighbouring villages and countryside when Jesus walked down the street all the people knew that all they had to do was touch his garment and Jesus healed them. If we shared our testimonies, of God’s work in our lives, if we shared the gospel with people more openly I wonder what the result would be? If we told it more often what would happen? Sometimes all we need is for people to share their actual faith. It is more likely people would be willing to step out in faith. “Courage is contagious, when a brave man takes a stand the spines of others are stiffened.” Billy Graham. This woman took a stand that day.  The bible says she was in fear and trembling when she stood before the Lord. No doubt we will do it in the same way but still do it. Don’t know what effect it will have on a person when we share our story about the Lord. In verse 34 the Lord calls her “daughter” He demonstrated how important she was to him. It was the only time he calls a woman this. To show she was in the family of God, “Thy faith have made thee whole”. He was emphasising her faith had made her well. As a result of her stepping out in faith in chapter 6 verse 36 we hear of others who are healed also. If we stepped out in faith, I wonder how many others would be impacted as well?

The story is told by a pastor in America who was praying for God to show him someone he could tell about Jesus. As he passed by a corporate office unit he saw a janitor cleaning. He decided that this janitor would be the person he would talk to. As he told the gospel to the janitor it was obvious the janitor did not care one bit about the gospel message. He had no response whatever. He knew that he was to share the message with him. The pastor went home deflated. Years later he was speaking at a conference when a man came up to him. He asked him if he remembered sharing the gospel message with a janitor in a corporate building years before. He told him he was not the janitor but rather he had been in the next room under his desk fixing his computer. He heard the pastor sharing his message with the janitor. That night he went home under conviction of sin and gave his life to Christ all because of overhearing that gospel message in the next room. You and I don’t know the impact we will have when we open our mouth for the Lord but let’s make sure we use our opportunities to share the gospel  message.

Noah's ark

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 11 MAY 2025 - MR IAN GILKINSON

Genesis 6 verses 1 to chapter 7 verse 5

Noah's ark - I am sure you have heard of it. How Noah built an ark to save his family and at least 2 of every kind of animal from dying from the storm waters of a global flood. You might even have an image of it in your mind. Perhaps it is the commercial image in Children's Bibles of a boat with no room with elephants and giraffes sticking out of every nook and cranny. The ark pictures the believer's salvation in Christ. Some of you probably have thought of that. Some not so much. Maybe the thought never crossed your mind. For a moment or 2 I want you to think of the typology of the ark. It is one of the clearest, most comprehensive types of the believer's salvation in Christ to be found in all of scripture. 

As we do so I want to consider the source of the ark. The ark was God's idea. It wasn't man's. A man didn't dream it up. Noah didn't dream it up. God did, as a means of escape from divine judgment. God was able to destroy all that had breath on the earth, all he had created on dry ground. The creatures in the sea - well some would live but not all of them. The idea was God's idea. It originated in his mind before a single drop of rain had fallen to the earth. Before this time the earth was watered by the dew. There was no rain. This idea, this original thought was in the Lord's mind even before 1 drop of rain fell to the earth. The source of the ark is God himself. That reminds me that God and not man is the author of salvation. The bible makes it clear - it originated in the mind of God before man was created. Before he created Adam and Eve it was in his mind. Before sin entered into the world. We are reminded in scripture that the Lord was slain from the foundation of the earth (Revelation 13 verse 8) The ark was thought of before man was made, before sin entered the world. God had it in his mind of sending his son Jesus to die for the sins of mankind. The source of salvation is God himself. 

Secondly, notice the special revelation of the ark. The need to build the ark was revealed by special revelation to Noah. The need to build the ark was revealed directly to Noah by God himself. Noah never dreamed of building an ark. He never thought of it. It never crossed his mind. It came to him from God himself by special revelation. God revealed the need to build the ark. It reminds me that man can never ever see his need of Christ, our ark unless it is revealed directly to them by God himself. Theologians believe a general revelation is creation which is beautiful. A special revelation is how God communicates to us. He spoke to Noah and told him to build the ark. Our need of salvation is revealed by God to us primarily through his word by the Holy Spirit. He takes the word of God and applies it to our hearts and minds. He illuminates our understanding, that we need to be saved, that there is no salvation outside of Christ. Unfortunately today there are few who fully understand that. They don't sit under God's word or hear God's word. Noah was made aware of the need to build the ark by special revelation. We realise our need when God's word is preached. The Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin and need of Christ. We would not be saved without that. If you are not saved today you are still in the darkness of sin. God can illuminate your heart to know your need of Christ as Saviour. As we think of the ark, the source of the ark is God himself not man. It is the same with our salvation, it originated with God. It was by special revelation to Noah by God. Our need to be saved is revealed primarily through the word of God.

The substance of the ark. It was made of gopher wood (verse 14), the exact nature of which is unknown to us today. It was a type of dense hardwood, durable and in all probability for ship building purposes. This wood reminds me of several things. As I think of the Lord Jesus Christ the wood reminds me of his humanity. It was employed to provide a place of safety from the flood. The water of God's judgment was taken from the earth - trees grew out of the earth. Our Lord was the root out of a dry ground. He became a man. Man is made out of the dust of the ground. Our Saviour became a man to save us from the flood water of God's judgment. Notice also his sinless nature. Just as this wood was incorruptible in nature so too was our Saviour. Our Lord was without sin.  "In him was no sin nether was deceit or guile found in his mouth." He was sinless in all his ways. There was no sin in him. How different to us. We are sinful creatures. We are born in sin and shapen in iniquity, our hearts are desperately wicked. He became man but was without sin. It also reminds me of how Christ was cut down in the prime of his life to secure the lives of others. Even as the wood from the tree was cut down to secure the lives of not one person but 8 people, our Lord Jesus Christ was crucified in the prime of his life at the age of 33. In the language of prophecy he was cut down so that a refuge could be provided for us. These trees were cut down to provide a refuge for Noah and his family. Jesus was cut down in the prime of life to provide a refuge for you and me.

The sealing of the ark.  The ark was protected. It was covered within and without with pitch, being a resin substance which came from a tree to make it water tight. A bit like tar from petroleum. The covering reminds me of the blood of Jesus. His blood covers sin and provides a perfect atonement or a covering for the soul. The Hebrew word for pitch in verse 15 is the same word used throughout our bible for atonement. The blood of Jesus makes atonement for the soul. It covers the soul. We can be brought into a living relationship with Christ. It reminds us of divine judgment. Blessed is our ark, the Lord when he suffered in our stead to make atonement for our sin. The psalmist said "all thy waves and willows are gone over me." Think of the ark on top of the water being buffeted about no doubt by the wind and waves. Those inside were safe. Jesus on the cross experienced divine judgment. It was bursting on his soul in order to make atonement for our souls.

The size of the ark. We are told in verse 15 that it was 300 cubits in length, 50 cubits in breadth and 30 cubits in height. So it was roughly 450 feet by 75 feet in width. A large building construction with a volume of 1.5 million cubit feet. The total floor space was 100,000 square feet. There were 3 tiers equalling 33,750 square feet. When we think of the size of the ark it was big. Big enough to hold everything. It was designed to hold it all. That reminds me that our Lord Jesus is able to save all who come to him for salvation. It reminds me that there is room at the cross for you. If you are willing to come there is room at the cross for you. If you will just come Jesus has provided a great salvation and there is a home in heaven for us who believe in him. There is room for you too if you are not saved - but you must come.

The structure of the ark. The ark also had several distinct elements - one door, one window and 3 storeys or tiers, multiple rooms. The one and only door in the ark reminds me there is but one way to be saved from the flood waters of God's judgment, namely Christ. The one door shows there is one way to be saved. There is one and only one way to our Lord. Our Lord is the door by which we must enter in if we are to be saved. There is no other way to heaven outside of Christ. We must come to him if we want to be saved. Our good works are not good enough. No other religion will get you to heaven one day. The window - those who are in Christ Jesus are to look up for light in this dark world. The window was placed above the heads of man not on the side of the ark. Those in the ark had to look up for natural light. They had to look up for their source of light. We are to look up to Jesus for light in this dark world. Those in Christ Jesus are to set our affections on things that are above not on earth. They are temporal. Everything in this world will disappear one day. The Lord tells us to set our affections on things above not on things on the earth. The 3 tiers of the ark remind me that salvation involves the whole man - body, soul and spirit. When we get saved God saves the soul and the spirit is regenerated. When we die our bodies die but will be raised one day together with our soul and we will have a glorious new body like Christ's own. Those who are in Christ are saved from the penalty of sin. We don't need to fear God's wrath, hell and damnation if we have been saved from the penalty of sin. We are saved from the power of sin too. He has saved us to sin no more. He has given us power within to live holy, pure lives pleasing to God. He has not only saved us from the penalty of sin and the power of sin but one day we will be saved from the very presence of sin. In heaven there is no sin. It can also be inferred from the 3 storeys that the work of salvation is a work that involves Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Father sent his Son into the world to die, to pay the penalty for our sins. The Son died on the cross to make atonement for our soul. He paid the price for our sin. The Spirit draws us to the Father.  The rooms in verse 14 are more specifically nests. The Hebrew word translated throughout the rest of the Old Testament is nests. I am reminded of the fact that those in Christ Jesus not only have refuge from the flood waters of God's judgment, they have also a resting place. We look forward to dwelling in God's house. The Weymouth Translation has the meaning of resting places whereas our bible says many mansions. It is going to be a resting place. We can look forward to that rest from our labours in this world. Jesus himself promised "come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." 

The sustenance of the ark. The ark was loaded with food for both man and beast to sustain life throughout the flood. The Lord not only saves us from sin, he is able to sustain all who are spiritually hungry for God in this world. As the bread of life he promises all who come to him will never hunger or thirst. Those who believe in him they shall never thirst. All those who believe in him out of their belly, their innermost being, will flow reivers of living water. Spiritual blessing that will satisfy. Spiritual thirst. We have experienced that in greater measure at different times in our lives. It is part of our inheritance. The Lord is able to sustain and satisfy us. Only Christ can satisfy the longing of our souls created by God and for God. He will meet that need in Christ.

The shutting of the ark. God shut Noah and all his occupants into the ark - verse 16. God shut them in. That reminds me that those who are in Christ, their lives are hidden with him in God. They are eternally secure and safe in Christ. It reminds me that those in Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption. They belong to God. They will be powered by him. If you are a child of God, have made a profession of faith and it is real, you will be in possession of the Holy Spirit now. He will come into your life and assure you that you are saved. He will preserve you, keep you. Are we not kept by the power of God unto salvation. If you don't have that assurance then you are not saved. The God who shut Noah and his family in was the same God who shut everyone else out. Multitudes died in the flood because they didn't trust in the true and living God. The God who shuts in the redeemed will also shut out all those who do not heed the warning of scripture to enter our ark, the Lord Jesus Christ by repentance and faith. We are shut in. Those who are not are shut out. They will not get into the kingdom of God unless they repent of their sin and trust him for salvation.

The schedule of the ark. After 370 days in the ark it came to rest. On the seventeenth day of the seventh month according to the Jewish civil year. It was also the first day of the Jewish religious year. Exodus 12 verse 2. The schedule of the ark reminds me of the resurrection of Christ who has as the Passover Lamb rose from the dead 3 days after the Passover which was held on the fourteenth day of the first month. That would make it the seventeenth day of the first month. It rested. The ark rested. In so doing it finished its saving work at that time. When Christ was dying on the cross he cried out "it is finished". The ark finished its work when it rested. Christ was able to cry when he finished his work. There are those who when the ark rested on Mount Ararat think of Christ's ascension. He is now seated at God's right hand side.

The safety of the ark. 3 days after the resting all the inhabitants of the ark disembarked. That was Noah, his wife, Shem, Ham and Japheth and their wives. 8 people in total disembarked. All who are in Christ will also arrive safely in heaven. Jesus himself said "no man is able to pluck them out of my hand." They will be kept by the power of God. Although there might be safety by many things done for the Lord, he will bear them up. Just as the ark bore its occupants above the earth, he will be able to say to his Father "those you have given me I have not lost." He who saves us will keep us an done day we will arrive safely in heaven.

The summons to enter the ark. 7 days before the flood began the Lord summoned Noah and his household to come into the ark - chapter 7 verse 1 - to come and not to go. Come into the ark he said for he himself will be with him and his family in the ark. He didn't say "go into the ark" and they would be left to their own devices. They were summoned to come. It reminds me that God was not only in Christ but he summons the sinner to enter our ark, the Lord Jesus while there is still time. We still live in the day of grace. It is coming to an end soon. We need to be ready for that day. We are summoned to come into the ark to be saved otherwise we might be left behind to survive the terrible days of Tribulation and then face the flames of fire and vengeance of God's wrath. God urges the sinner to come into the ark for today is the day of salvation. Not tomorrow. We are not guaranteed tomorrow or next week or next year. Today if God has been speaking to you and summoning you to come will you not do it?

Hope in a Hopeless Place

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 4 MAY 2025 - MR PHILIP CAMPBELL

GENESIS 21 VERSES 9 TO 20 - HOPE IN A HOPELESS PLACE

The bible is a book of hope. It is filled with stories of love. I don't like the word "stories" because it makes you think of some fiction, a made up thing. The bible contains stories of love, where we see God's power and faith and glory. It is a message of grace and peace, salvation, redemption and also miracles. It is a book filled with impossible hopeless situations. These accounts appear and many are impossible situations, where there seems to be no solution, no way out. Think of some of the storms we read about in the bible. Or nights in the bible, of death and sickness. They are hopeless situations, yet time after time God turns them around for his power and glory. One of these accounts is here this morning. We see in our passage a human who found hope in a hopeless place. It starts in the home of a man called Abraham. He may have been the father of the faithful but he was a man of God, called by God, who followed God. God promised he would be the father of many. Sometimes his family life was a shambles. Genesis 16 verse 1 Sarah appears to have a problem - she cannot have children. Hagar seemed to be the solution. In verses 2 and 3 we see that they thought they would solve the problem themselves. It turned into a shambles. It did nothing but cause trouble for Sarah, Hagar and Abraham. Sarah was jealous because of Hagar and Hagar was jealous of Sarah because of her relationship with Abraham. Abraham was caught in the middle. It seemed an impossible situation. There was an all out civil war in his tent. Hagar finds herself in despair. In this situation she had a powerful encounter with almighty God. Out of the place of pain comes a ray of hope. That means if you are saved today, God can take my hopeless situation and make it for his honour and glory. He can turn your situation around today. If you are not saved God can turn your life around, offer you hope when there is no hope. There is hope for your situation, a plan, a remedy, a cure for your condition. 

It was a time of harsh rejection. Things were tense in Abraham's tent.  Isaac is about 3 years of age and Ishmael 17. They were celebrating as Isaac has now grown from a baby into a young boy. Verses 9 and 10. Hagar faces rejection. How immature Ishmael is, mocking Isaac. The green eye of jealousy appears in his eyes. He saw his hopes and dreams dashed when Isaac was born. Up to his birth Ishmael was in line for all Abraham had. Isaac was the son of promise. Ishmael would never be anything more than he was now. He was the son of a slave. He was jealous of Isaac. He acts out in this feast. Sarah sees her son being bullied and steps in with a heavy hand. "Abraham I have had enough, get this young fella out." She commanded that both be sent out. That word "cast out" means driven away. The reality of the rejection. Abraham is reluctant to do what Sarah asks. Here was Abraham who had fathered this child with Hagar. He had a son and at 17 years of age there was a great bond of love between them. He had provided for him since birth. No doubt he had feelings for him. He does not know what to do in this situation. The Lord visited Abraham and told him to listen to what Sarah had said to do. You have to let Ishmael go. Verse 12. This is as real as it was going to get. I am sure it broke his heart. The word "grievous" means to quiver or tremble. Can you think of it? It grieved his very soul. He was trembling, quivering, shaking by this event. No doubt he loved Ishmael and to let him go would be awful. We know that life can be like that today. One day we get up and the sun is shining. Everything looks wonderful but then we are on our backs. Taken off our feet. Sickness, bad news, a loss of job or something happens in the home. How did I get here? He should have known better than taking matters into his own hands. Sometimes we have been there. God is teaching us valuable lessons. There was a harsh reaction - verse 14. "and she departed and wandered in the wilderness." How many of us have ended up in that place through no fault of our own? Hagar ended up here because of something Abraham had done. How many of us have wandered in the wilderness? Or maybe you are still wandering in the wilderness because of someone else's actions. If you have been in the wilderness it is a terrible place. There is no comfort, no company and no craic in the wilderness. It is lonely. There are some who can relate to that today. I know what it is like to feel isolated, to feel alone but you are there now. For others, you are in a different kind of wilderness - of sin. Maybe not saved. Sin has taken you for a ride. You are realising this morning that you are lost, disillusioned, no meaning or direction in your life. You have tried everything but the world has left you in the wilderness. If that is you and you are not saved I trust you will see there is one with you in the wilderness looking for you. He is calling you. He is wanting to save you. To bring you back into the fold. The world cannot give you that peace. There is only one place that you can find satisfaction - in Christ alone.

There was a time of hopeless reality. There were problems - verse 14. The water was spent in the bottle. Abraham saddled her with bread and a bottle of water. When you consider the resources Abraham had, with all his acres of land, servants and flocks and herds but he only sent her with bread and water. He had all the resources int he world to look after her for the rest of her days but he didn't give her anything. Abraham trusted God. That God was going to do right with Hagar and Ishmael. He was releasing them into the hand of God. She trusted God with all her heart. It was a desperate situation in the wilderness. Hungry and thirsty. The burdens are too heavy. They have exceeded my ability to carry my burdens. We have a good Saviour - Matthew 11 verse 28 "come unto me all ye that are heavy laden and I will give you rest." The Lord tells you the believer to come again to him. There was pain in this hopeless reality. Verse 16. Here we see the pain of Hagar's broken heart. She was sure her only son would die. She leaves him under a tree and goes away a distance. She doesn't want to witness the death of her son. Hagar turned her back on her son and left him to die. Think of another tree, another person who turned his back on his son during those moments on Calvary. "At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice Eli Eli lama sabachthani My God My God why have you forsaken me?" Jesus was being punished for something he never did. For the sin he never committed. He was taking the punishment for our sin. He was bearing what we should have borne. He was suffering pain and rejection for you. So that he could offer you hope and salvation. The hope of something more than a wing and a prayer. He went to the cross to suffer and die so that he could offer you hope and salvation. The assurance and peace, that our future would be secure. Hagar found herself in a situation she couldn't fix, she couldn't escape from. Maybe that is you today. You are in a place where you cannot fix it, will never escape from it. King David found himself in that situation in Psalm 55. "O that I had the wings of a dove to fly away and be at rest." To get away from the troubles of this world. We cannot control them or fix them. It is not God's will for that to happen. He wants to teach us a lesson. It is easy for us to say "Hagar, it's going to be alright, God is in control, God is in the middle of it all." Hagar had a previous promise from God - Genesis 16 - that he would make Ishmael into a great nation. God was not going to take his life now. He would not die of starvation. We have all of God's promises today, all we have to do is open his word and read them. He does not love us to leave us to do life on our own. We have God's word to strengthen us, to guard and keep it. Are you reading it today to find the promises for yourself? God has promised he will sustain and strengthen us. God is your hope in that hopeless situation. We can become blinded to God's word in such a hopeless situation. God was fulfilling his promise to Hagar even though she didn't realise it. Verses 16 and 17. A prayer offered. We can lift our voice in prayer, talk to God. We don't know if Hagar prayed but we know God heard the prayer of the lad. All we have to do is lift our voices to God. We have that ever present resource as a believer. If you are not a believer today you need to cry "save me from sin, from certain death in this wilderness, save me that I may go to be with thee." The problems will come in our lives but God is ever present with us. God is there in the middle of our hopeless situation. He is there to develop us, to make us more like his Son Jesus Christ. Sometimes he has to take us through that wilderness for us to realise that he is there. The hope is our hopeless situations, channeling through those circumstances. 

There is a hope revealed. Hagar was coming through this time enveloped by things she did not realise. God had given her a promise. He had a plan in her pain. Sometimes we have to walk through dark times. He is behind the scenes all the time. Verse 17. God was there all the time. "What aileth thee? Fear not for God hath heard the voice of the lad." She had God's presence in the middle of the trouble. She had God's peace. God called her by her name. He knows your name and all about you. God has provided for you. He has provided us with each other to encourage us along the way. God's provision is everything Hagar needs. What Hagar couldn't see in her situation was that God had his hand on her life. What is troubling you today? Whatever it is, if you are not saved is it your sin? Is your past life troubling you? "Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." Take those years of hardship and heartache to the Lord in prayer. Cry out to him. Rest in his promises. Be refreshed from God's word. He is working out all things to his glory and good.