In the darkness of the night .,,

Notes from a sermon on 28 February 2011
Genesis 32 verses 24 – 32

in Genesis 32 we find this young man Jacob on his way home to his homeland. He has been away for some time.. Now find him sitting in the darkness of the night. His head is down, there's much going through his mind, much in his heart. Then we find God comes to him just when he is there. Isn't that amazing – something we can never understand, never fathom. When we find ourselves in such a situation God does come to us right there in the midst of the situation. “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort me.”(Psalm 23 verse 4) Might have been death or a dark valley he was going through. One thing is certain – God would be with him in that dark valley. As we put our trust in the Lord in the dark times of our lives God will go with us. We might look at it and think this is the night before a great ordeal in Jacob's life. Maybe that is the same for us. Tomorrow will bring news to us we never wanted to hear. This is the night before God will come and help us.

A man who is led by the Lord. This young man hasn't come to this parcel of ground in his own merits. He has been led by God to this particular place. He had been living with his uncle and family. A young man doing well for himself from the day he left his fathers home and went to live with Laban his uncle and the wider family circle. Been away for 20/30 years. He was a wealthy, rich young man . He had married in his uncles land and had a young family too. Everything was going well for him. Everything seemed to be doing well. In the midst of that natural prosperity God had a task for him to do. A promise to be fulfilled in his life. A promise for the land, for the nation and for his family. Your life is important to God today. God said in his word he is not willing that any should perish. The Bible says “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life.”(John 3 verse 16) We are born into this world with sin in our heart. Sin in nature that will take us out into a Christless eternity. Modernist preachers don't tell us that today. Say hell is only a myth but the Bible says it is a lake of fire with continual flames. God says in his word that he is not willing that anyone should perish in that awful place. God took his son, sent him into this world as a gift. “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through his son”(Romans 6 verse 23) On the cross he died that we might be saved. That is how much he loves us. You might be doing really well today, everything is going good for you but the Lord has more for you today. In chapter 28 Jacob ran away from home. He was lying sleeping when he had a vision of a ladder reaching to heaven. God spoke to him that night - verses 13 – 15. 26 years later God was fulfilling his plan for Jacob. On that occasion God gave Jacob a promise for himself, a promise for the land and a promise for his family. Success had altered him. Verse 1 of chapter 31 God has a way of leading and guiding our paths just as he did for Jacob. God has something in particular for you today. He says to Jacob “I told you when you would come back home again.” God uses success in our lives to bring us back to God. Jacob's circumstances had changed. He was doing well for himself but his uncle and his cousins were beginning to turn against him. Jacob felt maybe it was time for a move. He didn't move but until the call of God came on him – verse 3 “the Lord said unto Jacob return.” The word of God came to him. F B Meyer was going across to a series of meetings in Dublin. As he approached the harbour where they were docking it was really dark. There were few stars in the sky. He had the opportunity to talk to the captain and asked him “how can you get safely into the harbour?” The captain replied “step over here a bit and look further into the distance. You will see 3 different coloured lights. When I line my ship up to those lights they have to be all in line one behind the other then I can get safely into the harbour.“ F B Meyer later used this illustration in one of his sermons – 3 lights in our lives - circumstances that are changing, the conviction that God has something for us and the call of God on our lives.

A man with a load on his mind. Verse 29 Jacob has been left alone. He was greatly distressed. He had no idea what lay ahead. When he left his home he had deceived his father and brother. When he had left home Esau had told him “the next time I see you I will kill you.” All that was in his mind as he slept there in the darkness. “Boast not thyself of tomorrow for you do not know what a day will bring forth.”(Proverbs 27 verse 1) He had decided to come home but didn't know what he would face. He sent messengers out to see what reaction he would receive. They came back with the report that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men. Surely that would bring fear to Jacob's heart, “he doesn't want anything to do with me. Have I made a wrong move?” Jacob was greatly distressed. It was starting to hit home. He had to face the past. The last time he had faced Esau he had robbed him of his blessing and birthright. He now had to face up to his past. Do we have a load on our minds? It is natural to be afraid but not spiritually. D L Moody was preaching at meetings along these lines when a young woman stopped to talk with him. She was saved from sin but now there was a lot to face from the past. She said to D L Moody “I rest on God's word, the Psalmist said in Psalm 56 when I am afraid I will trust in thee.” D L Moody said that's good but can I lift you to another verse that might be better – Isaiah 12 verse 2 “God is my salvation I will trust and not be afraid.” Is there a fear for you this morning? This young man was laden down with problems and difficulties. He was thinking of his family. He thought if Esau comes out and puts them to death what then? This was at the forefront of his mind. Yes you can feel sympathy for him although commentators say he was cruel. He sets up the situation and then prays about it. He did everything he could for his family to be saved and then he went across the brook alone. Great responsibility on us today to do everything we can for our families, to be in the place where they can hear the word of God. “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”(Romans 10 verse 17) Responsibility he had to see his family safe first of all after that he got down on his knees before the God of heaven. God comes and reasoned with him there. Jacob took the situation to God in prayer. The home is a lovely place but we need the family altar reinstated there – when the word of God is read at night and the family pray together.

See the loneliness he finds himself in. Jacob was left alone – verse 24. Here in the darkness of the night he was left alone. Must have been the loneliest place he ever found himself in. The family were meeting up with him the next day. Here he was sitting alone, no-one else could understand his prayer. Weight on his shoulder, pain in his heart. He was alone. You and I find ourselves alone on many occasions. The light of a new day was coming on his way. He was about to meet someone he hadn't see for 26 years. Now has to face up to the one whom he had cheated out of his birthright. We don't hear anything more after this date, about what happened to Jacob. It cost him a lot though - a full night in prayer

An open door of salvation

Notes from a sermon on 27 February 2011
Revelation 3 verses 7 – 13

Verse 8 “I know thy works, behold I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it.”
This verse is referring to a door of service but also we need to think of the door of salvation that God opens to this world. To everyone of us who are born in sin, taken on the fallen nature of man there is nothing we could do to redeem ourselves in the eyes of God but he sent his only son into this world that he might die on the cross of Calvary. In so doing he opened the door of heaven to us.

Opens the door of salvation for the heedless. As the Lord was writing to this church there is no thought of rebuke or criticism. This is a church that was working and going through with God but there was a door open to them if only they would step through it they would find greater service available to them. God encourages them to do that. God opens a door to the heedless. The way to destruction and damnation is a wide way. Jesus talks of 2 ways – a broad road that leads to destruction. There are many who find it and are going down that road. Is that the same road you are on? Every opportunity of salvation has been opened to you but you have neglected it. You were born on that broad road and there is only one way to get off it - by stopping at the cross of Calvary, leaving your sins there, taking from the Lord eternal life for your soul. How can you enter in that door? He himself has opened that door. There is a broad way that leads to destruction. Many are going and travelling on that road heedless to what God has done for them. God says there is another way that leads to heaven, eternal glory in the presence of God for all eternity. A narrow road which is straight, few there are that find it. Have you found that door? The Lord hasn't prevented you from entering in that door. Can only be found by a repenting of your sins, confessing your sins, bowing your head, heart and life to Christ. Only then can you find the door that leads to everlasting life. Jesus said “how often I would have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not.”(Matthew 23 verse 37) Heedless. You haven't even given God's salvation a second thought. There are many who are heedless to what sin in their life is doing. Agrippa was heedless. Paul standing before him preaching and explaining the word of God. Agrippa told him “go, leave me for this time if there is a more convenient season for me I will call for you.” (Acts 26) The gospel invitation he sets before us.

God sets an open door for the helpless. “For thou hast a little strength” Could do nothing more themselves. Peter said in Acts “neither is there salvation in any other for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4 verse 12) You can read the bible as much as you like, pray as much as you like, donate as much as you like but these will never save you. There has to be a time when you turn from your sins, trust Christ for your salvation. Have you got peace with God? Is there peace in your heart? Maybe the Holy Spirit is convicting you of your sin? Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3 “marvel not that I say unto you you must be saved” We are helpless in our quest for peace with God. We have come short of the standard God has set. We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God. Thank God Jesus brings us up to that mark for he was the just dying for the unjust. He died for those who had transgressed the law. Jesus died to bring us up to the mark. Isaiah 64 verse 6 “we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” God has given his very best, his son to save your soul. Remember the women who went to the tomb on that first day of the week. As they made their way to that garden tomb they were asking “who would take away the stone” because they realised this was a barrier between them and Jesus body. Something they couldn't move in their own right. As they made their way up they saw the stone had already been rolled away. You don't have to worry about opening the door of heaven yourself. God has done it all and all you have to do is accept him as Saviour. He wants you to come and trust him tonight as Saviour and Lord. No man can shut it but only God can open it to you.

A door for the hopeless. Jesus is opening the door for his church to reach out to others. Christ has given us a hope. When I was born I was born without hope. As the challenge comes to you “are you saved” is the first thought only a hope? Some day hope to be in heaven but have done nothing about it. Hope in sins forgiven, that everything has been taken away and one day will be in heaven with Christ. If you haven't hope of heaven, assurance that Christ has forgiven your sin make sure you come to Christ. Not one of us know when God will close his hand on the breath we have in our bodies. God has set before us an open door to be saved. Will you come to Christ or will you be lost for eternity? Or are you heedless to what God wants you to do.

Being fruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ

Notes from a sermon on 20 February 2011
2 Peter 1 verses 1 - 12

Peter has an important task that he wants to get across to these believers. He tells them in verse 8 “For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This is the reason of his writing. Then he goes on in verse 10 “for if ye do these things ye shall never fall”. Giving a self guard for their lives. Who better to look to than this fisherman who had gone through experiences that were diverse. In book 1 Peter was encouraging Christians to work through every burden in life. He was speaking of the trial of their faith. Now in his second book he is writing about something different - bogus preachers. Chapter 2 verse 1 These people will come in secretly and you will not know them as false teachers. They will “bring in damnable heresies” and “bring upon themselves swift destruction.” Then he goes on in verse 2 to say “And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.” Many people will be deceived by such people. For Peter when he began to speak of such people, it would have caused an uproar but for Peter it was his responsibility to warn people. The devil is still prominent today and there are many false teachers around. Peter asks the Christians “how should we stand against these false teachers?” He replies keep on growing, “add to your faith” (verse 5)

The responsibility of this evil day. False teachers will bring in all sorts of damnable heresies leading men and women away and in the midst of it all our responsibility is to be growing. Peter encourages Christians in the sense they are all equal - verse 3 “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and goodness.” Whatever God has given to us must be applied to ourselves and must be added to. In chapter 1 verse 1 Peter describes himself as “a servant and an apostle” - that is his qualifications. Then he goes on to describe the people he is writing to - “to them that have obtained like precious faith with us” Peter says you have obtained the same faith as we have, you have placed your trust in Christ so now build on the foundations already laid. The moment you placed your faith in Christ that made you a Christian, not sitting at a communion table or being aligned to some church but rather it was the finished work of Christ on Calvary’s cross. Faith is the bedrock of our salvation. We cannot obtain salvation in any other way but simply through faith in Christ. The apostle Paul said “by grace ye are saved” (Ephesians 2 verse 5). God gave his son to die on a cross that we might have eternal life. The moment I receive that salvation it is not the end, we got to keep on growing. Acts 4 verse 12 “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” Peter now gives us a challenge, a commission and a command - “giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge” verse 5. Are we serious about our faith? We should be continually adding to our faith. It is our responsibility to do this. Paul said in Philippians 3 verse 14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.“ Peter says because you have received God’s grace in your life you should be adding to it. It is your responsibility and mine today. We could listen to the best of preachers and read books available but never apply it to our lives. We need to learn from God and apply it to our lives.

The requirements for this evil day. If we are to add what are we to add? Peter takes time to do that. The first characteristic is virtue. That quality is strength of courage. The word speaks of manliness. Saved by God’s grace, saved to be a soldier. Whenever God saves us he doesn’t put us into a playground but rather a battleground. We need the strength from that. We need to be growing continually when saved. Placed into that battle against the spiritual elements of this world. As Christians we need courage. This is what Peter is talking of. Ephesians 6 talks about putting on the whole armour of God. Remember Joseph of Arimathea. He kept his faith hidden. In John 19 he was the man who stepped out of the crowd when Jesus died. Jesus’ disciples had all fled but Joseph was the one who went to Pilate and asked to take Jesus’ body and bury it in his tomb. He was given that permission and bore the wrath of the religious leaders of his day. We live in a day when anything goes. We see so many things happening in our town we never say a thing about. It is so easy not to step out and say we are against such things but we need to do it. Whenever Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost the crowd accused Jesus’ disciples of being drunk but Peter stood up and said “these men are not drunk as ye suppose.” (Acts 2 verse 15) He went on to preach with boldness - why - because he was filled with the Holy Spirit. The second characteristic is knowledge. Peter later on encourages us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. Peter grew in his knowledge of Jesus Christ - 1 Peter 2 verse 1 “wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speaking as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.” A baby must be fed on the purest milk as he begins to grow and then be becomes stronger. So too the faith within you that reaches out and touches Christ must grow. The only way to grow is to study God’s word. Paul said to Timothy “study to show thyself approved unto God.” (2 Timothy 2 verse 15) He also said to the Philippians “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings” (Philippians 3 verse 10) That was Paul’s ambition in his heart. Paul knew God in a mighty way - remember the day on the road to Damascus. He knew Christ then but he wanted to know Christ more. The other characteristics to add are temperance, patience, godliness, brother kindness and love. Temperance is self control and refers to our emotions. Peter is speaking to those professing the name of Christ - that they might know how to act and react. 1 Corinthians 9 verse 24 “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.” We need to be striving for it. Paul is speaking here of a man going into the fight ring or an athlete going into a stadium to race - he must train first. As he trains he brings his body into subjection. He is careful about his training - why - because he wants to win the race. As a child of God there are urges we have that need to be under control. Each day we need to add to our faith. We need to be growing and getting stronger in our faith. Have we these qualities today? Will we continue to grow that we might win the “crown that is laid up for us” in the manner as he commanded us to?

Becoming fishers of men

Notes from a sermon on 30 January 2011
Mark 1 verses 16 - 28

Along the shores of Galilee Jesus came across these 2 men - verse 17 “come ye after me and I will make you to become fishers of men.” Wwhat the Lord wanted to do with these men. He had a plan for their lives. Not just to cast their nets into the sea but that they might be used to bring men and women to a knowledge of Christ as Saviour and Lord of their lives. They were going to seek men and women in the highways and byways, in the market places. To take the gospel to places never been before. God has a plan and purpose for your life today. Look at these mere men, they have seen the mind of Christ in what he wanted them to do. Let us see the minds of the fishermen and how they respond to the call of God on their lives. Have we proved what God desires of us? Verse 17 “come ye after me.” Through this phrase their lives were completely turned upside down. Their lives would never be the same again. Jesus had stepped in and he had taken them around a corner.

The decision that we find in this word “come”. When these men were gazing into the water they heard the word “come”. There had to be a decision to be made on this day on the shores of Galilee. They were not being challenged about the issues of salvation as they had already settled that. When Andrew beheld John the Baptist saying “behold the Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world” he told Peter who wanted to come and see for himself. They both settled the question of Jesus in their own lives, took him at his word for themselves. Was there a moment in your life when you settled the question for yourself? When we laid our sin at the feet of Jesus, repented of our sin, accepted his forgiveness and offer of eternal life? An important place to come to today. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved”(Acts 16 verses 31) Jesus tells us. This call came to Peter and Andrew at their work place. They had to make a leaving - in their hearts and minds. All of a sudden Jesus appears asking them to surrender their lives completely. A call to service. Jesus wanted every part of them. Now had to make a decision - was their love for personal lives far greater than their love for Jesus Christ? They had found the Saviour and had now settled down in their lives. A natural thing - the call of God came to them in their natural daily routine. Sometimes we will only hear that call if we are in the word of God so we cut ourselves off. Set everything aside, get into quiet place and seek God on our own. God breaks through in the every day routine and speaks to us and says “follow after me”. Maybe sometimes that is what happens to us. We can look back to a day when saved, takes us back maybe months or years. Somehow get settled in our lives. God somehow comes and stirs us up. Deuteronomy 32 verse 11 mother eagle stirs up her young, helps them out of the nest but doesn’t leave them there - bears them out onto the air, flies with them. God wants to do that with us. Sometimes we are settled in our Christian routine but God comes and stirs us up, shows us a plan and purpose that he has for our lives. God’s plan was not going to be worked out in their every day life. Just at the right time God took William Carey aside to the Indian continent. Elijah was a great man of God doing great exploits for God. Where does God find him? Sitting in a cave. “What doest thou here?” God had to ask him. God didn’t take him in there. He wasn’t serving the God of heaven or the people Israel but sitting down in a cave. What about you today? The children of Israel on their way to Canaan came to Mount Seir. God has to come to them and say “you have sat here long enough, there is something more for you to do.” (Deuteronomy 2 verse 1) Are we in danger of sitting back just being content in our spiritual life or are we going on? “I press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3 verse 14) Paul said.

A direction they had to follow. God comes and points out a direction for them. Are we in the right direction today? Sometimes God’s directions are difficult to understand. These fishermen might have been excused for thinking “who are we to take on such a task?. There are men who could debate the scriptures and teach people better than me.” Isn’t that what we sometimes would think too? Someone who is more able to take up that position. We promote someone else and sit back ourselves. All the time God is looking for us. A decision to take, a direction that would change their lives. God is starting to point you to something that could change you today. Maybe God has been closing a door on the past. God was doing that for these 2 men, closing a door on their lives. One day Peter said “I go fishing” Peter tried to open the door again. When God closes a door lets not be guilty of trying to keep it open. There was a brand new door opening up for these men. Sure they were full of doubts. Certainly God leads us down ways sometimes we find it hard to understand. Things happen in our lives that we don’t understand. The message is simple. We are to follow. They may have had doubts and fears but were prepared to follow him. The children of Israel on their way to Canaan, in their own minds had a plan, how knew it was shorter by far than the way God was taking them but God had a plan in mind. They wanted to turn back to Egypt so he took them a different way. Maybe our lives are going in direction we don’t understand. Gods way is perfect.

A discipline that must be acknowledged. They would have to keep the Lord clearly in view. That is something we need to learn - to keep the Lord closely in view. These men were not to run before the Lord nor to drag behind the Lord. No doubt there would be challenges to conflict with human nature. We know God has a task he wants us to do to the best of our ability but sometimes it conflicts with human nature. It will take discipline in those times. There are things we have to discipline our lives in. Disciples did that. When confronted with the multitudes who were tired and hungry the disciples had to deal with this situation. They told the Lord to send them away that they might get food for their bodies but the Lord said “no you get them food”. That is against human nature. The Lord told them to bring him what they had. God is asking you to do that - bring your time, compassion and tithes. Bring them to him and allow him to use them. When the Lord took the towel and started to wash his disciples feet he was teaching them about humility and service. He told the disciples they would have to do likewise. They would be going into villages where they would be hated, they would be going into synagogues where they would be cast out, they would be going into places where they would be rejected and spat on. Had to learn about humility and service. “What I do thou knowest not.” No explanation necessary, discipline in knowing God’s way is perfect.

The devotion that is also required. It is my love for the Lord Jesus Christ that dictates our Christian lives. If they didn’t love the Lord how could they come? Illustration in the Old Testament scriptures of the hired servant. Time would come when he could walk out free. If he had a family they could go out free with him too. If he had acquired that family during his time of service only he could go out. If his servant says in his heart “I love my master, I love my family, I will not go free.” He wanted to stay because of his devotion. Isn’t that a wonderful testimony to have - I love the one who died for me because he shed his precious blood for my sins on Calvary.

A man brought to Jesus by his friends

Notes from a sermon on 23 January 2011
Mark 2 verses 1 - 13

Mark 2 is a familiar story. 4 men who brought their friend who was unwell. He was paralysed. They carried him to the Lord and he was healed. He will take our right hand. The God of heaven will take us by the right hand and he will say to us “fear not for I will help you.” (Isaiah 41 verse 13) I The promise of God is that he will lead us. William Carey said “expect great things for God and attempt great things for God.” Notice here in this portion of scripture see a turn of things in the life of one man - he couldn’t walk but before he went away he walked again.

A people that are excited. We see this right through the chapter - verse 2 “it was noised that he was in the house and straightway many were gathered together insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no not so much as about the door and he preached the word unto them.” Before this situation Jesus took time to pray - Mark 1 verse 35. When Jesus entered into Capernaum the people got so excited. Am I so excited about what the Lord has done in my life? Am I telling others about it? Are we excited because we are saved by the grace of God? That any moment now God could break the skies and take his children home to enter into the place he has prepared for them? If haven’t faced that yet I would be standing in dread today. I must as a sinner face God’s judgement one day. The people were excited about Jesus being in the house. They didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see Jesus. They made every effort to see Jesus. “where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst.” The Lord is gazing on you, knowing everything, every thought in your heart and mind, knowing all that is going through your life at this time, ready to take you by the right hand. The woman at the well wanted water but she met Jesus. She confessed her sin. Jesus forgave her every sin that day. As she left the water pot and told everyone that she met she was excited. Do you and I have that excitement today? Do others see what Christ has done for us? Are we excited so much that we want to tell others about it? We are saved by God’s grace and yet some times we cannot muster up to tell another man or woman the great things God has done for us. The heathen could say “God has done great things for them” Psalm 126 verse 2. Sometimes we fall into category of the Laodicean church - lukewarm.

A pact that was encouraged - verses 2 and 3. As a direct response here because of the excitement that was in the air all roads led to this house where Jesus was. It came from the hearts of the people first and foremost. John Wesley was used in the Methodist circles to preach in days of coldness, apathy, when people were turning away from things of God. He had a little advice for his preachers going out when standing in the pulpits preaching the word of God. He said “set the preacher on fire and the people will come to see him burn”. When people begin to burn with passion for God our families will be transformed. This man had never worked a day in his life probably. His friends made a pact to take him on this stretcher, carried him right to the excitement, was with love in a day when no interest in gospel. Your heart and mine can be hardened through circumstances today. We might have been hurt by someone years ago. Once professed faith in Christ but there was nothing in the heart. Someone did something to offend you or hurt you. Maybe every time you heard the gospel you rejected it. That ground becomes hardened to the word of God. The Bible says the moment the seed is sown the enemy comes to pick up the seed. Why? “Lest they believe and be saved.” That is what happens. Nothing could compete when get excited about what God could do. In Nazareth Jesus was hindered from doing many mighty miracles because of unbelief. That is still the case today. When we begin to get excited and believe what God can do things do change. As they gathered 4 men also came, they were stirred into a course of action. Isn’t that the same story for the woman at the well? John 4 verse 39 “for the saying of the women”. All this happened in Capernaum because of the excitement of the people that drew these 4 men to bring their friend to the house. As God takes his word and applies it to your heart it will go out and people will believe in Christ as Saviour because of that.

A person who was enabled. People began to gather - that was good but when God began to work that was tremendous. 4 men came along with their friend, spoke to this man about the Lord, told him what he could do. They were attempting great things for God and expecting great things of God. 4 men became convinced that the Lord was going to do something for them. They came and saw the crowd but were not put off. They went up onto the roof and lowered the man down through the roof. When Jesus saw them he said to the sick man ”thy sins are forgiven you.” He stood to his feet, a complete new person. The moment you come and sit at his feet crying out to him to be saved he will make you a new creature in Christ .

A praise that is expressed. The moment people looked at this man they glorified God because of what God had done. All because they were excited about his visit. Why not ask God to come into your heart, Maybe there was a time when you were excited but the fire has gone out. The coldness of sin has crept in. We need that revival fire once more.

Fear not, the Lord will help thee!

Notes from a sermon on 2 January 2011

ISAIAH 41 verses 10 - 20

Verse 13 “for the Lord thy God will hold they right hand saying unto thee fear not, I will help thee.”

In this little verse we have a promise from God to us, to our homes, to our families, to our communities and neighbourhoods. God is stating his relationship with the people of Israel but he is also stating his relationship with us. Think of this verse in 2 parts - the first of a living relationship and secondly of a working relationship.

Israel was a forgetful nation. God had to draw alongside them and remind them of their relationship with him. Someone once said “it is possible to be diligent in a religion yet distant in our relationship.” We can be distant in our relationship - oh yes we might be in the house of God every Sunday morning and evening and that is diligence yet we are distant in our personal relationship with God. That was the problem with Israel. They drew near to God with their tongues but their hearts were far from God. We have got to make sure what our relationship is with God today. Israel had not only forgotten but forsaken God too. They had been captive for 70 years in Babylon because they had forsaken God. This nation of Israel had now repented and were brought back into the land of Canaan for a second time. Do you remember the day when you realised you had sinned against the God of heaven? When he took away your sins and wrote your name in the Lambs Book of Life? The Psalmist said “bless the Lord O my soul and forget not all his benefits.” (Psalm 103 verse 2) It was personal to the Psalmist. Maybe we need to be reminded of that relationship today. We were bought with the blood of Jesus Christ purchased on Calvary, given as a free gift and all we have to do is come, take it and apply it to our lives. It costs us nothing but God everything. When God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt and across the wilderness he gave them the assurance of his presence. That was the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of cloud by night. God gives us assurance too when we accept him as Lord and Saviour - the Holy Spirit. God never left the children of Israel, he never forsook them. We need to know we have a very real relationship with the God of heaven. God brought them through the wilderness into the promised land then they forgot God. Moses warned them “beware lest thou forget the Lord which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 6 verse 12)

Israel was a forgiven people. God assures them of his presence. It is the God of heaven who is going with us. When we read the book of Judges we see this cycle clearly. The people are blessed of God then because of that blessing they get careless, they begin to follow after gods of the land in which they were living. God allows that. Then the enemy comes down and because they are not in a relationship with God they cannot stand against the enemy. They go into bondage and they cry out to God who brings them a deliverer. The cycle begins again. This is a forgiven people. God had heard their cries in Babylon and allowed them to be taken captive for 70 years. Now 70 years later he is beginning to bring his people home again. Maybe you realise you are not in personal relationship with God. Somewhere along the line you faltered and now God is speaking to you about that situation. The Psalmist could say with clarity in chapter 103 verse 9 “he will not always chide neither will he keep his anger for ever.” “I have set the Lord before me because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” (Psalm 16 verse 8) Confidence in the God of heaven. Where is God in your life today? Today he can be in no other place because he doesn’t want to be in any other place. If he is not king of your life he is not king at all. We need to be sure. The psalmist made a definite and a deliberate assertion “I have set him at my right hand.”

Not only forgiven and forgetful nation but Israel was a fearful nation. “The fear of man bringeth a snare.”(Proverbs 29 verse 25) We need to be careful because our hearts could be gripped with fear. This was a nation who had so many fears and barriers. Remember the spies going out into the land of Canaan? Ten of them saw all the barriers and obstacles facing them. We are like those spies, fearful of what lies ahead. God had to deal with those fears. Sometimes we think of fearfuless as a failure but it is only what we do with our fears that brings failure. The Lord takes it and brings us through our fears. God is dealing with a nation that has forgotten, a nation he has forgiven and a nation that is full of fears. As the children of Israel stood at the Red Sea, Pharoah has had second thoughts and followed them there. The fear of the Lord was on the people. The pillar of cloud went around them and came to the back of them. It cast a darkness onto the people of Egypt and a light to the people of Israel. God said to Moses “hold up the rod” and as he did so the sea divided and people went across onto dry land. The Egyptians did go after them but the sea returned and destroyed them all that day. God is fighting for you today and wants to see great things accomplished through you.

They were a favoured nation. Remember Mary, despised of the world yet highly favoured of the Lord. Joseph at 17 years of age was working in Potiphar’s house. He had been despised by his brothers yet favoured by God. He was put into a prison cell wrongly. The Lord was with him and took him into the very palace of Pharoah who said of him “there is none greater in this house than thee.” (Genesis 39 verse 9) If only we would open up our lives to God today and ask him to take up his position of our right hand and don’t ever leave it. To place it all on the altar today, to ask God to fill us, cleanse us, to be totally surrendered to God. God is looking for a living relationship with you and I today.

The touch of Jesus' garment

Notes from sermon on 16 January 2011
Mark 5 verses 25 - 34
Text: verse 27 “and touched his garment.”

In this story we are faced with a woman in a real dilemma. For 12 years she had suffered with this plague in her body. Not any ordinary plague. It was something that affected her life not just physically but spiritually because she couldn’t come into the synagogue. She had tried many doctors for a remedy but could find none. Day by day she grew worse. She sought for cleansing and healing. Something in each one of us seeks the honesty and clarity we need in a relationship with God.

Notice that touch is a personal contact. She had heard of Jesus and she came and touched his garment. A person who needed to be healed. A person who touched the healer. She felt so cut off from society. She couldn’t go out into the market place. Everything she touched or the place she touched she rendered them unclean. Because of her presence people didn’t want to be near her in case became infected. She lived a lonely life. Not a life chosen by her. It is not by chance that we are born into this world as sinners. When you were born into this world you were born into sin. God looks down and sees those who are saved and those who are lost. Those who are on the broad way that leads to destruction and those on the narrow way on their way to heaven and home. The only way to be on that road tonight is by coming in childlike faith, coming in simple faith to Calvary, simply acknowledging you have sinned and you have come short of the glory of God. You will never be in heaven because of your sin. Acknowledge Christ as Saviour and Lord as he took his life and shed his precious blood that you and I might be saved. No-one could do anything for this young woman. We have got an illness more serious than this woman had. It cuts us of from God in this world and in all eternity. The answer for your problem and this woman’s problem was to reach out and touch the Lord Jesus Christ. There is only one who can forgive you tonight. No other society could, or church, only Jesus Christ. “Neither is their salvation in any other for there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4 verse 12) Peter preached on the day of Pentecost and 3000 souls were saved but they all came individually.

It was a powerful contact. As Jesus passed by this poor woman she reached out and touched his garment. The moment she did it something wonderful happened. Nothing happened to the crowd but in the heavens. A simple straightforward touch of the masters garment and she was healed of her plague. If you want to be saved it will be plain and simple acceptance. Moment you call out to be saved the Bible says you shall be saved. It was a simple contact. It was a saved contact. “Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in.”(Revelation 3 verse 20) In another scripture it says she touched his hem. The hem of a garment is the very last thing that is completed on the garment. It is turned up and carefully stitched. This woman in reality touched the finished work of the masters garment.
It was a proven contact - verse 29. Right from the second she touched his garment there was no lapse of time. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”(Acts 2 verse 21) She had heard so much about Jesus. One day she heard he was coming down her street. She reached out and touched his garment. Immediately she touched it she could feel the change in her body.

It was a public contact as well. This woman touched his garment and she was healed. She thought that was all there was to it. What did the Lord do? He turned around, in the multitude of people and asked “who touched me?” She had to stand up and she had to admit it publicly. You can get saved right where you are but it is only confession of the mouth that brings conviction in your heart.