The woman plagued for 12 years

Notes from a sermon on 23 October 2011

Mark 5 verses 21 – 34

Here in Mark’s gospel we find that tremendous little account of a woman who had been plagued with an awful illness for 12 years. On this particular day she makes her way down onto the main street of the town she lived in. She realised there was a procession going through the town which she knew nothing about. What lay in store for her was something marvellous. It all began in the house of a man where there was sickness. Jairus was the man. He was the ruler of the synagogue, he led the services there, conducted the prayers. One morning he got up and his little daughter was at the very point of death. Perhaps the doctor had been there through the night. One thing was sure – nothing was going to help that young girl. It would turn into a tragedy in one home but lead to a blessing in another. Sometimes God allows things to come across our pathway, allows us to go through perhaps tragedy to bring blessing to others. There is one question that springs to mind – verse 55 Jesus said “who touched my clothes?” To be saved costs everything. If that man wants to follow me he must deny himself take up his cross and then follow me. Think of the man with all the riches in the world. He couldn’t give them up when Jesus asked him to. Maybe God has been putting a finger on your heart and you haven’t come to Christ yet. God tells you that a certain thing has to be dealt with. That is when the light goes out. The rich young man couldn’t give all he had to follow Jesus. He turned his back on the Lord and walked away. This woman came and she was earnest. She was challenged in her fears. Maybe you are afraid to step out and take that step. Imagine this woman as she reached through and touched Jesus’ clothes. She was breaking the law that moment she touched Jesus. She made him ceremonially unclean but not Jesus because he was sinless and spotless. The devil will follow us, hold us, keep us back, hold us in our sin. The moment we step under the blood of the Lord Jesus you will follow those fears until you come to the one who will capture your fears for you. This woman was coming to the one who the religious leaders had turned people away from the synagogue for believing in him. You can imagine this woman’s fear. Maybe she was devout and religious. She thought if I do touch the Lord I am made whole.

A question that challenged this woman’s fears. The fears that this woman had were very great, very real because the complaint she suffered from restricted her movement not in physical realm but spiritual realm. She was ceremonially unclean. When she walked down the road everyone would get out of her way. Everybody had to move to one side, didn’t want to be associated with her. Everything she came into contact with, touched was unclean. Had to go through ceremony for 7 days. That would be OK for a day or 2 but for her it was 12 years. She was suffering mentally. Every doctors visit she made only made her word. Time and time again it failed. Maybe that would just describe you. Maybe you have tried to live a good life, tried to do the best you can, tried to break away from habits but nothing seems to work. Maybe you have tried and tried and maybe even tried to be saved and that has failed. Why would that fail? It is because you don’t come with an earnestness to seek the Lord with all your heart. When we come to the Lord for his salvation we need to be coming and so dependent on him. Sometimes we find that when you tell people to come to Christ, admit their sin and confess them, then accept the Lord Jesus as Saviour some people will in response turn away. A question that challenged her fears.

A question that brought confession about her feelings. Verse 33 "but the woman fearing and trembling knowing what was in her came and fell down before him and told him all the truth." She steps forth and makes her confession of faith. There is no such thing as back door confession. This woman had touched the Lord’s clothes, that moment she realised in her own body she was healed Jesus asked who touched me she had to admit it. The Bible tells us they all denied it. Not one was ready to speak out. She did it too. She then realised she had to confess what happened in her body. At that moment great glory was brought to the Lord. Remember Zacchaeus climbed the tree. A wealthy man, a rich man, prominence and power and probably hated too. He was sitting up in the tree – he didn’t want anyone to see him. Remember the man with the withered hand in the synagogue. The Lord called him forth and every eye was upon him that day. Maybe you are a secret disciple. There is a cost in coming to Christ. Think of Moses as he came down from the mountain and he heard a great noise in the camp of Israel. It was not the noise of worship or praise. People who had turned their backs on God of heaven. Moses said immediately “who is on the Lord’s side.” Can imagine the scene that day – a man stepping out from the back and confessing what sins he had committed. This woman exercised faith that day by owning up to what she had down. She confirmed her faith that day by one action. Not the size of this woman’s faith but rather the one she put her faith in. We have got to put our faith and trust in the finished work of Calvary. It means Christ first in your life.

A question concerning her future. Jesus said "who touched me?" This woman takes her stand – verse 34 “daughter thy faith hath made thee whole go in peace and be whole.” This was not a short term fix but something to last for a life-time. God offers you something that will stand for eternity. When you close your eyes in death God offers you something that will take you across the divide and take you into the presence of Christ. Only Jesus Christ can do that and he calls you to step forward tonight. Maybe you are looking away to Christ, long to be saved. God calls you to step forth. He made this woman own up. Will you own up to God’s salvation? Will you receive something from his hand that will stand for time and for eternity? God wants to save you , he wants to do a work in your heart and cleanse you. This woman was set you on her feet and she went back into her community and he can do the same for you too.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise!

Notes from a sermon on 20 November 2011

2 Peter 3 verses 1 – 9

Here in this verse the apostle Peter tells us something of the last days. “In the last days there will come scoffers” verse 3. Then he goes further – tells us what scoffers will be doing – ridiculing and undermining the great doctrine of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord is coming again one day for those who are part of the church. One day he will come to the air with the voice of the archangel, trump of God. The dead in Christ will rise first. Their bodies will rise to be reunited with the soul that has come with Christ. Then we which are alive and remain will be caught up in the air. They will ridicule this message, trying to put this message down. Surely God must have forgotten his promise. There are those who try to ridicule the word of God, robe us of the promise of God. Verse 9 we get a fourfold view of God dealing with the lost world, with lost sinners in particular. Verse 9 in response to the critics “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness but is long suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

The problem God accepts. God is accepting our problem, a problem that is universal. A man with leprosy came to Jesus and said “if thou wilt thou canst make me clean.” We have a problem inheritance claimed his life and soul. You and I are a perishing soul. God accepts that problem. 1 Corinthians 1 verse 13 “for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.” The moment born into this world lost in sin, had a nature that was perishing day by day. On one occasion certain people came to Jesus asked him a question. Tragedy in the area and much in their minds – talking about it still. People couldn’t understand why they had happened as the Lord was. On this particular occasion he was confronted with complaints, debates, questions. He challenged those asking the question the people put to death. Maybe these were terrible sinners. They thought men were working around a tower fell down 18 people fell in couldn’t’ understand why would God allow this to happen. Do you ever hear that today? Jesus turned to these men and said except ye repent ye shall also likewise perish. We have this problem – we are perishing. God accepted it from the very beginning. God who made first move in Garden of Eden. He called for Adam. He was hiding behind the tree. Why? Because for the first time realised sin had entered in, opened up that. Those realised they were naked because they knew this felt so embarrassed, sewed fig leaves together to hide their nakedness. God accepted the problem from the word go. God took animals took their skins and covered them. God could only cover them not themselves. God could do it. Sin makes us hide but God is seeking for us tonight. He sent our son into the world to seek and save that which are lost.

There’s the planning God has made. God has accepted man’s problem but he didn’t turn his back on it. God made a plan when God created this world. Created man gave him certain qualities raised him above the animal kingdom, he breathed into man and man became a living soul. He also gave him the ability to make decisions. God gave man on that particular day a free will, allowed him to exercise that free will. As the gospel goes forth seek to point you to Christ on the middle cross. You have got a free will, a choice to make the decision. The Holy Spirit speaks to your heart, you need a Saviour, shows you the need of your heart, brings you to that point and then stops. He allows you to exercise free will he has given. Satan gave Eve all sorts of promises – if you eat of this tree you will become as God. Eve exercised her will, reached forth and took the fruit and ate. Sin entered into the world. When it was offered to Adam he accepted it and took it and at of the fruit. God didn’t plan man’s sin in the Garden but he made provision for the remedy of their sin. Plan was Christ would come into the world, gave his life on the middle cross, shed his precious blood that he might be saved. We can see that plan materialised through out scripture. Exodus nation of earlier plague had been fulfilled Pharoah’s heart was hardened one more plague to go God told Moses the firstborn of Egypt some would die there is a remedy for sin take a lamb, its blood must be applied on the lintels of the doorposts when I see the blood there will be no harm coming on that home. The death of the lamb would redeem the firstborn of every family. See the plan of God fulfilled. When Abraham took his son and built his altar to God God asked him to take his son place him on the altar offer him as sacrifice. As he went out I am sure he went out with heavy heart. He built the altar took his son and placed him on the altar when all of a sudden God supplied the lamb caught in the thicket by the horns. Abraham was to take this lamb kill it put it on the altar instead of his son. God has taken your sin and mine placed it on the altar. The Lord Jesus died in your place and mine. This was God’s plan materialising. In the book of Leviticus Jewish family coming to the High Priest bringing lamb to the priest bringing it placing hand on its head lamb is killed and blood is shed confessing their sins transferring their sins to the lamb that lamb would die for them. When you come to the foot of the cross couldn’t understand it when we come to the Lord confessing our sins need him to come into our hearts and lives. Cannot understand it cannot imagine what happens as come to that place we realise he is taking our place. Only the lamb of God slain from the foundations of the world only he. That is God’s plan. That is the fourfold plan God made paln accepted he didn’t forsake it. Acts 17 the times of your ignorance God has winked at he has commanded all men to repent.

There is the passion that God reserves. Look at what God is saying. Not willing that any should perish. We can sit here consider tonight that God’s plan is for all to be saved. That is amazing. Somehow you think you are outside of God’s plan of salvation whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Him that cometh to me I will not cast out. Remember day of Calvary after beat him spat on him rejected him called him names. Had to carry his own cross to Golgotha. They nailed him to the cross, raised him up from the earth. Every joint in body would be pulled out of its position yet what did he say? Father forgive them for they don’t know what they are doing. Blinded by the God of this world. Even those men who beat the Lord punished him yet they could be forgiven – why – because of God’s plan of salvation. Such position in the heart of God not willing that any should perish. Remember the woman caught in the act of adultery. Leaders would have put her to death. Jesus said I don’t condemn you go and sin no more. Why – because she found mercy in the Lord. Remember the passion demonstrated in the parable of Jesus. Man made great feast sent out his servants invited everyone to come for all things were ready. Every appetite was catered for. It didn’t matter if had much or little or fussy – come now for things are now ready. What was the response? Luke 14 we have invited them but all began to make excuses. The master was grieved, let down. He said go quickly into the streets bring blind, maimed, halt. Still people turned their backs on him. The Lord when he gathered his disciples all around him sending them out into the world – go into all the world and preach the gospel in every quarter, area of the world, universal message for universal problem. Jesus saves to the uttermost.

The patience that God shows. Peter is answering a question here. Why has the Lord not come yet? The question has been asked. Has he forgot his promises, set it to one side? Peter says in verse 9 God is not slack, God is waiting for you to be saved. That was the answer. Maybe the Lord has delayed his coming tonight for one person – because you are not saved. If the Lord was to come tonight you would be lost and lost for all eternity. Maybe delayed because not saved he extends the invitation to you to come for all things are now ready. The exercise we make. Thank God he is patient he waits. Bible commentator tells story of a man who applied for a passport. You have to get photo taken. He did this but when the photo was handed to him he said “this is awful”. He asked the photographer could you do it up a bit ok I could sent it off but they didn’t accept it. They wanted the real photograph. We do that too. We want God to accept us. We try to do the best we can. Change all sorts of things. God just wants you to come just the way we are. Don’t make any more of it. Step out and accept Christ. He waits for you to come.

The voice of God

Notes from a sermon on Sunday 18 September 2011

Mark 1 verses 16 – 20

These are the first words of Christ’s earthly ministry. Mark cuts out any information about the birth of Christ and his earthly ministry. The call of God is going forth to these fishermen. Something of the voice of Jesus breaks the stillness of the morning here as they begin their days work. The tranquillity of the lake is broken up by something special - the voice of Christ. As we gather around the word of God, God is going to be heard. The voice of the Lord will be heard. God will speak to you tonight. Maybe you are not saved tonight, have never come to Calvary, taken eternal life as a gift from Christ, never taken him as substitute or Saviour. Are you still sitting in your sin, on your way out to a lost and Christless eternity? Maybe tonight as we gather here you have been saved for a number of years. God will speak significantly with you, share with you something as we look at these verses tonight. These words are not the initial call to the fishermen. This is the call to service.

It captured their minds. The voice of God first and foremost does that. This is the first point of contact. Your mind is opening up. How important the mind is tonight. The God of this world is preparing to blind your mind. He does that work himself. Have you heard the gospel invitation to your heart? Yet tonight you are still not saved. Never come to the foot of the cross, never known anything of saving grace in your life. On this particular occasion the voice of God penetrated through the normal exercises of the day. The men were caught up in the activity of fishing, waiting to see if fish would come into the net. Then all of a sudden the voice of Jesus broke into their lives. Maybe in the stillness of the meeting God is speaking to you preparing your heart already today. The call of God is something very special, do not take it for granted. Solomon was spoken to while in bed. Solomon’s mind was captured. Is there the slightest glimmer of God’s precious blood shed stirring to capture your heart and mind tonight? The Holy Spirit is already breaking through that guard you have been putting up tonight. The voice of God can leave you in your sin tonight if you keep rejecting him. God captured that young man’s mind and he rejected it. Remember Saul of Tarsus making his way from Damascus when God broke into his life. God spoke to him and he said “who art thou Lord?” He had an awful hatred against the Christians. He had one thought in his mind – to put every Christian into prison. God spoke to him. He recognised his voice. Remember Moses. He was minding the sheep when a burning bush stopped him. There and then God spoke to him. What is God doing to capture your mind? Jesus teaches us in the parable of the sower 2 things – need to be careful what we hear. It is a dangerous thing to listen to someone who comes against the message of the gospel. He will tells you that you are alright and that one day heaven will be open to you. Be careful what you hear but also be careful how you hear. You can be slipping in your attitude of hearing. God said in Genesis “my Spirit will not always strive with man.” God is biding you to come to him, wants to save you, bring you into his family. The voice of the Lord captured the fishermen’s minds – it got their attention!

The voice of the Lord challenged their will. The word became clear. What were they doing? They began to listen to it. These men were walking in the wrong direction, following after their own pursuits. The Lord was now directing them “come after me I have a purpose in life for you.” The Lord saw the direction they were going in. God called them to change their direction. It meant turning their backs on everything they knew. The Lord was calling them to a life, leaving everything else behind. It meant leaving behind their boats, friends and families. That is what it costs us. Salvation costs us. Leave past behind and come to Christ. The woman in John 4 once she trusts Christ everything changed. For her she met a prophet as she thought. She soon realised that he was none other than the Messiah. That day changed her life forever. She drank of something only Christ could give her. She was willing to leave her water pot for ever. No longer caught up in the sinful life she had been living. She became a new creature in Christ. Jesus talked about 2 ways that people are travelling on, destinations are so different, so varied in their ways. One way is broad. You see we are born into this world into this broad way and the end of it is death and destruction. There is a narrow way but it is so different. Only access is by faith in Christ Jesus. It leads to heaven and home. As you come to Christ you must believe in his atoning death. I challenge you tonight is that what you have got? The disciples were standing by the seaside and Jesus said “follow me”. They were ready to follow him. Are you ready to follow Christ tonight? To trust him as Saviour and Lord? What have you been doing with Christ since the day you trusted the Lord? Are you sitting on the fence right now? The Lord says to you “follow me”.

He concerns them with the future – verse 17.

He convinced their hearts to step out and follow the Lord – verse 18. Have you been convinced of who the Lord is? Have you left all? Take nothing. Are you convinced tonight that you need to be saved? That you can no longer sit on the fence? No longer stay as you are, that you need to be saved?

Nothing is too hard for God!

Notes from a sermon on 18 September 2011

Luke 7 verses 11 – 16

The widow woman of Nain and the raising of her son from the dead – a picture that there is nothing too hard for God. How God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we could ever ask or think. The resurrection of the dead. At times we have questions and doubts - is it really possible God could do this? Jeremiah 32 verses 26 and 27 “Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah saying, Behold I am the Lord, the God of all flesh, is there anything too hard for me?” 1 Corinthians 15 verse 39 “All flesh is not the same flesh but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, and another of fishes and another of birds.” Think of Balaam’s ass and how it spoke. That was a role reversal. The ass warned him of the danger he was in. God was in control of the lions in the den which Daniel was put into. He is the God of all flesh. He is also the God of impossibilities. In Jonah’s day a fish swallowed him up. When Jesus went to pay his taxes Peter goes down into sea shore and found a fish with a coin in his mouth. He brought it right to the place where he could catch it. He is the God of impossibilities. Remember when Jesus told Peter to go back out to sea when they had toiled all night and he caught 153 fish – amazing when you realise that is the exact number of varieties of fish in the world. God is also in control of the birds of the air. Elijah out by the side of the brook was fed by ravens. They brought him bread and meat both morning and evening. God was in control. God sent the bread. The God of all flesh. When it comes to man God breathed into man and “he came a living soul” (Genesis 2 verse 7). Think of Sarah who was barren. She was over 90 years of age when she gave birth to a child. Humanly speaking it was impossible. Jairus’ daughter was 12 years of age when God raised her back to life again. This man of Nain was a young man – verse 14. Lazarus was a man who had been buried for 4 days. All of these different people, different ages but all at different stages as regards their deaths. Jairus’ daughter had just died. The man of Nain was dead and on his way to the grave. Lazarus was already in the grave. No matter age or stage of life we might be in spiritual death but Christ can still give us life. God of impossibility can change your life and mine today.

Think of the compassion of the Saviour – verse 13. The trials this woman had gone through. Life was difficult. Many battles and struggles. She had already lost her husband and was now bereft of her son. He was probably the bread winner. Death brings loneliness and solemnity. She was left with no-one around. As the Lord comes into this city we notice this widow had many friends – verse 12. The compassion of the Lord. Doesn’t matter how many came to the funeral, it doesn’t lessen the grief of the mind or heart – broken by death. Jesus moving into the city can change the situation, give grace to cope. In verse 13 Luke tells us 3 wonderful things about Jesus – first his vision “and when the Lord saw her” he didn’t see the vast multitude of people, all that was going on but he saw her. When we think sometimes in our own lives not one cares about what situation I am in struggling in life no one really cares. Sometimes you go alone to the doctor and he doesn’t care either. That is also true when we have to remember this morning you and I are in the line of vision of God. God looks down and sees each one of us, knows what is going on in our lives. We read of Hagar Sarah’s maid. Abraham had made her pregnant but Hagar was driven out of the house. As a result she went out into the desert to a well. She was at the end of her tether. God comes to her and tells her to go back to Sarah. Hagar says “thou God seest me” (Genesis 16 verse 13). No matter what you are going through God sees you. God says to Moses “surely I have seen the affliction of my people” (Exodus 3 verse 7). You might say why does he wait then? God’s timing is always perfect. He sees this particular woman of Nain and has compassion on her. Her inward being is stirred. We read of that compassion on many occasions. He cared about people in the New Testament. It was a Samaritan who went to an injured man, dressed his wounds and helped him onto his donkey then took him to the nearest inn. He paid for his keep. He was moved with compassion (Luke 10 verse 33). God was moved with compassion before the foundation of the world. So moved he sent his only begotten son. It is the same compassion we read of in Luke 15. The father saw his son in the distance when he ran and kissed him. He fell on his knees before him. Can think of different people Jesus touched. Hebrews 5 verse 2 says he is touched with compassion. We are continually on his heart and mind. Jesus says in verse 13 “weep not”. Christ takes account of our tears. Psalmist says “put thou my tears into thy bottle” (Psalm 56 verse 8). Christ says to Jairus “weep not”. In Luke 23 when Jesus was going up Calvary’s mountain he said to the woman gathered about ”weep not for me but weep for yourselves and for your children.” Jesus saw the tears of this widow. He knew those were from his heart. She was broken, suffering because of the loss.

The condition she was in. In Hebrews 5 verse 7 we read “who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared.” The Psalmist said there will be an end to our tears – “weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning” (Psalm 30 verse 5). We cry about all sorts of things but one day they will be dried up. Christ can tell you not to weep today. He is the one who passed through death. He confronted everyone. He had power to deliver everything. His compassion, his vision, his communication. I suppose as we look at this situation we can see the touch of the masters hand. He touched the coffin. Let us never forget he tasted death for us. He lay in the grave for 3 days. He arose a victor. Hebrews 2 verse 15 “And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” They that bare him stood still. God is able to bring peace, to bring calm in the midst of the greatest difficulty in life. When he touched that coffin things were changed. God gives grace to his people in every situation. Hebrews 4 verse 16 says “come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

We see not his touch only but his triumphant command. Christ gives out great invitations to the physically alive people but somehow their ears are closed. Here is a man that is dead. Christ speaks and things happen. John 11 “Lazarus come forth And he that was dead came forth.” Some day Christ will come back to the earth and he will come back with a shout. Those that are dead will rise to the air. Will you be ready? “Be ye also ready for in such an hour as ye think not so shall the Lord also come.” Results of this demand – immediately the son sat up verse 15. Sign of life. That is amazing. Not only sat up but regained life. We are born dead in trespasses and in sin, separated spiritually but when we respond to the Lord he gives us life. John 10 verse 10 “I am come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” Death comes to us all. Christ has come to give us life. The young man also spoke up. Certainly evidence of a work of God in this mans life. Romans 10 verse 9 “if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Heart salvation is made evident. “If any man be in Christ … old things are passed away behold all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5 verse 17). Certainly this young man couldn’t deny what Christ has done for him. Christ delivered him to his mother. 1 Corinthians 15 “For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” Christ delivered him to his mother. There is still that need for motherly care today. The purpose of the church today is for that same reason.

The visitation of the sovereign verse 16 “and that God hath visited his people.” Realised this miracle is intended. A miracle of God. “there came a fear on them all.” Sometimes there is a reverence of fear of God. When he starts to work in a meeting the presence of God becomes a reality. People started to have a fear. There is a need for reverence for the presence of God. The things of God should render glory onto God for the things said and done. This should be evident in our lives. If God has saved our lives we should give him glory for that. If we ever lose the wonder of salvation and redemption of God we lose the presence of God in our lives. First mention of divine visitation in scriptures is Sarah. “The Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken” (Genesis 21 verse 1). Look at Hannah in 1 Samuel 2 verse 21 - not just one son but 3 more and 2 daughters. What was born became fruitful because God had moved into that situation. We never lose what we send or give to God when we open up our barrenness. God will make it become fruitful. God visited this city. this particular woman and her son and he brought his glory to that place. God can give new life to you today too. He can come and touch your life too.

The great invitation

Notes from a sermon on 4 September 2011

Isaiah 55 verses 1 – 13

The title over this chapter in the King James’ version is “The great invitation”. Verse 1 starts off with the words “Ho every one that thirsteth come ye to the waters and he that hath no money come ye, buy and eat, yea come buy wine and milk without money and without price. An invitation to a nation or a denomination? No it is an invitation by the God of heaven that is extended to you and I. God opens up his arms and bids you welcome into those arms for salvation. In Genesis 3 we see the fall that was brought about by the deception of Satan. We see the fall of man into sin and see the effects of that fall. “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world and death by sin, and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”(Romans 5 verse 12) Satan didn’t tell them death would come about when they ate of that fruit. He will keep you from your great need of salvation. He doesn’t mind you being religious, signing a petition in days gone by or have made a profession in a time past. God wants someone who will step out and accept his faith. Satan doesn’t want that. Sin brings forth death. That is what sin does. It brings forth a division. The word Paul uses here for death is a very special word. Speaks of two fold death. The moment we are born into the world we are separated from God. That is the spiritual death. Then there is a physical death when we come to the grave. Separated from God by sin. Eternal death when soul separated from God for all eternity. Awful thing to be in that situation. Notice that glorious invitation comes from God. He has made a way back to God from the dark paths of sin. He came into the world to be our judgement, to buy us back from that awful place to reconcile us back to his glorious presence. What a wonderful picture of God’s invitation of salvation.

It is glorious in its simplicity. Look what God is saying to the nation Israel. He is calling out to a people who are thirsty and hungry. He is biding them to come. He presents this invitation in the most simplest of forms and applies it to the needs of men. Man is hungry and has to be satisfied. He is craving after satisfaction. That is why so many are caught up in drugs, gambling, immoral life, trying to satisfy the longing of soul but can never be done. We cannot satisfy our souls. That was done by Christ when he died on the cross. It is only when we take that for ourselves that we are satisfied. The rich farmer was only concerned with the richness of the harvest. Thought of his own satisfaction. Everything I have, worked for. He began to think that he had everything he ever needed. Young man fit healthy looking down the line could retire at any time “for I have many goods laid up for many years.” He never thought of God’s salvation. He never thought for one moment that it was God who blessed the ground and gave him the harvest as well as health and strength. God did the growing of the seed and gave the man the ability to put it in the barns and build greater. That night God said “thou fool you have left me out.” Isn’t it awful to leave God out of the equation of our lives? When he gives us food on the table, roof over head, loving family gathered around us. You know we can do without God. We leave him out of the thinking. We make every decision for ourselves. We have left him out. Never consider for one moment the brevity of life even in youthful years. That he could be called away just like that. In Genesis 5 we read the story of Enoch and verse 22 tells us Methuselah died and Enoch began to walk with God. Is there something in your life that God uses to bring you to himself? Maybe you haven’t come to that point where ready to give the Lord your all? Maybe never had a crisis point in your life when you realised you were a sinner and needed to come to the Lord? Enoch had wonderful baby born into his home then he began to turn and walk with the Lord. Verse 24 “and Enoch was not for God took him”. There was a day when Enoch decided to walk with God and he continued to walk with God. One day people began to realise that Enoch was no longer with them, taken to be with God, translated into God’s presence. It happened so quickly. If the Lord came back at this moment in your life would others be taken and you remain? Because you haven’t put your trust and faith in Christ, haven’t come to trust and faith in Christ? Doesn’t ask you to do anything but to step out simply. This may be your final opportunity. Your life is a vapour and suddenly it is banished. The simplicity of getting saved is to come and trust the Lord as Saviour, to see him dying for you and the moment you cry out to the Lord “I have sinned I have come short of your glory I want to be saved” he will save you simply.

It is glorious in its scope. “For as in Adam all die even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”(1 Corinthians 15 verse 22) It is for all who will acknowledge their thirst and hunger. Only those who would realise the hunger in their belly, realise they are sinners. Wouldn’t it be an awful thing to die in your sins? “Where I am ye cannot come.” Wouldn’t it be awful to die in your sins, realise salvation was an arms length away? Greatest antidote for sin “he that cometh to me shall never hunger and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.” (John 6 verse 35) In Genesis 4 Abel brought a lamb as a sacrifice for his sins, Cain brought the fruit of the ground. God was pleased with the lamb Abel brought but with Cain he was angry and rejected. There was a spirit of bitterness came into his soul. God asked him why was he angry and then told him that sin lay at his door. Jesus says “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) Are you waiting to open the door and allow the Lord to come into your life?

It is glorious in its sufficiency. That is what Isaiah is referring to. Something that is sufficient to a nation that is standing in great need. To an individual trying to find something to satisfy themselves. The greatest need in your soul is something you can have. Here were a people seeking to buy something that wouldn’t last. Many are trying to earn as much as they can to merit God’s salvation. It is only by taking God’s gift of his Son that you can know sins forgiven. God’s redemption plan. Remember the woman at the well. Jesus offered her water that would mean she would never thirst again. These people in Isaiah’s day were working but were never satisfied.

It is glorious in its settlement. It satisfies the demands of a holy God. Accept Christ’s offer of salvation and you will be satisfied for time and eternity.

Trusting in the Lord at all times

Notes from a sermon on 4 September 2011

Judges 8 verses 1 – 12

In this portion of Scripture we find Gideon with 300 men following after him. This is really an outworking of Psalm 62 verse 8. In Judges 6 verse 11 we see a young man, Gideon, nothing special but God raised him up to do a great work for him. He was raised up to defeat the enemy. In chapter 7 verse 12 we see a great enemy coming against Gideon. Gideon could see them scattered over the valley below yet in verse 6 we read that Gideon’s men trusted in the Lord at all times. In chapter 7 verse 7 God told Gideon “By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you.” It was not by the multitude of 32,000 men he had before they were divided to reach the 300 men. Nor was it by their own ability or intelligence. Sometimes we get it wrong. We put our trust in people but let’s not do that. In chapter 8 verse 4 we read these men were “faint yet pursuing them”. They were tired yet were going to keep on. The battle had only begun. The battle does not finish the day and hour we get saved. It will continue until the day God takes us out of this world. When one battle is finished there is always another one starting. What of these 300 men?

It showed their condition. They had prepared themselves physically, mentally and spiritually for the battle before them. The battle was not over yet. Have we done what God has expected us to do? Is there something God has spoken to us and we have left it undone? God is challenging us about it or maybe we have done all God has asked us to do and now we feel weary, discouraged, cast down. These men were like that but yet willing to go on in the battle. C H Spurgeon the great Baptist preacher was given to great bouts of depression yet he was used of God to preach to thousands of people. He kept going on. He didn’t allow the enemy to put him out of the battle. Maybe there is something we need the victory over today. Remember Moses when he went up to the mountain. The Israelites were fighting a battle with the Amalekites in the valley. When Moses held his hands up the Israelites won the battle but when his hands grew tired and he held them down the enemy won the victory. Maybe you and I are growing weary in the place of prayer or witnessing. We need to keep going. These 300 men pursued the enemy to put them out of the land they had possessed. Today there is a battle. The devil is encroaching our land. People who have turned their back on God. We need to keep at it today. In John 4 we have the greatest example of weariness. Jesus came to the well of Samaria and rested. The Lord didn’t stop until he went to the cross of Calvary. He could have called a legion of angels at any time to take him back to heaven but in John 17 he said “I have finished the work that thou hast called me to do.” He finished the work of salvation that we might be saved. He paid the price of your sin in full. He could only redeem us from a lost and sinless hell. He grew weary but didn’t stop. Paul said “when I am weak then am I strong.”(2 Corinthians 12 verse 10) Elijah knew something of weakness and tiredness out in the wilderness. Maybe life’s battles have taken its toll on us and we cannot go any further. Three hundred men separated for God were weary and tired. It showed their condition.

It showed their courage. Imagine from the original 30,000 God had said they were too many and he couldn’t give the enemy into their hands because they would think it was their own ability rather than God’s. Those 30,000 were cut down to 10,000 and then to 300. God then says to Gideon that he has given the enemy into his hands. Imagine the courage of these 300 men. They saw the enemy in the valley, there were so many that they covered all the land. Sometimes we pray for courage and think God will take away all our fears but that is not necessarily true. God gives what strength we need to carry out the task he has for us. These men didn’t know what was around the corner but they knew the work was only half done and needed to be completed. There are many who need to hear God’s word today. What are we doing about it? God said he wanted to use this group of people that he might see souls saved for his kingdom. God spoke to Isaiah his prophet and said be of good courage. He challenged them and he strengthened them. “Behold your God will come with vengeance.”(Isaiah 35 verse 4) In the days of Elisha the enemy had come down to the mountains wanting to kill Elisha. The servant looked up to the mountains and saw the enemy all around. He said “alas master how shall we do this?” There were only 2 of them and he looked at the great host coming out against the 2 of them. Elisha puts his arm around him and tells him there are more with us than against us. No matter what fear you have, doubt you have there are far more with us because the God of heaven is with us. No matter what situation we find ourselves in God will use. Remember the Assyrian army when they came down to Jerusalem. Hezekiah came out and saw the host and his army as well. “Be strong and courageous be not afraid for there be more with us than with them.” The 300 men proved that. We need to prove that today too. We could ask for a multitude of people but that would not be right. Paul preached in the Corinthian city but not one person turned from their sins. He threw down his cloak and said that is it I am out of here. God came to him that night and said not to leave the city as he had many people for himself. Paul was about to give up yet God told him to keep on going. The moment they crossed the Jordan Gideon told them to come and pursue after the enemy. There are those who don’t want to be in the battle today. We need to get into the battle to see souls saved whether it be financially or practically. We need to be saying we are in this battle together.

It showed their confidence. They went in the strength of that verse. Here was God’s word. God had given them the victory and they were depending on it. Are we standing on God’s precious word today? Gideon sought the help of the men on the other side of the river and asked them to help him but that didn’t work. God would rather have one person standing on his word, obeying him, trusting in him. The little boy brought his loaves and fishes to Jesus. I am sure the people laughed at it. A meagre lunch held up to the Lord and asked to use. God fed almost 5000 people as a result. Someone might laugh at us today but God will use us.

It showed their crowning. They came back victorious. If they hadn’t gone into battle they wouldn’t have won it and gained a crown. If there are no battles there will be no victories and no crowns. Maybe you feel you cannot go on today – think of the promise of God to the man Gideon, look to the Lord today and trust him at all times. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not onto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3 verses 5 and 6)

Trust in the Lord at all times

My sermon notes from Sunday 28 August 2011 on Psalm 62

The Psalmist gives us wonderful advice in Psalm 62 verse 8 “trust in the Lord at all times.” We do not know what befalls us whether good or bad. What about you? Can you say like Nehemiah as he built the walls around Jerusalem, when his enemies wanted him to stop he told them “I am doing a great work, I cannot stop at this moment.”(Nehemiah 6 verse 3) Am I doing a great work today? Are we involved in a work of God? How are you to cope in this ever increasing distressing financial time? The Psalmist says “trust in the Lord at all times.”

A trust that is expressive. Some people’s relationship with God is based on faith not on works. When Paul writes to the Ephesians he says “for by grace are ye saved through faith.”(Ephesians 2 verse 8) When you come to the Lord you are exercising faith. He doesn’t take you because you are a good person. It is simply as a sinner that needs to be saved. The moment you leave your sins at the cross and in your heart say “I have sinned, I have come short of your glory, I don’t deserve a relationship with you”. What does God do? He takes us in faith and trust in the living God not because we are belonging to any church. In Hebrews 11 many of the great characters of God were known for their exploits for God. Everyone had failings and faults. They were not perfect by any means but they demonstrated their faith. It says repeatedly “by faith”. Nothing is done without faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”(Hebrews 11 verse 6) We need our faith exercised in the finished work of Calvary to praise God. We are trusting him to keep us in this position. Without faith it is impossible to please God. James says “even so faith if it hath not works is dead.”(James 2 verse 17) Faith must be seen. It was said of Abraham in Romans 4 “he staggered not at the promise of God.”(Romans 4 verse 20) Has God given you a promise lately? Is it a promise that will never be achieved in your lifetime? Abraham was told “I will give you a son” and he was a 100 years of age and yet he staggered not at that promise. That is the position that God wants us to be in. The Psalmist as a young lad minding his father’s sheep told him to go down and take some food to his brothers who were fighting the enemy. As David came he heard the giant crying out. David expressed his faith in God of heaven. He trusted in the God of heaven. He loved the God of heaven. He trusted in the living God. Are we expressing our faith today? The widow woman in the Old Testament had only enough food in her house to feed her son and herself for another day. Elijah landed at her door and asked her to help sustain him for the next couple of months. She explained her situation and Elijah told her to do as she had planned but first give him something to eat. The woman did as she was told. God promised her that the barrel would not cease nor the oil stop until rain came again to the land.(1 Kings 17 verse 16) Every day she got up and proved that. Are we trusting the Lord today?

A trust that is exclusive. “trust in him at all times.” God was speaking to the nation of Israel, a nation that had turned away from God. He tells them to trust in him at all times. Sometimes we can overlook the things we do trust in. Ultimately we are to look to the God of heaven. It is good to have someone you can sit down with and chat with, knowing you can depend on them. God warned the nation of Israel not to put faith in surrounding nations. It might have been handy for them to trust in people they could see rather than a God they couldn’t see but that is what God says we are to do. Moses at the shoreline of the Red Sea could see the great enemy coming behind him. God told Moses to stand still and see the salvation of God.(Exodus 14 verse 13) At that moment the sea divided and Moses stepped into it. Are you trusting God today? The Psalmist says in verse 10 don’t trust in riches “if riches increase set not your heart upon them”. The rich farmer in the gospels hadn’t enough barns to put the crop into so decided to pull them down and build bigger ones. 1 Kings 22 Jehoshaphat was a great king who ruled in the south of Israel. Ahab was ruling in the north and asked Jehoshaphat to enter a pact to fight in a battle together. Jehoshaphat asked Ahab if he had a word from God that this was the right way to proceed. He realised that Ahab was not trusting in God and the battle was not theirs to fight. David went in to meet Goliath with the equipment Saul had given him. With all that armour David knew he was trusting in it to help him but he wanted to stand as a warrior before God. Is there a problem or difficulty you have? Something you cannot face today? How are you going to face it without trusting in the Lord?

A trust that is enduring – “at all times”. Not just for the big things. It is easy to trust God for the big things but what about the small things too? No-one had more experience than David to offer this advice. David was pursued like an animal. Saul threatened to kill him. He sought him in the wilderness, in the desert and in caves. He only wanted one thing – to get rid of David but David trusted in God at all times. He knew what it was to lie out under the skies at night. When his family would turn against him and Absalom his own son turned half of the nation against Israel. David knew what problems were. No-one can give better advice than David. He knew what it was like to trust in the God of heaven through those times. Remember when his servants came down and said “your son is dead”. They didn’t know how to tell him that news. They thought it would put him over the edge. David said “he cannot come to me but I can go to him.” Why? Because he was trusting in the God of heaven. Where is our trust today? Paul and Silas preached the word at Philippi. They saw a tremendous work done but the next thing they were lying in a prison house. Were they feeling down trodden or defeated? Not a bit of it. At midnight they lifted up their voices and sang praises to God of heaven. Is that what you are doing today? Is that the context today? Not in your own ability. Not in someone else? Just the God of heaven to take you through the dark time?