Choosing whom to serve

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 29 January 2012

JOSHUA 24 VERSE 15

“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house will serve the Lord.”

The background to this verse is the fact that this is being spoken by Joshua to the children of Israel who had been brought out of Egypt.  In Exodus 12 Moses had brought them out and led them through the wilderness but it was not his task to bring them into the Promised Land – that was Joshua’s task.  He brought them across into Canaan.  Now he is an elderly man but there is much yet to be reached in this land, to put out the enemy and settle them as God’s people.  Joshua is giving them the lead as he gathers them, reminds them of how God has redeemed them. Joshua makes this challenge – you have to choose now that you are going into the land.  I wonder tonight have you ever made that decision?  Can you stand in this meeting and say “as for me”?  Can you make that declaration in this meeting before you go out?  A choice to be made tonight.  Joshua is challenging them to make the choice.  A choice that you and I must make just as the people of Israel did on that particular day.  You have to make that choice - whether you will close in with God’s offer of mercy or whether you will go out the same way you came in, unsaved, unreached or else you will come in to God’s mercy. 

This was a personal choice.  Notice the language Joshua uses “choose you this day whom ye will serve”.  It is all singular.  What was at stake – verses 17 and 18.  God has been so good to them.  If they turned away then evil would follow them.  Joshua realised the responsibility he had, he knew what was at stake.  Do you realise what is at stake tonight?  The soul that is within you.  All eternity is at stake.  Awaits for the decision that you will make.  Isn’t it awful to make that decision?  Moses set before the people in his day.  I set before you this day, a way of blessing or a way of cursing.  There is a choice to be made.  What choice will you make?  Has God spoken into your life lately?  He is asking you to choose.  No one can make that decision for you.  Pilate as stood before Christ on that day listened to the crowd.  He was listening to the people and looking to Christ.  His heart was being torn out of his bosom.  What shall I do?  Joshua said “as for me”.  What are you going to do tonight?  A personal choice.

A parental choice.  Joshua said “as for me and my house.”  The choice that Joshua is going to make on this particular day would influence his family.  Parents were going to make a choice.  No doubt would affect that family.  Joshua said “as for me and my house”.  To serve the Lord would bring blessing into his home.  Maybe as parent God wants a way into your home tonight, wants you to do that.  Exodus 12 down in Egypt at the Passover night a choice that was made which would affect the home.  Moses brought the choice.  Firstborn in every family would die.  Imagine mother or father in that home would take a lamb, put it to death, take the blood and put it on the door posts.  Would affect the home.  Tthe firstborn would be saved.  The parental choice that night.  Moses asking a father are you going to paint the blood on the door?  A father would have thought of his firstborn son rushed out taken that basin of blood and painted the door.  Maybe God is looking into your home and wants you to be the vessel.  A parental choice.  Remember Cornelius in Acts 10 and 11.  Peter was sent for.  The instructions he was given – “he will tell you words whereby you might be saved and all your house.”  Leadership in the home.  The Philippian jailer rushed in to Paul and Silas  and asked “what must I do to be saved?”  God wants to come into your house that he might do a work of God in your home – will you let him? 

Profitable choice not financially but spiritually.  Would bring the blessing of God into his heart, into his home, into his nation.  What about it for you?  The choice is yours tonight.  You are the only one who can make it.

A precious choice.  Imagine standing at the throne of grace before God and your family all with you.  Are you trying to win them, bring them to Christ?  Will you come to the one who gave his life for you?  The one who can save your soul tonight?

The vineyard parable

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 29 January 2012

Matthew 21 verses 28 – 32

When we turn to Matthew’s gospel we are looking at another parable.  We took the theme of a parable last Sunday morning – the sower.  The man who went out to sow his seed in the ground and the types of ground the seed fell into.  One that was manifested was the thorny ground – representing the cares, riches and lusts of other things.  They are in our hearts to choke the good seed of the word of God today. 

We turn to another parable, stems from a dispute read of in the early part of the chapter.  The Pharisees and Jews had challenged Jesus of his authority – verses 23 and 24.  Jesus was vague in his answer for a reason – verse 25.  He wants to bring these people to that place where they are thinking, asking them a question.  He answered their question with a question.  It is to provoke them into thinking.  The Pharisees were not a bit slow, they tried to avoid the question.  There are things that we are trying to avoid in the word of God.  Maybe God has been speaking to us in our lives that are not clear cut.  God is perhaps giving us a question in answer to our questions to him.  Verse 25 “the baptism of John whence was it? from heaven or of man.”  They began to think about that, we need to watch ourselves here.  If we say “from heaven he will say unto us, why did ye not then believe him? but if we shall say of men we fear the people for all hold John as a prophet.”  Jesus brought them to that place of thinking.  This parable we have read is primarily to the Jewish nation.  They didn’t believe that he was the Messiah nor that he had come into the world to seek and to save the lost.  They professed with their lips.  Isaiah foretold this of old.  “Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their hearts far from me.” (Isaiah 29 verse 13)  We need to be careful.  We can sing the words to God, bring glory with all the energy our lips could produce but our hearts could be far from God.  Notice how Jesus opens up this parable – verse 28 “but what think ye?”  He made the Pharisees think but now wants others to think.  That is you and I included.  Doesn’t want us to sit and idle away the time but rather to think.  The first thing the parable teaches here …

Look at the relationship that is set forth in it.  “A certain man had 2 sons and he came to the first and said go work today in my vineyard” verse 28.  Then in verse 30 “and he came to the second and said likewise.”  He is a father and has 2 sons.  He has a relationship with them.  They are in communication with each other.  Is that your relationship with God today?  As sit down before God of heaven in prayer can he speak to me?  Is that the relationship I have with God today?  Is he your heavenly father?  The mistake is made, grave mistake, a serious consequences that will last for all eternity - that we are all the children of God.  That is the mistake that is made.  The Lord at one particular time in his ministry said to the Pharisees “ye are of your father the devil.” (John 8 verse 44)  There was only one way they could come into the family of God.  That is if they were to be adopted.  When we come into this world we come into a family but if for some reason did not want to remain there something had to happen, someone had to adopt me into their family by means of a legal document.  We are born into this world, into the family of devil, born with a nature of sin in our hearts.  Something has to happen, we have got to be adopted into the family of God.  The only way is by coming and put faith in Christ.  That is the simple way of salvation.  We are not all the children of God.  Only way to become a Christian is to be adopted into God’s family.  Only way was by Jesus’ shed blood.  Paying that legal right through his blood.  God is our heavenly father.  Acts 17 “for in him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17 verses 28)  In that sense he is our father of all mankind because he is the great creator.  Paul speaks also of the work of Christ on the cross.  Need to grasp this carefully.  When the Lord was dying on the cross, he was dying to save all men.  In that light he is the Saviour of all mankind.  That does not mean all men are going to be saved.  God is not willing that any should perish.  Not in God’s heart that we should perish but rather come to repentance.  Does not mean that all are going to be saved.  Paul wrote to Timothy “for therefore we both labour and suffer reproach because we trust in the living God who is the Saviour of all men.” (1 Timothy 4 verse 10)  Does that not prove we are all Christians on way to heaven and home?  Listen to who he qualifies it “specially of those that believe.”  Potentially we can be all saved but only those who trust the Lord as Saviour.  We need to be careful that is the relationship.  Is he your heavenly father today?  The one that Jesus came to reconcile you to today?

There is the request that is made.  This father had 2 sons and he made a great request to them.  He would do all for them.  Can God come to you and I this morning, trust us this morning to share something of his work with us?  When he was about to pass judgement on Sodom and Gomorroh he came down into Abraham’s presence.  “Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do?” (Genesis 18 verse 17)  He could trust him enough to share it with him.  Abraham began to get on his knees and started to pray.  Why?  Because he had a family in Sodom and he didn’t want to see them perish.  There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun today.  The request that was made.  The father said to the son “go work today in my vineyard.”  This was a family business, wants to see it go on and prosper.  Speaks to his sons about that.  Has the work of the vineyard at heart.  Asks them to go and work for him.  The God of heaven has such a love for every person in this world today.  John 3 verse 16 that which brought the Lord into this world was the love in his father’s heart for sinful man.  He is depending on you and I today.  To see that work completed today.  Go into my vineyard and work is his word to us today.  When Jesus left this world he gathered a handful of people around him “go ye into all the world and preach the gospel.”  Jesus knew the benefits of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Are you living in the light of that work?  Are we doing what we can to reach neighbours, friends, loved ones to bring them under the sound of God’s gospel, to work in his vineyard?  When you are saved we have a work for Christ to do that only we can do it.  God calls us to work in his vineyard today.  In Matthew chapter 20 we see a place of employment and the varied work that has to be done.  The hiring of the labourers.  In verse 6 we see something that annoys the masters heart – he sees people standing around all day and they are idle, they do not want to work.  He asks them “why stand ye here all the day idle.”  The vineyard is the church of Jesus Christ.  There is a work to be done in the vineyard.    This man came to his sons - only his children can do the work.  Only God’s children can do his work today.  In Matthew chapter 21 verse 33 see something in the vineyard – tells us here another parable.  “A certain householder which planted a vineyard, hedged it around about, and digged a winepress in it and built a tower and let it out to husbandmen and went into a far country.”  There were trees in the vineyard that had to bear fruit.  Vines are plentiful.  The hedge needs to be maintained.  There are things that need to be pruned in our lives.  The fruit needs to come into our lives.  Is there any holes in the hedge?  Places where we are allowing the devil to get in.  We need to keep hedges maintained.  The old enemy would seek to get in.  The grapes have to be gathered into the winepress and pressed so that the juice might flow out.  Are we gathering in souls to hear the word of God?  The tower built in the midst of the vineyard.  2 men will go up and look for the little foxes that might get in.  It is the foxes that spoil the vine.  We need to be careful.  Little things don’t get into our lives to spoil the vine.  The devil will get in and spoil things in our lives.  Is there a work has for us?  God likens the false prophets of Ezekiel’s day to little foxes. (Ezekiel 13 verse 4)  We need to ensure these don’t get into God’s word.  Jesus wants us to work when it is day for “the night cometh when no man can work.” (John 9 verse 4)  The day of our opportunity will have been gone.  We might have poor health and strength one day.  There are things today we can do.  We can share a word with someone, sharing the gospel needs to be passed on.  Father says to the son you go and do it.  Notice the urgency of it.   God says to us today – go work today in my vineyard.

The reluctance that he met.  The son said “I will” in response to his fathers request to work in the vineyard that day but he didn’t go.  There was reluctance here.  “I will go”.  The other said “I will not go”.  Maybe that is exactly where we are at today.  There is reluctance in the heart.  This young man had a regret.  Like the prodigal – he started to think about it.  Maybe we have said in the past no and he says to us “come” today.  Isn’t it wonderful he is so merciful.  That he would ask us yet again.  Are we really asking God to do business in this place?  To really pour out his spirit, not on the Pastor but you and I, together in this house of God, that we will come into this place with our hearts on fire for God, filled with the Holy Spirit.  We have noted a relationship, a request, a reluctance and a regret.  It all adds up to what you and I will do for God.  Will you go through with God?  Time to put the past behind you, to stand up and be identified with God?

The nature of being born again

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 22 January 2012

1 Peter 1 verses 23 – 25

Last Sunday night we were dealing with the tremendous subject “ye must be born again.”  Thinking of Nicodemus, an upright man, lived as good a life as he possibly could, he came through the shadows of the night right to the feet of Jesus.  He began to talk.  He took away all the religious garb he was dressed in.  If ever you want to be in heaven you must be born again, must have been astonished at that saying.  He was probably asking himself “do you not realise who I am, the position I am in, the standing I have in the community?”  Amazed, astonished at what the Lord said.  The Lord said “marvel not that I say unto you ye must be born again.”  A tremendous statement.  The notion of being born again as a subject.  When we come to Peter we find the nature of being born again.  He looks to the precious word of God, as the seed is planted in the heart.

First thing about the word of God in act of bringing men to Christ - there is an awareness that the act brings to us.  Reveals to us where we are, what we need, where we are going.  Remember the woman in John 4.  It was said of Jesus “he must needs go through Samaria” – why – there was a woman there that needed to be saved.  Thank God he is the same Saviour.  The Lord is still willing to save as he was that day in Samaria.  As this woman came to him she came out in the middle of the day.  She was going to draw from the well.  There was someone sitting there.  Jesus was tired from his journeys.  Little did she know he was the Lord.  He revealed to her what she was, exactly what she needed.  The sinner going to a lost and Christless hell.  Water that she might drink of and never thirst again.  The light of God’s person in his son revealed to the woman.  The word makes us aware tonight.  Saul had tremendous faith.  Philippians 2 will tell you of his faith – of the tribe of Benjamin, Pharisee of the Pharisees, member of the Sanhedrin, had much going for him.  That day when he left Jerusalem to go to Damascus the Lord met with him, brought him to his knees.  The Lord revealed to him what he really was.  As that religious man came to the dust of the midday he felt he was the chief of sinners.  He was doing the best he could to get to heaven.  Maybe you could be doing the best you can.  You have a great faith.  Tremendous faith could be in your church, in your minister, good deeds you are doing, never do anyone any harm.  That could be where faith is.  The wrong foundation for your faith.  It will not take you to heaven but the caverns of the damned.  Faith needs to be placed in Christ who came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost.  Your best will not be good enough for heaven.  If your best was good enough the Lord would never have come into this world to save your soul.

The authority the word provides.  God’s word is a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces.  It can filter in your soul, you can leave never thinking about this word but some day in some place it will break into your heart.  Peter says ye were  born again not of corruptible seed … the gospel you are saved by the word of God.  It is quick shaper than any two edged sword.  Psalm 19 verse 7 “the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul.”  You cannot be saved without the word of God.  “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”  Peter was summoned to the house of Cornelius in Acts 10 where all his family were gathered around him.  Peter begins to teach them about the Lord Jesus Christ, takes him right through his life to the point where he is now in heaven beside his father.  The Holy Spirit came and broke into that meeting.  The authority of the word of God.  It was only through that authority that the house was built.

The acceptance of the word – verse 23.  Proverbs 30 verse 5 “every word of God is pure.”  The only part we have in God’s salvation is that we receive what God says about it.  This word tells me because of what happened in Genesis 3 I have taken on that sinful nature.  Only way to be free of it is to be born again of the word of God.  The woman was saved because she accepted the word told unto her by Jesus.  Zacchaeus was saved because he accepted the word.  You have to accept the word of God today.  The thief on the cross beside the Lord in his final moments called out “remember me Lord.”  Trusted on what the Lord said to him.  The Lord turned to him and said “today thou shalt be with me in paradise.”

The assurance the word carries.  We are born again of incorruptible seed.  The word of God is pure convicting the soul. The word of God comes to you as a challenge.  What have you done with Jesus Christ? Have you taken him as Saviour?  Why not come and accept Christ as Saviour and Lord?  To be on your way to heaven and home or lost on your way to a Christless hell?

Ye must be born again

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 15 January 2012

John 3 verses 1 – 17

John chapter 3 is one of the most well known of all the encounters read in the Bible.  Everyone knows about this man called Nicodemus and how he made his way to the feet of the Lord.  He comes by night and there have been many reasons why he did that.  Sometimes people say fear might keep you back – fear of family, neighbours, work colleagues could do that.  Maybe he wanted an uninterrupted meeting with Christ and the best time was at night.  Jesus told him “ye must be born again.”  This is the most important verse in the word of God.  It is the greatest experience of any person.  You must be born again.  Acknowledge you are a sinner before Christ.  That old things have to pass away and the new must begin.  Jesus said “marvel not ye must be born again.” 

The seriousness of this statement.  This is God’s own son sent down into the world that he might die on the cross of Calvary, might make a way from the dark paths of sin.  Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve broke God’s command in the Garden of Eden he has been on way out into lost Christless eternity.  God made a remedy for man.  It all begins at Calvary.  He became obedient unto his heavenly father.  John 19 “I have finished the work thou hast gave me to do.”  Make a way back to God.  To reconcile mankind unto God.  The Lord wants to do that for you tonight, that you might step out and trust him.  Turn to him.  Turn from everything that is dear to you.  Realising that you need Christ.  You have been blinded by Satan.  Came from the lips of God’s own son.  He says to you if ever you wanted to be in heaven ye must be born again.  Born once into this world.  You have to now been born again in the spiritual nature.   This is serious.  Seriousness of this subject within that bosom.  That soul will leave that body of yours, will go out into one of 2 places.  George Whitfield speaking to large crowd when a lady said to him “do you not realise who I am?”  Whitfield turned around “there is coming a day when it will not matter just who you are.”  Jesus was speaking to one of the richest, most influential man in israel.  The Lord said to him “ye must be born again.”  Good master we know that thou art a teacher come from God.  Confessing so much know you are a teacher come from God.  The Lord spoke to him not about his teachings or miracles, he got to the crux of the problem.  He needed to be born again.  I know that one day you must leave this scene of time.  One day the last breath will be taken by you.  That soul must leave and go out into eternity.  It is appointed unto man once to die and after that the judgment.  The seriousness of this message.  The God of heaven will not ask you what denomination you belong to on earth but will ask you what you did with His son.

The scope of the Saviour.  Except a man be born again.  That coverse everyone.  Man’s problem is that he has been born physically with a nature that is sinful towards God.  Isaiah said there was a way between his people and their God.  There is a way – the way of sin.  Paul said in Ephesians 2 verse 3 “By nature you and I are the children of wrath.”  We have been born into a world as sinners.  Because of that the wrath of God is upon us. Thank God he has sent his son to take that judgment on himself.  The judgment of a lost sinners hell.  He took every sin and my judgment and laid it on himself.  We have been born in sin, come under condemnation and judgment of God.  He that believeth not on him is not condemned.  There is no condemnation for the child of God but he that believeth not is condemned already.  Paul in Romans proves extent of man’s great problem “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  Isaiah said “all we like sheep have gone astray.”  The scope of the Saviour is everyone in the world is.  His great love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  Jesus laid his life for the sins of the whole mankind.  The way to heaven is the same to all – “I am the way the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by me.  Riches for religious man Nicodemus led the prayers on the Sabbath day in the synagogue.  The thief hanging on the cross this remedy for sin.  Thief who railed accusations against the Lord on the brink of eternity turned his eyes to Christ.  “This man has done nothing amiss Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.”  He realised he was the king of that next kingdom.  Jesus said “today thou shalt be with me in paradise.”  The scope of the Saviour.  Do you know that Christ as your own?

The secrecy of the subject – verse 8.  It is dependent on the Holy Spirit.  The wind bloweth where it listeth.  That is the great secrecy around being born again of the Spirit of God.  What actually happens.  God breaks the power of cancelled sin.  The alcoholic can never really understand that power.  Drugs dependent cannot imagine power setting them free.  We cannot tell how it happens but we know it happens.  The wind blows but you cannot see it or tell where it comes from.  The secrecy about it.  On the day of Pentecost Peter stood and preached the word of God.  The Holy Spirit convicted men and women on that day.  Not one could say how it happened but knew it had happened.  You will know when it happens in your life when you come to Christ and trust him as Saviour.

The simplicity of the subject.  “Ye must be born again”  “We are not born again of corruptible things such as silver or gold.”  We do not have to devise a plan to gather up enough to claim the merits of God’s saving grace.  You simply come to Christ.  Simplicity about it.  Come as a child.  The disciples asked the question one day “who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”  Jesus brought a child into their midst and said “except you be converted and come as this little child.”  A simple subject – “ye must be born again”.  Nothing difficult about it.  In Exodus 12 the children of Israel were down in Egypt.  Plagues affected their lives until the last one came.  God told Moses and Aaron to go in and speak to Pharoah but he hardened his heart.  God told them there would be one last plague.  The people had to take a lamb, put it to death and take the blood and put it on the door posts.  At midnight when God came to visit his people and when he saw the blood on the doorposts he would pass over but if not the firstborn in the family would die.  The simplicity of being born again.  Come to the Lamb of God the Lord Jesus Christ.  Apply it to your lives – “behold I stand at the door and know, if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in and will sup with him.”  He wants to come in, save you, take away your sin and make sure you are ready for heaven and home.

Continue on in the work of the Lord!

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 15 January 2012

Acts 15 verses 36 – Acts 16 verse 4, 1 Corinthians 15 verse 58

Text: “Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.” verse 58

Paul was writing to this group here in Corinth who had known many problems and difficulties and has this word of exhortation for them.  The days might be dark but I have one word for you “be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.”  In Acts 15 Paul was about to go off on another missionary journey.  He and Barnabas had talked together about the believers in the various places they had visited.  We need to revisit “every city where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.”  John Mark was there and Barnabas wanted to take him with them.  Paul said no.  We sometimes say division is a bad thing but here we see it is not always such a bad thing.  John Mark had made a decision early on that he didn’t want to go into the work but Barnabas wanted to encourage him.  Paul had the work of God on his mind and he says that to the Corinthian church.

Paul speaks of the concerns for the work of God.  “Therefore”, one of the old preachers wrote many years ago that when you see that word you should always ask yourself “what is it there for?”  It is there to tell us something.  Paul on this occasion wants to illuminate the work of God and our attitude to it.  Paul says here we ought to be steadfast.  He spoke of his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11.  He told the believers how he had been shipwrecked.  He was not telling them that he might gain sympathy but rather answering those who said he was an apostate, not a true man of God.  He opens himself up to the people.  On one occasion he was shipwrecked, another time he was stoned to death, he was beaten, accused of all sorts of things, ridiculed, people turned their backs on him.  This was the man who could take the word of God and encourage us to continue in the work of God.  “Besides those things” Paul says sufferings, pain, loneliness, shipwrecked, beatings, stoned, ridiculed “that which cometh upon me daily the care of all the churches.”(verse 28)  Do we care for the work of God?  Do we think of the work of God from this Sunday to the next?  Do we care for the one who sat beside us in church?  For someone who is going through difficult, lonely times?  That is what Paul is getting at.  All the care that comes on my shoulders for the work of God.  At Miletus in Ephesus Paul talked to the elders, he had one concern on his heart and he told them that ravenous wolves will come in.  At one time they set aside all the books of witchcraft, brought them into the city centre and burned them (Acts 19 verse 19).  It was an open declaration that they were turning away from the past and turning to Christ in faith.  Is there something we are holding onto in our past that we need to let go of?  It is wonderful when God comes to us in faith.  We need to turn to him.  The Holy Spirit shows we need to turn to him, turn from the past and move with God.  When we come around the Lord’s table we are thinking of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ, that body smote in Pilate’s hall, that blood shed for us as a ransom for our sins.  That is what Christ had done.  Paul feels for the elders in Ephesus.  There would be those in the centre of the fellowship that would lead the people astray, take them from the truth of God’s word.  He said to the Thessalonians “when we could no longer forebear we thought it good to be left at Athens alone and sent Timotheus … to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith.” (1 Thessalonians 3 verse 1 and 2)  He has the care of the work of God on his heart.  He doesn’t want anything to hinder it, is so caring for it.  When I could hold back no longer I sent Timothy to find out what was happening in your fellowship.  He was afraid the devil would get into this group.  The devil would love to pull apart the fellowship, to bring about divisions into the work of God.  That is why we have to be careful.  Do you have concern for the work of God?  Not to be the biggest or richest, that we are so concerned that this little one will reach out. that man or woman boys or girls will be saved.  Nothing else matters in this old world because of the fact that Jesus is coming again.  We need to have concern for the work of God.

Paul is specifying a combined work.  Paul is writing to “brethren”.  Not elders or deacons or pastors.  That is you and I.  We are in the family of God.  If we are born again of the Spirit of God Paul is laying the responsibility on every child of God.  God’s word is for every Christian.  Paul is writing to a church where there is division and factions – look at 1 Corinthians chapters 1 and 3.  Everyone of us are to be full time workers for the Lord.  We all have to be involved not just the leaders.  Doesn’t matter how young or old, what gender we are.  There is a work God wants us to do.   Are we concerned about him?  He writes to Timothy after leaving him in Ephesus “let no man despise thy youth.” (1 Timothy 4 verse 12)  He had great responsibility in leading the church even though he was a young man.  Anna and Simeon were at the other end of the scale being well on in years.  It was said of Anna “she departed not from the temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day” (Luke 2 verse 37).  There is a ministry for all of God’s people.  No such thing as retirement in the work of God.  Never get to state of redundancy.  Paul says you keep at it.  Husbands and wives there is a work in partnership in the house of God.  There is a work for the men and women in the house of God – Philippians 4 verse 3.  There is something God wants done on this earth and if you don’t do it it will be still left undone. 

Paul pleads in this verse for a commitment to the work.  Paul is pleading for a dedication to the work of God.  Nothing keeps us steadfast as determined to do a work.  That is the determination we need in the work of God.  To not grow tired of what we are doing.  That is the thought here.  Maybe there is a feeling we haven’t got a freshness any more.  Paul says don’t let that put you off in doing a work for God.  Galatians 6 verse 9.  Go back to Nehemiah’s day.  He was rebuilding the walls in Jerusalem.  The moment he came down and started to build the enemy came in.  The enemy tried to discourage and put him down when he wasn’t expecting it.  Nehemiah’s response was “I am doing a great work.”  He kept at it.  He was dedicated to it.  In Acts the early preachers were arrested for preaching the work of God.  They stood up and said to the leaders gathered around them that day “we ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5 verse 29)  People will try and stop you from speaking.  You will be ridiculed, criticised for it but it is better to obey God than obey man.  Psalm 1 who is the man who is blessed – not the one walking in the counsel of the ungodly, sitting in the seat of scorners but rather he is meditating day and night like a tree planted by the riverside.  Are we steadfast in the things of God?  Is God in your mind when you consider what you can do?

The caution Paul speaks of – “unmoveable”.  Something that is unmoveable is something that is not for shifting.  Imagine the statue in some of the cities – unmoving upon its base.  That is how you should be.  James talks of the double minded man who “is unstable in all his ways.” (James 1 verse 8)  The challenges that come in the work of God – there will always be something to try and shift us.  We need to be careful.  Nehemiah – the enemy thought if they could only move him to a village then he might lose interest, might give up the battle.  Nehemiah looked at the work he was doing and then looked up to the heavens and said “this is the work God has put in my soul and I am going to stick at it, I will not be moved.”  Wouldn’t it be awful if the devil got into your life?  If you have a grievance in your heart the devil can use that, can blow it up, take it out of all context it is in and he can make it as a sure thing.  You can blame everyone around you but the only one at fault is you. 

Paul encourages them to continue in the work – “always abounding”.

There is a crown for the work – “your labour is not in vain.”

There is an enemy who will try to bring you down but keep continuing in the work, going on with God.  Thank God there is a crown at the end of the day.

A new creature in Christ

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 8 January 2012

2 Corinthians 5 verse 17

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

This text reminds us what we become when we put our faith and trust in God – He makes us a new creature.  He does not simply dust us down but helps us along the way.  He makes us a new creature, the old things we used to enjoy are removed from us.  The things we meet are the things that God brings along our pathway.  Take 3 words from this text:

“if” speaks of a great possibility

“in” speaks of a glorious position

“new” speaks of a gracious provision.

The great possibility.  The apostle Paul is writing “therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature.”  Possibility is that each and every one of us might be saved.  “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”(Acts 2 verse 21)  The tragedy is that if we are not saved then we are on the way to a Christless and lost eternity.  The Lord said “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6 verse 37)  Doesn’t matter who he is, no one is excluded here because the apostle Paul is making a great assumption.  What are the qualifications for any man to get saved, to be a new creature in Christ?  Ephesians 1 verse 13 “after that ye heard the word of truth … ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.”  Firstly must hear the word.  That is the most important message you can hear in your life.  “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10 verse 17)  The one who left heaven’s glory, he took upon himself the form of a servant and accepted death even death on a cross.  “If it be possible let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26 verse 39) he said.  It was only according to the fathers will.  That is why Christ died on the cross.  He came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost.  No other way but to die on the cross of Calvary.  Paul said first of all with your heart then you believe there comes an exercise after you hear the gospel.  That is to believe what you have heard, to believe and put your trust in Christ.  Heard, trust and then you were sealed with the Holy Ghost.  What do you hear when you hear the gospel – your need of salvation, dependence, trusting, believing, coming.  That is what you hear.  Jesus says “repent and believe the gospel.”  There has to be a turning away from sin.  That is what it means to repent, have a sense of assurance in your heart.  In John 5 we see a man lying at the pool of Bethsaida for 30 years.  He had been there waiting for the waters to stir.  The first person who went into the waters after the stirring would be healed.  Every time it happened he couldn’t get in.  The Lord spoke to him and healed him.  He met him again in the temple.  “Sin no more lest a worse thing come unto thee” Jesus told him.  Remember the woman taken in the act of adultery.  The law said she should be stoned.  Jesus asked “let him that is without sin cast the first stone.”  They all edged away because they knew they had all sinned.  He turned to the woman and said “go and sin no more.”  In John 4 the woman at the well brought her water pot out to where Jesus was sitting.  She was living in a wrong relationship.  That day she met Christ and left her water pot behind.  She was making a clean break.  It is important to hear the word of God.  A message of repentance, a message of the cross, of coming in childlike faith and trusting in Christ.  Have you ever done that?

Notice a glorious position.  “If any man be in Christ” no one can take up this position of his own accord.  It was only taken up by means of baptism not water baptism but the Holy Spirit.  1 Corinthians 12 verse 13 “for by one spirit are we all baptised into one body” we have to be baptised into the body – why – “because by nature we were sinners.”  By nature I am a sinner.  The moment I was converted I was a sinner because I was born in sin, shapen in iniquity.  Heaven’s door was closed in my face because born in that condition.  God has opened the door for us.  We can be reconciled back to God through his glorious gospel.  Perhaps you are now in Christ.  Remember Paul was speaking to believers.  There was a time before you were saved when you were without Christ.  Imagine that for a moment.  You could be here and without Christ.  You could have your church, your ministry, all the credits that go with it, the Bible, a prayer book and all the books that go with church but haven’t Christ.  If not saved “ye were without Christ …” but now Christ brings them right up to date. “ye who were sometimes afar off were made near by the blood of Christ”.  They had trusted in the Lord.  God brought them into a glorious position.  They were now enjoying being “in Christ”.  It means to be free from the penalty of sin.  The Bible says “the wages of sin is death.” (Romans 6 verse 23)  The word death means eternal separation from God.  If there never was a time when you came to Calvary, confessed your sin before God, taken the Lord as Saviour, knew your sins forgiven then if you were to die in that situation you would be cut off from God for all eternity.  Imagine if that were to happen to you tonight.  You would go out into hell and you would be there for countless ages of eternity.  I know there are many who would disagree and preach there is no such a thing as punishment of hell, that you would be simply turned away from it.  This is not what Jesus teaches.  We could have this glorious position.  What a wonderful position to be in.  The penalty is gone.  In the Old Testament scriptures there were 6 cities of refuge.  These cities were for those who would commit a crime unintentionally.  One particular man in question was Abner.  He slew a man, the brother of Joab.  He went to one of these cities of refuse but he wanted to go back to see David.  Abner spoke to David then returned to the city of refuge.  Joab found out he had been with David and followed him.  As he entered the city he spoke to Abner, put his arm around his shoulder, took his sword and killed him.  Abner fell dead in the shadow of the city gate.  David lamented over his death “died Abner as a fool dieth.”  He could have stepped across the threshold into safety of that city but didn’t do it.  He stopped to talk to the enemy.  You are sitting in the shadow of the cross.  One step would take you into safety of heaven and home.  Satan will tell you otherwise, don’t you listen to him.  He wants to damn your soul.  Come to Christ, make the Lord your Saviour.

There is a gracious provision.  Look at the gracious provision “if any man be in Christ he is a new creature.”  You say you couldn’t keep it.  The Lord makes you a new creature, old things have passed away.  Remember the apostle Paul’s testimony.  He would say he was a religious character but he committed some erroneous crimes.  Galatians 1 verse 22 “and was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ but they had heard only that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the fiath which once he destroyed.” God made him a new creature.  1 Corinthians 6 verse 9 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God. … And such were some of you but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”  Are you interested in seeing your soul saved and ready for heaven and home?  Will you not come?  James 4 “he giveth more grace”.  If you were to come to Christ he will save your soul, fill your heart with grace to go on tomorrow.

Principles for planning

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 8 January 2012

James 4 verses 1 – 17

Principles for planning

James says there are certain principles we need before we make plans for life.  Verse 15 “ye ought to say if the Lord will”.  Not a sentiment or a phrase to roll off the tongue, it has to be the foundation of everything.

The first principle for planning – a sympathy to the will of God.  An awareness that there is a bigger and fuller plan.  All the plans we make must coincide with God’s greater plan.  God has a plan for us and wants every plan to fit in with that plan and once we do that there will be blessing in our lives.  James talks of a sovereign God who reigns and all our plans must coincide with his plans.  James doesn’t rebuke this people for doing so – verse 13 “go to now”.  In other words let’s consider for a moment. He looks to this people, sees all the business men, the family men with so many plans made and says “lets for a second consider a few pointers.”  He is not scolding or rebuking them for making plans but the mistake this people made were simply neglecting the sovereign God and his plan.  These people were saying they were going down to the city, would live there for a year and make a profit or gain.  James says “hold on let’s bring God into the situation.”  No matter what plans we have made they must coincide with God’s plan.  From the moment you were saved, from the moment he brought you to Calvary, instilled into you that you needed to be saved, accepted him as Saviour did you realise God has a plan for your life and my life?  In Luke 12 we see it very much in the life of this ambitious farmer’s life.  Remember how he had a great harvest.  First thing we see about him was he worked hard, ploughed the field, sowed the seed and the land brought forth plentifully.  God had worked in abundantly providing the crops.  It left the farmer with a problem.  The moment he could see the crops he began to consider the situation he was in.  He looked at his little barns and knew one thing for sure – the barns would be no use to him.  He began to make plans.  The thought came to him – I will have to pull down these barns and build bigger ones.  He set about building them and it took a bit of time.  He was probably a young, fit, healthy man with many years ahead of him.  He had plans not only for today and tomorrow but the ages to come.  Verse 19 the man decided to take things easy as he had much laid up for many years but God says of this man “thou fool”.  He didn’t say that lightly.  What this man didn’t realise on the particular day that he made his plans was that there was another plan God had already designed.  His days were numbered because God said to him “thou fool this night thy soul shall be required of thee.”  In other words you will fill these barns but who will they be for?  There was a plan working that this man never even thought of.  In James the people had planned to go to a city for a year to make money but didn’t know that was not part of God’s plan.  One thing is for certain James said - you didn’t know whether you will gain or lose all. 

The second principle – seeking God’s will.  Verse 15 “if the Lord will”.  It is one thing to be sympathetic to God’s will but another thing to start seeking for it.  Once you start seeking for God’s will for your life it can fly in the face of the plans you have made.  Imagine for a moment before the Government would take any decisions the Government would say “let’s set up a committee, set them up in a room, tell them here’s the plan we want to make but we will ask God what he thinks.”  Imagine what would happen.  What about ourselves?  It is my plan to do this but what would it be like to bring it to God and say “this is my plan for today how is it for you?”  Imagine that in our lives, in our work places, churches if we were to seek God’s plan?  If we were to make a point each morning asking God to show us his way for the day ahead.  Remember the 2 builders who went out to build a house each.  One wanted to build on the sand, the other on the rock.  The foundation becomes the word of God.  They are like those who hear the word of God turn their back on it and go out and do what they want to.  The man who builds on the sand is like the man who neglects the word of God.  That is like asking God for his plan for my life then when we are told it we say “it doesn’t fit into my plan so I will go my own way.”  They are like people building on a poor foundation who when they hit a rough patch in life where do they turn to?  They have no foundation, they are not in God’s plan.  We need to seek God, find out what he would have us to do.  Is God really in our plan?  Need to be careful.  We should say “if the Lord will.”  Saul on the road to Damascus asked “Lord what will you have me to do?”  Moses when he brought the people out of Egypt into the wilderness he went up into the mountain and said “Lord show me the way.”  We are responsible for that family God has given to us.  You are responsible for that Sunday School class.  You are responsible for the souls that you teach.  It is so important that you and I get to grips and know what God would have us to do.  David the king of Israel said “as for God his way is perfect.”

Third principle is - a surrender to God’s will.  The application of that statement of James is a statement saying “don’t go against the will of God.”  Has God been speaking to you today at this present phase in your life.? What is he saying today?  Surrender to it?  Paul’s advice to the Roman Christians in chapter 12 was “I beseech you therefore, brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  It only comes when we surrender our all.  No other time.  We surrender our all to the Lord and say to him “thy will be done.”  Joseph when he went down into Egypt surrendered to the Lord’s will.  That surrender was to the evil of his brothers.  Joseph told them “you meant this for evil but all the time God was working it out for good.  He became the second in line to Pharoah.  God’s plan took him there.  What are we doing this morning?  Have we thought about what we hope to do or where we will be at the end of the year?  Have we sought the Lord for his perfect will?  Have we surrendered everything to him?  Have we said “I will lay my all on the altar, everything to you Lord, take it and use it for your glory?”