The importance of reaching children for Christ

Notes from sermon heard on Sunday 3 July 2016

Mark 5 verses 21 - 24, 35 - 43

In this passage Jesus lifts the lid on someone and begins to show us some things that are happening in their family.  In this account Jairus encouraged and inspired me as we went into our Holiday Bible Club week.  Often the devil will tell us `you are wasting your time, there is no interest in the children`s work, meetings are a thing of the past.`  When this man came out of the house to where Jairus was with the worse news possible "your daughter is dead" imagine what Jairus felt at that moment.  

It is a crisis in this family - verse 22.  This man Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue.  He would open up the word of God, pray and expound the word of God on a Sabbath day.  He wasn`t necessarily a man of God.  He might have had no time for God at all.  it is possible to come to the house of God, to read your Bible, to pray and to try and do good yet not be saved, to not know Christ as Saviour and Lord.  In verse 23 we see Jairus had a daughter of 12 years of age.  She lay at the point of death.  She was worse than being sick in that state.  She had no hope.  This man realised that there was nothing he could do for her whatsoever.  He employed the best of doctors there was but there was nothing he could do for this child.  She was lying at the point of death.  There was no help for her whatsoever.  The reason we had a week of bible meetings for children was not just merely to fill a week in the calendar to show ourselves busy.  It was to see these souls gathered in under the word of God that they might be saved.  We realised that there is a crisis in our society today, in families all around us.  What is this crisis?  Every child born into the world has been born in sin, shapen in iniquity, born into a relationship that is broken.  The only remedy is Jesus Christ taking your place on the cross to reconcile us to God again.  The problem is you are a sinner today.  That is the language of the bible before me.  Also tells me of the wages of sin - death, separation from God for all eternity.  There is an awful myth today.  The myth that all and sundry are going to a wonderful place called heaven and there is no such a place as hell.  Jesus God`s son taught more about hell than he did about heaven.  As we looked at the children`s faces this week we realised that one day they will die and if not reached with God`s love they will die for all eternity.  Every child before us is at the point of death and separation from God.  In 2 Kings 4 a woman saw a crisis in her family.  She took it to the God of heaven.  She had 2 sons, her husband was dead and there was a debt to be paid.  She had to sell her sons to pay that debt.

This man had Christ in his focus - verse 22.  This man went for Jesus.  He besought him greatly.  Perhaps he had heard so much about what Jesus was doing.  He knew he had a religion but not a personal relationship with Christ.  He knew what he needed, what his family needed, what his daughter needed.  The need of your home and life is Jesus Christ.  Jairus would be the instrument to bring Christ into his home.  Are we prepared to take Christ into our home today?  Jairus knew that once Jesus was there he would touch his daughter and she would be raised to health and strength again.  What my children need most in life is Christ.  Sadly this message has been forgotten.  Christ and salvation comes far down the line of responsibilities.  Social lives are more important.  The best your child can have is Christ.  That is what they need more than anything else.  We want them to have the best in clothes, to have the best in technology, to be well educated, to have the best holidays and recreation.  No harm in that whatsoever but the best thing you can do is trust Christ.  Bring him into your home that your children will see Christ in you.  Sadly childhood soon passes, teenage years come, young adult relationships are formed.  If not Christ focused the devil brings wrong company, pleasure and fulfilment becomes the gods of our lives.  In Acts 16 a man asked Paul "what must I do to be saved?"  Paul told him "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."  A jailer standing in the dark prison house was told "if you are prepared to take him as Saviour he will save you."  That man was happy to take Christ as his Saviour and Lord.  He became Christ focused and he asked them to come into his home and tell them there all about Christ.  He was an instrument.  Inn Acts 11 another religious man who was not saved was told "send for Peter" by an angel.  Why?  "He will tell you words whereby you might be saved."  When Cornelius sent for Peter he got all his friends and family into his home and asked Peter to tell them the wonderful news.  Are you Christ focused today?  Is there something blocking out that focus today?  You and I are instructed in Deuteronomy 6 to teach our children every day, every moment, to challenge them of the things of God.  They are the most important things they will ever learn.

There is a challenge to his faith.  Jairus sees his daughter lying sick and thinks there is only one who could help.  He sets off to find Jesus and when he does find him he asks him to come.  He had a heart full of faith, he wanted to be the instrument to bring Jesus into his home, to see his daughter healed and restored.  He found the first challenge to his faith.  Another woman got in his way.  There will be times of setbacks in our lives.  Jesus stops with this woman.  Jairus wanted him to come immediately.  There is maybe even a set back in your home today.  Maybe you have been preparing for years for your family.  Nothing seems to be happening.  It is a challenge to your faith.  Hold on.  Do not be idle now.  This man received the most awful news that his daughter is dead.  Jesus tells him "do not be afraid only believe."  The devil is quick at showing us there is no hope.  He tells us "you have been praying for the past 20 years and they are no nearer to Christ than ever, nothing is happening."  A lie by the devil himself - "she is dead, do not trouble the master any more."  The devil even tells us "you will never get that person into a gospel meeting so why bother."  The Lord tells you "do not be afraid only believe".  Jesus is still transforming lives in 2016, saving souls.  He wants to save you today that you might take the gospel to those children he has given to you as a gift.  Don`t leave it until they are 18 or 19.  If you get saved he will save your family too.  The best gift you can give your child is for you to trust Christ as Saviour.  It will be far better than leaving them money or property.  To see them saved and on their way to heaven and home.  What an inheritance! 

The training of children

Judges 13 verses 1 -14

This was a very special time for the nation of Israel.  The woman we read of in this story was barren and on this particular day she received a message from the Lord that she would have a child.  It would be a special day in the life of the nation in the birth of this child.  It would speak of deliverance from the Philistine occupation.  I want us to think of this story in the light of our children`s work in general.  How important this work is to God.  This is the next generation we are talking about and they need to be reached for God.  In the days of Joshua there was a "generation after them which knew not the Lord nor yet the works which he had done for Israel". (Judges 2 verse 10)  We can be so busy in our lives on all that is legitimate but we need to be careful that we do not neglect to give a young generation the message of saving grace.

The responsibility on the parents.  We read in verse 1 that for 40 years the nation of Israel had been in the hands of the Philistines.  They were far superior to Israel at this time.  What happens when a nation turns to God, when they get on their knees, call upon the God of heaven?  God opens up his blessing on that nation.  For 40 years the Philistines had been bombarding Israel, kept them as slaves but now things were starting to change.  The whole atmosphere was one of rebellion, judgment and deliverance.  When we turn our backs on God he will come with grace and mercy.  There will come a time when God allows us to go our own way.  Here were a people living in a time of spiritual darkness and decline.  We can see that same decline today in spiritual things.  The people had no king and "did that which was right in his own eyes." (Judges 21 verse 25)  It was an attitude of `no one will tell me what to do, no one will boss me`.  We are at that stage today.  We cannot say anything from the platform in case we offend someone.  That is the spirit of this particular age.  Israel had turned her back on God, they had followed the idolatrous practices of the people around them.  Sin is not something we can play around with.  If we want to follow our own sinful way God will allow us to do for that for a time but then the judging hand of God will fall on us.  The Israelites were downtrodden by the Philistines for 40 years.  There was bound to be a little group who were lifting their heads to God.  We don`t hear about them but God was listening.  He heard their prayers, saw their genuineness.  The deliverance would take place through the birth of a child - Samson.  The deliverance God was planning and proposing for Israel for this family.  The responsibility was for them to listen to God.  "And the woman bare a son and called his name Samson and the child grew and the Lord blessed him." (verse 24)  Here was the answer to someone`s prayers.  "Lord will you look on us with mercy, look on our sincere hearts, we have sinned, broken your laws, rebelled against you.  Will you have mercy on us."  Do you ever look away to the cross of Calvary and see the one who was responsible for your sin?  God allowed his son to die on the cross, to suffer agony and the cruelty of that death to bring you to himself.  This was going to be no ordinary child.  God is in no rush.  Imagine for 40 years the nation was in bondage.  Someone was praying `Lord will you send us deliverance` and God said `I will`.  A baby would be born and when you think it would take 9 months for this to take place you begin to realise that God would not deliver a nation in one day.  It would be another 20 years at least for that child to grow and be in a position to deliver God`s people.  That is an encouragement to me.  We expect instant results but God allows us to wait at times to strengthen us in our faith in our lives.  God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3 verse 9)    God wants to unite your family in Christ.  We have the responsibility of bringing up our children as we do not know but they could be the instrument God uses.  We need to be faithful to the children we have in our families and those we come into contact with through Sunday School.  We need to pray for them every day that God will speak to them and do something special in their lives for Christ.

The recognition - verse 6.  Here was a woman out in the field and she heard this message from an angel that she would have a child.  Imagine when she received this news.  The angel knew all about her, the condition she was in, that she was barren.  She was told it was God`s plan to give her a child.  In this unseeming task God was going to do something that seemed impossible.  God can and does the impossible.  The woman went and told her husband in verses 6 and 7.  She was breathless - "a man of God came unto me."  She was acquainted with the things of God.  What was the first thing they did together?  Verse 8 they prayed.  Here was a woman who knew the voice of God and the presence of God.  She brought the message to her husband and the first thing they did was pray.  Would we know the voice of God today, directing and guiding us today?  Remember the story of Samuel attending Eli in the temple.  He was a small boy opening and closing the doors to the temple each day.  A simple task given to him to do.  One night when he was going to bed and about to sleep he heard something special.  He heard his name being called so jumped out of bed and ran to Eli.  "Master you called me."  This happened 3 times.  On the last tme Eli perceived that God was calling this young boy, that God was working in his heart.  Eli could see that there was something wrong with this child, that God was speaking to him, that God was working in his life.  In Acts 8 we read that Philip came down to Samaria and revival was going on there.  God lifted him from that scene to meet a chariot where one man was reading the word of God.  Philip recognised the voice of God was working in this man`s heart.  This man was maybe bewildered by what he was reading.  Philip asked him `do you understand what you are reading?`  He recognised that God was working behind the scenes.  Would you recognise the symptoms when God himself begins to work.

The request that was made.  They have just received word that they were about to have a child.  They asked the Lord to teach them how to bring up this child.  We often joke and say when a new baby is born into the world they don`t come with a manual but that is not exactly true because they come with one manual - the bible.  "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22 verse 6)  We do see too often in the word of God children of godly parents who go astray but surely if we pray for them there is a tendency for them to come back to God one day.  Remember the story of Joseph who was sold into Potiphar`s house.  Potiphar`s wife took a fancy to Joseph.  I`m sure Joseph knew there was no one else in the house on that particular day.  Joseph said to her `how then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?" (Genesis 39 verse 9)  He was taught in the things of God, taught about sexual immorality.  He knew it was sinning against God outside the marriage bond.  Think of Lydia in Acts 16.  She came to Philippi on business.  She sold purple for a living.  The bible says it was the Sabbath day and she wanted to be where "prayer was wont to be made".  Instead of working she went down to pray.  Sadly today the Sunday is just another day, shops are open and businesses go on.  Lydia was taught to respect the Lord`s day.  "Six days shalt thou labour and do all thy work. But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any work." (Exodus 20 verses 9 and 10)  In 6 days God created the world but he set aside the seventh day to himself.  It is a day of worship and praise.  Sadly today that has been set aside by man.  Lydia wasn`t taught like that.  She was taught to respect the Lord`s day.  She realised this was God`s day and it was not for anything else.  Moses was taught in his early years by his mother and then adopted by Pharaoh`s daughter into the palace.  He never forgot what he had been taught at his mother`s knee.  When he came of an age he made a decision to follow Christ.  We need to teach our children today.  We have a responsiblity to teach them and ask God to help us in how to do it.

The reward of the parents - verse 5 "and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines."  Notice the words `shall begin`, not complete it.  Samson began the work which would not be complete until David`s day.  We need to realise that we are beginning God`s work but might not see its completion.

What meaneth the stones?

Exodus 20 verses 22 - 26

In the book of Joshua chapter 4 we read of the children of Israel.  Joshua was a young man who stepped into the shoes of Moses.  Moses brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, led them through the wilderness but couldn`t bring them into the promised land of Canaan.  It was a miraculous event.  The Jordan river was at the point of swelling its banks yet God made a dry path for them all to walk across.  God commanded the priests to go down into the waters first.  They had to take the Ark of the Covenant onto their shoulders and step into the river that was flowing its banks.  That would take a great degree of faith in the God of heaven who spoke the words.  We need to depend on the God of heaven today.  Are you where you are because the God of heaven has directed you to that point in your life?  While the waters were standing on their end 12 men were to step into them, lift a stone each and carry it on their shoulders out of the river.  They were to leave the stones on the bank.  "That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever." (Joshua 4 verses 6 and 7)  They would be leaving something for the next generation.  Are you leaving something for the next generation?  Exodus 20 verse 25 "And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it."  Moses is in the presence of God and God says "if you will make me an altar of stone" this is the way to do it.  The altar that will be important.  Moses is coming into the presence of God in an act of worship and praise.  That is how we have cme into this house today.  We are here that we might sing and praise God.  The same God that Moses came to all those years ago is the same God we come to today.  These stones would be a presentation to God and give him worship.  1 Peter 2 verse 5 "ye also as living stones."  They are active - doing something emotive.  These stones are living stones.  They are built up into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood - for what purpose - to be acceptable to God.  Does God find them acceptable today?  Have you asked the Lord to bless you as you come into his house?  We come to offer God adoration and praise for all that he has done for us.  Ephesians 1 verse 12 "that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ."  There are so many theories around the world today about predestination.  There are people who say there are those from eternity past - in other words that are chosen for an eternity in the future but what does the scriptures teach?  "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will" (Ephesians 1 verse 11)  We are the praise of his glory - from the morning to the evening - from the rising of the sun to the going down of the same we are here to open our hearts and praise the God of heaven.  The woman at the well was told by Jesus to worship God in spirit and in truth.  We worship him indeed in our coming together, in our prayers, in reading his word, in the preaching of his word, in the giving of tithes and offerings.  That is how we ought to worship him today.

The purpose of these stones was to offer up the praise and glory 

The plain necessity of the stones - verse 24.  The Lord wanted Moses to tell the people to build them just as they were.  Nothing false.  God doesn`t want any falsehood in our lives as we come to worship him.  Maybe there was a danger here that people might fall into idolatrous worship if they fashioned them according to what they desired.  We need to look beyond the stones.  It was the sacrifice that was important to God not the stones.  It is the sacrifice for our redeemed hearts that is important today.  The burnt offering was to be made on these stones.  It was that which was burned completely to the Lord.  Other offerings showed that a part would be given to the priests first but this offering was to the Lord.  Nothing was to be taken from it.  Our worship is to the God of heaven not anything else.  Our worship is for God not for the riches we have.  We get beyond that today and lift all we have to the God of heaven.  God wants everything from you.  Has he got your heart today?  Do you know the Lord as Saviour today?  Did you ever see him as the sacrifice for your sin?  He has taken that broken nature on his own body, he has accomplished something.  If you haven`t accepted it yet he stands at the hearts door but he will not come in until you invite him in. God always accepts our very best - Romans 12 verse 1 "present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service."  Have you given all to the Lord today?  In Acts 5 Ananias and Sapphira sold their possessions but held back some for themselves.  Peter looked at it and said "why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Chost and to keep back part of the price of the land?"  In other words you are claiming you have given your all to the Lord but you haven`t, you have kept something back.  They were lieing to God.  As we worship God in praying, preaching, singing, in our lives, in our giving, in our praying, in our tithing are we fully worshipping God?

The pattern of the stones - big and small, all sorts.

The promise of the stones - when you have all on the altar I will come and bless you.  Only then would the blessing be in our lives.

1 Samuel 17 verses 32 - 45

In 1 Peter 2 verse 5 we are told `Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ."  Not coming to be entertained but to praise God of heaven for all he has done for us.

There are lessons to be learned through insignificant things.  Just a little stone in the hand of David that brought down Goliath.  Take a look first of all at these 5 stones David picked up.  They were carried by the rivers current verse 40.  He choose 5 smooth stones out of the brook and put them into his shepherds bag.  Imagine the nation of Israel cowering behind the hedges - why - because the great man, a giant had come down and called out to the soldiers of israel, defied the God of heaven, brought all sorts of accusations against them.  He wanted to attract them out to do battle with him.  Then along came a boy called David.  He wasn`t there for the battle, only to bring cheese and bread for his bothers but became interesed in the battle going on.  The Bible describes the devil "as a roaring lion ... seeking whom he may devour."(1 Peter 5 verse 8)  He wants to destroy your family today.  He wants them to remain in a lost sinners hell.  We have got to realise the battle today.  David`s father was interested in the battle going on.  Are we praying that God would step in and save precious souls today?  David came down to bring food to his brothers.  He saw all the people cowering behind the bushes.  He went down to where Goliath was, took his staff with him, crossed a brook to meet the giant and it was there he took 5 stones.  He lifted and put those stones into his bag.  They were carried by the rivers current to meet where David was.  Perhaps sometimes when the current flowed strongly they were carried at great speed, at other times they got lodged in a pocket, somehow never moved, got stuck.  The circumstances of life that flow over us - the Bible tells me "all things work together for good to them that love God." (Romans 8 verse 28)  At times we are going places and at other times we are stuck.  God is bringing you to the place where he might be able to pick you up and use you in a mighty way for him.  As they came to the point in the river they were being moulded in the current that was flowing.  Being made the right design, every rough had to be taken off them.  David didn`t lift stones off the ground.  He went to that little brook.  At that precious moment there were 5 stones he was able to pick up.  We seem at times to be going places then other times we are stuck.  Think of Joseph`s life.  At 17 years of age his father sent him out to see his brothers.  There he was with his coat of many colours walking to where his brothers were.  They couldn`t stand the sight of him.  They took him and cast him into the deep well.  Such was the fear on them that they sold him into Egypt.  There in Potiphar`s house many things were going his way.  Potiphar didn`t know what all was in his house but Joseph knew.  Things were going so well until the day Joseph was falsely imprisonsed, cast into prison for something he didn`t do.  The hedges were being taken out of Joseph`s life.  In the wider picture God had it was to take him up to the very throne of Egypt and there to bring food to many in the future.  We can only see the circumstances we are in at a certain time.  Think of Lazarus there in that home in Bethany.  He lived with his 2 sisters.  One day he took sick.  The Lord loved that home.  He often stopped there.  Things do come to our homes.  Why does God allow this all to happen we ask.  Just because you know and love the Lord, just because you sit down and pray, that doesn`t mean we aren`t human.  Things do happen.  God is in control of the circumstances as well.  Jesus was asked to come.  Mary and Martha loved the Lord, wanted Jesus to come.  Jesus didn`t come right away.  When Jesus heard of the sickness of Lazarus he said "this sickness is not unto death but for the glory of od that the Son of God might be glorified thereby." (John 11 verse 4)  God would be glorified in this sickness.  Maybe in your circumstances God will be glorified.  James "my brother count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience." (James 1 verse 2)  In a time of sickness the rough is being knocked off.  Why because we need patience.  Think of that man that prayed for patience in the prayer meeting "Lord God give me patience and give it to me now."  It doesn`t work like that..  It is through the circumstances of life we learn patience.  We don`t know how long it took for these stones to reach where David was in the brook that day.  Moses wanted to do things his own way "I will go and lead the people out of Egypt" but God says "no you will not."  It takes another 40 years before it happens.  We are being carried by life`s circumstances.  They are in the hands of God and we want them to be in ours. Don`t try to develop your whole circumstances, they are in the hands of God.  Don`t try to manufacture your own circumstances you find yourself in.  They are in God`s hands.

The cautiousness of the circulation.  He took 5 smooth stones where they were.  As the people looked on David they thought he was a foolish man.  How would he ever face or defeat Goliath?  He took his staff and went down.  Saul tried to put his armour on him.  David couldn`t move with all that on.  We will never defeat the enemy in the area of the world but will defeat the world by trusting the Lord of heaven.  He went down to the brook.  As he crossed the brook he lifted the stones from there.  He lifted 5 smooth stones.  David was expert with the sling.  He knew what would work.  Maybe God is looking down on this brook and he maybe sees those that were needed for his service.  When David picked those stones out he wanted smoothness.  He didn`t want roughness on them.  David knew what he wanted.  Those stones that were smooth.  1 Corinthians 1 verse 27 "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty ... that no flesh should glory in his presence." Here in this house today are you ready to say to the Lord "here am I, I might be foolish, might have nothing going for me, whatever I have though I am giving to you."  Maybe God has stopped at this brook, reaches down and wants to thrust you out into the battle,  He wants you this morning, he wants all of you.  He has one task only for you.  Remember the prayer meeting in Antioch and the fellowship there were those teaching and preaching the word of God.  As they fasted and prayed something happened.  "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." (Acts 13 verse 2)  God can use each of us today.  Maybe there is a rough edge of disobedience.  Gideon came from the weakest of families in Israel yet God said I want to use you against the enemy.  God wittled the number he had gathered up until there were only 30 left.  God brought him through it.  If we are prepared to step out for God he will use you and not fail you.  

The stones were concealed from view.  Put them in the shepherd`s bag, concealed from view in the bag.  Concealed until ready to be used.  Sometimes it is like that.  You are concealed until the Lord calls us.  Maybe you are concealed today.  Remember Esther of old and the circumstances of her life - her mum and dad were dead, she had lost her family.  Her uncle Mordecai took her into his family and rearerd her as his own.  They went into the land of Babylon, not in their own land.  Mordecai didn`t fight against those circumstances.  He used them.  Esther was the most beautiful girl in that empire.  There was a man Haaman who hated the Jews with a real passion and in particulr he hated Mordecai.  He devised a plan to put all the Jews to death.  God was working through Esther.  She was concealed from the light at that time.  She was to be the bride for the king Ahaserius.  Esther was told one day to go and plead for her nation by Mordecai.  How do you know that you may be brought to the kingdm for such a time as this. (Esther 4 verse 14)  Maybe you have been brought in to hear this message.  God has concealed you to this point in time.  There are families all around us that God could use us in.  Not being called to entertain today but to be a blessing to God.  Concealed from view.  

Notice the concrete through the stones.  He took one stone out of a brook just to be used to bring down the fall of Goliath.  It is down to you today.  One person to be used by God today.  He took that stone and swung it around and around and it hit Goliath.  One stone, one spot was all it took.  What about us?  Carried along by the circumstances of life.  God is cautious today, wants you to do a work for him.  Cautiousness in his collection.  Are you ready to say "I am thine today Lord, use me today."  Maybe never been saved yet cautious in your response to it all.  Maybe God wants you to surrender your life fully to God.  Matbe you have never said "here I am take all that there is of me."  David lifted 5 stones put them in his bag concealed to the very appointed time.  God will lift you out today but you need to be willing to work for him.

1 Samuel 7 verses 1 - 14

We often sing the song "O God our help in ages past."  That is exactly what Samuel is doing - setting up a stone and called it Ebenezer meaning "hitherto hath the Lord helped us."  Here`s a stone with a tremendous meaning today.  Not an idol, not shaped after this man`s heart, not a place could come and worship at.  It was a reminder of what God can do.  Remember the day God moved in a great way, encouraged and strengthened us in the knowledge that God stands by us.  Paul said "if God be for us who can be against us." (Romans 8 verse 31)  The Psalmist said in Psalm 124 "if it had not been the Lord who was on our side."  He felt a lack of hope.  The enemy was coming against him - "when men rose up against us then they had swallowed us up quick."  Not a stone for an idol or God to be worshipped.  A reminder of what God hath done for the nation.  We want to look at this stone and reflect on the past and say "hitherto hath the Lord helped us."  Maybe in our own situations, in families.  It was God who turned that situation.  Look at this little heading "hitherto hath the Lord helped us."  Think here as the people would gaze on this stone as they would go by. 

It reminded them of the crisis the nation was in and reminded them how God helped them in that crisis.  Our nation is in a crisis today.  None to help but God of heaven today.  Samuel gathered the people together to gaze on this stone - "hitherto hath the Lord helped you."  Perhaps Samuel was the last of the judges and first of the prophets.  Whatever way you want to look at it he judged the people and brought the word of God to the people.  He was a young man raised up by God out of a prayer meeting.  A giant of a man who brought the nation back to God.  Remember his mother Hannah who had no child.  She went up into the house of God and stood before Eli and prayed in such a manner that Eli took notice of her.  Wouldn`t it be great if people took note of our prayers, that they would touch the throne room of heaven and change people`s hearts as a result.  Hannah came with the prayer she had.   Her womb was barren.  She asked for a man child.  God heard her prayer yet not a sound came from her lips.  God heard it though.  Samuel was born out of a prayer meeting.  She came back to Eli and said remember me, this is the child I prayed for.  God would raise this child up for his own use.  Isn`t it wonderful to have a desire to prayer.  Would we be able to look back in days to come and reflect on people we have prayed for?  Hannah prayed and pleaded for a child and God answered her prayer.  Samuel brings the nation back to God.  There were men who were prayed for, men who shook this world - people like Charles and John Wesley, D L Moody, CH Spurgeon, David Livingstone.  They touched hearts and shook the generation they lived in.  In this passage the people of Israel were against the wall, fear had gripped their hearts.  The nation had grown so cold towards God.  Samuel stood between them and God.  There was fear in their hearts against the Philistines.  They only had to think back to the days in Egypt when God brought them out and into the land of milk and honey.  It is easy to forget the blessings of God - "the glory of the Lord is departed from Israel" (1 Samuel 4 verse 21).  The enemy prevailed.  What a situation that was.  Samuel brought the people together.  As the nation looked out on the Philistine force something happened.  There was a stirring in the hearts of God`s people - "all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord." verse 2.  For 20 years the presence of God had been taken from the nation of Israel.  That is where God is bringing us to today - a crisis.  The work of God had already begun - "if ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts" verse 3.  What must we do they were asking Samuel.  Mabe the work of God is beginning to stir in your heart already.  As they looked at this stone thy would remember that God had stepped in and saved them from the enemy.  Spiritually speaking the church of Jesus Christ is cold today.  We have many reminders of God working in the past and prayer meetings started as a result of missions in the past.  It reminds us of a crisis in the past and how God worked in people`s hearts.  A lot of these meetings are closed up today.  Gone because everybody had left it to everyone else and no-one stepped into the gap.  We are in a crisis today but he is the same God and he can help us.  We need the spiritual reminder of how God worked in us and in our church fellowship.

There was a reminder of the conditions that were met - "if you do return unto the Lord with all your hearts" verse 3.  Being saved today is a first step in a great journey with Jesus.  He stepped in on the Emmaeus road.  He didn`t just step in and leave them again.  "He went with them" (Luke 24 verse 15).  Samuel told the people God would only come when they were wholeheartedly believing in him.  No half heartedness here Samuel said.  Revival begins in the heart.  Revival begins exactly where the people of God are at.  They had to recognise they had moved away from God and had allowed the enemy to control them.  There had to be a cost paid - to seek after God with all their hearts.  When we come in that way, when we seek for God with all our hearts then and only then will we find God.  There was a preparation to be done.  The strange gods were to be put away - verse 3.  The same conditions apply today.  Time can be our god today.  Remember the parable of the wheat and the tares.  When the man sowed the seed the enemy came in and sowed the tares while he slept.  We need to be careful as we sleep.  The devil comes in with temptations and he plants them.  We listen to the word of God but it is planted with other things.  Time and money can be our god too.  Remember in the times of Moses - he was to erect a serpent on a stick in the wilderness and when the people looked to the serpent they were healed.  The people had disobeyed God but one look at the serpent and they were healed.  As a result the devil turned that serpent around and made it into a god for them - 2 Kings 18 verse 4.  Hezekiah had to brake the brazen serpent because it was being used as a god.  If we want revival it will cost us.  We have to set something aside.  For the people here it was the strange gods.

There was a reminder of the confession that was made.  They gathered together to Mizpeh because they wanted God to step into their situation, to take control of their stuation.  Is there not a lesson for us.  If we hunger and thirst for the word of God there will be a desire to meet together with the people of God.  The people expected something to happen.  In verse 6 they prayed and then took water and poured it out before the Lord.  Symbolic act of confession of emptiness.  God knows about yor life and mine.  The short comings we have.  To come with all our hearts and confess what we are.  The woman in 2 Samuel 14 said "as water spilt on the ground which cannot be gathered up again neither doth God respect any person yet doth he devise means that his banished be not expelled from him."  Israel was by this solemn act taking the pails of water, emptying them out before the Lord and saying "Lord look at the wasted years."  The Lord said "I will restore unto you the years the locusts have eaten." (Joel 2 verse 25)  The people confessed their oppression and need of God.  We need to confess we cannot do anything without God, that until now the years have been wasted and ask the Lord to restore us.  There is a lot of talk about renewal of spirit and positive thinking but there is no thought of confession.  There is also the prosperity gospel - God means us to be rich and we should have everything we can.  Preachers are to encourage and lift people up as they are downtrodden all the time.  We need to let the past go and forget it because God loves you and he died for you.  We need to start to lay claim on big things because that is what God wants.  The people here were beginning to claim victory but needed to have confession of sin.  They started to confess their hopelessness.  We need to realise that we are sinners and going out to a Christless hell.  Before David could get any joy in his life he had to confess his sin - "restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" (Psalm 51 verse 12).  "If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1 verse 10)  "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (2 Chronicles 7 verse 14)

It would remind them of the great conquest - "hitherto hath the Lord helped us".

1 Peter 2 verses 1 - 12

"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious; and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded."

Right away realise Peter has a building in mind.  A description of the church of Jesus Christ.  Take heed today.  In our society church means a building in which you or I attend and because of that perception there is great confusion.  As you go to a door and give out tracts they ask `which church do you represent?`  With that perception in mind of a building in which they attend, they then ask `which church is right?`  Therein lies the confusion for many people.  In the New Testament scriptures we read of the church Paul speaks of.  He is not speaking of a building where people come together and communicate.  Paul is speaking of a company of people.  The Greek word for that is ekklesiastes where we get our word ecclesiastical.  It means a company of people called out from the world.  The word means a people who have heard the gospel of saving grace, accepted Christ as Saviour and stepped out to follow him entirely.  That body is right throughout the whole world and it doesn`t matter where it is.  That is the same word and body that Paul speaks of.  We want to turn to the chief cornerstone found in verse 6.

Notice the stone and its importance.  This is the chief cornerstone that God has laid.  When the architect looks at the plans he is drawing, he begins with something solid.  He wants the best foundation.  It is most important, utmost importance and it is the architect who knows the end from the beginning.  From the moment God called this universe into being he knew the end from the beginning and the stone which is of particular importance and significance will connect and tie everything together.  It is the chief cornerstone where 2 walls meet together and bears the stress of the whole buiding.  The chief cornerstone of the church of Jesus Christ, of our lives should be none other than Christ himself.  Every building needs a foundation and a conerstone.  The Bible says the builders rejected this cornerstone.  Imagine trying to build a building without it.  So many are trying to do that today without Christ.  "Whoever hears and believes my word he is like a man who builds his house on rock." (Matthew 7 verse 24)  When Jesus came into the world he came unto his own and his own did not accepted him. (John 1 verse 11)  The Saduccees and Pharisees and religious leaders would not listen to what Jesus taught.  Job after a time of heavy trial said "I am afraid of all my sorrows, I know thta thou wilt not hold me innocent." (John 9 verse 28)  That was after he had lost his family, his farm and had only those sitting with him, who mocked and ridiculed him.  He knew even if he should die he would trust the God of heaven.  God would bring hm through his trials as gold tried in the fire.  At the end of his life God spoke to him and invited him to ask a few questions he had throughout his sickness.  There is no harm in having questions. We don`t know the path we take but God knows best.  God said "Where wastthou when I laid the foundations of earth? declare, if thou hast understanding." (John 38 verse 4)  We need Christ at the foundation of our lives.

The stone and its identity.  We are not talking about an ordinary stone.  Peter is talking of Jesus as the chief cornerstone.  In Matthew 16 Jesus asked his disciples "Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?"  The response was some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.  Do we reflect on who Jesus is?  Reflect upon Christ the Son of God, the redeemer of the world, the Saviour of mankind.  Does it bother us how others see Christ?  They have a wrong idea of him.  A marvellous teacher or a wonderful healer.  You have got a wrong view of who Christ is today.  We should always be ready to give an answer ot the hope that is in us.  Can we open up the scriptures and show who Jesus is and what he came to do?  Jesus turned the question around.  "Whom do you say that I am?"  Do you know who he is?  Is he your Saviour?  Have you trusted him as Saviour and Lord?  Have you trusted him as the chief cornerstone?  Peter stood up and said "thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God."  On hearing that Jesus looked into Peter`s face and said "upon this rock I will build my church."  Not on Peter.  Jesus said "you are right and I will build my church on it."  The very gates of hell will not prevail against it.  All hell will come against you as a child of God.  Would you believe in what your families and fiends will say?  The only thing will stand is the church of Christ.  One day the citadels of the world will fall.  All the financial establishments will crumble.  The only thing that will stand is the church of Jesus Christ because he is the sure foundation.  In Ephesians Paul told the people they were saved by grace - grace and grace alone.  That is the only way you are saved today.  You cannot just come when you want yourself.  Christ decides when to invite you, when and how he invites you.  He invites you through his grace to be saved.  Then he asks you to put your trust in Christ.  Notice when Paul talks to them in Ephesians about the foundation and says you are building on the foundation of the apostles and followers.  What is your life built upon today?  What is the local church built on today?  The assembly needs to be built on the doctrines of Christ with Christ being the chief cornerstone.  The stone is important.  The stone is identified as Christ.

The stone is impeccable.  It was perfect for the corner.  The whole building depends on it.  It is the main stress point for the whole building and it has to be tested.  Jesus was tested yet without sin.  Judas Iscariot said "I have betrayed innocent blood."  The thief on the cross said "we are here becase of our own mess but this man hath done nothing amiss."  Pilate said "I find no fault in him."  There is only one redeemer able to save your soul from its sins.

Te stone is immovable because the storms come but Jesus will take us through them.

God knows us by name and cirumstance

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 28 February 2016

Genesis 41

We are continuing to look at the story of Joseph through the eyes of his father, the blessings his life brought to others not only to himself, to his father but blessings wherever Joseph found himself to be.  He was revealing a life lived for God and others.  Our lives must make a mark for God no matter where we might be or where we might go.  Joseph was the son of Jacob, the son he loved the most.  He made his mark in the home but also on foreign soil.  We see that time and time again.  People brought up in the home then leaving the home to go out to universities and make a mark, a stand for Christ in a hostile environment.  Notice Joseph in the prison.

His attitude.  That is the amazing thing and really describes us.  Maybe it is a good or bad, a positive or negative attitude.  Moses in the wilderness.  God came to him and told him he had a task for him to do.  He had a negative attitude - "I cannot do that."  Joseph was sitting in the prison house for 2 full years.  From the day the butler walked out of the prison cell he waited.  He thought this man will speak up for me.  I shouldn`t be here because I am innocent but he never came back for him for another 2 years.  He had been lied about, his character has been assasinated, let down by friends.  Did that affect his attitude in any way - no.  He was ready to get up and go about his duties as usual day after day.  Have you ever been there?  Praying for God to move into your situation yet the next day have the same difficulties.  God was going to move in a certain way.  One day out of the blue his cell door was opened and he was told Pharaoh was asking for him.  Joseph gets up and follows.  After 2 full years, after Joseph thought nothing would happen to change his situation.  Maybe you have been in that same situation.  God doesn`t forget us.  Hannah had no child when she came into the temple and prayed.  We read "God remembered Hannah".  Remember Abraham when God came down to destroy Sodom and Gomorroh.  Abraham began to plead "if there are 50 righteous people found in that place will you destroy it?"  The Lord agreed he would not do that.  Abraham continued until he got down to 10 people.  He had a family in that city he was concerned about.  He left off praying.  When God came down to destroy that city God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out.  That is a wonderful statement.  Will it be said of you or I?  God remembered so and so because he remembered the prayers he sent that young one out of the situation they are in.  Not just an attitude of negativity.  He was waiting for the call to go out and he went with the men into the presence of Pharaoh.  Remember the attitude of the young man in the scriptures when he was told to go into the vineyard by his father and he did not go.  Remember the man with the one talent.  All the servants were called together and the master told them was going away.  To each he gave different amounts - one 5 which was doubled to another 5, another was given 2 and he too gained another 2.  The one man with one talent buried his and when the master returned he dug it up and showed what he had done.  Maybe he had an attitude about being given only one when the others were given 5 and 2.  Remember the attitude of Paul and Silas in the prison house - at midnight they were praying and singing songs of praise when an earthquake struck the place.  The jailer drew out his sword to kill himself but Paul told him to put his sword away.  What an attitude to have.  Daniel`s attitude after a night in the lions den was one of positivity.  When you think of his reply to the king`s question the following morning you can hear the compassion in Daniel`s voice, the love and respect he showed.  "Then said Daniel to the king O king live for ever. My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions` mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." (Chapter 6 verse 22)  Joseph`s attitude was never affected in the prison cell.

His approach.  They brought him hastily out of the dungeon and he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came in unto Pharaoh."  Today we are called by God of heaven to come together.  Pharaoh was a powerful man in all the ancient world.  Their attitude to cleanliness and hygiene was part of the culture of that day.  Joseph although in haste to act did not want to cause offence.  He paused to wash himself, shaved and changed his raiment.  He didn`t want to disgrace himself.  As we come to approach the loving God we need to be aware of the presence of the one we come into.  Joseph took time to enter into the king, the monarch of Egypt.  Do we take time ourselves to prepare to sit with God`s word, to meditate on his word, take time to pray, to have our hearts cleansed?    Have we taken time to prepare out hearts?  In Hebrews 10 the writer is speaking of the Old Testament priesthood.  A priest would come into God`s presence "having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (verse 22)  There was to be nothing false about it.  All were coming with a true and honest heart in full assurance of faith knowing that the one whose prsence would come into is able to save use, cleanse us, symbolic washing and cleansing - verses 23 - 25.  What was happening here - they were living in a time of tremendous persecution and there was a danger in turning back into old religious ways.  Here the writer is encouraging them to keep on going.  Talking here of how to approach God of heaven.  The danger is once someone starts to drop off from attending the meetings they can become cold and hard, can get into temptation, backsliding and apostacy thoughts all come into mind.  Here the writer was saying do not forsake the assembling with others in worship.  Joseph didn`t do that - his approach in to the presence of Pharaoh.

His answer.  Joseph brings this king to think on the things of God.  Pharaoh tells him about fat and thin cows, the ears of corn that were thin and empty and those that were fat.  He could have taken the opportunity to exalt himself.  Verse 15 what does Joseph do?  It is not in me but God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.  Here he was standing in front of the most powerful man at that time.  Joseph is bringing him to the God of heaven.  In verses 25 and 28 he is taking him back to God. In verse 32 Joseph`s answer was not to promote himself.  The lives we live, the things we do, the places we go, the things we say are all to glorify God.  Joseph was telling what God can do.  That is what we need to be doing in the pulpit and in the streets and in the home.  Verse 38 because of Joseph`s witness Pharaoh now talks of the God of heaven.  Verse 39 "Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art".  We find that in the days of Daniel too.  When Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and Daniel explained the dream to him he glorifyied God all the time.  Daniel said "there is a God in heaven." (chapter 2 verse 28)  When he is finished talking to Nebuchadnezzar the king answered unto Daniel "of a truth your God is a great God, the king of kings, revealer of secrets." (chatper 2 verse 47)  He is saying there is none who could reveal this secret but God.  Joseph had a great approach - he had the answer.  Let`s remember God must deal with the attitudes if we have any.  Let`s give him the glory as we answer to others about the life we live.  Joseph is now promoted to the second seat in Egypt.  It took a number of years to do it but God was working it all out.  When he stood before Pharaoh he was 30 years of age.  13 years before he had left home.  God will bring to your life and mine what he really wants for us individually.  "He will perfect that which concerneth us." (Psalm 138 verse 8)

Joseph`s attitude, approach and answer to Pharaoh

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 28 February 2016

Genesis 41

We are continuing to look at the story of Joseph through the eyes of his father, the blessings his life brought to others not only to himself, to his father but blessings wherever Joseph found himself to be.  He was revealing a life lived for God and others.  Our lives must make a mark for God no matter where we might be or where we might go.  Joseph was the son of Jacob, the son he loved the most.  He made his mark in the home but also on foreign soil.  We see that time and time again.  People brought up in the home then leaving the home to go out to universities and make a mark, a stand for Christ in a hostile environment.  Notice Joseph in the prison.

His attitude.  That is the amazing thing and really describes us.  Maybe it is a good or bad, a positive or negative attitude.  Moses in the wilderness.  God came to him and told him he had a task for him to do.  He had a negative attitude - "I cannot do that."  Joseph was sitting in the prison house for 2 full years.  From the day the butler walked out of the prison cell he waited.  He thought this man will speak up for me.  I shouldn`t be here because I am innocent but he never came back for him for another 2 years.  He had been lied about, his character has been assasinated, let down by friends.  Did that affect his attitude in any way - no.  He was ready to get up and go about his duties as usual day after day.  Have you ever been there?  Praying for God to move into your situation yet the next day have the same difficulties.  God was going to move in a certain way.  One day out of the blue his cell door was opened and he was told Pharaoh was asking for him.  Joseph gets up and follows.  After 2 full years, after Joseph thought nothing would happen to change his situation.  Maybe you have been in that same situation.  God doesn`t forget us.  Hannah had no child when she came into the temple and prayed.  We read "God remembered Hannah".  Remember Abraham when God came down to destroy Sodom and Gomorroh.  Abraham began to plead "if there are 50 righteous people found in that place will you destroy it?"  The Lord agreed he would not do that.  Abraham continued until he got down to 10 people.  He had a family in that city he was concerned about.  He left off praying.  When God came down to destroy that city God remembered Abraham and sent Lot out.  That is a wonderful statement.  Will it be said of you or I?  God remembered so and so because he remembered the prayers he sent that young one out of the situation they are in.  Not just an attitude of negativity.  He was waiting for the call to go out and he went with the men into the presence of Pharaoh.  Remember the attitude of the young man in the scriptures when he was told to go into the vineyard by his father and he did not go.  Remember the man with the one talent.  All the servants were called together and the master told them was going away.  To each he gave different amounts - one 5 which was doubled to another 5, another was given 2 and he too gained another 2.  The one man with one talent buried his and when the master returned he dug it up and showed what he had done.  Maybe he had an attitude about being given only one when the others were given 5 and 2.  Remember the attitude of Paul and Silas in the prison house - at midnight they were praying and singing songs of praise when an earthquake struck the place.  The jailer drew out his sword to kill himself but Paul told him to put his sword away.  What an attitude to have.  Daniel`s attitude after a night in the lions den was one of positivity.  When you think of his reply to the king`s question the following morning you can hear the compassion in Daniel`s voice, the love and respect he showed.  "Then said Daniel to the king O king live for ever. My God hath sent his angel and hath shut the lions` mouths, that they have not hurt me; forasmuch as before him innocency was found in and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." (Chapter 6 verse 22)  Joseph`s attitude was never affected in the prison cell.

His approach.  They brought him hastily out of the dungeon and he shaved himself and changed his raiment and came in unto Pharaoh."  Today we are called by God of heaven to come together.  Pharaoh was a powerful man in all the ancient world.  Their attitude to cleanliness and hygiene was part of the culture of that day.  Joseph although in haste to act did not want to cause offence.  He paused to wash himself, shaved and changed his raiment.  He didn`t want to disgrace himself.  As we come to approach the loving God we need to be aware of the presence of the one we come into.  Joseph took time to enter into the king, the monarch of Egypt.  Do we take time ourselves to prepare to sit with God`s word, to meditate on his word, take time to pray, to have our hearts cleansed?    Have we taken time to prepare out hearts?  In Hebrews 10 the writer is speaking of the Old Testament priesthood.  A priest would come into God`s presence "having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water." (verse 22)  There was to be nothing false about it.  All were coming with a true and honest heart in full assurance of faith knowing that the one whose prsence would come into is able to save use, cleanse us, symbolic washing and cleansing - verses 23 - 25.  What was happening here - they were living in a time of tremendous persecution and there was a danger in turning back into old religious ways.  Here the writer is encouraging them to keep on going.  Talking here of how to approach God of heaven.  The danger is once someone starts to drop off from attending the meetings they can become cold and hard, can get into temptation, backsliding and apostacy thoughts all come into mind.  Here the writer was saying do not forsake the assembling with others in worship.  Joseph didn`t do that - his approach in to the presence of Pharaoh.

His answer.  Joseph brings this king to think on the things of God.  Pharaoh tells him about fat and thin cows, the ears of corn that were thin and empty and those that were fat.  He could have taken the opportunity to exalt himself.  Verse 15 what does Joseph do?  It is not in me but God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.  Here he was standing in front of the most powerful man at that time.  Joseph is bringing him to the God of heaven.  In verses 25 and 28 he is taking him back to God. In verse 32 Joseph`s answer was not to promote himself.  The lives we live, the things we do, the places we go, the things we say are all to glorify God.  Joseph was telling what God can do.  That is what we need to be doing in the pulpit and in the streets and in the home.  Verse 38 because of Joseph`s witness Pharaoh now talks of the God of heaven.  Verse 39 "Forasmuch as God hath shown thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art".  We find that in the days of Daniel too.  When Nebuchadnezzar had a dream and Daniel explained the dream to him he glorifyied God all the time.  Daniel said "there is a God in heaven." (chapter 2 verse 28)  When he is finished talking to Nebuchadnezzar the king answered unto Daniel "of a truth your God is a great God, the king of kings, revealer of secrets." (chatper 2 verse 47)  He is saying there is none who could reveal this secret but God.  Joseph had a great approach - he had the answer.  Let`s remember God must deal with the attitudes if we have any.  Let`s give him the glory as we answer to others about the life we live.  Joseph is now promoted to the second seat in Egypt.  It took a number of years to do it but God was working it all out.  When he stood before Pharaoh he was 30 years of age.  13 years before he had left home.  God will bring to your life and mine what he really wants for us individually.  "He will perfect that which concerneth us." (Psalm 138 verse 8)

What do we have in Christ as a believer?

Ephesians 1 verses 1 - 14

The apostle Paul was writing to the little church of Ephesus.  It is something of a hymn of praise.  It just seems as if he is sitting here having these wonderful thoughts of what happened to him in the salvation of his soul.  He wanted to share these with these saints.  It is a letter of encouragement.  Maybe they were not longed saved.  The church was probably not long established, living in a pagan society, the enemies of God all around.  In Ephesus the pagan gods were worshipped and idolised.  Paul writes to encourage them.  The apostle Paul wants them to realise what they have in Christ.  Do we ever really consider what we have in Christ as a believer, a child of God?  It trips off our tongues that we are saved but do we ever take it in fully what it means to be saved?  Paul points them to the richness of their salvation, what they really possess in their lives.  It made them changed, new creatures in Christ.  This was salvation worked out before the foundation of the world.  We notice how Paul brings out the workings of the triune God in salvation.  Verse 3 "God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  God the Father has made that choice, the great plan of salvation was in God`s heart.  It was he who made this great plan.  Verse 7 God the Son "in whom we have redemption through his blood."  God the Father made the plan, the Lord Jesus fulfilled the purpose on the cross.  It was in God`s heart and mind.  It was the Lord who carried out the work.  John 17 "I have finished the work you have called me to do."  "It is finished" Jesus said on the cross.  He finished the work of salvation.  The third triune, God the Holy Spirit verse 13 "ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise."  Coming to you and I revealing our need of salvation then sealing us when we accepted him as our Saviour.  God would plan that, the Son would carry it out and the Holy Spirit would apply the truth to our hearts.  It is by God`s great love for us.  Notice what we have in this salvation.

The relationship we have in Christ.  We are coming tonight as God`s own children.  Abraham whenever he believed he obeyed the word of God "and it was accounted unto him for righteousness" (Romans 4 verse 3) then he became a friend of God.  What a prvilege to be called the friend of God.  Galatians 4 verse 7 "therefore thou are no more a servant but a son."  John said "as many as received him, to them gave he the power to become the sons of God." (John 1 verse 12)  We are sons of the most high God.  If a son then an heir, heirs to all God has promised in his word.  Praying and seeking God`s face is not the same thing.  Praying is when we come to ask God`s blessing on our lives.  Seeking God`s face is coming to lay hold on God for something that God has promised. Abraham said to God "I will not let you go until you bless me."  When God gives a promise in the scripture we are to seek his face until he seals that promise in our lives.  We are joint heirs with God tonight.  Children of God, heirs to every promise he has given in his word, we are joint heirs, rooted in Christ,  Paul pointed out to the Ephesian church at that time "ye were without Christ." chapter 2 verse 12.  Strangers of the covenants of promise.  Having no hope yet God has brought us into covenant relationship.

There is a reconciliation that he makes.  We are on speaking terms with God.  In our unsaved days didn`t matter whether we prayed or not.  Now we are reconciled unto God, have a relationship with him.  Sin had severed the relationship but God took the steps to mend it.  He was the grieved party but yet he took the steps to mend our relationship.  Hebrews 2 verse 17 "wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren."  Let`s remember he has made reconciliation through the cross of Calvary.  We come with hearts that are humble and thankful,  lives enriched by the relationship with God.

The redemption that was offered.  Verse 7 the price that was offered "through his blood".  Christ`s life was offered.  His precious blood.  Was there ever such a price paid before?  So great a sacrifice paid.  The apostle Paul wanted the Ephesian church to understand what we have in Christ Jesus.

The impression, influence, interest and information Joseph gave

Notes from sermon heard on Sunday 7 February 2016

Genesis 39 verses 20 - chapter 40 verse 14

We are continuing to think of the places Joseph served in and the fruit evident in his life as a result.  We turn now and see him in a strange and foreign environment, in the prison house.  There is one thing that is evident about Joseph.  This young man knows the Lord.  It tells us that the Lord was with him (verse 21).  Remember when the apostles were preaching in Acts and they were arrested by the leaders of their day.  There was one thing evident about the apostles - here were men who had been with the Lord Jesus.  That is what makes the difference.  It is the time spent in the presence of the Lord.  As Joseph stepped into the prison house the jailer knew something was different about him.  He had the Lord.  Have you got the Lord today?  Is he your Saviour?  Is your advocate?  Have you trusted him as Saviour and Lord?  Have you taken time to bow the knee, acknowledge you have come short of God`s glory and taken time to ponder whether you will in heaven one day?  Are you saved by God`s grace?  Are you walking in his ways today?  Joseph was not living with his father now.  It had been easy in that environment where there was a friendly and caring atmosphere, easy to live for the Lord.  Nor was Joseph in Potiphar`s house where things were comfortable for him.  He was there in a prison house now.  Have our circumstances changed?  Do we change when times get difficult?  Or do we still show others the Lord is with us?

The impression that Joseph makes.  We see him walk through the prison house and the keeper is arrested by him.  Everything changes around him because there is a man of God in the place - verses 21 to 23.  God was already working in the heart of the jailer.  Everything was eventually handed over to Joseph`s hands.  God was working in that situation.  There is an unseen hand working in our lives to work out God`s plan.  Joseph didn`t walk in with a chip on his shoulder as if the world owed him something.  There was one thing on his mind - the Lord himself.  Joseph could have dwelt on what his brothers did to him.  One morning his father had told him to go and see how it was with his brothers.  The brothers saw him coming and said "here is that dreamer coming again."  They sold him to the Ishmeelites who took him down to Egypt.  He had to stand in the market place before Potiphar saw something in him that struck him as different.  Potiphar brought Joseph to the comforts of his house.  Joseph eventually took charge of Potiphar`s house because the Lord was with him.  Then a vindictive woman, Potiphar`s own wife set out to destroy his character.  She told lies about him, ridiculed him with no truth to it at all.  Joseph ran from the woman but she told all sorts of lies and Potiphar had to listen to them.  It doesn`t say Potiphar believed them but that he listened to her.  If Potiphar had listened and believed the lies he would have had Joseph executed there and then on the spot.  He hadn`t the bottle to stand against his wife.  Instead he put him in prison.  This young man didn`t have a chip on his shoulders.  He didn`t think `if these people hadn`t turned against him he wouldn`t be where he was now`.  Many a teenager gets into trouble today, commits crime and goes up before the magistrates.  We hear their story and it comes out that they had a bad start in life.  Many hadn`t a start like Joseph had.  He had been betrayed, abused yet he gave his heart and life to God and his policy was simple - God will sort things out.  He was believing that "all things work together for good to them that love God."  He thought of his brothers and their treatment of him.  Remember Joseph said years later "you meant it for evil but God meant it for good."  The Psalmist was able to say "the Lord has done wonderful things for us whereof we are glad."  Every step of the way God was leading Joseph. He knew God was in every part of it.  God is in every part of our lives - the happy and sad times, the difficulties and disappointments.  Joseph just saw each situation as another rung on the ladder.  He allowed God to justify his situations.  There maybe lies told about us just to blacken our character but do we allow the Lord to take us through those situations?  Romans 12 "avenge not yourselves but rather give place unto wrath, for it is written Vengeance is mine, I will repay saith the Lord."

The influence he bore.  Imagine his situation for a moment.  He was settled in Potiphar`s house.  Potiphar basically allowed him to get on with things.  He allowed him to know his financial situation, to organise the servants and carry on with the siituation there.  Now he is here in the prison house.  Imagine when that door opened and the smell and stench hit him, as he listened to the taunts and ridicule of others in that place.  "O how the mighty are fallen" we might have said.  Here`s a young man who would bear the truth before them.  Very soon the laughs and taunts would quieten down because the atmosphere changed.  Potiphar`s house lost the blessing and presence of God that day.  Genesis 39 verse 5.  God looked on Joseph and favoured his blessing on him and all that Potiphar had because of Joseph.  Potiphar listened to malicious rumours and lost the presence of God, he forfeited something he would never regain, God`s presence in his house.  The Children of Israel in Samuel`s day went out to fight the Philistines.  They were defeated every time so the Israelites decided to go back to Jerusalem and bring the Ark of the Covenant with them.  They wanted the presence of God with them.  The Philistines heard the cry in the Israelites camp when the Ark arrived.  They wondered what was going on.  It was to them just a box overlaid with gold but it was a symbol of the presence of God not his actual presence.  Phineas` wife gave birth one day.  it was the day that the Ark was stolen away.  She named the child Ichabod because "the glory of God has departed."  Now Joseph had left Potiphar`s house God`s presence was taken away.  All because of a woman who started an evil campaign against Joseph.  It was redirected to the prison house.  What sort of an influence do you bear today?  Remember Lot who received word that Sodom and Gomorrah were going to be destroyed.  He pleaded with his family to run for their lives.  They mocked and laughed at him - why - because they never seen him in this situation before.  How is my influence in the home today?  How is my influence over my family circle?  Joseph went into the situation and his influence began to bear on the jailer.  The jailer eventually gave everything over to Joseph`s control.  Things began to change because of his influence.  Have we the presence of God in our homes today?  Have we the presence of God in our churches today?  Many have lost the presence of God in their worship.  Barnabas in Acts went down to Antioch to inspect the work there.  In Acts 11 we read that he saw there was a mighty work of God going on.  What does it say of Barnabas?  "He was a man full of the Holy Ghost and faith and much people was added unto the Lord."  He honoured God and God honoured him.  Remember Daniel - everything was going alright in Babylon.  King Belshazzar threw a great feast and everyone gathered with him to celebrate.  Suddenly a man`s hand began to write on the wall.  Everyone saw the king`s countenance change.  The King looked at the writing and didn`t know what it meant.  His very knees started to knock together.  So much fear came on him.  He called for all his wise men and philosophers but they couldn`t read the writing.  There was a old grandmother who remembered Daniel.  "There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods was found in him" (Daniel 5 verse 11).  Daniel was brought in and he interpreted the writing on the wall.  When things are going well anyone will do but when things get difficult, when our face is against the wall as Belshazzar`s was will they be any use to us?  God was the influence in Joseph`s life.

The interest he showed.  Chapter 40 verses 6 and 7.  2 others came into the prison house - the baker and the butcher.  Joseph was just a few steps from the throne of Egypt yet he was in the prison house.  God is about to step into his life.  Joseph was not feeling sorry for himself.  Joseph asked these 2 men why they were sad.  He had time for them.  Is there an interest in others?  Whether a man is saved or not?  Do you have an interest in someone near you today?

The information that he gave.  These 2 men had dreams and Joseph interpreted them.  They came to a man who offered good advice and instruction.  The information we give - we have a message to give of God`s saving grace in our hearts.  What information do you have?  Does it stem from a relationship with the Lord?