God commendeth his love to us while we were yet sinners

Sermon notes from 23 March 2017

Romans 5 verses 1 – 12, 20 – 21

As we know the great theme of the book of Romans is the gospel.  Paul says he was “separated unto the gospel of Christ” (Chapter 1 verse 1).  When Paul comes to chapter 4 he sets forth the principles of justification, then in chapter 5 verse 1 he says “therefore”.  We have to ask the question – what is there for?  Paul brings us back to the previous chapter and the great theme of the gospel is being continued.  Chapter 5 gives us 4 simple headings.

Man’s condition is described.  God’s view as he looks down on mankind – how does he see us?  Verse 6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”  Man cannot save himself.  He cannot deliver himself from all he has got himself into.  You might have tried to save yourself but we are weak in regards to salvation.  When the enemy comes against us we have to stand in the strength of the Lord because we are weak.  God says “when we are weak” – he doesn’t know what your weakness is tonight but the devil knows.  You would love to give up the battle but you cannot.  Man is also described as wicked.  “Christ died for the ungodly”.  We read of Achan’s wickedness in the Old Testament, he had no control over it, nor had he any concern for the God of heaven.  “The heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, no one can know it.”  Without God a man is ungodly.  We are without God and without hope, outside the family and fold of God.  Not only described as weak and wicked but also wayward.  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to our own way.”  We want to be in charge, don’t want to be controlled by anyone.  Man is also described as being at war with God.  “For if, when we were enemies” verse 10.  It is like sometimes we rebel against God in our sin.  Enemies of God – wayward and we are also under the wrath of God.  John 3 verse 36 “he that hath the son hath life but he that hath not the son hath not life.”  In verse 18 we read that we are condemned already.  This is how man’s condition is described in these verses.  It is not a pretty picture.  Maybe you are happy as you are.  This book describes you as unsaved.  You are under the wrath and judgment of God.

God’s love is displayed.  Romans 5 verse 8 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  What kind of love is this?  That Christ would ever leave the splendours of heaven, to be despised, rejected at Calvary.  That he would lay down his life for me?  It is unexplainable.  It is a love that passes all understanding.  Love is demonstrated for us at Calvary.  You might wonder if God really loves you.  Just look at Calvary.  Even while we were sinners – why should the God of heaven love me?  We can explain our love for him – we love him because he first loved us.  The Psalmist could say “I love the Lord because he heard my supplication.”  A love that cannot be explained.  It is a universal love.  There is not a person in all the world God doesn’t love.  It doesn’t matter what you have done in life God loves you.  “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  “There is no love like the love of Jesus, never to fade.”  “And he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2 verse 2)  An atoning sacrifice, for the sins of the whole world.  Not one person is excluded.  We can pick and choose who we love but with God there is no difference.  It is an unconditional love.  There is nothing that we have done that would ever make God love us any less or nothing we could do to make him love us any more.  That is one of God’s great attributes.  God is love.  1 Corinthians 13 verse 13 “now abideth faith, hope, charity (love) these three; but the greatest of these is charity (love).”  It will last right throughout eternity.

Calvary’s outcome declared.  “Being justified by faith …”  Being justified by his love – verse 5.  Justified means just as if I had never sinned.  A brand new start, starting over afresh.  The moment we trust in Christ that is salvation.  Salvation in the past, present and future.  The moment we trust Christ we are saved, we are being saved day by day.  Sanctification means being set apart unto God.  Saved from the power of sin.  When it comes to the end of our life being saved means we will be in the presence of God.  We are saved the moment we trust Christ, justified, but being saved day by day from the power of sin also.  Justification is one of the outcomes.  We also have peace with God.  To know the account is settled, to know you have made your peace with God.  The old account has been settled.  Christ made peace by the blood of the cross.  When the Lord came into this world the angels appeared in the clouds saying “peace and goodwill to all men.”  He is the Prince of Peace.  Before he left this earth he told his disciples “peace I give unto you not as the world giveth.”  Peace of heart and peace of mind, being able to put your head on the pillow knowing all is in God’s hands.  Justification and peace with God.  We have access by faith in this grace where we stand.  We can come into the goodness of God and the grace of God has opened the door.  You and I are invited to come into his presence.  The invitation goes out through the great gospel message.  Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  It is a sure hope, a guaranteed hope.  If you have Christ in your heart you are guaranteed a place in heaven.  The little phrase “and not only also” is repeated throughout this chapter.  The moment a man or woman trusts Christ the Holy Spirit enters and we are born of God.  “Saved from wrath through him” - verse 9.  In verse 10 we are “reconciled to God” and in verse 11 we have “joy in God”.  You should be praising God because of what he has done for you.

Our response is demanded.  There is a responsibility that comes to us to believe the gospel message.  God has done everything he can.  He has opened the door.  “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”  We cannot be saved by ourselves.  The word “believe” is mentioned over 100 times in John’s gospel.  John 1 verse 12 “but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”  “These things are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that believing ye might have life through his name.” (John 20 verse 31)  God forgave me all my sins.  If you come to Christ he will not cast you away.  The plea goes out to all mankind – come and have salvation, come and be justified.  God wants to bless you more than you could ever want to be blessed but your responsibility is to exercise faith today.

Ready to preach the gospel

Sermon notes from 19 March 2017

Romans 1 verses 13 - 18

The gospel message is a message of alarm.  God wants to waken you, to make you aware of the danger of dying in your sin.  It is God`s siren to us.  We have read that great servant Paul when he said "I am ready to preach the gospel".  Paul is ready to preach the gospel.  It is the gospel of Christ.  Why - because first of all he loves the message.  Paul says I love to preach the message because I love the Saviour.  He had a desire in his heart to preach this great message.  It didn`t matter where he went - going down the street and a little girl following him shouting "these men are servants of the most high God which show unto us the way of salvation" (Acts 16 verse 17), he preached in the open air, in the markets, at the river side, in the prison house, in palaces, in the great auditorium in Rome.  Paul was ready to preach the gospel because he loved it.  Paul was stoned out of towns, beaten, put in prison but he just went to the next town and started to preach again.  Why - simply because he loved the God of heaven.  He believed it to be the power of God unto salvation.  He believed through the foolishness of preaching that God would save those who believed on it.  "It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that  believe." (1 Corinthians 1 verse 21)  Paul also encouraged others do the same thing.  He told Timothy "preach the word, be instant in season, out of season" (2 Timothy 4 verse 2).  Whether men like it or not, it will transform them.  It doesn`t matter, it comes with newness every time we hear it because it is a living message.  Paul was loyal to the message, ready for the defense of the gospel, ready to lay down his life for.  "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gosspel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galatians 1 verse 8)  Paul loved it and was loyal to it.  There was something about Paul`s life - you could see he was a man of God.  "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."  "It is no longer I that liveth but Christ that liveth in me."  Paul said to Timothy "Let your conversation be as it is becometh the gospel of Christ" (Philippians 1 verse 27)  There has to be a mark of a difference that marks us out.  People were first called Christians at Antioch.  They loved the message so much.  Paul longed others to hear it too.  In verse 14 we read of the Greeks.  Throughout scripture the Greeks loved to seek after wisdom, almost trying to come to an understanding, could never rationalise or reason it out.  How could someone die on the cross let alone save anyone?  The Greeks who tried to reason it out in their minds.  The Barbarians were a radical people.  You couldn`t talk to them.  They just didn`t listen.  Paul says "I am a debtor both to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, both to the wise and the unwise."  To the uneducated and educated, to the civilised or whatever.  He was a debtor, did that mean he owed something to them?  No, because of all of heaven has done for me.  The least I could do is share the gospel with them.  A debtor to all human race and everyone.  They deserved to hear the gospel at least once.  He loves the gospel and longs others might come to know it.  "It is the power of God unto salvation."  Nothing changes a man`s life like the gospel message.  When a man believes the gospel he becomes a new creature.  There is a tremendous difference because he is no longer a child of the devil.  Paul loved to preach the gospel.

Paul speaks of the person of the gospel.  "Concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord" (verse 3)  It is all about him.  It is about Christ and him alone.  Acts 4 verse 12 "neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved."  "Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1 verse 21)  God sent his son into the world to be the Saviour of the world.  Galatians "when the fulness of time was come God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law to deem them that were under the law." (Galatians 4 verses 4 and 5)  God sent him from heaven, from those great mansions in the sky, where the streets were made of gold, a place of perfect peace.  God sent him down into the world that rejected him.  John 1 verse 10 "he was in the world, the world was made by him and the world knew him not."  Many today do not know the Saviour.  The one born in the manger of Bethlehem, sent to be the Saviour of the world.  "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ."  Right throughout scripture we read how much he says of the gospel.  Romans 2 verse 16 "In the days when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to the gospel."  Christ is not here to condemn the world.  He wants you to understand something of God`s great plan of salvation.  He came into the world to save sinners.  We are all sinners.  No difference in any of us - I am only a sinner saved by grace.  This message is about the sending of his son.  Romans 8 verse 32 "God spared not his own son."  God sent him to go to Calvary.  He knew he would be rejected, bruised yet he sent him.  God spared not his own son but delivered him up freely for us.  When the soldiers came to arrest him in the garden, God in heaven turned away.  He could have delivered him even at that moment but he didn`t.  When he went into Pilate`s judgment hall, when he was beaten, when a crown of thorns was placed on his head, when he was mocked and when they shouted "hail king of the Jews" God and all of heaven turned away.  When they took him out to Calvary`s cross and nailed him by the hands and feet, when every bone in his body was out of joint, God spared not his son.  The God of heaven turned his back on his son.  In those 3 dark hours at Calvary God closed heaven altogether.  Laid on him the iniquity of us all.  God spared not his son.  God slew his son.  He took up the offering made on Calvary and consumed it to the very end.  God slew his son at Calvary.  The Father who spared not his son slew his son is seeking us as his sons.  He is not a dead Saviour.  He is alive for ever.  In 1 Corinthians 15 we read of resurrection of Christ.  Christ died - that is a historical fact.  You could go to the history books and read of a man crucified outside Jerusalem.  He died for our sins.  That is a theological fact.  That is what makes his death different to every other death.  It makes him our substitute.  He rose again the third day.  That is a supernatural fact.  There is evidence for the resurrection.  At the tomb he was seen, on the road to Emmaeus he talked with 2 men, he was seen by the disciples, by 500 men, by Cephas and by Paul himself.  God spared not his son.  He spared not the fallen angels who left their eternal state because of sin.  He spared not the whole world from his wrath and judgment on the flood in the time of Noah.  It says in verse 18 "for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness. " You could read through this book and through the Old Testament that the wrath of God has been revealed against sin.  You can see it from the beginning to the end upon the angels and his son on the cross.  Why did he not spare his son?  How is God going to spare you if you turn your back on Christ?  You cannot.  God is a God who is holy.  The soul that sins shall die.  There is an eternal punishment for the soul that sins.  "He that hath the son hath eternal life and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5 verse 12)  God sent his son into a world of sorrow, sin and woe.  Never forget God loves you.  He is not willing that any shall perish.  He is a holy God who is just and must punish sin.  If your sin is not dealt with by Jesus on the cross it will be dealt with by Jesus on the throne.  The only place you can be is with Christ.  

The power of the gospel.  It is the same word we get our word dynamite from today.  Such is the power of God.  The preaching of the cross is foolishness unto you who believe.

The purpose of the gospel - to bring salvation.  It is great because of the person who planned it.  It is great because of the people it reaches - to all men.  "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."  John 3 verse 16  He gave his only son for me.  That if I believe I will have eternal life.  God has not made salvation difficult, that you will have to pay for it, that only able bodied people can believe.  The purpose of the gospel is to bring salvation.  We are not here to put pressure on you, to button hole you.  A simple gospel message.  If you believe you can leave here saved by the grace of God in a moment of time.

The plan of the gospel - believe.  Paul said to the Philippian jailer when asked "what must I do to be saved" - "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ."  He was not told to change his lifestyle, become a better person but simply believe on the Lord.  It cannot be any simpler.  Do you want to be saved, to trust in Christ?  Then simply believe on Christ.

As cold waters to a thirsty soul ...

Sermon notes from 20 March 2017

Proverbs 25 verse 25 "As cold waters to a thirsty soul so is good news from a far country."

As we look back through the centuries at the way news travels we have to go back to the day when there were no newspapers.  News was shared by town criers then there came telephones, telegrams, newspapers, fax machines, computers, TV`s, radios, computers, laptops and smart phones.  If we go back 200 years to the death of Abraham Lincoln it took 2 years for the news of his death to reach the remotest parts of the world.  When John F Kennedy was shot in 1964 it took less than 2 weeks for the news to reach the world.  When Donald Trump was elected 2 months ago it took less than 2 minutes for the whole world to be told.  The first thing that comes to your mind when the telephone rings is `who it is`.  The person on the other end of the line determines whether we answer it or not.  It is important to know who the sender is.  When it comes to computers there are hackers out there who do not want to do you any good.  This message is from heaven - "from a far country".  The government is probably spending millions of pounds putting satelites into space, hoping one day to get a return signal not just from our world but further away.  Isaiah 13 verse 12.  They came from a far country.  This is God`s message to mankind.  This is God`s word sent to all of us.

The sender of this message was not out to do you any harm.  The Lord wants to bless you, make you ready for heaven.  The message in this book never changes.  When we think of the sender we automatically think of God as the creator.  Job 26 verse 7.  When God created the universe this world spins at 100 miles per hour.  If it ever went off balance dear only knows what would happen.  It never slows down.  It is the same speed every day.  Not only spinning but travelling around the sun.  It never changes, gives us the 4 seasons each year.  God has created the world.  He cares for the world and no-one cares like he does.  John 3 verse 16.  As God looks down from heaven he saw the damage sin was doing in this world.  God has provided the escape.  1 Peter 5 verse 7 "cast your care upon him for he careth for you."  God is not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance - why - because he cares for you.  That is why he has given you this opportunity to respond to his grace.  He is God, rich in mercy towards us.  He created the world, he cares for the world but he communicates with the world.  Hebrews 1 verse 1.  God spoke to the Old Testament prophets through dreams and visions.  God showed them the way he wanted them to go.  This book is inspired of God.  Someone once said even the words "Holy Bible" are inspired.  It couldn`t be anything else.  He has demonstrated his love and mercy right through this book.  The God of heaven speaks to us through this word.  It is good news from a far country.  Have you read the story of the cross?  The message comes from a far country and the messenger is God.

Look at the substance of this message.  If we get an email it is up to us to decide if we want to open it and read it.  This book is a revelation of Christ himself.  Hebrews 10 verse 7.  John 5 verse 39.  John 1 verse 3 he created all things and all things were created by him, there was not anything made without him.  He was there before the foundation of the world.  I would love to have been there on that day after Jesus had risen and joined the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaeus.  They were downcast in spirit.  "Beginning at Moses he expounted unto them the things concerning himself."  Wouldn`t you love to know how far he went back.  Genesis 3 verse 16 talks about the seed of the woman, Christ himself.  Abraham was on the mountain top when God said he would provide a lamb.  He has now provided that lamb - John 1 verse 29 "behold the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world."  Not only eternal in his being but exceptional in his birth.  He was conceived of the Holy Ghost, no natural father.  The bloodline always comes from the father.  He was exceptional in his birth.  Even the night he was born in Bethlehem God had put everything in place.  He had to be in Bethlehem for the taxes to be paid.  He was the perfect example in his life, he did only those things that pleased his Father.  His Father could look down from heaven and say "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."  He laid down his life for us.  He didn`t have to go to the cross but because of his love he went to the cross, he was willing to take the judgment of God.  Thank God he escaped from the tomb and is alive for evermore.  He has ascended to the throne of God and is able to save to the uttermost.  Hebrews 7 verses 25 and 26.  What a triumph it was to be raised from the tomb.  He is expected in the air one day.  Christ came into the world with one plan and one purpose - to seek and to save that which was lost.  Luke 19 verse 10.  That is why he came.  He is pleading for men and women to come.  Yes it is good news from a far country.  

The secret of the message.  It is for a thirsty soul.  If you are ever going to know God`s blssing in salvation you wil have to have this deep desire to know him.  Psalm 42 verse 1.  A man that is thirsty would do anything to get to the water.  There is a thirst, a deep desire.  There were 2 men in the New Testament who had a similar desire.  Blind Bartimaeus was sitting at the side of the street and heard Jesus was passing by.  He starts to shout and then even louder "Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me".  He wanted to know Christ, the healing of Christ in his body.  Zacchaeus had a desire to see Jesus, he came with one thing in his mind - to see Jesus.  Nothing would stop him - he climbed up into a sycamore tree.  He was putting himself to shame - rich men don`t climb trees.  He was doing something extraordinary.  He got beyond and above the crowd.  He had that determination and desire deep in his heart to see Christ.  Do you want to meet with Christ?  If there is not a hunger or desire you will never find him.  Whenever there is a seeking sinner there is a seeking Saviour.  It is good news to your heart tonight.  If you want to be saved there will have to be determination.  Are you thirsting after Christ? As the God of heaven looks down he sees into your heart.  He knows whether you want to be saved.  You could sit in mission halls for years waiting for some great experience but you simply have to respond.  You will never satisfy your thirst thinking about it or talking about it.  Only satisfy my thirst when I took it.  "If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink" John 7 verse 37.  You can drink of salvation tonight, find it in the wells of salvation.  To the woman at the well Jesus said "whosoever shall drink of the water I shall give him he shall never thirst again."  If the gospel is going to bless your soul you need to take it in and accept Jesus died for you.

Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world

Notes from a sermon heard on 22 March 2017

John 1 verses 26 – 39

“Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”

These words were spoken by John the Baptist.  He was a different John to the apostle.  John the Baptist was a man sent by God.  We read that in the beginning of this great chapter in verses 6 to 8.  That is why John has his part on the scene – to announce the arrival of the Lord and to present him.  He was one of the last prophets and the greatest of them.  He had a unique life.  John makes this great discovery and exclamation of Jesus in this verse.  John’s gospel has a lot to say about the world.  We are told in this chapter that God created the world, we are also told he is the light of the world.  In John 3 we read that God loves the world.  In this verse we read of the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.  The extent of the problem is sin.  There are many many different problems in this world.  Some think the greatest problem is financial.  Others think it is health that is the greatest problem as we travel through life.  You will get into heaven without any finance or bad health but you will never get in without sin being taken away.  If we were to write down all my sins it would fill a book and if we were to take the sins of everyone here there would be a vast number, probably enough to fill the church with books.  Consider the fact that there are 7½ billion people in the world, that each person commits 3 sins a day and that would be 1000 a year and if we were given 70 years to live that would make 70000 sins.  If all the sins of the world were added together you couldn’t number the vastness of this problem of sin.  Sin is something that separates us from the God of heaven.  The government might legalise sin and society might excuse sin and make light of it but it is serious when it comes to the God of heaven.  He is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.  Sin is a serious problem.  It will keep you out of heaven.  That is how serious it is.  We might smile at it, might enjoy it but Romans 5 verse 12 says “Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.”  But … Christ came into the world to save sinners.  Sin not only separates us from God but sin ruins lives.  Think of the alcoholic for a moment.  Not just sin but the love of sin – the sin of the world is mentioned here in these 2 verses.  Sin separates, sin spoils, sin will keep us out of heaven.

The excellence of the person.  Many names are given to the Lord throughout the scriptures – Emmanual, Jesus.  There are over 100 names given to the Lord.  No-one name fully describes him.  Everyone has a different aspect.  The Lamb of God speaks of the great sacrifice to take away the sin of the world.  In Genesis we read of Abraham setting off up to the mountain with his servants to worship God.  He says to his servants “you stay here and I and the lad will go on up and worship.”  Isaac asks his father “where is the Lamb for the sacrifice?”  Abraham’s response – “God will provide himself a Lamb.” (Genesis 22 verse 8).  A Lamb being provided.  In Exodus we read of the blood of the lamb applied to the doorposts.  In Isaiah 53 we read of the lamb crucified.  There is something special about the Lamb of God.  Here he is clearly identified.  John talks of the worth of the lamb.  “One standing among you whom you know not” (verse 26).  Then he goes on in verse 27 to say “whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.”  John went on to say “I must decrease and he must increase.”  John speaks not only of the worth of the lamb but of the work of the lamb – verses 35 and 36.  There was something about the walk, not just how he walked, it was speaking of his whole manner of life.  It speaks of his holiness, his goodness, a perfect sinless lamb.  He went about doing good, helping those who were sick and in trouble, restoring sight to the blind, making the lame to walk, doing only those things that pleased the Father.  How different from any of us.  Notice also the words of the lamb.  The words of Christ are words of welcome, an invitation.  Reading through the scriptures you often read of the Lord inviting people to come.  The disciples of John wanted to see where he dwelt and Jesus told them to “come and see”.  He also said “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”  These 2 disciples asked where he was dwelling and he told them to come and see.  Jesus is something worth listening to.  The preacher is not worth listening to but the words of Jesus bring blessing, comfort and challenge.  The work of the lamb was to come to take away the sin of the world.  He took our sins on his own body.  The extent of the problem.

The expanse of the pardon.  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.  What a tremendous price had to be paid.  He had to lay down his life for us to be saved.  The price he paid.  The just for the unjust that he might bring us to God.  When he went to Calvary it was a voluntary act.  He left the splendours of heaven.  God looked down and said “who will go and whom will I send?”  Isaiah himself said “here am I send me.”  Jesus said those same words to his Father – it was a voluntary act.  Calvary was not only a voluntary sacrifice but a violent sacrifice.  Think of how they beat him, left his back like a ploughed field, the very hairs of his face were pulled out, they put a crown of thorns on his head then beat those thorns down into his head.  We are not talking about small thorns either, they were 2 inches long, sharp and pointed.  The pain he went through.  It was a vicarious act because it was in the place of another.  Barabbas got out of prison simply because another took his place.  It was a victorious work.  It was enough to satisfy the heart of God.  God shall see of the travail of the soul and be satisfied.  He is satisfied with the work accomplished by his son on Calvary.  “It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me.”  There is a pardon that is free, full and forever.  A pardon has to be something that is received.  The price of the pardon has to be paid in full.  “He paid a debt he did not owe, I owed a debt I could not pay.”  The expanse of the pardon – we are not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold but by the precious blood of the lamb.  The lamb was acceptable to God.

The entreaty for peace with God.  The word “behold” means to look more deeply, more than a glance.  “When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died, my richest gain I count but loss and pour contempt on all my pride.”  It is a look that saves and sets you free.  It is a simple look and a single look.  It is very significant.  “Neither is there salvation in any other for there is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved.”  If you are looking for your works to save you, you will be lost.  If you are looking to anything outside of Christ you are looking in the wrong direction.  Focus on him.  He is the one who takes away the sin of the world.  Isaiah 45 verse 22 “Look unto me and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else.”  If you were to look intently at Christ he can save you not only for time but for all eternity.  It is an everlasting look.  The more you look at Calvary the more you will realise how much God loves you.  Christ has done all for you at Calvary – what will you do for him?

The shepherds experience

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 25 December 2016

Luke 2 verses 8 - 20

Whenever we come to the shepherds here in Luke`s gospel chapter 2 we are looking at the most familiar account of scripture.  Here we find the shepherds out on the hillside.  We can visualise them as they care for their sheep.  The day began like any other day and perhaps today has been the same for us.  It began like any other day but this day was going to be a day when something special would happen in the lives of these men.  God would show them something they had never seen or witnessed before.  These men had been tending the sheep all day long.  They had taken them to the lush valley where they were able to feed.  Maybe they had taken them to the still brook to satisfy their thirst.  Now the day has worn on and it is night time.  They must bring their sheep into a place of safety.  That is where they settled down for the night then God breaks in..  The night of eternity is fast approaching.  The only thing sufficient for us is God breaking into our souls and showing us Jesus as he came to seek and to save your soul.  We not only want to see him in the manger but on the cross.  It was there he finished your salvation.  See him in the tomb .  View that day when the women looked into the tomb and could find nothing.  Now we see him seated at the right hand of the Father.  He promised one day to come again.  "I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also." (John 14 verses 2 and 3)  The one nurtured on that first Christmas day is coming back again one day for those who are saved, who know Christ as Saviour and Lord.  "Where I am you might be also."  God broke into our lives.  Look at the experience of the shepherds.

The shepherds were enlightened.  As they sat around the angels came and they were startled - verses 9 and 10.  The angels now had their attention.  They were speaking directly to the shepherds.  It is God who speaks to us through his Holy Spirit and shows us our great need.  Sometimes as we read God`s word we are startled.  We need to hear those words "fear not it is I".  The shepherds were enlightened to the event that had just taken place in Bethlehem - verses 10 and 11 "I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour which is Christ the Lord."  They were aware of God`s part right back to Genesis, the days of creation.  Now the Saviour had come and it came now to the shepherds.  Up until now the world was ignorant to the virgin birth and God veiled in human flesh.  They didn`t know what was happening in Bethlehem until God came to enlighten their minds to see it for themselves.  "The natural man receiveth not the things of God for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritualy discerned." (1 Cointhians 2 verse 14)  The natural man is that man born into the world, born with a sinful nature.  That is us.  All because the Bible tells us each one of us has sinned and come short of the glory of God.  We are born tonight without God.  We are born into the world in sin by nature.  By practice he sent us a Saviour, one who can save us from all sin.  We could never reach that with our own intellect or ability.  Something we have to be enlightened to - God of heaven does that through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  You and I cannot reach that ourselves.  In Acts 2 Peter preached to the multiude of people and they were pricked in their hearts.  Peter could preach to their ears, even convince their minds but never reach the hearts.  In Luke 24 the 2 on the road to Emmaeus were thinking back to the resurrection, couldn`t take it in.  These 2 disciples said "did not our hearts burn within us when he opened up the scriptures to us?" (Luke 24 verse 32)  Peter came to the house of Cornelius and opened up the word of God and preached when the Holy Spirit came upon them.  He took them through the istory of the nation of Israel then onto Christ and preached of his cross and resurrection.  Something happened - the Holy Spirit came down and fell on them.  God had a plan.

The shepherds encounter - verse 15.  The shepherds made their way down to Bethlehem and made it with haste.  Once they were enlightened they were not going to tarry.  As they entered that place they seen it just as the angels told them.  As they looked in the manger looked on him and found the one the angels told them.  Have you ever gazed upon the Lord in true believing faith?  Remember how he died one day.  The Roman Centurion heard every word that was cried - "it is finished" were the last words.  "Surely this was the Son of God" he said.  He seen him as he never seen him before.  What a gaze that was.  Have you ever looked to the Lord?  Maybe know him as the baby in manger.  Maybe now know him from  the stable, know him as he was growing up, dying on the cross but have never trusted him as Saviour and Lord.  We can be enlightened but most end with encounter with Christ on the cross.  In Acts 8 the Ethiopian eunich was making his way home when he came under such conviction.  His mind was being enlightened right from Isaiah 53 and the suffering servant.  He had his mind enlightened but not yet had an encounter with Christ.  As Philip preached to him the Holy Ghost opened up his mind.

The shepherds were encouraged - verses 16 and 17.  As they gazed on the face of the Saviour they were encouraged.  There is so much to discourage us.  Looking into another year, don`t know what is going to happen.  Maybe bleak for you.  Instead of doing that look on the face of the Lord and be greatly encouraged   The only place we can look is on the Lord.  A sight of the Saviour was all the disciples needed out in the boat when the wind and the rain increased.  David the King of Israel brought his men back to the village of Ziglag.  Something had happened when he was away.  The enemy had come down and raided that city and carried away their families.  The men would have stoned David but he "encouraged himself in the Lord".

The shepherds were enabled - verses 17 and 18.  These were shepherds not preachers or evangelists.  They were not used to going around telling others that something had happened that day.  When they gazed on the baby God opened their hearts to believe but opened their lips to tell others what had happened.  The apostle Paul knew needed help when it came to preaching .  He asked for others to pray for him "that utterance may be give unto me."  We need prayer when it comes to witnessing.  We need to pray for one another.  We need to support one another and tell what we have seen and witnessed.

Pressing towards the prize

Notes from a sermon heard on Sunday 1 January 2017

Philippians 3 verses 12 - 21

"I press toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

A new goal for 2017.  Maybe for someone it will be their goal.  The apostle Paul has one thing on his mind - pressing towards the high calling of God.  The apostle Paul often points his readers to something they can visualise, something that is seen unfolding before them.  Here he uses the figure of the athlete.  Paul likens the Christian walk to a race. He points to the line set before him.  It is not the starting point but the finishing line.  That is what is in his heart and mind.  The finishing line is very important to the athlete.  I am sure if you have ever been in a race, competed in a race the beginning is important and the pace is important too but there is nothing like that finishing line.  From the moment the starting pistol sounds or the flag drops before you there is only one thing on your mind - the finishing line.  Here is one important aspect to consider - you have got to start the race.  

There is an experience Paul points to in verse 12.  The apostle Paul was apprehended of Christ Jesus.  The apostle Paul had already started the race.  He already had begun his homeward journey.  Each and every experience is different for everyone.  For you maybe it was in a gospel meeting or mission or maybe when you came home from church.  God came to you in that fleeting moment and God opened up your heart that somehow you might receive the word of God.  Salvation is of the Lord.  The Holy Spirit was speaking to you.  God was working in your heart, opening up your eyes to show you your need of salvation, the depths and sinfulness of your heart.  Showing you the cross of Calvary on the one side and showing you your sinfulness, on the other the sinlessness of the Saviour.  Then as you thought on it you came to a saving faith in Christ.  Can you look back to a time when you trusted Christ as your Saviour? The apostle Paul had many experiences he could depend on.  Many thought he was ready for home.  Verse 15 he was circumcised on the eighth day.  He was of the stock of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law faultless.  That is not a saving experience however.  He had everything going for him.  He was zealous for the Jewish faith yet it didn`t help him.  He hated the name of Christians.  He demanded the high priests to give him letters that if he found anyone in the way he could put them into prison, do as much as he could against them.  That young man left Jerusalem breathing out threatenings and  slaughter.  He was as far away from God as he could get, heading to Damascus that if he found anyone believing in Christ he could take them and throw them into prison.  Far away from God.  Maybe that is what you are saying tonight.  You have no thought in your heart for Christ.  Yes you have a little bit of churchianity or christianity but that is it.  Paul as he travelled along at midday was brought to his knees in the dust.  Paul cried out "Lord, what will you have me to do?"  The Lord replied "it is hard to kick against the pricks." (Acts 9 verse 5)  Paul was coming under the hand of God.  God was making himself real to him.  He found him in the very dust.  If you want to find Christ you have got to be prepared to step down and humble yourself.  God brought him to his knees.  What about that experience for you?  Think of Saul in the Old Testament scriptures.  Someone had left the gate open and his father`s donkeys escaped.  Saul was sent after them.  God had a task for Saul.  He used this as an excuse to get him into the place he wanted him to be in.  Why are you in this place tonight?  You are here because God wants to save your soul.  Saul went to look for the donkeys.  They were found and sent home.  God got him where he wanted him to be.  He was turned into another man.  The Bible tells us that is true conversion, not half hearted.  He brought a man to his knees before a thrice holy God and changed his life, his attitude, his mood, his temperament, his activities.  He was a complete new creature in Christ Jesus.  Is that the experience in your life?

See the energy that is used.  He is pressing on here, there is no turning back.  One man came to Jesus realising he did not have what Jesus` disciples had.  He wasn`t saved and if not saved wouldn`t be with God in heaven.  He would be lost for all eternity.  He came to the feet of Christ and asked "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  He was serious but when it came to the striving he stopped short.  Is there that striving in your life for salvation?  Salvation does not come easy.  If we are to be saved we have to desire it with all our hearts.  That is the soul that will be saved.  Jeremiah 29 verse 13 "ye shall seek me and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart."  All the searching has to be after God.  No half measures here.  Jesus asked a question many a person has asked down through the years - "are there few that be saved?"  Forget about the few that be saved but consider this - are you saved?  What are you depending on for heaven?  Luke 13 verse 24 "strive to enter in at the straight gate."  Striving, pressing.  "For many shall seek to enter in and shall not be able to."  The word strive means to agonise with all your being.  By this I am not saying there is anything we can do to earn our salvation.  We must however comply with all our hearts.  Maybe the Lord has put a finger on your life and you do not want to give it up.  Is there something holding you back from getting saved? Maybe it is a relationship.  Maybe something very simple - friends, loved ones, family.  There are many different things.  You are going to have to strive if you want to be saved.  Think of the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years.  She had one opportunity.  Jesus was passing by and she reached forward and touched the hem of Jesus garment.  She was saved.  Are you going to look to the one who has come to seek and to save your soul?  He is able to save you.  He died to save you.  He poured our his precious blood to save you.

Paul is estimating here on his way.  He keeps a trace on the road of how far he has come on the way to heaven.  He is still striving for one thing - the crown.  He hasn`t given up.  Ephesians 2 verse 8 "for by grace are you saved, it is the gift of God."  Where are you tonight from this time last year it is a good measuring rod.

Paul`s expectancy - verse 14.  The athlete in the race will stretch every sinew, make every effort to reach that final line.  Peter said "when the chief shepherd shall appear ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away." (1 Peter 5 verse 4)  Paul sitting in an old prison house was not feeling sorry for himself.  He did not think of God coming and releasing him or of someone coming to help him escape.  He said "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord the righteous judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only but  unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4 verses 7 and 8)  Can you see yourself with that crown tonight?  Have you begun that race?  When he steps up to receive his prize that is the purpose of his crowning.  Will you experience God`s salvation., the beginning of the Christian life?  One day that will take you to heaven and home.  Come to Christ and trust him as your Saviour.  Do not depend on something that is not there.

casting our burdens on the Lord

Sermon notes from Sunday 1 January 2017

Psalm 55

"Cast thy burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain thee, he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."

We always begin the year by looking at our motto verse.  It is not something to be put up somewhere but it is much than that.  It is a promise God has given to us that we might depend upon, stand upon and take us through many difficult situations.  As we gaze on the motto verse we know God is able to do what he he says in this verse.  God is still in control.  In verse 16 the tone of the Psalm changes.  The Psalmist begins in verses 1 to 9 by pouring out his complaints.  Here is a man who feels so hard done by, he has had so many personal encounters.  In verses 9 to 15 he still is in the mood of prayer but rather than complaining he now prays against his enemies.  He prays that God would deal with those enemies.  In these verses he speaks of a very close friend who walked with him to the house of God and wrestled with him in prayer.  The Psalmist decides to take every problem he has and cast it on the Lord because the Lord has invited him to do so.  Maybe there is a burden, a difficulty you are bearing.  Somehow it seems so dark, somehow it seems so deep that you feel you are never going to get through it.  The Lord says to bring it to him and cast it at his feet.  None shall escape those burdens. They will come.  We see some of the greatest Christians down through the word of God and in the world today who had similar burdens.  I often say those with the biggest smiles on their faces are those who carry the biggest burdens.  I want us to think of the burden today.  A burden is something that is wearisome, heavy and hard to bear.

This is a permitted burden.  God allows the Psalmist to have a burden and he allows you and me to have a burden too.  It is not to bring us down, to break us or turn us away but rather to bring us closer to the Lord.  I take great comfort and knowledge when a problem comes into my life in knowing that God has permitted it.  He doesn`t allow anything to come into my life without his say so.  He knows every detail of your life.  He has looked at the problem and allowed it.  Israel had a burden - because they turned their backs on God, God allowed the Assyrian army to come down and carry them into captivity.  We read also of Judah, the southern tribes of Israel followed Israel and turned their backs on God too.  God allowed Babylon to come and take them into captivity.  There are other burdens which are not because of sinfulness.  Don`t think this is God`s punishment on you because you have sinned somehow.  Job 1 verse 6.  Job was a man who trusted God yet here we read that one day Satan came into God`s presence to discuss Job.  In the book of Revelation it says that Satan is the accuser of the brethren.  Satan comes to criticise Job.  He is the one who criticises in the ears of God all that Job was doing on earth.  In verse 8 we read of God`s own testimony of Job "there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil."  Satan replies "if you would allow me to attack him you would see what is in him.  He would curse you."  Verse 11.  In verse 12 the Lord gives permission to Satan "so Satan went forth from the presence of the Lord".  He had been in God`s presence and God allowed him to bring a burden on Job`s life.  Whenever we are being weighed down by every burden it is a difficult thing but we can be sure that the God of heaven knows all about it.  God told Satan "you do what you want but don`t touch his life."  Verse 15 what a burden this was.  A man who owned a great farm of land had all of it taken from him in a second.  Verse 16 now his sheep were gone, his livelihood was dwindled away.  Verse 17 first it was the oxen then the sheep and now the camels.  In verse 18 we read his own family is also taken.  Within the space of a few hours everything was taken from him.  Why?  Because God permitted it.  Chapter 2 - is the devil content?  Not a bit of it.  The devil comes again into the presence of God.  He brings the same accusation in verse 5 against Job.  He has taken away his livelihood, his wealth and his family and now he is sitting on his own.  The devil tells God it is not enough, you come with sickness and he will curse you.  Verse 6 "behold he is in thine hand but save his life."  What did Satan do to Job?  He smote Job with boils from his feet to his head.  The devil is strong but the Lord is mightier.  He was able to come in and go into his home.  Took his family away, his livelihood and then touched his body.  All he could do was try and get some ease from his body.  Isn`t it terrible to imagine what he was thinking through all of this?  To crown it all off his wife come to him in verse 9 and her advice is "curse God and die".  Not much encouragement to Job at this stage.  This as the burden the Lord allowed him to carry.  God allows us a burden to bring us closer to himself.  A permitted burden.  Maybe God will allow a burden to rest upon our shoulders to test and try us, to help to prove that he is able to carry us through.

A privileged burden.  God saw the Psalmist bearing under the burden.  Remember when Jesus said "come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest."  Why not cast your burden on the Lord today.  He knew the burden the Psalmist was under but he also knew the cares the Psalmist had too,  He knows the size of it, the weight of it, where it comes from.  1 Corinthians 10 verse 13.  Paul wrote to a church under great pressure and difficulty.  "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man but God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able but will with the temptation also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it."  Sometimes the devil is good at that.  Things are sore and hard on us.  The devil gets us into a corner and tells us you are the only one suffering, everyone else is having a great time.  Paul goes into the fellowship and says there is no temptation fallen unto you but God is faithful.  He will not suffer you with the temptation but will also make a way to escape that you might be able to bear it.  With the burden he has provided a way of escape.  One day that way will come.  It is coming.  That is why it is privileged.  God wouldn`t allow Satan to touch his life.  Job said he knoweth the way that I take.  "For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous".  

The purpose of the burden.  If instructions are to be followed it will bring him closer to the Lord - why - because he has to cast them on the Lord.  That is the purpose you are carrying today, to make you more dependent on the Lord.  If we could handle it alone I wouldn`t need the Lord.  Sometimes we find that hard to take in.  Mary and Martha were 2 sisters who had a brother Lazarus.  Lazarus was sick.  When sickness comes into the home it is a heavy burden and affects everyone.  Mary and Martha`s brother Lazarus died then the Lord tarried his coming.  What a tremendous burden that was to bear.  Jesus spoke to his disciples about this burden "this sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God" (John 11 verse 4)  Here was the burden in the home of Mary and Martha.  The purpose was to glorify God of heaven.  That heavy burden was to bring glory to God.  How can that be?  God would reach through this situation.  As Jesus called him from the very depths of dead he told Lazarus to come forth and he stepped forth.  "then many of the Jews which came to Mary and had seen the things which Jesus did believed on him." (John 11 verse 45)  That was the purpose of this time of sickness.  He didn`t want to break Mary and Martha`s heart.  Was this an attack of the devil because they had sinned?  No it was to bring people to know Christ personally.  Jesus saved many that day because they believed on him through Lazarus.  See what is coming out of this home.  Glory to God in the salvation of many souls.  All began with the burden on 2 sisters.  Isn`t that what happened to Joseph yet he was able to say "God meant it for good"?  

This is a personal burden.  You are bearing a burden no one knows anything about.  God knows all about it.  Take it, lift it to him today and he will sustain you.