3 fools in scripture

Sermon notes from Sunday 12 November 2017

1 Samuel 26 verses 12 - 21

Here in 1 Samuel 26 Saul was king of Israel.  He had a deep seated hatred for David, only a young shepherd boy.  God was nurturing him to become the next king of Israel.  Saul hated that David was held in high esteem by the people.  When Saul realised this he was very angry. Jealousy, hatred and malice all set into his heart.  Our hearts tonight are desperately wicked, we cannot know them.  David fled into the desert.  Saul went after him.  He was determined to find him and kill him.  Then a deep sleep came over Saul`s camp.  David comes into Saul`s camp.  He sees Saul`s spear and cruise of water.  He takes both of them.  He would not touch the Lord`s anointed.  He went back to his own camp.  He called over to Saul.  He charged Abner "you have not done well this day."  He was taunting him "where is the king`s cruise and the king`s spear, behold they are here."  Saul heard all this and asked "are you my son David?"  In verse 21 we see a great confession from Saul "I have sinned, I have played the fool and have erred exceedingly."

Take a look at 3 fools in scriptures and what God`s word says about them.  Psalm 14 verse 1 - "the fool hath said in his heart there is no God."  A fool is a person who thinks and acts in opposition to right reason.  Here is a man who has gathered up every bit of evidence then he takes a completely different view.  God says of this man he is a fool.  The world would call such a man an intellectual, a deep thinker yet God`s word says he is a fool.  Maybe you are saying tonight "I believe in God, I am not like this man." Maybe you have sat on other nights listening to God`s word being preached.  You have gone away convinced there is a God in heaven.  Jesus was God`s son, died on the cross of Calvary, there he was dying for you and I.  John 3 verse 16 you have gone away believing that with all your heart.  Somehow you have stood it on its head.  That is for someone else but not for me.  You have been assured that you have sinned, come short of God`s glory yet you have started to think I am maybe not bad.  Maybe God might let me into heaven one day.  Are you willing to take the risk tonight?  That you will leave life as you are, that one day he will open heaven`s door and let you in?  After all he has only taken his very best, his own son to die on Calvary for your sin to assure you of a home in heaven one day.  The Bible says such a man is a fool.  Surely there is not such a fool in our meeting tonight.  Where does this man`s thought originate from?  "The fool hath said in his heart.  "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17 verse 9)  "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts." (Matthew 15 verse 19)  That is the natural heart tonight, the heart that is in us.  When we are born we are born in sin and shapen in iniquity.  We are backwards towards God`s face, towards a lost sinners hell.  This man depends on his heart to make the right decision.  A heart that is corrupt.  Paul to the Romans said "becuse that when they knew God they glorified him not as God neither were thankful but became vain in their imaginations and their foolish heart was darkened." (Romans 1 verse 21)  They realised the truth of God`s word.    What is this man?  This is a man who is turning his back on God.  Is it possible that in turning you have messed up?  Maybe you have come under a godly teacher but all that training has been messed up.  This man took his learning and turned it on its head and said "there is no God".  Romans 1 verse 28.  God gave them over.  Maybe tonight you thought seriously about getting saved at one time but that is no longer the case.  Would you come tonight and trust him/  The same thing was said of Belshazzar.  On one occasion he made a feast to 1000 of his lords.  As they feasted the handwriting came on the wall and the party died down.  Daniel was brought in to tell them what this writing was.  There is a lesson for you.  First of all he reminded him of his grandfather Nebuchadnezzar who had sat on the throne previously.  He was brought to nothing, to show him his pride.  You didn`t learn from your grandfather the lesson of there being no God.  Is it possible to be brought up in a godly home, to be sent to sunday shcool, listen to a godly ministry in the church night after night yet remain unmoved?  You have been challenged with the truth of God`s word but now you have stood it on its head.  

In Luke 12 we read of a rich farmer who by his outward actions proved there is no God.  He worked hard, sowed the best seed, had the best weather, got a good harvest to look forward to him when he said he would pull down his barns and build bigger.  Then he was going to take his ease and would be happy.  He was misguided because he hadn`t taken into account the God of heaven.  As he boasted on that night the Bible calls him a fool - "this night thy soul shall be required of thee, then whose shall those things be?"  Is it possible to be misguided and living for what the world has for you?  Never think of closing your eyes, stepping out into God`s great divide.  James 4 verses 13 - 16.  You have been fortunate enough in this world, planned well, things scheduled on into your retirement but have you planned for eternity?  You can be misguided in your living.  Living for yourself instead of for eternity?

A man whose living is mistaken - 2 Samuel 3 verse 23.  At the death of Abner we read "died Abner as a fool dieth."  David said the rich farmer died as a fool.  He had no preparation for eternity but when we come to Abner he was a general in the army of Saul.  Whenever David said this it was not out of disrespect but a recognition of the facts.  When Abner died he died at the gates of Hebron city.  He had committed a murder in self defence.  Joab had the right to take Abner`s life.  He made his way to Hebron, the city of refuge.  No harm could come before him there unless he moved out of that city.  Abner came to make a covenant with David one day.  On his way back Joab hatched his plan.  Told his servants to come back again.  He was only a step away from safety.  Joab called him to one side.  Abner thought he was safe enough.  Joab took him to one side thrust him through with a sword.  David at his funeral said "died Abner as a fool dieth".  Here was a man within one step of safety.  One more step would have taken him within the gates.  He could have ran away, got into the city but he didn`t.  He was mistaken.  Are you living for this scene of time?  Maybe you are depending on church, a good name, works to take you to heaven.  A great mistake when you take a step out of this life and God asks you what have you done with my son, why should you come into heaven.  "I was a good person."  You know you have sinned and I sent my son to die for your sin yet you rejected me.  I would have saved you if only you would have come.  You spurned my love, rejected my great works.  Will it be a great mistake?  What is holding you back?  Are you depending on something other than Christ himself?  Will you come with your sin and leave it at the cross and take eternal life from him?

Index to 2017 posts

Below is a list of all my postings for 2017.  As I post new sermons I will insert them here.  Hopefully this will make it easier to find particular sermons!

1 January 2017 - Casting our burdens on the Lord
1 January 2017 - Pressing towards the work


12 February 2017 - Search me O God
12 February 2017 - The gospel net that is being cast
19 February 2017 - Experience, evidence, expression and enthusiasm of faith
26 February 2017 - A debt to be paid
26 February 2017 - The formation, function and fruits of the government

12 March 2017 - Running the Christian race
26 March 2017 - The importance of the word of God

MISSION
19 March 2017 - Ready to preach the gospel
20 March 2017 - As cold waters to a thirsty soul
21 March 2017 - A pardon that is granted
22 March 2017 - Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world
23 March 2017 - God commendeth his love to us while we were yet sinners
24 March 2017 - Ye will not come that ye might have life
26 March 2017 - Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden
27 March 2017 - Who then can be saved?
28 March 2017 - To you is the word of salvation sent
29 March 2017 - The last great court case
30 March 2017  -What shall the end of them be that obey not the gospel
31 March 2017 - It is appointed unto men once to die
26 March 2017 - A widow woman used by God

2 April 2017 - Make haste and come down
9 April 2017 - The triumphant entry into Jerusalem
9 April 20 17 - And sitting down they watched him there
16 April 2017 - The Empty Tomb
16 April 2017 - What does Easter mean to you?
23 April 2017 - When life gets too much to cope with
23 April 2017 - Resurrenction Evening
30 April 2017 - Touching the hem of Jesus` garment
30 April 2017 - The reality, role and request of the devil

7 May 2017 - A life defining moment for Saul of Tarsus
14 May 2017 - A life changing event
21 May 2017 - A life changing event - what God can do with a failure

11 June 2017 - The Royal invitation to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb
11 June 2017 - Life changing events - the birth of a child
18 June 2017 - The importance of prayer

2 July 2017 - The awakening of God
9 July 2017 - Consider your ways

3 September 2017 - Are we sanctified for the Lord`s service and ready to give an answer for Him?
3 September 2017 - The opening of the Gospel to the Gentile nation

1 October 2017 - Sowing in tears and coming again rejoicing
1 October 2017 - The expedition of the Lord
8 October 2017 - Why are you not saved at harvest time?
8 October 2017 - The parable of the wheat and the tares
15 October 2017 - The provident hand of God
15 October 2017 - A vision for God`s work
22 October 2017 - A vision for God's work
22 October 2017 - Not wanting to hear the truth?

5 November 2017 - The simplest of tasks for the glory of the Saviour
5 November 2017 - For the wages of death but the gift of God is eternal life
12 November 2017 - He that dwells in the secret place
12 November 2017 - 3 fools in scripture
19 November 2017 - Prayer that shook a nation
19 November 2017 - Who shall inherit the kingdom of God?
26 November 2017 - Confidence in the storm

3 December 2017 - The lowliness, lovingness and loneliness of the Christmas story
3 December 2017 - What is a sinner
10 December 2017 - The confusion, clarity, challenge and caution of God's plan at Christmas

The lowliness, lovingness and loneliness of the Christmas story

Sermon notes from Sunday 3 December 2017

Matthew 1 verses 18 - 25

3 llittle things I want to leave with you today, 3 things that will encourage and enrich our faith, bring us back to the basics as children of God.  We forget so readily and easily that Jesus Christ made his entrance into this world to repair the damage done from the Garden of Eden.  If you have asked Christ to be your Saviour, asked him to take your sins away they are dealt with so that one day you may stand before him no longer condemned but forgiven.  He came into a family.  In the days of creation on the sixth day he did something very special.  He crowned all of creation with the creation of man and woman.  Genesis 1 verse 31 "and God saw everything he had made and behold it was very good."  Before that everything was only "good".  Somehow when man was placed into creation it was very good.  That was in God`s heart and mind after he received instructions from God.  He told them to  be fruitful and multiply the earth.  He crowned his creation with marriage.  Today we see an onslaught to break that union down.  The devil is so busy in breaking down that family union that God created and made.  God had no problem when it comes to gender.  "Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins."  There are 3 things we need to get our head around as we come to the Christmas season.  The Lord coming into the world through that family in Bethlehem.

The lowliness of his coming.  The Lord  came into this world for one purpose and one purpose only - that he might reconcile you to God.  There was a broken relationship.  When Adam and Eve rebelled against God sin entered into the world "so through Adam sin entered into the world."  What makes me a sinner?  It is not the first alcoholic drink or the first drug taken or the first swear words I spoke - it is the moment I was conceived in the womb.  We came forth and practiced sin.  God loved you so much that he sent his son Jesus into the world to die on the cross.  That is the only way your sin could be reconciled, that you could be redeemed - by Jesus, God`s own son dying on the rugged cross for you.  He did not come to a wealthy family, not applauded by kings and princes of this world.  He came into this world, into a lowly birth place.  What it cost God today.  We should fall at his feet and worship him as the wise men did. As Herod gathered the wise men on that particular day he called the scribes and counsellors to where he was.  He told them "these men are from the east and have followed a star right to where we are now."  Speaking here of a new born king who has come into the world.  Herod was one of the wickedess king ever lived.  He didn`t think anything of killing anyone even his own family to keep his throne.  He called in his wise scholars.  They went back to the book of Micah where it was written "But now Bethlehem Ephratah though thou be little among the thousands of Judah yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose going forth have been of old for everlasting." (Micah 5 verse 2)  The Lord was not coming to a palace but rather to a little town.  Paul thought on these things when he wrote in to the Corinthians "for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus, that, though he wast rich yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich." (2 Corinthians 8 verse 9)  With all of his riches and splendour and glory in heaven he left it behind to come into this world for you and I.  As Mary and Joseph approached Bethlehem every place was taken up.  There was no room for them.  Mary had to bring forth her firstborn in a stable and laid him in a manger.  His mother and father could find no room.  They were shown to a little place at the back of the hotel, a place where animals were kept.  There she went in and brought forth her firstborn son, the Lord for you and I.  He was born in a manger.  When the first sense of pride comes into my heart, I want to look back and see where the Lord came into this world.  When I think of how great I am I look back into the manger and see him being born there.  She could not adorn him in royal robes just swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger.  The lowliness.  He came to Mary and Joseph a young couple planning their lives before them.  They had nothing by way of this world`s wealth.  We read of when Mary went to the temple to present the Lord after her purification of days.  In the book of Leviticus she would have been instructed to go to the temple and bring a lamb, a pigeon or a turtle dove.  We read what Mary brought - Luke 2 verse 24.  A pair of turtle doves or 2 young pigeons.  Why did she do that?  To show us again the poverty of the home.  When Jesus was brought into the temple, they couldn`t even bring a proper sacrifice.  God did not designate a place or private school to be educated in.  It was to one of the poorest famililes that he entered this world.  Is it any wonder we read in the scriptures "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotton son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."(John 3 verse 16)  Instead of my death he sent his son to suffer death for me.  The lowliness he was shown.

The lovingness he was shown.  Mary and Joseph had the responsibility of rearing this child.  They had something in abundance though - love.  God did something very special for Mary and Joseph.  He gave his son.  Do we really grasp that?  That which was born to Mary and Joseph was nothing but God in the flesh.  That same transaction has happened in your life.  That he feels he can travail in your life.  Do we get that today - not that the Lord came but he loved me before I turned my attention to him.  He put his attentions on me before I gave him a second thought.  He died on the cross.  When he was there I was on his mind.  Can you imagine Mary as she enters into the cattle shed.  She didn`t  stamp her feet and question why she was there - she went into that place.  Imagine the smell as she went in.  The animals shared the space.  She brings forth her firstborn son.  Imagine what it must have been like for Mary to take that little one into her bosom and caress him for the first time.  She was caressing God in the flesh with adoring love.  Do we love him?  Is he more precious to us than all this world`s gold?  Do we love him with all our hearts today?  The preciousness of the gift of God he has given to you and I.  T he preciousness of the death of Christ.  That we would never be lost.  He left the splendours of heaven, conceived of the Holy Ghost.  The first hands to touch him where those of a loving mother.  Gently she would stroke his cheek like any other mother would do.  If we could only get to that preciousness again, to share that love again.  What about the last hands that touched him.  The soldiers reached forth and pulled the very hairs off his face, slapped his face, took that crown of thorns and forced it onto his brow.  They roughly cast him out into the streets to carry his own cross.  Remember Joseph of Arimathea a secret disciple of Jesus.  He begged to take Jesus` body down.  He went up to the cross and brought Jesus` body down.  He handled it so lovingly, carefully wrapped that body in fine linen cloths and carried it to his own tomb.  He placed it on that cold slab.  The lovingness that was shown but what about the lovingness in this couple as Jesus grew up with them.  Imagine the news as it came to Mary.  Joseph was confused about all of this.  This was fulfilled to the prophecy of Isaiah 750 years before.  Imagine the love in Joseph`s heart at that time.  Would Joseph have said "Mary do you know what has happened here?  Mary do you know you were written about 750 years ago?  I am the father with the responsibility."  Our hearts could be filled with pride but not for Joseph and Mary.  They reared this child in humility and love.  There was no time for pride.  For us today, everything has been done for us out of great love and mercy for we deserve nothing.

The loneliness of his work and walk.  His first appearing was to rejection.  They had no time for him.  Have we time for him today?  Think of the many times of loneliness throughout his life and yes even at the end too.  In the garden, in Pilate`s hall, when Peter walked afar off, on the cross when he cried "my God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?"  Think of the triumphant call on the third day as he was received by his father back into heaven once more.  When we think of the love that dwindles at time in our hearts we cannot even begin to think of the loneliness he feels towards us.  What a challenge to us today.

Confidence in the storm

Sermon notes from Sunday 26 November 2017

Luke 4 verses 35 - 41

Confidence in the storm

3 of the Gospel writers take up this subject, the theme of a storm upon the waters of Galilee.  It engulfs the disciples on board the ship.  It shows us how important this story was that 3 of these disciples would take up the idea of what it means to be in the midst of a storm.  Let us apply this teaching to our lives today.  If I was to be caught out in the midst of a storm, in the middle of a sea who would I like to be with?  Who was in this boat here?  The disciples were experienced men of the waters, fishermen.  Storms arose quickly on the sea of Galilee.  I began to think to myself.  These men were seasoned fishermen.  If there was anywhere I would like to be in the midst of a storm it was with them.  There seemed to be no human help whatsoever.  Have you ever be in a storm spiritually speaking?  When you wondered how would you ever get through that day?  There are many like that today.  Sitting in homes waiting for Christmas to come and they have nothing, they are in the midst of a storm.  This message is for someone here today.  There is a storm brewing.  Maybe it is in the past, you have already experienced a storm or maybe you are right there in the midst of this storm.

First thing I notice about the storm is - the suddenness of the storm.  It tells me in verse 35 "and the same day".  The same day they had been gathered around the feet of Jesus as he taught and preached, healed the sick to the multitudes as they gathered around him.  The disciples didn`t want this day to end but days do come to an end.  We have to make every opportunity count.  The disciples were in the midst of the multitudes.  The Lord was at their hand this very day.  This storm brewed up "when evening was come".  There is a evening coming for each and every one of us.  Are we prepared for it?  There is an evening of death coming on us.  We have gone through childhood years, teenage years, young adult years, then move into our more senior citizen moments in life.  Then we come to the evening time of life - the body gets weaker and frail, hands don`t do the things they used to do, legs are not as strong as they once were.  The evening time can bring a storm of fear because we are not ready for what lies ahead.  As even time comes we are not ready for that time with all its heartaches and problems.  When we step out into God`s presence that is the only readiness we can have for that time in our lives.  That is why coming to trust the Lord as our own and personal Saviour, giving our all to him today, then we are ready to step across the great divide into God`s eternity.  Are we ready for that final storm?  It tells us here not only in verse 35 he saith unto them let us pass over unto the other side.  Here are the disciples - where are they?  In the centre of God`s will.  They are in the boat going across the sea to the other side.  In the place where God wanted them to be.  Don`t be mistaken that no harm will come to us because we are children of God.  Storms will come on us.  They were in a boat and on the way to the other side.  "And there arose" it seemed without warning.  It didn`t catch them out.  what caught them out was that there was no human help.  They thought they were capable to plunder on through and conquer the storm.  The only way to look when in a storm is to look up.  "My help cometh from the Lord" the Psalmist said.  Perhaps you are using the experience to get through a storm like these disciples and have forgoten about the Lord.  Wouldn`t we find it strange if no storms would come in our lives.  If we are Christ`s and walking according to the will of God there will be storms of all sorts and they will come suddenly.  Life`s storms come without warnings to us.  Peter tells us not to think it strange when we go through fiery trials.  James also says there will be divers temptations we have to handle and we are not to think it strange.  Think of the woman in 2 Kings with a husband who was a prophet and they had 2 sons.  Everything was so good but then her husband died.  There was a debt left.  Now she has a problem she never thought of.  There was no money to pay the debt.  The first thing in her mind was lets go to the man of God.  Moses down in Egypt had the real blessing of God on him.  All of God`s people were being brought out behind him.  He was happy, God had done a mighty work that day.  He is 2 feet off the ground.  He was marching the children of Israel across the wilderness.  He was at the brink of the Red Sea when all of a sudden the cry goes up `The Egyptians are following us.`  If you are saved today the devil sends his army after you.  Moses was standing at the bank of the Red Sea, could see the cloud of dust of the Egyptians and on the other side was the sea and the mountains.  Couldn`t Moses have been pardoned from the thought coming to his mind `Lord I have done this work for you, you told me to do this, I am at the very place you would have me to be, the enemy is coming after me.`  He might have been forgiven for thinking like that.  Might have been like Jonah of old.  The Lord told him to go to Nineveh to preach a particular message.  His reply was `not so Lord.`  He went the opposite direction and boarded a ship.  God had to send a storm to bring Jonah back to himself.  Moses was in the place where God wanted him to be yet God still brought the storm to him.  Joseph was 17 years of age when he was told to take bread down to his brothers by his father.  He headed of, left his home, maybe his father prayed with him.  As he left he never thought for one moment he would never see his father for 20 years.  The storm broke on his life.  Maybe for you and I there is a storm brewing.  Maybe you are right in the midst of the storm, cannot see your way through it.

The severity of the storm - verse 37.  There arose a great storm.  One of the disciples recorded this for us, never seen like it before.  There they were in the midst of it.  It came with a great severity.  Mary and Martha loved the Lord.  It was a home where the Lord was present.  Many a time they cared for Jesus and nourished him.  A storm brew into that home - Lazarus came down sick.  All of a sudden with no warning.  The severity of it.  He died.  The storm came suddenly but it came severely because he died.  The woman in 2 Kings was the same.  The storm was brewing.  When her husband died, the storm would break her heart.  We can be confident in the storm that the Lord is in the midst all the time.  He knew all about it.  Remember Job.  The storm came suddenly in Job`s home.  He lost everything in a few hours.  One moment riding on a cloud, loving family, great herds, land, flocks, everything.  Into the midst of that storm he lost everything even his very health.  Storm comes to the home.  We get anxious and afraid.  Then we lose our health as well.  The storm the disciples suffered was awful, fearful time for them.  These are seasoned fishermen, used to the storm but never faced like this.  Can you imagine the scene - the darkness descended on the sea.  isn`t it amazing how the Lord allows us to go through a time of darkness.  For Joseph he not only experienced the suddenness of the storm but also the severity of the storm.  He was only 17 years of age.  Going down to meet his brothers.  He thought he was in good company.  They looked out into the distance and said "here`s this dreamer coming again".  In their minds they had begun to plot and plan.  The devil does that today.  That happened to Paul in the early churches.  Not only keen to put him out of Thessalonica but followed him to Berea.  As he preaches again the enemy raises another crowd against Paul.  Joseph was sold as a slave into Egypt.  He was put in chains even around his very ankles.  When they took him down to Egypt he was sold as a slave, sold to Potiphar`s house.  An allegation was made against him by Potiphar`s wife.  That poor lad was cast into an old prison house for nothing that he did.  This is the severity of the storm today.  The storms of life can erupt suddenly, can be severe.  Maybe like Joseph one day heaven is blue and clear and suddenly as you go out into the day everything changes.  A storm that is brewing.  Maybe find your job is being run down, closed up, lives are turned upside down.  Mortgages and other commitments are affeected.  A relative goes to the doctor when all of a sudden life is turned upside down.  Where are  our priorities today?  We can have confidence in the midst of the storm.

The secrecy of the storm.  The disciples didn`t fully understand what they enjoyed.  The Lord was with them right in the boat, right where they were.  Verses 36 - 38 - Jesus was asleep even in the midst of the storm.  He had a confidence that made him able to sleep.  When Peter was arrested and put into prison, Herod was prepared to put him to death., where was Peter?  He was lying asleep on the bed.  The disciples took their problem to the Lord.  Is there a storm today?  Sometimes a storm will do one of 2 things - will either draw us to the Lord or drive us away.  Here in this particular situation the disciples tried for a while to combat the storm.  They realised there was one lying on the bottom of the bottom who could help.  They went to where he was sleeping.  I am not saying God is asleep today for we are told he slumbers nor sleeps.  Does our asking, pleading arise him today?  Jairus found what he needed was Jesus and he was there all along.  The Lord is the answer.  What a wonderful picture the prophet Isaiah paints in chapter 43.  Relationship with God`s people and God of heaven speaking of trials and temptations things affected the people of God.  In the midst of it all God says fear not.  God is speaking here about his own redemption.  The people I have called me by my name thou are mine.  Is the Lord walking with you today?  Is he talking with you?  Isaiah 43 when thou passeth through the waters I will be with you.  The Lord didn`t say if you pass but rather when the lot of the child of God is to go through the waters. The Lord promises to go with us.  When the people went through the furnace of afflication there they were rejecting God.  God lifted his hand of protection off them.  Nebuchadnezzar came down and took them into captivity into Babylon.  He promised 70 years but I will bring you back.  God told them they would go through a storm but the Lord was with them all along.  The waters didn`t overflow them.  The fires didn`t burn them.  Fear not for I am with you.  Even Hezekiah the great king of Israel could  see the enemies coming against him.  The Lord told him they would come to his very gate but not fire an arrow into the city.  David could say "yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me."  We are God`s redeemed people.  The confidence we can know.  You are accepted in the beloved.  Trusting in Christ and nothing else.  You are the redeemed people.  Sometimes as we go through the storms it doesn`t feel like that. 

The safety of the storm.  They went to where Jesus was.  They were rocking to and fro in that ship.  The waves were coming up.  Imaging holding onto the sides as they made their way to the Lord.  They came unto him.  He arose and rebuked the winds.  Not all storms are the devil`s way but this one was.  The Lord stood to his feet and rebuked the winds that day because of the source they came from.  Sometimes we make storms for ourselves.  Sometimes storms come without any warning but the Lord allows them.  We get anxious and worried.  We can be confident in the storm.  He is there ready to rise up, to rebuke and bring calm to the sea.  They looked to what they had come through.  They thought to themselves "what manner of man is this?"  What does an unsaved man hold onto in the time of storm today?  Get your eyes on the Lord, forget about human help.

Prayer that shook a nation

Sermon notes from Sunday 19 November 2017

1 Kings 18 verses 19 - 39

Here was a man standing before the God of heaven.  That prayer he offered shook a nation, brought a nation back to God again.  Sometimes we feel so insignificant in this world.  Like the days of Nehemiah.  The people said to Nehemiah about the building of the walls "surely a fox could run up against it and it would be knocked down."  Elijah we are told in James was " a man like us and he prayed."  He ascended Mount Carmel, he didn`t look at the evil prophets  but he looked heavenward.  When all men had forsaken him the Lord stood with him.  Thank God he is in our presence today.  "When my people are gathered together there am I in the midst."  Maybe you feel everyone has turned their backs on you."  Maybe there are difficulties all around you and you are standing all alone.  No-one else understands.  The day Elijah ascended the Mount God was watching over him.  Chapter 18 verse 38 "then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice", the very sacrfice he was praying about.  Proving the God of heaven was the God of Israel.  Verse 39 "when all the people saw it."  People are looking for the truth today - someone or something that is genuine.  They are fed up with everything else.  When the people saw it, when they cast their eyes on it they saw something real, that God was working and they fell on their faces.  "The Lord he is the God;.the Lord he is the God."  If ever there is a day when you need the folk of God praying it is this one.  I believe we can still shake a nation for God today.

Notice firstly the atmosphere of the day.  Elijah sends out the challenge - verse 19.  He says to King Ahab, "now therefore send and gather together to me all Israel unto mount Carmel and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty and the prophets of the groves four hundred which eat at Jezebel`s table."  Elijah was facing a vast crowd, such a godless society.  A people who had no time for the God of Israel, no time for the things of God, had turned their backs on God.  King Ahab was king, was the wickedest king who ever sat on the throne of Israel.  He married Jezebel who was from an ungodly family.  Ahab built a house for the worship of Baal, turned the people to worship Baal, turning the whole society away from God.  Isn`t there a great move today to turn society away from God?  This people were well warned.  Moses warned them when they came into the land God was giving them, they were not to get involved in the spirituality of the land.  The Canaanites were a godless society.  They believed in spirits, believed in talking to the dead.  Moses warned them to be careful.  We are saved yes and filled with the Holy Spirit but the devil is always trying to bring us down, to amalgamate with godless society all around us today.  The day was far spent on Mount Carmel, Elijah felt he was the only one left but he wasn`t, there were 7000 left to praise God.  Sometimes we think we are the only ones to praise and worship God, to bring his word.  We aren`t but sometimes it feels like that.  Don`t give up hope.  It may be dark in the day but keep praying, seeking God, holding onto God.  We can still claim this province for God.  See the dangers here.  Joshua 24 verse 14 "now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in truth and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood and in Egypt and serve ye the Lord."  Holding onto old traditions.  When God gives us something we have to be prepared to set all the other things we believe in aside.  Verse 15 Joshua set the example that day.  Verses 16, 17 that is what God did for them.  Judges 2 the emotion was high that day when Joshua spoke to the people.  This is the Lord that brought us through the Red Sea and into the land of Canaan.  Judges 2 verse 3 the great leader was now dead.  Verse 10 "and also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers and there arose another generation after them which knew not the Lord nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.  And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served Baalim."  Baalim means they were serving many gods of the Canaanites now.  Verses 11 and 12.  We can see the change faced - a people that one time loved the Lord knowing they have grown cold.  Is it possible today as Christian people that we could forget that great delivery?  He has saved us, blessed us time and time again so much but now serving another god?  Is it possible that this province is saying "we don`t know him any more."

The attention to the detail this man gives.  This man is facing a powerful challenge.  400 prophets of Baal and 400 prophets who sat at Jezebel`s table.  No doubt as looked on Elijah, as he challenged them to come to him that day, I`m sure they laughed and mocked him.  When these 850 stood and looked at one man they saw something different about him.  When Jehosophat was going to battle he formed an alliance with Ahab.  Ahab called in all the people he knew to boast but Jehosophat asked "is there no word from the Lord?"  Elijah sets out to challenge - verse 25 - to call on Baal.  Here was the most powerful of the gods.  They called on Baal but there was no answer.  They cut themselves until there was blood gushing down.  They were self harming themselves.  There is a problem today  to get involved in all sorts of darkness, self harming, taking their own lives.  This man was up against this.  You challenge your god Elijah told them, maybe he is having a sleep, or talking to someone.  Call on him more.  They continued to call until the evening sacrifice.  Verse 30 Elijah told them to come near unto him.  Now they had watched the prophets of Baal.  Nothing happened.  Now they are going to watch this man of god.  He repairs the altar of the Lord.  The altar had been something forgotten about.  The altar of God had been set aside.  The altar had been broken down.  He repairs the altar.  That is the first thing he does.  Sometimes that is what happens in our lives.  We let things go a bit.  Things need to be repaired and united.  Maybe the family altar needs to be repaired.  He built it up again.  It is not too late to repair it.  Elijah built the altar of 12 stones representing the 12 tribes of Israel.  Israel was scattered by this time but Elijah was still going on.  Verse 32 "he made a trench about the altar as great as would contain 2 measures of seed."  The altar would be filled with water not once or twice but three times.  I am sure the prophets of Baal wondered what was happening.  Elijah was setting every hindrance aside before God would act.  He knew of a greater power to do a mighty miracle.  He was coming to the God of heaven in faith.  Whenever we believe he is God and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him, we will prove him in our lives and in the lives of those who do not believe in our society today.

An approval God gave.  God gave the fire from heaven and it consumed the altar.  God had performed a mighty miracle.  The nation was turned back to God.  Everyone fell on their faces before him.  We can still shake this world for God.  He is still looking for people that will look to him in faith to do a mighty work today

He that dwells in the secret place

Sermon notes from Sunday 12 November 2017

Psalm 91

On this very special day of Remembrance Sunday let us turn our attention to the words of Psalm 91.  This Psalm is one of those whose author is unknown.  Some commentators tell us it was penned by Moses, others have their own ideas and thoughts that it came from the pen of David as he gave advice to Solomon his son as God listened in.  You  notice the Psalm breaks up neatly.  In verse 1 can almost imagine David to Solomon giving that great advice and Solomon replies in verse 2 "I will say of the Lord he is my refuge and my fortress; my God in him will I trust." Right through to verse 14 we read all this great advice.  It is God who has been listening in to this.  In verse 14 we see what Solomon has done, God is coming down to seal the very testimony.  In turning here this morning we want not to debate the authorship of the Psalm.  The blessing of the man fitting into this role, places allegiance to God.  It is good today to remember the God of heaven as well.  "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow of the almighty."

This is a place of privilege - verses 1 and 2.  A man who is able to take up this position, a tremendous privilege.  God is willing to save you the moment you come to Christ whether it be this morning or whenever.  "Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out". (John 6 verse 37)  God is ready to save you this very moment if you were to trust him as Lord and Saviour.  The Lord is ready to save you where you are today, if you are ready to accept you have sinned and come short of God`s glory.  I f you are coming with something on your heart that says "you know I am not such a bad person, I am trying to do the best I can, I do my best to the neighbours and that will get me into heaven" you will never receive the blessing of God`s salvation.  We have got to come with an acknowledgement of sin, an emptiness in our heart.  This is the secret place - you cannot see this place for yourself, only God can reveal it.  If you are sitting here this morning and the things have been going through your mind, somehow your heart has been revealing to you "I have sinned and I will never be in heaven", only God can do that to you.  God is pointing you to Calvary.  Somehow you can be saved by trusting in him.  God is revealing that to you.  You could never see that with your own heart.  That is why when you sit down and read the Bible you cannot see these things, you are blinded by the God of this world.  You don`t see that you are blinded and undone.  When God reveals it to you you can only enter in then by faith just because you realise you can see this difference.  You have to trust him.  Think of Moses there in Exodus 33.  Remember what God said to them - "behold there is a place by me and thou shalt stand on a rock."  He was sheltered in a place God had revealed to him.  Came by the way of revelation.  Moses was shown this place.  Are we standing on the rock of God?  That he would do something for us.  There is no one barred today.  He is the sure rock we can stand upon, depend upon, trust.  He has told us if we are faithful and just to confess our sins he will forgive us.  "He that dwelleth" - it is not a place to pop in and out of, a place where we dwell, live, give utter dependence to.  It is a place of faith.

This is also a place of protection.  "Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence he shall cover thee with his feathers" - speaks of protection just like the old hen in the farm yard.  Her chicks run after her and the hen lifts her wings and the chicks will run in under those wings.  She will protect them from maybe a dog or cat.  Some people say if I got saved I couldn`t keep it up.  God keeps us and protects us when we get saved.  There are many stories of God`s provident hand.  None greater than the evacuation of Dunkirk when Hitler had advanced on all the allied forces in the North of France.  He had that army of soldiers surrounded, there was no way of escape.  King George VI - he was a man dwelling in the secret place, called the nation to prayer, that is why Dunkirk is called the miracle of Dunkirk. Operation Dynamo.  The nation responded to that day of prayer.  Nothing like this has happened before.  The newspapers said churches were filled with people queuing to get in.  A national day of prayer for the situation.  Here was a man sitting on the English throne calling on the eternal throne, he was in touch with God.  He called the nation together.  3 things happened - some said it was coincidence.  First Hitler went against his generals as he sat around the conference table.  He decided to hold the onslaught against the allied forces for 3 days and the leaders of the English army couldn`t understand it.  God intervened and God touched the heart of Hitler.  Onslaught was stopped.  "The king`s heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it withersoever he will." (Proverse 21 verse 1)  He stopped Hitler`s advance.  The second thing that happened - a tremendous storm broke over Flanders.  The storm stopped the general airforce getting into the skies.  They couldn`t fly across the beaches and massacre the people .  The allied forces could come up the coast under the protection of the storm and darkness.  The third thing that was unusual was the fact that a calm dropped over the English channel that had never been seen before.  That sea was normally rough and turbulent.  An armada of boats made the voyage across the English channel and 339,000 men were evacuated at that time.  "Even the winds and the waves obey him".  What a tremendous God we have today.  Is that the one we are trusting in today?  Time and time again you could look back to the time when the hand of God was with you.  Here the nation got together to pray for men stranded in France.  God stepped down and intervened and brought a mighty deliverance.  We see it in the scriptures all the time.  In Esther`s day Mordecai told her she was raised for such a time as this.  An evil man had plans to put down the entire Jewish people.  Esther called for 3 days of prayer and fasting and God intervened.  Haaman was killed on his own gallows that he had planned for another.  In Daniel chapter 2 Nebuchadnezzar was lying on his bed.  No-one could reveal his dream to him because it had gone from his mind completely.  He told them he needed that interpretation.  Daniel stepped up and gave him the interpretation of the dream.  Those people were delivered.  Moses was standing at the Red Sea.  The scene before him - the Egyptians were coming after them.  God intervened and the people went over on dry ground.  We need to be a people who are praying today.  Things happen today, things are being planned today and if they come to fruition we will not gather like this on a Sunday.

This place is a place of peace.  There is a peace in your heart when you are in this place.  Sin robs you of that peace today.  You know the judgment day is coming and therefore you have no peace.  The moment you trust Christ as Saviour he takes your sin away, removes the judgment on you.  "Being justified by faith we have peace with God."  Peace the world cannot give us.  What about you - have you that peace today?

There is a place of provision.  I wonder is that where you are today?  Have you stepped into this plce where God is working.  Or are you digging in and out today.  A place to dwell in.  Are we going through with God - all and all out for God today?

The simplest of tasks for the glory of the Saviour

Sermon notes from Sunday 5 November 2017

Mark 14 verses 1 - 11

As I looked at this portion of scripture one thought came to my mind - the simplest of tasks for the glory of the Saviour.  We are all looking for the big thing for the Lord that will stand out yet more often we find it is the little things for the Lord that stand out.  Oswald Chambers said "if we feel that God is using us he is not". It is the quiet and unseen things that happen in every moment of life that we can glorify God with.  In verses 1 and 2 we see the underlying current of hatred and bitterness against the one who came into the world to seek and to save this which was lost. He came into the world with one purpose - that he might take the sin of every person, that he would die on the cross, dying to forgive us our sins.  We must acknowledge what he has done.  He has died on the cross for you and I because we could never get to heaven in our own strength.  It was in the plan and purpose of God to do that although it was evil man who took the Saviour and nailed him to the cross.  This was God`s plan for your salvation.  

We read that there was a supper provided for the Lord.  In John chapter 12 we read that this incident took place in the home of Simon the leper.  Lazarus was there - the one brought back from the dead.  Martha was there opening up the kitchen that she might serve.  Mary is the one we want to look at.  She opened up the alabaster box.  Verse 8 "she hath done what she could".  Imagine the scene for a moment - the Lord is invited into this home.  Mary comes into the room.  She breaks the seal on the bottle, takes it over to where he was and used it to anoint him.  The cost of this oil would have been enough wages for a man for a full year.  There was outrage amongst the guests.  What a waste.  Isn`t that what we hear today.  It is a waste of time to give our hearts to the Lord, to spend time tring to bring people in, to go to the mission field to serve Christ.  Think for a moment on that statement.  First of all notice here as the Lord looked on her.

The Lord looked on her ability.  "She hath down what she could."  The Lord doesn`t expect any more.  She did what she could.  The Lord stood out in this house.  She was glorifying him.  Giving to him her praise.  Mary had in her possession a box of precious ointment, fragrance to anoint the body of the Lord Jesus.  She had the ability to do this.  She could d what ever she wanted with this box but she decided to use it on the Lord.  Once she broke the seal she couldn`t take it back.  It was in her ability to do this.  Nothing more was expected of her.  Sometimes we think the Lord wouldn`t be happy with all I could give him.  Mary could have been overshadowed.  We are in the house of Simon the leper.  Leprosy is an awful disease, incapable of healing, can bring death.  Leprosy separates families.  Yet here was Simon inviting friends into his house.  Something had happened to his body.  Mary looked at him, what a miracle.  She would see also her brother sitting there.  Dead and buried at one time but brought back from the very dead.  What a miracle.  A living testimony.  She also looks at Martha who is always ready to serve.  She sees the disciples working with the Lord.  She thinks to herself "all I have is this jar of ointment".  You may be overshadowed, you might often do that ourselves.  Look around and see people who could do so much more than us.  We have very little to give.  The Lord wants what you have.  He wants you to give what you have.  The ability.  In the Old Testament scriptures we read of a woman whose husband died and she was left a debt that meant her 2 sons would have to be sold into slavery to pay for it.  She comes to Elisha and asks him what to do.  He asked what she had in her house.  A small cruise of oil.  She was to go and borrow all the vessels in the neighbourhood and pour her oil into them.  She used all that she had in terms of vessels.  One cruise of oil was all she had yet she was able to use it.  Moses out in the desert for 40 years saw a burning bush. The Lord speaks to him  "I want you to go down to Egypt and bring my people out."  Moses thinks to himself "how could I do that?"  The Lord says to him "I want you to do it."  "They wouldn`t believe me, if I went there what would I say?"  The Lord asks "what is that in your hand Moses?"  Moses looked and said "it is a rod."  The Lord told him to cast it on the ground and it became a serpent.  "Now put forth your hand and lift it up again" the Lord said.  It turned back to a rod again.  The Lord was going to use that in the palace of Pharaoh.  That was all Moses had.  That is all God is looking for today.  What you have at present.  Not something you have to borrow today.  Open up your life and say PLord here I am to bring glory and honour to the one who died for me."  The Lord spoke to David facing Goliath.  "What is that in our belt?" "Just a sling that I use out in the mountainside."  He took the sling and a few stones and killed Goliath.  A man was going into the far country for some business.  He chose a few men and gave them each talents.  He gave one 5 talents and another 2 then the third receives one talent.  He tells them to work with these talents until he came back again.  Matthew 25 he chose these people because of their ability.  Is there something you can give to the Lord or are you holding it back from the Lord today, not willing to give it up?  This man came back and brought the servants in again.  The man with 5 talents had increased it to 10, the man with 2 had increased it to 4 but what about the man with the one talent?  He dug a hole and buried it.  He gave back that one talent.  The Lord said "you never used it?"  You have the ability to use it but you don`t.  The Lord this morning wants you to use what you have.  

The Lord looks also at her activity.  "She has done what she could."  She didn`t think about anything too long.  It was done.  She didn`t let the opportunity go to serve the Lord, didn`t waste what was holding her back.  She may have looked at Lazarus or the leper and thought what a testimony they had.  She didn`t let anything stand in her way.  She anointed the Lord with the oil from her jar.  The man with one talent had the ability to do something with it but he buried it.  This man had something valuable but he didn`t use it.  When the master came back from the far contry it was too late.  One day the Lord is coming back again.  He will break the clouds, will stand before the world.  The things left undone will be left undone because we must stand before him as we are.  The important thing is to know Jesus as Lord and Saviour and the moment he breaks the clouds on that particular day, the day of grace comes to a close.  The day of your opportunity to get saved is closed, sealed, gone forever and you will never be saved.  The day of my work when he breaks the clouds will be over and there will be no time to nip around the corner to see someone about the gospel.  No time for invitations to meetings, they will all be gone.  This man had the opportunity to use the talents while his master was  away in another country buy he didn`t use them.  The young man with the loaves and fishes.  The disciple Andrew asked him to give them to the Lord.  He did give them up, hand them over to the Lord.  It was only his lunch but now it was in the hands of the Lord.  In Jesus` hands they fed 5000 people.  When you bring that talent to the Lord then there is a difference.  Joseph of Arimathea, a secret disciple, he was afraid to stand up for the Lord because of the Jews around him.  Most of his life was spent like that until the day he looked on Jesus` lifeless body hanging there on the cross of Calvary.  Now we see the ability he had.  Going back to stand before Pilate and asked for Jesus` body.  His ability has now turned into activity.  He takes Jesus` body down from the cross and carefully wraps him in linen cloths then carried his body to the tomb he had for himself.  Joseph of Arimathea had the ability to do something for the Lord.  He had the activity to do it.  He didn`t care about his name or his reputation.  This time was more important than anything he had done before for the Lord.  It could be said of him "he hath down what he could."  Have we done or have we left undone that which we could have done this week?

Jesus saw her application - verse 6.  "She hath done what she could."  In verse 8 Jesus defended her and her work because it had the right motives.  We can do things for the wrong motives.  We could preach to be seen of people.  We could stand to preach and show men to Christ.  The same goes for you today - is there someone in that family of yours you could influence to bring them out to hear the gospel but will we do it?  That is the activity and the application is we do it for the Lord.  Whatever your hands find to do do it as unto the Lord.  Simon assisted in carrying the cross, he did it for Jesus.  Matthew 10 verse 42 "And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciples, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward."

Jesus gave his appraisal.  "She hath done what she could."  More people were affected that day.  Once she opened that box the fragrance filled the whole room.  Everyone was affected because she had done something for the Lord.  Bethany was affected.  Maybe there were villages who knew nothing of the Lord up until this day.  The people in the room were affected by her actions.  She did what she could.  She got the approval from Christ for doing it.  It brought a great challenge to me - what I give to the Lord affects everyone else.  What I hold affects everyone.  If you have been saved today, walking with the Lord don`t hold it back.  You have the abiity that affects others no matter how small.  Will you use it today?