The characteristics for Christian service

Sermon notes from Sunday 12 May 2019 am

Acts 3 verses 1 - 10

In chapter 3 verse 1 we find 2 men, Peter and John going up to the temple at the hour of prayer.  I want to think from this portion of scripture of the characteristics for Christian service.  These were great and exciting days in Jerusalem for the disciples.  Their great leader, this man called Jesus had been called up to heaven right as they watched.  The disciples met in the Upper Room praising and glorifying God.  The Holy Spirit came and filled them to the uttermost.  Days when things were happening.  People were committing their lives to God.  The disciples were filled and began to preach the gospel.  People were hearing it in their own language.  Peter preached and afterwards 3000 souls were saved.  These were days when God was moving in a mighty mighty way.  In Acts 3 verse 1 we see the mood has changed.  They are making their way to the temple to pray.  It was an ordinary day.  They came across the pathway of a man whose life was changed and as a result 5000 souls were saved.  Sometimes we think our own lives are mundane, but we do not know what a day will bring forth.  You and I don`t know whenever we will touch a life and through them make a mighty man or woman of God.  It is time not for Christians to sit back but for Christians to get involved.

The priority of Peter and John - prayer was their priority!  They were making their way up to the temple.  Nothing else was on their minds.  This was the hour of prayer, set aside time.  Prayer must be our priority today.  Here were 2 men separated and sanctified.  Peter had preached and 3000 souls were saved.  Now they were coming to pray.  "Can 2 people walk together except they agree?"  Peter goes to John and says "what are we doing today, we are going to the temple to pray."  In Luke 5 Jesus called his first disciples out to be fishers of men, to see men and women saved.  Then we see a leper comes to the Lord that day.  He says to Jesus "if you wilt, thou canst make me clean" and Jesus said "I will be thou clean."  Immediately afterwards we read "And he (Jesus) withdrew himself into the wilderness and prayed."  He leaves everyone behind and this was not the first time we read of him doing this.  We need time to get aside from everything around us, just for a few moments, to come alone with God.  Jesus withdrew himself and he prayed.  That should also be our priority.  The early disciples went through difficult times.  They were beaten, threatened.  In Acts 4 verses 23 and 24 we read "and being let go, they went to their own company and .... they lifted up their voice to God with one accord."  Prayer was their priority.  Jesus himself said "men ought always to pray."  Paul said "pray without ceasing."  Priority for Christian service is to pray.  There comes a time when we cannot and things in life prevent us doing that.  Sometimes there is a weakness in our body, age prevents us.  The bible says "the night cometh when no man can work."  The night has come for some people but they can look back on the years of service to the Lord.

The possibilities that came to these 2 men.  "And a certain man lame from his mother`s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple."  Peter and John were not going to a large gathering to preach.  They were coming to a prayer meeting.  Here was a simple situation, one God was opening up to them.  Isn`t it wonderful what God can do.  Here was a man God stopped with.  Some 5000 were saved through this man.  The possibilities that opened up.  Acts 4 verse 4.  God gave an opportunity in the guise of a disabled man.  In Acts 16 we read of the Philippian jailer who asked "what must I do to be saved."  He knew he wasn`t saved, not right with God, not ready if he were to die.  He was told "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."  He had to believe that he was a sinner.  Heaven will never be your home if you die in that state.  The apostle Paul told him God loved him and he sent his son into the world to bleed and die on Calvary to save your soul.  That man believed - will you?  The Lord is standing at your hearts door.  "Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any man hear my voice and open the door I will come in."  Will you allow him to be your Saviour today?  We don`t know the possibilities that a day might bring us.  These men had their priorities right.  They saw the invalid man, stopped with him but they never thought that people would be saved as a result of their actions.  We don`t know what one act of kindness will do today.  We might call it a very ordinary thing you are called on to do today but God can use you.  It may be that cup of water given in God`s name might bring forth something amazing today.  Remember the servant of Abraham when he found the bride for Isaac thought it was miraculous and wonderful.  He said "I being in the way."  The Lord not my ability.  This is the Lord.  If we give our lives totally to the Lord he can lead us, direct us, open us.  John Wesley said "proceed with much prayer and your way will be made plain."  Peter didn`t know when he went up to the roof top in Acts 9  that God would use him to open the door to the Gentiles.  He would be the man in charge.  You do not know, maybe you will be asked by someone to help them to find Christ for themselves.  Leave yourself open to God.

The patience shown on this occasion.  This man was sitting when Peter "fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us."  They stopped in their tracks with this man, gave him time.  That is the most precious thing you can give to anyone.  Maybe there is someone feeling down that you can speak to.  Here was a man of 40 years of age.  The religious leaders had no time to stop with him at the gate.  He was a nuisance and a pest to them.  Peter and John gave the only thing they had - time and patience.  Think of the parable of the Samaritan.  Robbers had fallen on a man, beaten him and left him for dead.  The Levite didn`t want to be involved with him so walked on the other side of the road.  The priest was going down to the temple, he hadn`t time to stop with this man, he had a very busy life.  Then Jesus points to the Samaritan making his way down to the city.  He sees the man left for dead.  He stopped, got off his donkey, got down beside him.  He cared for him, poured oil into his wounds and put him on his donkey.  He took him to the nearest place for help.  He left him there and told the owner of the inn to let him know if he owed any more money for his care.  The patience he had.  There are wounded people all around us  and they have been robbed by the devil and left for dead.  Have I time or are there things in my life that take up my time, that I don`t have patience for those around me?  Have I too many commitments today?

There is a poverty they confessed.  "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk."  Physically they could do nothing for him.  Money they didn`t have but they could do something else though.  They introduced him to Christ.  They began to tell him of their faith in Christ, they took time to introduce him to Christ.  They showed a poverty they had.  If Peter and John had had enough money to throw into the man`s plate they might never have heard anything of this man again because in their poverty they were able to give to this man something more than he expected.  We cannot do anything for sinners.  We cannot create an anxious thought but can take timee to tell others of the love of Christ.  Someone in your family or in the workplace.  We don`t have all the answers or experiences people have but we can give something more precious - time and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Don`t get content by throwing money into the plate and say that is it until next week.  You and I have something more valuable than the money in our pockets - we have a message that can change lives.  Paul writing to the Corinthians acknowledged they gave of their finances but first gave their own selves to the Lord.  That is more precious.

A prize.  What did Peter do - he put out his hand, took the man by his hand and lifted him up.  That was the prize.  Is there someone we can give a hand to today?  That is the prize.  The characteristics of Christian service.

Decisions Part 2

Sermon notes from Sunday 5 May 2019 pm

2 Samuel 6 verses 1 - 11

A decision that David made.  There was a hunger and thirst in his soul for something that was not material.  It was for the presence of the Lord.  May that be the same for us.  That nothing else will suffice.  Heaven and earth will pass away but the presence of the Lord will never pass away.  There is a decision to be made tonight.  The God of heaven knows where we stand in his light.  David set his heart on restoring the ark of the covenant into its rightful place.  Have we that same desire?

David`s good intentions.  Good intentions will never save you, never take you to heaven.  Maybe you left the house tonight with the best of intentions.  "This is the night I want to get saved, to make everything right between God and I."  Somehow as you sit tonight the devil can come and take away those good intentions.  Good intentions will never save you.  David had really good intentions.  He knew the presence of the Lord was not where it should be.  He knew he needed the ark of the Lord to be in its rightful place.  In Acts 16 the Philippian jailer knew he hadn`t the presence of the Lord in his life.  He met the apostle Paul and Silas earlier that day.  He knew they possessed something he did not have.  There is a difference between a man and a woman who are saved and a man and a woman who are not.  The jailer realised this was a serious situation for him.  He realised they were saved by God`s grace.  Have you ever come into that relationship  with God?  Here was David the King of Israel wanting the ark of the covenant to be restored.  Moses in the wilderness was given strict instructions about erecting the Tabernacle.  There were special measurements for building the ark of the covenant.  It was a box and on top was the mercy seat of God.  There were 2 angelic figures cherubims on top.  They were all overlaid with gold, a very precious metal.    There at the top of the mercy seat something special would happen.  God promised that he would meet with Moses and speak with him.  It symbolised the very presence of God.  David chose out 30,000 men in verse 1.  It was his priority on this particular day.  There is no greater priority in our minds and hearts than to be right with God.  Is this maybe the final night that you will hear the gospel, closing in with God`s offer of mercy, never be saved?  David said "one thing I want to do is restore the ark of the covenant back to its rightful place."  We should not rest until we are right with God.  What if God was to take you out into eternity as he did in Luke 12 for the farmer who worked so hard.  He thought to himself "I will pull down my barns and build bigger, I have many years before me."  The Lord said "you are a fool."  Not because he had done everything possible to get the best out of the land. He was a fool because he had left God out of his thinking.  He was looking at the final hours of his life on earth.  David had the priority of getting the covenant back into the presence of God.  It was the symbol of the presence of God in the nation of Israel.  God hasn`t given us an ark to meet him as Saviour.  He sent his only begotten son into the world to die for our sins.  He resurrected him from the dead and is now interceeding on our behalf at the Father`s right hand side in heaven.  If you are not right with God tonight we need that same urgency, a priority to get right with God.  The rich young ruler who came to Jesus one day wanted to have eternal life.  He asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life but once he Lord put his finger on what was holding him back that young man was not prepared to set that to one side.  He lost the urgency and priority when the finger was pointed at him.  Jesus said "take up your cross daily and follow me."  The ark of the covenant had been missing for some 70 years.  David knew that God`s presence was missing.  What about our good intentions tonight?  Are we hungering for God`s presence in our lives?  Perhaps we have let it slip away.  We have faltered and failed God.  There is a priority to do that which will bring us back into the presence of God.  We are not looking to a box but to a cross where our Saviour bled and died, he finished the work of God`s salvation for you and I.  Where God meets with you and I to reconcile us to himself.  David would secure that presence once more.  He would take 30,000 with him to search for it.

David`s great interference.  As he approaches this ark he makes a new cart for the ark of God.  This was the very best of material David could find.  Everything was new.  Nothing but the best to transport this precious commodity.  We have to realise one thing however.  David`s interference.  He found the ark of the covenant.  He lifted and set it on a new cart but it never should have been on a new cart.  God never intended it to be done that way.  It was to be borne on the shoulders of the priests of God.  In Numbers 7 we read something very wonderful there.  The tribes were given wagons to transport their things in.  When it came to the ark of the covenant that was to be borne on the shoulders of the priests.  Joshua told the priests to bear the ark of the covenant on their shoulders and when they stepped down into the water the water would disappear and they would walk on dry land.  David overlooked a very important feature.  If he had only gone back into the book of Moses there he would have seen how this precious commodity was to be attended to.  God`s presence is only attained in God`s way and no other.  Genesis 3 begins my story.  My first parents in the garden, the enemy comes and tricks them.  Sin entered into the world.  Through that entry it has come into my heart and yours.  Job asked "how can I be made right with God?"  Many are trying to obtain God`s salvation their own way.  We must repent of our sin, turn away, leave it, walk away from it, move away from it.  We must come to the cross of Calvary, believe that Jesus died for my sins, that he rose from the dead for our justification.  Now we can have peace with God in the finished work of Calvary.  David did something he shouldn`t have done.  In Acts 8 Simon thought the gift of God was something to be obtained by money.  You and I cannot purchase or buy salvation.  It is not earned.  If we want to be saved we have got to come the way God says.  David should have brought the priests and borne the ark on their shoulders.  That was God`s way.

David`s grave implication.  Here was a move that bore great consequences.  It ended in the death of a young man driving the cart.  He should never have been put in that position.  He was driving the cart when it shook.  He reached forth to touch it.  That young man was cut down immediately.  To treat the things of God lightly has grave consequences.  You have to come God`s own way.  There is a way that seemeth right unto man but the end thereof is the way of death.  It does not involve coming to church, standing and singing the hymns, reading the bible, saying the prayers.  David thought it was right to set the ark on a new cart and bring it back into the land of Israel.  Sadly he made a mistake and that mistake resulted in the death of a young man.  Do not make that mistake.  Do not decide to come to God some other way.  The whole thing finished in disaster for David.  All was going well for a time.  They were making their way down.  There was joy in his heart.  There was music and celebration.  All of a sudden the cart stopped, the ark was about to fall off and the young man reached out to stop it when he lost his life.  Is it possible to make a bad decision tonight?  There are grave consequences from it as a result.  Maybe you have come in unsaved or are backslidden.  You could miss God`s salvation tonight through neglect and go out to a Christless hell for all eternity.  Would you leave your own endeavours, trying the best you can and come and simply trust Christ as Saviour.  Looking to him on the middle cross who died for you.  Will you trust him tonight?  Say "Lord I want to secure your presence in my heart and life, not in my way, not to follow any man`s teaching, I want to trust you as you would have me to trust you."  If so you can be saved, restored right where you are by crying out unto God in these final moments.  Don`t leave without getting right with God, come to Christ tonight.   

The uniqueness of Christ

Sermon notes Sunday 28 April 2019 am Ken Goligher

Hebrews 1 verses 1 - 9, chapter 2 verse 3

Every book in the Bible has a particular theme.  Genesis is all about beginnings - the first day, the first man, the first sin, the first family.  We also have the beginning of the Jewish race of people.  In the book of Hebrews there is a key word - better or greater.  The key thought in this book is that Christ is greater than the angels, the prophets, Moses and the law, Aaron and the priesthood.  He is described as the great high priest who has entered into the heavens and is now personally pleading our case before God.  We can take heart this morning that we have a man in heaven who is touched with the feeling of our infirmities, was in all points tempted yet without sin.  Paul said to Timothy "this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came int o the world to save sinners."  He is still the man.  He was a real man on earth.  Matthew presents him as the king, Mark as the perfect servant, Luke the perfect man and John as the Son of God.  He is not on the cross any more, nor in the grave.  40 days after his resurrection he ascended to the Father from whence he came.  He is still sitting there as the man.  What a wonder and amazement he is to the angels presently.  All the angels can do now is worship him.  He is a man in heaven in the body with the marks of Calvary on his hands and feet.  He is the victor now.

The writer makes much of the uniqueness of the person of Christ, not only of his life on earth, his work on earth but the mighty sacrifice offered on the cross.  This is a uniquee book because it is referring to the supremacy of the Christ of God.  When he was born he grew up in Nazareth.  When he started his public minstry he was about the age of 30.  For 18 years there was no word of him,   Silence from the age of 12.  At 30 years of age his father could say of him "this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased."  The writer to the Hebrews is showing the supremacy of Christ above the angels.  We don`t see the angels now but we are surrounded by them.  They preserve us at present and probably preserved us before we were saved.  Chapter 1 verse 14 the angels have a part to play in salvation.  God uses his angels to protect his people.  As the Lord started out on his public ministry he proved by his miracles that he truly was the Christ of God.  Think of the first miracle he performed, turning water into wine was  a big contrast with Moses who turned the water into blood which spoke of judgment to come.  The first miracle the Lord performed speaks of joy and blessing.  Here is a Saviour who came to bless.  Right throughout his life he came to heal the sick, give sight to the blind, could even raise the dead.  The uniqueness of Christ, worshipped by angels.  What about us - have we any appreciation in our hearts of him?  Do you ever speak to the father about him?  There is nothing God loves more than to hear from our lips how we appreciate his son.  The uniqueness of his person.  Is he displayed in your life?  Do I live for Christ?  Do I behave as Christ would want me to behave?  We have the honour and privilege of representing Christ here on earth.  In verse 8 the Father speaking to his son reveals his deity.  He is God Jehovah.  Verse 8 shows the uniqueness of this person.  We take his name Christian meaning Christ in us.  The first word in chapter 1 is "God" and it is the only book in the bible that starts with that word.  After this word there is a little comma showing that we should slow down a little and consider him.  It is interesting to note that in the first book of the bible and in the first chapter 10 times we read the words "God says" and "God speaks."  God is still speaking.  If he didn`t how would we know anything.  Maybe not just through his word but through circumstancs.  The Hebrew people knew something about that in contrast to the people arround them who worshipped idols of wood, stone and metal.  Our God is a living God and he speaks today.  When Paul was writing to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 3 he said "in the last days perilous times shall come, men shall be lovers of their own selves."  He went on to describe 18 things about the last days.  Those are the last of the last days.  Here in Hebrews however the writer says that God will speak through his Son.  For the last 2000 years God has spoken through his Son.  God`s last message to man is his Son.  God has no other message because no-one is equal.  If you reject Christ there is nothing for you but the lake of fire.  You believe that there was such a historical person but you have rejected him.  In verse 2 we see God himself as the Son used the prophets as instruments in his hands.  Mary the mother of Jesus in her song referred to Jesus as God.  He is God manifested in the flesh.  There is an attack on the deity of Christ but he is God manifest in the flesh.   He is viewed in 10 different ways - 3 of them he is the son of Mary, the Son of Joseph, son of the carpenter.  Nazareth was identified as the place from which he came.  Nazareth was a despised place.  A place of ill repute.  There is a uniqueness in his person but there is also a uniqueness in his death.  In chaper 10 in contrast all the sacrifices offered on the Jewish altars Aaronic priesthood he is the great high priest.  The sacrifice that will never be repeated or need to be repeated.  "In the end of the age hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."  Chapter 2 verse 13 "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation."  You cannot escape it.  Provision is made in his death on the cross.  This unique person - trust him.

Decisions

Sermon notes from Sunday 5 May 2019

John 21 verses 1 - 14

Verse 1 "After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples."  The setting is the seashore among Jesus` disciples when Jesus appears to them.

The decision that Peter makes.  Verse 3 "Simon Peter saith unto them I go a-fishing."  Here is Peter with the rest of his disciples - Thomas, Nathaniel, James and John and 2 others.  Peter looks around him and decides to go fishing.  I don`t believe Peter was in the right mind to make the correct decision.  Maybe you are on the brink of a decision that no-one else knows about.  You have to make that decision for yourself.  Peter would make a decision that would be costly.  There were many things going through his mind.  Perhaps he felt he was a failure.  The Lord had told Peter one day "before the cock crows you will deny me 3 times." (Matthew 26 verse 34) Peter is now making a decision to go fishing.  I am sure the enemy was not too far away from Peter at this moment in time.  He remembered the time in the Garden when Judas kissed Jesus and in that act Jesus was arrested.  Peter had been let down, hurt by someone he thought a lot of.  No doubt Peter thought he was man he could trust, depend on.  David the Psalmist said "I looked all around me, there was no man who careth for my soul." (Psalm 142 verse 4)  Have you ever felt like that?  That the whole world has turned against you?  It is a lonely place to be in.  When they arrested Christ and took him to the Judgment Hall Peter was walking afar off.  Here he is now making a decision.  Maybe he felt he was the biggest failure.  He had been standing with Christ`s enemies, with those who cursed Christ, hated his name.  Peter was standing there weeping and when the cock crowed the tears flowed in earnest.  He had denied he knew Christ 3 times by that stage.  Those tears of bitterness.  Now he is making this decision to go back to fish.  Is there a decision you must make today?  Elimelech and his wife Naomi were going through a difficult time.  The place they lived in, Bethlehem-Judah was a place of famine.  Elimelech made a decision to go down to Moab, a God rejecting place.  Moab is a picture of the world today.  He was going to take his wife and family down there based on the circumstances around him.  He never thought to ask God, turning his back on God.  Peter is standing here that day making a decision that would change his life from that moment on.  Peter was going back to his old livelihood, turning his back on the things of God.  Perhaps there is something going through your mind, feeling perhaps you are a failure.  Perhaps there was a time when you stood up and witnessed for God.  Or perhaps given a tract to someone.  Maybe you are not in the right mind to make a spiritual decision right now.  Peter was in a place where his mind was full of everything that had happened in recent days.  John Mark made a decision based on what he felt at that time.  He no longer travelled with Paul and Barnabas.

The diversion it caused.  This decision would divert him off course, would take him back into his old life.  A dangerous thing even to contemplate.  Perhaps there are times when you listen to a song and you are transported back into a situation from many years ago.  Peter was going to make a decision that would soon engulf him.  "Commit thy way unto the Lord and he will sustain you." (Psalm 37 verse 5)  This is not what the Lord had for Peter.  Remember when he was first introduced to Jesus by his brother.  He came and met with the Lord.  Have you ever met the Lord at Calvary yet?  Christ died for us and he expects us to come to him, to take away our sins, make us new creatures in Christ Jesus.  He will save us.  When Peter came to he Lord he was told "thou art Simon son of Jona." (John 1 verse 42)  The Lord firstly gave him a new name and then a new character.  When Jesus came to Andrew and Peter on the sea shore he told them "follow me and I will make you fishers of men." (Matthew 4 verse 19)  Peter was now going back into his old role.  Jesus asked Peter to be a soul winner.  God expects you to do your own bit for him in your family, in your neighbourhood.  The Lord told Peter "feed my lambs."  He wanted him to be a soul winner, to preach the gospel, to be a shepherd to the lambs, not a fisherman.  Peter got diverted from the decision he made.  We cannot drift back into our own paths.  We cannot have a foot in God`s kingdom and a foot in the world.  The Lord has a role for you today.  We cannot be used by God if we have not laid all on the altar for him. 

The disruption it caused.  Decisions affect others.  The decision we make today is going to affect someone near us, in our families, in our homes, in our neighbourhoods.  When Elimelech and Naomi went down into Moab it affected their family.  That whole family was wiped out - both Elimelech and his 2 sons died.  Your decision will affect someone else today.  Peter was taking that role of fisherman once more - notice the little word "I".  It is my decision.  Then the rest of the disciples said to him "we also go with thee."  They all decided to go wih him.  Do you notice the danger in that.  Not only do we see Peter diverted from the path God had but we see him disrupt the plans God had for the rest of the disciples.  Sometimes the Lord comes to you or I in the quietness of our own homes, he has a task for us, something to do but our plans don`t fit with God`s.  Our decisions will affect the rest of our lives, our families.  That is why we need to be careful because others are watching us too.  Paul told Timothy "be thou an example to those around you." (1 Timothy 4 verse 12)  Peter wanted to go fishing and the rest decided to go with him.  We can influence others by our actions.  John Mark told Paul and Barnabas that he was returning to Jerusalem.  As a result Paul and Barnabas themselves separated.  Some times the decisions we make can disrupt others.  Remember the spies in the Old Testament who wanted to spy out Canaan first.  Caleb and Joshua brought back good reports but the rest of them brought back evil reports.  Disillusionment and disruption were brought to the people and they decided not to go into the land.  Remember someone is watching your life right now and whatever you decide could take them back into the world.  

The result of Peter`s decision was a barren night.  They fished all night and caught nothing.  When you are out of the will of God you will not catch anything.  The Lord appeared to them and told them to let down their nets and they caught a large amount of fish.  John told them it was the Lord who spoke and Peter didn`t wait.  He jumped right into the water.  He had his eyes now fixed on the Lord once more and saw him in all his glory.

Palm Sunday

Sermon notes from Sunday 14 April 2019

Matthew 21 verses 1 - 11

This is the account of the Lord entering into Jerusalem.  You only have to look at the 4 gospels and see how important this entry into Jerusalem was.  Every gospel writer has placed it there in their writings.  This is the beginning of the Passion Week culminating in the day Jesus was nailed on the cross.  What a death crucifixion was.  The Lord hanging on that cross.  Not a bone in his body was broken.  When they came to the Lord they realised he was already dead.  He was in control.  Not the Roman army.  Pilate said "I have the power to crucify you."  Jesus replied "you have no power but that which is given unto you." (John 19 verses 10 and 11)  The power of the Lord was shown clearly at Calvary when he was crucified, buried and rose again.  There are so many things in these verses but I want to look at 4 areas surrounding this event. 

The promise that was fulfilled.  Once the Lord set his sights to come into Jerusalem there was a promise of God fulfilled.  We still see God`s promises fulfilled even to this day - think of the verse that reads "where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name there am I in the midst." (Matthew 18 verse 20)  God is already here and he knows all about you right now.  Matthew is veery quick to tell us in verse 4 "all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet."  The prophet referred to here is Zechariah 9 verse 9.  God promised through Zechariah to his people Israel that he would send a king 500 years before the birth of Christ.  God told Zechariah what to write, an event that he perhaps did not understand.  We know of course that when Jesus came "he came unto his own and his own received him not." (John 1 verse 11) Peter wrote "Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you.  Searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow." (1 Peter 1 verses 10 and 11)  The prophets had the Holy Spiirt to help them write what we have before us.  They took time to search and sift through the word of God.  As we go through the word today we see these marvellous promises God has given to these men of old.  We need to sit down with them and study them ourselves.  Micah told us about the birth of Christ when it would take place.  The wise men came to Herod`s palace.  They told Herod that they had seen a star in the east and they had come to worship the new born king.  Herod asked them to tell him where he was once they had found him as he also wanted to worship him.    Herod consulted the scribes and wise men and they were able to turn to the scripture that Micah had written 6/700 years previously.  Micah had said he would be born in Bethlehem.  They knew all about it but didn`t apply it.  The promises of God are nothing to us unless we apply them.  The word Peter uses is "searched" which refers to miners who go down into the mines to seek out precious stones.  They work all day in the veins of the earth that they might somehow find nuggets of gold and precious metals.  That is the very word Peter was using.  Do I sit down with the word of God and be meticulous as those miners?  Peter said of the Lord`s promises "the Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3 verse 9)  Sometimes the promises of God do not come too quickly.  Sometimes we don`t always see that promise fulfilled but God will fulfil it one day.

The prince.  The prophecy referred to in Zechariah 9 was very detailed.  "This is thy king."  God didn`t want them to mix up the details.  The one riding into Jerusalem is your king.  Matthew recognised the details and tied up the prophecy with this great event.  There were multitudes before Jesus and multitudes followed him.  He was the prince.  He was coming here on the colt, the foal of an ass.  The natural thinking was for a king to come on a white horse.  The Lord was however coming on a foal.  It was the symbol of humility and peace.  The white horse was a sign of a victorious leader.  Our Lord would die on the cross for our sins to give us a peace the world cannot give us.  Is he the king of my life today?  He was arrested, brought before the elders, there he would be beaten and scourged.  The people had the prince in their midst.  Have we come today to seek the prince?  To get our eyes on him in alll his glory and splendour?  Here was Pilate handing him over to the soldiers who took him into the Judgment Hall, took a lash with 3 or 4 leather strips with bone in each of them and beat his back with it.  This is God`s own son doing this for you and I.  It is important to get our eyes on him.  The Roman soldier would pull that lash down his back.  That is why scripture says his back was like a ploughed field.  Then they laid a crown of thorns on his head.  He is taken out to the people.  Pilate would say to the crowd "behold your king".  He would go on "should I crucify your king?"    Here in this chapter Jesus is riding into Jerusalem in fulfilment of the promise.  Every eye is on him.  The focus of their attention.  At the feast of the Passover in John 12 verse 21 we read "certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast.  The same came therefore to Philip which was of Bethsaida of Galilee and desired him saying Sir we would see Jesus."  They were not interested in anything else.  Isn`t that  a wonderful way to come to the fellowship.  Remember on the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus` face and clothes shone.  They were whiter than snow.  Listening to Moses and Elijah.  A tremendous time.  Peter wanted to make 3 tabernacles.  He was caught up with seeing Elijah, a man he had heard so much about.  On the other side there is Moses who had led the Children of Israel out of Egypt, the great law giver.  Is it any wonder Peter said "we must stay here, we must make tabernacles for them to live in."  He got his eyes off the Lord.  He lost his focus on Christ. 

The people.  Verse 1 of chapter 21 says that Jesus sent 2 of his disciples on an errand.  He wanted them to go into the city and find a donkey.  They were to loose it and bring the donkey to Jesus.  "The disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them." (verse 6)  Think of the obedience of these 2 disciples.  Jesus told them to go and find the donkey.  An usual request I am sure the disciples thought.  They went forth just as Jesus told them and the donkey was there.  Jesus told them that if anyone was to ask they were to tell them that Jesus had need of it.  They had obedience that day.  Peter asked one day about taxes.  Someone had asked him "does your master pay taxes."  Jesus told Peter to go down to the sea and the first fish he would catch would have a coin in its mouth.  There would be enough to pay for their taxes with that coin.  Peter went and did exactly as Jesus told him to do.  He had faith.  The woman with the alabaster box poured the ointment onto Jesus` feet.  She was giving the Lord her very best.  The disciples gave their very best.  On the seashore Jesus preached from Peter`s boat and told him to push out into the water.  Jesus asked and Peter gave all that he had.  The boy with the 5 loaves and 2 fishes gave all he had to the Lord.  No-one else could do it  The only one who could offer it to the Lord.  There is something specific for you to do today - he told the 2 disciples to go and bring the donkey, they went and brought it.

The praise.  In verses 8 to 11 we read they sang and worshipped and praised the prince who was coming.  "all the city was moved" as a result.  Do we praise God today, worship him wholeheartedly?  What a scene this was - Jesus coming into the city and the people crying out with praise.

The shepherd who found the lost sheep

Sermon notes from Sunday 7 April 2019 pm

Luke 15 verses 1 - 7

Whenever we turn to Luke chapter 15 there is a subject running right through it - lost.  First the lost sheep, then the lost coin and finally the lost son.  I want us to think of this portion of scripture not from the point of the sheep or the lamb.  They point us to a sinner that is lost.  You and I are in danger of going out into a lost Christless eternity the moment we close our eyes in death. That is the danger for this lamb, lost on the mountainside.  I want to point you to the shepherd who goes out to look for the lost lamb.  A picture of the Lord Jesus Christ as he hung on the cross to die for you, to save your precious soul.

The thoughtful endeavour of the shepherd.  Verse 1 the Lord is speaking, drawing the sinners and publicans to himself.  That does not please the Pharisees and leaders, they see him as having company with sinners.  As he speaks he shows them their great need.  Consider the heart of the shepherd.  A shepherd had 100 sheep when he discovered one was missing.  He makes sure the 99 are safe and goes out to find the one that is lost.  When he finds the lost sheep he puts in on his shoulders and brings it home.  There is a time of rejoicing because this lamb was found.  That lamb was on his heart and mind.  He knew the 99 were safely gathered in yet he knew one was wandering about on the mountainside.  As darkness fell wild beasts would begin to roam looking for the sheep.  On his mind and heart was that one little sheep.  The burden the Lord has for you - he sees you as lost and in great danger.  Upon his heart and mind is you tonight.  On Calvary`s cross he suffered and was put to death that he might save your soul.  Here is the mind the Lord had.  He came to bring victory for you.  As he suffered and died he said "it is finished".  He gave up the ghost.  The Roman centurion standing beside the cross was able to say "surely this was the Son of God."  Paul says in Philippians 2  verse 6 "Who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God. But made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men."  Here is the mind of a shepherd - that he would take on the form of a servant if it meant he could save your soul.  "And being found in the fashion as a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."  Spiritually speaking the day is far spent, the night of eternity is just around the corner.  The devil is roaming about to stop you from coming to Christ.  God is not willing that you should perish.  Jesus looking over Jerusalem one day wept because he would have gathered sinners to himself but they would not come.  He calls on you tonight that you might come to him.

It will take a tireless effort.  Jesus says when it comes to the shepherd`s attention that one is lost he sets out to find it.  He is pointing to the Pharisees, to look into the heart of the one who is the shepherd.  Can almost imagine the shepherd retracing his steps to where he led the sheep that day.  He makes every effort.  "He came unto his own and his own received him not." (John 1 verse 11)  The Saviour draws near, seeks to draw near to your heart, stands at your hearts door, he knocks and calls, he wants to come in but then you say no and he has to go away.  The Saviour has left heaven`s glory, came down into this sin cursed world, pleads with you to be saved for all eternity.  Jesus demonstrates the efforts to find and save sinners.  In John 4 Jesus is going through Samaria.  A place ridiculed by all the people - why - because the Jews and Samaritans had nothing to do with each other.  "He must needs go through Samaria".  He comes to a well wearied and tired, sits down by the well.  This woman comes out to the well.  That is why he had to go through this land.  Here was a lost soul, a woman living in deep sin.  People turned their backs on her.  That is what the Lord does.  He comes just for you tonight.  Remember as he made his way down through the busy street to Jairus` house he met a woman on the way.  She was healed the moment she believed and touched Jesus` hem.  The Lord stops everything.  One woman who needed his attention.  He stopped with just one woman.  The work had been done in her body but he stopped to give her assurance.  What a wonderful Saviour we have.  He is drawing near to you.  Just as he stopped with the woman at the well and the woman in the street, Jesus bids you to come to him tonight.  You are lost tonight in your sin and Jesus has time for you.

The triumph that was experienced.  In verse 5 we read "and when he found it."  He went out to the mountainside and searched for the lamb.  All of a sudden he found the sheep that was lost.  He lifted the lamb onto his shoulders and made his way home again.  He searched until he found it, did not give up.  Picture that lamb in his cowering behind the bush.  Maybe he has heard the roar of the lion.  It cannot save itself, cannot find its own way home.  Then all of a sudden the shepherd is there.  He felt secure and safe that moment.  You cannot save yourself but there is a Saviour who can come and save your soul.  Just as the shepherd reached down and placed it firmly on his shoulders.  His efforts turned into a triumph.  Imagine the devil watching that week running up to the crucifixion.  He gets the nation to reject Christ.  He got all the religious leaders to build up such a list of things against Jesus then he gets Judas to betray him.  Judas comes down and takes the Lord by the shoulder and kisses him. Jesus is arrested and taken away.  Then when Jesus was standing in Pilate`s judgment hall the devil tells Pilate "if you let this man go you will have no friends, Herod will drop you like a stone, you will lose your job prospects."  Satan put it into his heart that this Saviour should be turned away, rejected.  Finally on the cross the devil came "this is it, we have got rid of him altogether."  The greatest plan of salvation God himself completed it that day.  Satan is a defeated foe tonight.  If you were to come to Christ and trust him as Saviour there is nothing the devil can do.  Do you know Christ as your Saviour and Lord?  Colossians 2 verse 15 "having spoiled principalities and powers he made a show of them openly triumphing over them in it."  That is when he won the great battle.  Tonight he has found you and you are not saved.  He wants to find you and place you on his shoulders.

The thankful expression - verses 6 and 7.  The joy that was on the shepherds heart by his call to his friends.  He lifted this lamb off his shoulders.  This lamb was lost on the mountainside, now it is safe.  There`s  joy in heaven tonight over one sinner coming in faith to Christ.  Would you come to Christ tonight, would you be saved?  The Saviour stands with his hands outstretched and beckons you to come. 

The God of second chances

Sermon notes from Sunday 7 April 2019 am

Exodus 3 verses 1 – 14

In this portion we see the summons God gives to Moses.  As Moses gazed into the burning bush he met God, heard what God had to say to him and thought on the task ahead - to bring the children of Israel out of Egypt.  I`m sure he thought "what a task".  God was calling him to bring his people out from under the taskmasters and oppression.  They were a people lying in the lap of the wicked one.  Men and women do not really know what they need.  Moses asked "who am I to go down."  He was the instrument and God would be the working power behind it all.  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4 verse 13)  The Lord is with us continually.  Moses had this great promise in verse 12 "certainly I will be with thee."  Moses asked in verse 11 "who am I that I should go unto Pharoah and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?"  Remember David when he was sent to his brothers, he heard and seen the great Goliath.  He went down without any armour.  Even the men of valour were hiding but David didn`t.  He told Goliath "I come in the name of the Lord of hosts." (1 Samuel 17 verse 45)  We go in the name of the Lord not in our own strength or abilities.  Look at this place Moses came to.  We can come to that same place today.

A place of reconciliation for Moses.  God can only use those who are redeemed in his work.  Before we start we have a great problem - there has to be a place of reconciliation at the cross of Calvary.    God draws us to this place.  Just as Moses was curious to see why the bush did not burn away so God draws us to himself.  This was a place where God met with his wandering child.  Hagar the maid of Sarah was told to go into Abraham.  Sarah wanted her to bear Abraham`s child but she soon despised her when she became pregnant.  She ran away into the wilderness.  She said "thou God seest me." (Genesis 16 verse 13)  At the very farthest point in the desert Moses met with God.  No-one knew where he was because 40 years previously he had run away.  "There is nothing hid from the eye of him of whom we have to do."  (Hebrews 4 verse 13)  40 years earlier he had fled Egypt and no-one knew anything about him but God only.  Hebrews 11 verses 24, 25 and 26 fills in the detail of Moses` life in Egypt and life in exile.  He came to a crossroads in his life.  He had a choice to make.  Hebrews tells us about the choice he made.  "Choosing rather to suffer the affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season."  Moses could easily have decided to ease the pain of his own people but that was not God`s plan.  God revealed the great plan he had for him.  He would be used by God.  That left him in a great dilemma.  Perhaps he was being treated as Pharaoh’s grandson but one day he would take over the rulership.  What a choice he had – to sit on the throne of this great empire or take a stand with the slaves who had nothing.  Stephen in Acts of the Apostles refers to the choice Moses made when he said in chapter 7 verse 25 “For he supposed his brethren would have understood how that God by his hand would deliver them; but they understood not.”  Moses went before God though, he tried to take matters into his own hands.  He thought he could do it in his own strength.  In his enthusiasm to rise up and do God’s work he slew an Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.  40 years later God was bringing him back to the place where he had fled from God.  It was a place of reconciliation.

A place of recognition.  The place where Moses met with God was “holy ground”.  He was instructed to take off his shoes – Moses had to be prepared to stand before God.  40 years had elapsed, God was bringing him back again to do his purpose.  It is easy to get out of the will of God.  We need to be reconciled and we need to recognise that as well.  What a privilege it is to pray to God.  Imagine we have someone in heaven who spoke the word and everything came into being.  Someone who took the dust of the ground and created a man, then breathed into him and he became a living soul.  Can we take that haphazardly?  “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we might obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4 verse 16) The God of heaven bends down to hear my cry.  God’s eye is constantly on me.  “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10 verse 22)  When the priest would go into the Holy of Holies in the Old Testament he could wash himself first.  He recognised the need to be clean.  Moses’ shoes represented the walk he had.  God wanted him to take them off.  When Isaiah came into the temple one day he had a vision of the glory of God and he said “woe is me for I am undone, because I am a man of unclean lips and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” (Isaiah 6 verse 5)  When Moses spoke with God at the burning bush he recognised who he was.  We are all sinners saved by grace.  When we come into the presence of God we are sinners saved by grace.  Perhaps Moses looked back to the day when he killed the Egyptian.  How he failed and faltered in his life.  The devil will always be bringing our failings up to us but God comes again.  Moses has to be honest and truthful before God.  It is an approach of recognition.

A place of revelation.  Caught up with the burning bush it was then that God spoke to Moses.  As we come before God and look into his word we need to approach it with real passion.  It is through the revelation of God to our hearts.  God was turning his attention back to Egypt, to a nation of people suffering.  He saw their affliction and was painting a picture for Moses.  “I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them.”  We all need a revelation from God.  It was a revelation to Moses – he is the God of second chances.  God gave that same second chance to Jonah and Peter.  He doesn’t rule us out because of failures in the past.  Moses would constantly think back to Egypt.  Sometimes we lose the edge for winning souls.  We should ask God to stir us up again.  That can only be done through God’s word directly to us.  God was talking to Moses about a people who were in an awful state, afflicted, oppressed.  God saw them as souls that needed to be saved.  There are still souls perishing today, going out into a lost and Christless hell for all eternity.  We need that revelation from God as we study the word of God.  God will reveal that to us, will let the Holy Spirit challenge us.  Moses was challenged – he could see his brethren and family living in Egypt who needed to be saved.

A place of reservation.  God had said “come now therefore and I will send thee” but Moses said “who am I that I should go.”  God`s reply came back “Certainly I will be with thee.”

A place of resolution.  Moses looks into the bush and says “Behold when I come unto the children of Israel”.  He wants to know what to say.  He is now resolved to do what God has asked.  He is overcoming his fears and thoughts.  He is overcoming the apathy and coldness.  He is resolved. to do what God has asked him to do.  “Them that honour me I will honour.” (1 Samuel 2 verse 30)