A welcome visit

Sermon notes from Sunday 3 November 2019

Mark 6 verse 53 - 56

Mark sets out for us a challenge.  The thought of a welcome visit.  Here we see the Lord approaching Gennesaret.  It is a welcome visit.  Many will feel the benefit of his visit there.  Maybe God tonight will touch our hearts.  Maybe he will speak as he did to Lydia at the riverside on the Sabbath day.  As Mark puts forth this challenge there is a challenge for each of us saved or not.  How big is God?  Jesus exercises his power and authority over the very natures around us.  Not many could take 5 loaves and 2 fishes from the hand of a young boy, break them and feed over 5000 people.  Not too many would step on the waters and walk to Jesus himself.  He was able to do that.  Not too many could heal.  Many of you are saying `I couldn`t be saved.`  The Lord is able to save.  He walked on water and says "all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."  He can make you a new creature, give you a new name, new aims and goals but he starts with your sin.

The plight Jesus faces.  As he steps off this boat and steps onto the shore and makes his way into Gennesaret the people recognised him.  In the midst of that voyage there was a real storm in the boat.  Jesus walked across the waters and brought comfort to his disciples.  We find the people recognised him.  They brought all out to meet him.  People that were in beds of sickness just to let him touch those people.  Do we see the consequences of seeing people going out into a lost eternity tonight?  What a terrible plight for such people.  Here was a people who recognised the need, gathered all that were sick in those villages.  Verse 55 they were sick but none too sick for him to heal.  Verse 57 "that they might touch" and "as many as touched him were made whole."  There are many who need that touch from the Lord tonight.  Only if you reach out and touch the Lord.  Maybe the Lord has spoken to you before.  Clinging onto something that is not real.  The Lord cannot save you if you will not reach out.  They were not only sick but they had to be carried.  Could do nothing to help themselves.  Not one of us can help ourselves because of our sin.  God in his great love for us had to send his only son because he loved us, he cared for us, doesn`t want to see us lost.  He died and shed his blood that we might be saved.  What a Saviour.  Verse 55 they brought them to where Jesus was.  No point in bringing them to a place where he wasn`t.  So too we need to bring people to where Jesus is.  Not to a place whre his name is never mentioned.  We cannot do that.  Think of the woman bound for some 18 years sitting in the synagogue.  She hadn`t straightened for 18 years.  Sabbath after Sabbath going through the motions.  She would hear all the singing and preaching, came in and out just as she was.  One day the Lord sought her, called her to where he was, brought perfect healing to her body.  The Lord still calls us to himself.  The situation in our lives when he went out on the streets.  He saw all the sick, he did not rush away from it.  Another time he went into the temple, saw those lying around the pool of Siloam, some couldn`t walk, some were blind.  He didn`t shy away from coming for everyone.  That night in Gethsemane when he realised what would happen in days to come, when he had to die on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world he said "not my will but thine be done."  The Lord has done that for you and I.  Will you come to Christ, will you trust him?  The Lord wants you to be saved.  That is why he took the form of a servant, why he came into the world in the first place.

The passion he saw.  He saw people who wanted to be well, to be healed.  He saw those who maybe were helped on the streets.  Friends had gone out and brought them to the place where Jesus was.  They wanted those people to come to Jesus.  A ray of hope is in their hearts, jumped at the chance to meet Jesus.  People had to consent to come and be healed.  I`m sure there were those who said no to the invite to come and be healed.  There are those tonight as we meet them they cannot be bothered to come and hear the message of God`s salvation.  These are the lies and excuses of the enemy, the devil.  Remember how Jesus spoke to the Pharisees, spoke to them about their sin.  They were those who stood in the synagogue, brought and preached the word of God.  They would not come and have eternal life.  This people acknowledged they were sick.  That is what we must do first - acknowledge that we have sinned.  People acknowledged they were sick and if so they could be healed.  The Pharisees stood in condemnation of Jesus when they socialised with sinners.  They couldn`t get over this, never thought they were sinners in need of Christ themselves.  Jesus rebuked them.  "they that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick."  If you want to be saved you have to acknowledge you are a sinner.  It is the greatest acknowledgement we have to make.  If you haven`t done that you are not saved.  Here were a people who had a passion to be saved.  Jesus says "him that cometh to me he will not be cast out."

The privilege Jesus offers.  Simplicity of it all.  Just to touch the hem of his garment.  People recognised Christ, then they lifted up their voices, prayed that if they could touch the hem of his garment these people could be saved.  Maybe there is one who is praying for you right now.  Jesus came right where they were, offered this great remedy for those people.  Like the woman who suffered for 12 years, one touch of the masters garment and she was gloriously healed.  Have you called on the Lord tonight?  Called on his name to save you?  There were many on that day when the woman touched his hem.  The people were pushing and shoving but only he recognised and acknowledged the woman.  Maybe there is only one call tonight that God will recognise.  You have come to the point where you realise you need to be saved, you have to call on the Lord.  Coming from a heart that is broken.  A heart that is truthful.  Will you call on the Lord?  What a privilege it was for Bartimaeus that day.  Jesus passed by him.  He also passed by Zacchaeus in the tree.  "For by grace are you saved through faith it is not of ourselves it is a gift of God."  Have you that grace tonight?  Are you saved?  You cannot have a foot in both worlds tonight.  Jesus didn`t ask how long they had been sick.  They touched his garment and they were healed.  Didn`t ask what manner of sickness they had or what was the nature of that illness.  Knew only one touch and they were healed.  Are you afraid to come tonight?  To acknowledge you are a sinner?

The prize they achieved.  "As many as touched him where made whole."  Christ has taken your sin, made it his very own on his body when he died.  He bore it on the cross of Calvary.  He hung and suffered until he cried "it is finished."  Are you saved by God`s grace?  Has your sin been placed on him?  Have you eternal life tonight?  Will you make sure tonight?

Men and women of vision

Sermon notes from Sunday 3 November 2019 am

Romans 1 verses 8 - 17

Men and women of vision.  What is a man or woman of vision?  Someone who sees something that is not here but could be there.  That the mighty hand of God could bring upon such a man as Martin Luther - Proverbs 29 verse 18 "where there is no vision the people perish."  Martin Luther got the name of the monk that shook the world.  He was a devout Roman Catholic who entered the Augustine monastery.  He was entering to find peace with God.  He had a troubled heart.  He realised something needed to be done.  He needed a relationship with God.  He couldn`t find any one to tell him where it was.  God took this one young man and he changed the world through him.  The apostles in the early days were men who turned the world upside down.  The Pharisees, scribes and leaders saw something about them.  They had to say of them that they were men of no education, no learning, no upbringing but they acknowledged they had been with Jesus.  That is what makes the difference.  Martin Luther changed the world.  Matthew 5 verse 14 "ye are the light of the world."  You and I are those who have acknowledged we are sinners in the sight of a holy God, have trusted him to save and take away our sins, to make us new creatures in Christ.  When we flick a switch today the light illuminates the whole room.  Have we made a change in our homes from the moment we were saved, in our families, in the work place, in our communities in which we live?  Do we take time in the morning to open up the scriptures?  Before we retire at night do we remember the Lord? 

The first thing I notice about a man or woman of vision is this - a man or woman is observant.  He sees things happening around him.   Martin Luther saw things that were not right in his own heart and in his local church.  He had a hunger for God.  He had several close encounters with death - he was once struck by lightening and on another occasion severed an artery.  That maybe brought him to a reality - if he was cut down in death he had no future.  He was taught the act of penance and going without if necessary.  He felt that if he went into the monastery he would meet other young men in a similar situation.  He was being brought to the place of the cross.  That is where we need to get to today.  Not easy believism, not living with a smile on our faces and everything is just fine.  The rich young ruler in Jesus` day came seeking after eternal life.  He got down before the Lord.  The Lord gave him an ultimatum.  You can have the world or me.  He made a choice that day.  He wanted to keep his riches and with that he turned his back on the Lord.  Isaiah had a vision one day and his response was "woe unto me for I am a man of unclean lips."  It is not just a profession from the lips but an expression from the deep desires of our soul.  Isaiah`s life comes crashing down that day when he had the vision in the temple.  He could see others amongst whom he lived who were in a similar situation.  Luther realised his heart was wrong then he realised his church was also wrong.  Isn`t that where revival begins - doesn`t it really bring it home to us when we see the love of God and the need of those around us?  This Reformation movement happened some 500 years ago.  They tell us today that the Reformation was a mistake, it should never have happened.  We have more to unite us than to divide us.  That is where you and I need to be careful.  We are living in a day that is dark.  We need discernment now more than ever.  In Acts 6 the early disciples were men of discernment, could see things happening in the fellowship.  Souls were being saved and that angered the devil.  The devil will never be far behind when souls are being saved.  The devil wanted the church closed down.  Why?  Because God was adding to the church daily such as should be saved.  In Acts 3 and 4 the devil tried to stop the disciples proclaiming the gospel but that didn`t work.  He tried a more subtle approach.  There was money coming into the fellowship that was divided up amongst those that needed it.  There was a small group who felt they were not getting what should have got.  They complained about the disciples.  The devil was sowing the seed of discord amongst the men and women of the early church - why - because people were getting saved.  Those disciples were however men and women of vision.  They decided to give themselves to prayer and the word of God.  The devil was trying to stop the word of God and they realised that Satan was trying to stop the preaching and praying in the church.  Satan will stop you in the prayer meeting.  He will stop you in the pulpit.  It doesn`t matter what happens, we need to be praying and seeking God - why - because we need the men in the pulpit preaching the word of God.  Satan knows how to get into your home and into your life.  He is a subtle person.  The man of vision is a man who is observant.  When Philip came to Samaria in Acts looking all around him that he saw the need of the people to hear the gospel.  He began to preach, people were delivered of demon spirits, healed and set free.  He saw what was needed.  We need God to open our hearts and see what we need and what people all around us need.  When Jesus came to Genesaret the people ran to him.  We need people like John Wesley, Witcliffe, men of vision who could see what was needed to be done.

The man or woman of vision is objective.  Martin Luther had a goal in his heart and mind - to get right with God.  He spoke to an older priest who advised him to read the bible.  Martin Luther and the priests led the people through a procession in the city.  Then Martin Luther took a hammer and nails and nailed a piece of paper with 95 thesis on it.  He wanted to see things done.  Tyndale translated the bible into English, the mother tongue.  He wanted to see every person in England able to read the bible  Some people were in disagreement but Tyndale stood to his feet and said "I will cause the boy that drives the plough in England to know more of the word of God."  We have a godly heritage today, we need to hold onto it.  He caused the Protestant Reformation which we still celebrate 500 years later.  There are people who will argue and say it is a mistake.  Luther was outraged at the way Rome raised money through the sale of indulgences.  When someone bought an indulgence they were buying something that would take some of their family out of purgatory.  "When the coin in the offering rings the soul from purgatory it does spring."    Martin Luther realised when a soul comes to the foot of the cross he is saved by God`s grace, nothing the Poplle could provide.  Martin Luther was a man of vision.  He took action.  Bring it down to ourselves today.  Have we that objective today?  Those disciples in Acts 6 realised enemy was trying to get in.  They had a goal or aim.  They didn`t want the prayer house to be stopped.  These men had objective.  We cannot do that.  We cannot do that.  Love the place of prayer and reading of the word of God.  This argument was going on, that there was not enough money being given to the poor and widows.  The devil was only using that to cause division.  Have you a niggle in your heart and the devil is taking it and using it, holds onto it to try and trip us up.  When we go to bed at night we think about it.  The devil uses these things.  These men were men of vision.  They asked the church to choose out 7 men of good report, full of the Holy Ghost, men of understanding.  They asked them to go and sort it out.  They would take the problem away from the disciples.  Whatever is in your heart today take it to the Lord, get it sorted out today.  Luther was a man who took action.  The devil knows what does annoy us and hinder us. 

The man of vision is a man of obedience.  We have to obey the word of God.  Luther was put out of the Roman Catholic church.  It is not easy to stand against all the priests and bishops in a world were this was the main church.  "The just shall live by faith".  What a privilege we have today to have the word of God today all because of men like Martin Luther.  If it hadn`t been for men like him and others read to stand up and be counted, to be killed for the faith.  If not for men like these we would be still living to please a holy God through all sorts of means.  We worship today because when Jesus died on the cross he satisfied an angry God.  He was pleased with what was offered  That is what saves us today.  "As did Peter we ought to obey God rather than men." Martin Luther said.  We need to take our stand today as did the apostles of old.  We need to keep the doors to the prayer meeting open and the preaching of God`s word sanctified.  We see the enemy getting in, seeing the children`s work dwindling away.  It is not just happening in our church but others.  We ought to be on our knees praying.  The disciples didn`t want to give up praying and preaching.  They appointed others to sort out the problem in the early church.  Have we the same vision today? 

                                                                                                                                                    

Hannah`s bitterness of soul

Sermon notes from Monday 28 October 2019 Bobby McKay

1 Samuel 1

"Bitterness of soul" verse 10.  This was Hannah`s problem.  When she came into the temple Hannah was hard of heart.  She wept sore in the temple.  You might have a heavy burden on your heart tonight.  She wanted to have a child because of her husband.  In those days the husband could take a second wife just to have a child.  Hannah`s husband did that and his second wife had lots of children.  Hannah wanted to please her husband so much - verse 5 "but the Lord had shut up her womb."  The Lord gave her this problem.  He was going to work out a plan and purpose in her life.  It could be a problem we have with a husband, a son or a daughter, or health and it lies heavy on your heart.  People go to medical doctors, feel nothing can be done for them.  Like the woman with the issue of blood.  She then tried Jesus and her problem was cured.  Some people go through life and have a miserable existence, not able to function correctly.  Hannah knew what the problem was.  The Lord gave her the problem.  Sin is a problem, a burden on us.  Until that burden goes from us we will never have peace.  If you are going through something at the moment the Lord has allowed you to have the pain.  For Hannah it was something inside, not something visible.  Her husband could see it on her face.  Her countenance was sad.  He asked her "am I not better to you that 10 sons?" (verse 8)  Hannah went to the place where she could find help - she went into the temple of God.  You are in God`s house and are here for a reason because God wants to speak to you.  A problem in your heart.  I can solve it but you have to be honest with God.  She had a heart of pain, she felt so alone.  You might find yourself in this situation, all alone, who will help me in this situation?  Hannah went into the temple.  Hannah`s patience.  How long did she carry the problem for?  Verse 4 going on for years.  Her sons and daughters, other wife had more than one of each.  Year after year it had been going on for.  The devil was doing everything in his power from stopping you in coming to the Lord.  The devil was stopping her from ending this pain.  Her patience was wearing thin, at a point where could take no more.  She had a prayer.  We read in verse 10 "and prayed unto the Lord and wept sore."  This prayer was a sorrowful prayer.  A prayer from the heart.  Not lip service given today.  She could take no more.  She wept sore.  Determined to get through to God.  Maybe tonight you need to have that determination to get through to God.  She carried this problem long enough, perhaps for years and years.  Her prayer was sorrowful.  It was also silent.  No-one could hear what she was saying.  Maybe you have been silently praying for this problem.  No-one could care less about her, even her husband was getting fed up with her attitude.  Maybe you are feeling pressure in your home, in your family tonight.  She was like that.  It was also a spiritual soul that God would hear.  That makes all the difference, not just hitting the ceiling and came back down again.  Hannah made a promise to the Lord "if you give me a son I will give him back to you."  She made a vow - verse 11.  People make a vow and they never hold unto them.  "If you get me out of this situation then I will go to church and pray and read my bible."  People have done this constantly, situations have been difficult and when those situations become better never see them again.  Maybe God has brought you through difficulties in your life but you have forgotten about him since.  Hannah made a promise to God.  People tell you the Christian life is boring.  God has given us a life full of promises not of man but of God.  Salvation is real tonight.  There is a God who is real and precious tonight.  Hannah made this promise when she went into the temple and prayed .  Eli thought she was drunk. She was given a promise to her by Eli - verse 17.  Wouldn`t it be wonderful if you went out of here with peace in your heart instead of pain.  The Lord takes the burdens.  The blood of Jesus Christ God`s son cleanseth us from all sin.  The cross is where the Son of God paid the price for our sin.  He gave his life`s blood for our salvation.  The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.  Couldn`t deny the peace God gave us.  When I became a Christian not a bed of roses but when you have problems you take them to the Lord.  He sorts them all out.  Cast your burden upon the Lord and he shall sustain you.  He shall never let the righteous be moved.  Not only peace in your heart.  Her countenance also changed - verse 18.  She had peace in the heart.  She had peace in the home.  Maybe the situation didn`t change right away.  Peace, knowing she had left her burden with the Lord.  She had also peace with her husband.  When Jesus comes in our heart not only changed but the home, the heart, everything changes.  That is what Jesus does.  Your heart can change dramatically.  You have to come.  All Jesus wants you to do is try and sort it out.  Come as you are right now.  If anything you take out of this meeting Romans 10 verse 9 "that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart thou shalt be saved."  Hannah had tremendous peace in her heart, home and with her husband.  It all changed.  What problem is.  What are you going to do with it.  Maybe it is a sinful problem never been saved.  Wanted to come forward but something stopped you.  Wouldn`t it be great to know the peace of God that passeth all understanding.  Jesus is more powerful than the enemy.  He will set you free, set you on the road to eternity.

The call to Moses

Sermon notes from Tuesday 29 October 2019 Prayer Meeting

Exodus 4 verses 10 - 13

Thinking of Moses at this point in his life.  A man of some 80 years of age.  He had spent 40 years in Egypt and now he is in the wilderness.  The Lord has separated this day from any other day.  He had never experienced anything like this before.  Like Lydia when she left all aside on the Sabbath day.  She was a religious lady.  She set everything aside to be where the women gathered to pray.  She had a desire to be there.  Nothing else in her mind that day.  The most important thing in her mind as she went to that prayer meeting.  She met with God.  We can sit in all the meetings we want, listen to the greatest preachers, hear the best testimonies but what we really need is an individual word from the Lord.  For 40 years he had been minding the sheep.  Every day he took them up to new pastures, guarding them against the enemy, then one day he meets with God.  This day turns out different.  We long for something different in our prayer time.  We all need an individual meeting with God.  That God would come with real freshness to us.  That is all we need in this day and age.  40 years of reflection.  When he made that mistake all those years ago 40 years he has reflected on it.  No doubt the devil told him he was a failure.  The devil shows us all our failures.  When we don`t do what God asks us to do the devil throws it up time and time again.  He is called "the accuser of the brethren." (Revelation 12 verse 10)  Hypocrites he calls us  He is best at doing that.  The testimony of the rod last week - what is that in your hands - it is a rod - God showed him what he would do with it.  The secrecy of the rod, the surrender of the rod.  It has to be cast down before anything could happen to it.  The sufficiency of the rod. 

Through it all we come to the rest of Moses` response.  Want to see what he is really made of.  Moses comes under challenging view of God.  He sees the burning bush that never goes out.  Moses steps aside to see this.  God speaks to him out of the bush.  Now under the attention of God`s word.  It searched Moses` heart.  We should always allow the word of God to search out hearts.  God`s word is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our path.(Psalm 119 verse 105)  It pierces and divides into our hearts.(Hebrews 4 verse 12) Moses also listened intently to what God had to say to him.  God would take this shepherd of the desert and restore unto him the years that the locusts had eaten.(Joel 2 verse 25)  He would send him back to Egypt.  God doesn`t turn his back on us.  He is the God of the second chance.  Jesus singles out from the disciples to make sure Peter was told that he had risen again.  Moses standing at the burning bush he is searching out the word of God, taking everything God is saying to him.  He didn`t want to miss out on this second opportunity.  It is good to search the word of God, not merely reading it.  What does it mean to me?  The situation around me.  The people around me too.  Remember the Bereans in Acts 17.  Paul and the team had to flee for their lives from Thessalonica but when they came to Berea it says they "received the word of God and searched the word of God daily."  That word that is used "search the scriptures" means a forensic term.  The police use it when they come to a scene of crime - everything is sealed off, don`t plod in, everything is set aside and done meticulously, examined, tested.  There is another thought behind it - to interrogate.  These people they set everything else aside and listened to what the preacher said.  Examined every word he said and lined it up with the word of God.  That is where we need to be careful.  Bereans listened to everything Paul preached then took it home and searched it out for themselves.  Another thought of interrogation.  When stand in court barrister takes every word that is said and breaks it up, could it mean a totally different thing from what originally thought?  Moses was like that at the burning bush, taking every syllable in, did not want to miss out.  Verse 10 argument "I am not eloquent."  Verse 9 "they will not believe me."  Every argument he can use not to go.  Verse 13 "send someone else."  This could be used to searching the word of God.  God will challenge us about task we need to do for him, saying we are not able to speak then who would really believe me.  Before long we are saying send someone else to do it.  Moses listened well.  It would be difficult going back to the day where he failed God in the first place.  The devil was bring that before him.  The devil does that today.  They will not believe me, send someone else.  The argument he puts up.

The assurance he gets - verses 11 and 12.  "who hath made man`s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing or the blind? have not I the Lord?  Now therefore go and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say."  He was given assurance from the Lord himself.  Paul said to Timothy "everyone has left me but not the Lord.  He stood with me and strengthened me." (2 Timothy 4 verse 16)  Philippians 4 verse 19 "my God shall supply all your needs ."  That comes on the back of something.  There was a group of people in Philippi being faithful to Paul.  Sent him many gifts supporting him for the work and way of God.  Maybe sacrificially giving, leaving those with very little.  Maybe Paul understood couldn`t give as much as they are giving.  Paul receives it gratefully and he responds to them "my God shall supply all your need."  "I can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4 verse 13)  Moses asked for someone else to be sent.  2 Corinthians 9 Paul lived with a thorn in the flesh.  We don`t know what it really was.  Something that annoyed him, prayed a multitude of times "will you take this away Lord."  Yet the word came back I will not but my grace is sufficient.  Moses needed that same grace.  He didn`t need to argue with the Lord.  He couldn`t do it because the Lord would help him going with him.  Every task the Lord asks you and I he stands with us.  Even Daniel in the lions den God sent an angel.  Every place the Lord asks us to go he goes with us.  Sometimes when we go through the valley it is easy to forget the Lord is with us.

The answer that came - verse 14 "the anger of the Lord was kindled against Moses."  The Lord was angry.  The Lord told Moses "you don`t need anyone else but as you requested Aaron will go with you."  At that point Moses missed the blessing of God because Aaron was the spokesperson before Pharaoh.

Sifted and weighed in God's balance

Sermon notes from Sunday 20 October 2019 pm

Daniel 5 verses 1 - 9, 16 - 31

The scene that is set before us is a very solemn one.  Belshazzar`s life and death is in the balance.  He has come to the end of his life.  Nothing further he can do.  All his works and exploits have been collected to be sifted and weighed in God`s balance to see if he comes up to the mark of God`s righteousness.  Yet to the very last moment of this man Belshazzar`s life he is just having a ball of a time.  He hasn`t got health nor medical problems at all.  It seems he is in the fullness of health at this very moment of time.  If you were speaking to him about the future he would tell you it was very good.  My kingdom will go on for years yet - what could be better than having a great party with his 1000 lords?  All the trappings and frivolity went on in that time.  If that wasn`t enough part of the pleasure was the public blasphemy of the God of heaven, as if raising his fists to God.  Not only does he debase himself he defiles the vessels of the temple of the Lord.  There is no fear here in this crowd of people.  He takes in the vessels of the temple of the Lord, the golden vessels.  In verse 5 we read "that same hour".  When he was at the very height of the frivolity a finger of a man`s hand began to write on the plaster of the wall.  The verdict was guilty as charged.  God`s judgement comes suddenly and in this instance it was shocking.  All the frivolity stops and one by one there comes a deadly hush that fills the place.  What a contrast when God speaks.  The noise of that place to bring that down to a deadly hush.  God has stepped in.  Belshazzar`s face changed colour, his thoughts troubled him, he begins to tremble.  Such a sight had never been seen before.  He cries out with a loud voice "bring in the interpreters, I want to know what is going on."  Think tonight of Belshazzar`s trial and judgement and parallel it to the poor sinners trial from the destruction of his soul. 

There is a balance of God`s fairness tonight.  "Thou art weighed".  It is not about any of these lords around about but Belshazzar is separated out.  His time has come to an end before God.  He stood alone.  Some people will say "if I am going to hell I am taking all my friends with me."  You stand alone, there is no-one in hell with you.  "Thou wilt be weighed."  It is not in the past tense nor in the future but the present.  The weighing process has been done.  God has already weighed up this man`s life.  He had outstanding success, the ruler of the greatest kingdom on earth, his achievements were known world wide at that time.  No-one had accomplished what he had.  He was the richest man on earth, the ruler of a great kingdom, his power was absolute.  Whatever he said went.  If you came in to be judged before this man and he said you lived you lived.  No-one questioned him.  His power was absolute.  That is the human balance.  If men and women were weighed up by what they have done could be said to be popular, have many friends, many achievements and well thought of.  Now Belshazzar is being weighed in the divine balance of eternal justice.  Into the scale God places "thou shalt have no other gods before me."  Well he couldn`t deny that commandment because he had been worshipping other gods.  Who do you worship tonight?  Your money or your home, your husband or wife, your children - who do you put in place of God in your life?  Do you know of the mercy that God has for your soul, of the one who bled and died on Calvary`s centre tree.  Have you got the Lord tonight?  If no the balance goes down.  "You shall not make unto you any graven image."  "You shall not take the name of the Lord in vain, bear false witness, covet."  All these are put in the balance and the balance goes down.  If you are not a Christian put them all on the scales.  You are a good, righteous person, a church goer - put them all on and measure them up.  You give to charity, good to your neighbours and friends.  Put it all on the balance.  Brought up in a godly home, taught right from wrong.  Put it all on the balance.  Went to Sunday school and never missed a day.  What have you got today?  Parents, grandparents were saved.  How will you weigh up in God`s balance?  When you weigh up your life and mine is it too light or perhaps too heavy?  It doesn`t weigh up to God`s balance.  John 3 verse 18 "he that believeth not is condemned already."  What you have put in the balance will be brought up against you.  The Lord will look at what your life has been.  He will place the blood of Christ, the sacrifice of Calvary on the other side and will say it is not enough.  Haven`t come up to my standards.  You are weighed in the balance and found wanting.  Matthew 7 verse 21 "not everyone that says unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."  Some say "I profess the Lord."  Remember the devil believes and trembles.  It is not worth anything.  It is possession.  Romans 3 verse 23 we all have come short of the mercy of God.  We haven`t reached his standards.  Have you done anything pure and holy?  Perhaps you are a very religious person.  Isaiah 64 verse 6 "all your righteousnesses are as filthy rags."   Mark 7 verse 6 "these people honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me."  What is God searching for?  That will weigh up the balance.  He is searching for repentance.  "Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish."  Have you ever repented?  Have you ever come recognising you are a hell deserving sinner?  The Lord sent the Lord Jesus Christ to die for you.  If you put repentance on that balance it will come up and tip over.  God will recognise that you have accepted Christ who died on Calvary`s cross for the penalty of your sin.

There is a witness called forth.  The first witness is conscience.  The trouble with eternal reality is that you are faced with the question "what shall I do with God who is called Christ."  The gospel has been preached.  People have been conscious of their need.  They know what they have to do but they tune out the voice of conscience.  The preacher will be brought out as a witness.  He will have to give an account for all his preaching.  Many do not preach the gospel.  The Holy Spirit is a witness too convicting men of sin.  Christ himself will say "I stood at the door and knocked."  People still keep the door closed.  What about the word of God.  John 12 verse 38.  This man had a knowledge of who God was.  Many have read the word of God more times than God`s people.  It is not enough because although this man had a knowledge he did nothing about it.  Maybe you have a great knowledge of the scriptures but you have done nothing about it.  The witnesses are called forth.

The judgement is pronounced - verse 27 "thou art weighed in the balances."  Time is over.  The seriousness of it all.  Time is up.  Time as you know it is over and you are standing before God.  You are not your mother, neighbour, friend, work colleague or some debased fella down the street.  It is you tonight.  Have you any righteousness to plead?  If you have that makes the difference between the sinner and the saint.  We have no righteousness of our own but we have Jesus` righteousness.  "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  As the hymn writer said "Jesus took my sin and my sorrow and he made them his very own."  He died and shed his blood and accomplished the substitutionary work on Calvary.    People tonight have health problems, things are not looking good for them, they push the Lord away.  The Lord is standing, he is reaching out.  People say "I want to stay in my sin."  Isn`t that an awful thought.   We can push away the perfect righteousness of  the Lord.  How does that weigh in the balance of your life and all your accomplishments?  He accepts it for Jesus` sake, he justifies me.  God justifies the sinner for Jesus` sake.  Nothing qualifies that.  You are a sinner.  God`s son Jesus` blood cleanses us from all sin.  There is now no condemnation for them that are in Christ Jesus.  "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in the Lord Jesus." (Romans 3 verse 24)  What do you present tonight?  Thou art weighed in the balance.  Are you found wanting tonight? 

It is a balance of solemn fairness.  The witnesses are called forth.  You notice that Belshazzar was speechless.  When God calls forth on that day you will be speechless with nothing to say.  You will stand before God and the judgement will be pronounced.  How important it is to become a Christian.  For this people to realise that they need the Lord is a solemn message but if you are here and not saved it is the message you need to know there is hope.  Jesus Christ is merciful and he is willing to take our sin upon himself.  A balance of solemn fairness.  The witnesses are called forth and the judgement is pronounced - "thou art weighed."

Gathering wheat into the garner

Sermon notes from Sunday 13 October 2019 pm Rev Eric Stewart

Matthew 3 verses 1 - 12

We are not far into the gospel of Matthew when we encounter this amazing preacher.  He had a strong voice and a new voice in the countryside.  When Malachi passed on it was the end of a period of prophetic ministry in history.  400 years had now passed, people had lived and died and the people had heard nothing from God.  What a remarkable figure John was.  He was preaching a powerful message.  It was like a voice of one crying in the wilderness.  His raiment was strange as was his diet.  People were arrested by this unique man in his ways and in his message.  People began to travel out from the town and city to hear him not just the religious leaders and soldiers.  Such a scene on the banks of the river Jordan.  He spoke with conviction and from the heart.  He laid it out simply, calling them to repentance.  It is the first gospel message in the New Testament.  Jesus who came 6 months after John`s ministry preached a similar message - "repent for the kingdom of God is at hand."  The word "repent" means a radical turn around, a transformation from within.  "As a man thinketh in his heart so is he." (Proverbs 23 verse 7) When the heart is changed through true repentance there is a transformation in the life of any person.  As John preached people were so stricken, concerned that they sought the Lord.  They came to John and were baptised in the River Jordan.  They confessed their sins.  When the Saviour came later he said "the spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the broken hearted, to preach liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised." (Luke 4 verse 18)   The message has never changed.  The Lord can change those who are broken hearted and set the captive free. 

In this chapter we have a harvest scene.  It speaks about Jesus who will follow John.  This man is greater than me, he will baptise with the Holy Ghost and we read "whose fan is in his hand ... and gather his wheat into the garner."  He will gather his wheat into the garner.  My life is hidden with Christ in God.  He has no favourites.  "for whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."  He gathers the wheat into the garner by the ministry of his word.  It is through the incorruptible seed of the living word that liveth and abideth forever that we are brought into the experience of life.  "He that goeth forth weeping bearing precious seed  shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalm 126 verse 6)  Gathering people into the family of God.  We do it with the ministry of the word of God.  His message has living power.  He takes the spiritual dead and births them into the family of God through the preaching of his word.  He brings life, light and liberty.  God`s spirit takes the word.  "My word shall not return unto me empty."  As God`s word takes root in your heart you are born of his spirit, washed in his blood through the message of the word of God.  He gathers people in through the proclamation of his word.  Jesus said "I will send the Holy Spiirt to come and take the word of God to arrest us in our spiritual deadness, to bring conviction and will convert the heart."  The reality of the blood of Jesus, his Holy Spirit brings us his concern.  He creates that faith to reach out and touch the Lord.  He gathers people by his Spirit.  If you are concerned about your soul the spirit is here to bring you to the Saviour.  You might not be on the wild side but you are on the broad way.  Jesus has come to bring you to the narrow way.  Someday soon Jesus is coming again, the signs are all around us - are you ready for his return?  Only God knows the day and hour when he will come again.  All those who belong to Christ will be drawn out when he comes again.  Are you ready for that day or will you be left behind?  Do you need to get ready?  You can be harvested in with the garner.

"But he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire"  John was particularly clear about what the issues were.  The wheat and the chaff, the gathering into the garner, consumption in the flame.  There is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.  Death focuses our thinking and you will know how close it is.  "Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burning?" (Isaiah 33 verse 14)  God has made it possible for every person who will come to escape that day and have a glorious end.  I believe in God`s eternal heaven rather than in a eternal hell.  The harvest season brings wheat into the garner which consumes the chaff to the fire.  You and I are like wheat or chaff.  God knows you, knows whether you are in the kingdom or outside.  Thinking about or not thinking about it.  Concerned or unconcerned.  He knows you are not here by accident.  Once to every man and every nation he comes with the decision to be made.  What will your decision be as he speaks into your heart, as he moves toward you?  Will he move toward you?  

Ruth chapter 1

Sermon notes from Sunday 13 October 2019 am Rev Eric Stewart

Ruth chapter 1

Moab was different to the land of Israel  It was a land of idolatry, they did not follow the way of God.  Elimelech as head of the family decided because there was a famine in Bethlehem to go to Moab with his wife and 2 sons.  They only meant to stay there a short while because it was not a good environment for any of them.  They stayed longer than planned - 10 years in total.  During those years 3 of the men of the family all died.  We now find 3 women - Naomi, Orpah and Ruth left.  Orpah and Ruth were young women from Moab.  Naomi hears there is food again in Bethlehem and decided to return.  She felt like a stranger in a strange land.  She wanted to get back to the land she knew and the people she remembered.  Sometimes people drift from the Lord, they become backsliders from the Lord.  They once loved the Lord and God`s house but something happens.  They find themselves in a strange land.  How wonderful it is to come back to the Lord.  God wants to bring you back - you are not here by accident today but by appointment.  On their journey Naomi stops and talks to the girls.  She tells them they should go back to Moab.  They had a choice to make.  One girl, Orpah decided to go back to Moab and her god.  Sometimes the people of Moab would offer sacrifices to their god, children would be offered by fire to appease or gain favour from their god.  We only have to accept God as our Saviour today, no sacrifices are needed.  Orpah went back but Ruth by the choice she made decided to go on with Naomi.  She made a memorable decision.  Naomi knew that Ruth really meant it.  She was stepping out to follow the Lord.  She said "your God wil be my God."  It is great to make a choice like that when you are young.  The 2 travelled on until they arrived in Bethlehem and it is the beginning of the harvest.  The next morning Ruth says to Naomi "I want to go and work in one of the harvest fields."  So she set off and found a field, helping to harvest some of the grain.  Later in the day a man appeared on the scene.  He looked over the people and saw Ruth. He inquired about who she was.  She must have looked good because he asked about her.  They told her who she was and that she had come with Naomi whose husband was Elimelech from Moab.  Ruth had married Elimelech`s son and Boaz knew that Elimelech and his 2 sons were buried in Moab.  He also knew Ruth was part of his family.  Boaz`s name means strength.  He was well respected in the community, known for his generosity.  He was a kinsman to Ruth.  A kinsman could purchase property that belonged to a relative and that is what Boaz was going to do.  When he bought the property he was also challenged to buy Ruth to redeem her too.  We have today got a redeeming mortgage on a house.  It means when you pay for the mortgage it becomes yours, it belongs to you.  Boaz was going to have to buy Ruth.  This widow became his wife.  In that thought we have the picture of the Lord who came to the same town many years later.  He was God`s Boaz.  He was so rich - the bible says "he became poor that we through his poverty might become rich."  He didn`t have a place to put down his head.  "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."  He went to the Mount of Olives, he borrowed Peter`s boat to sail across the sea of Galilee.  He didn`t have money to pay the taxes but told Peter to go down and catch a fish with a coin in its mouth and that coin would pay for the taxes.  This is the creator of the universe who is strong enough to save all who come and trust in him.  Have you accepted him, do you know him as your redeemer today?  The transaction was made at the gate of Bethlehem.  Boaz bought the ground and Ruth.  She is called Ruth the Moabitess 5 times in this book.  Think about the number 5 and when it occurs in the bible - David had 5 stones when he went to kill Goliath, there were 5 loaves and 2 fishes used to feed the 5000, there were 5 arches where the lame man lay.  5 means grace.  When Ruth left that morning to go to the field she said "I want to meet someone in whose eyes I will find grace."  3 times she says this in chapter 2.  It is the word favour but it is the same word.  Who gives us grace today - Jesus himself.  There is nothing you can do, all your works, prayers, the gifts you bring - it is simply trusting in Jesus that we can come to know him.  She became a notable woman.  She met a remarkable man and became a notable woman.  The sixth time she is mentioned in the book of Ruth she is called Ruth the wife of Boaz.  She had a new name.  When the Lord comes into your life the heavenly Boaz gives you a new name.  His name is in your heart and life.  She became part of a new company of people, the people of God.  When we come to know the Lord we become part of the company of God.  A year later a little boy was born and they called him Obed.  When he grew up and married he had a boy called Jesse who had a lot of boys, the youngest of whom was called David and the Lord was called the son of David because he came from David`s line.  He is mentioned as is Ruth in Matthew 1.  There are 5 women mentioned there.  Ruth is one of them  Jesus is God`s greater son.  Ruth could never have dreamed that the day she stood on the path leading from Moab to Bethlehem that the decision she made would result her name would be remembered all over the world even today.  That many will gather in their different places to praise the name of Jesus who have come to know him as their own and personal Saviour.  You can know what it might mean to you to accept the Lord God as your Saviour.  There is an amazing future for anyone who will come to him and trust him.  It becomes an adventure.  Orpah went into the mist never to be spoken of again but Ruth followed the Lord and became a notable person, a new creation.  How exciting that can be for you too.