What we can do for the work of God and what we can do in the work of God

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 13 AUGUST 2023 am

ACTS 11 VERSES 19 – 26

 

In this portion of scripture, we see Barnabas, the Son of Consolation and how valuable he was to the work of God.  The work of God in Antioch needed someone, and he was sent to help.  It was all about the work that began in Antioch.  Barnabas had to go down and test the word, to see if what was happening there was from God or not.  The church in Jerusalem sent him there to investigate what was going on.  Barnabas when he arrived “was glad”.  We need to test the spirits today, to see if things are from God or not (1 John 4 verse 1).  The enemy is very active today.  We cannot go on face value.  I want to look today at what we can do for and what we can do in the work of God.  Persecution began in and around Jerusalem.  We are seeing the aftermath of Stephen’s death.  A young man used of God in Acts 6.  When there was a rumour in the fellowship, he was brought in to quell it.  Stephen was eventually put to death.  When he was dying his clothes were held by Saul of Tarsus.  What an impression it made on his life – to see a man stoned to death.  Sometimes it takes all sorts to bring us to faith in God.  Perhaps through illness in the family or a death.  Stephen was stoned to death, but he had no words of condemnation for those involved in this action.  Instead he saw his master standing in heaven waiting his arrival.  The disciples had to flee from Jerusalem – Acts 8.  They were going everywhere preaching the gospel.  In verse 19 of this chapter, we read “now they” – no names, no singling out.  They were being persecuted and when they fled, they preached the gospel.  In verse 20 we read “some of them” – again no names.  I want to look today at the thought of these people and their service for God in Antioch.

These were men of vision for the work.  How important that is.  If we are saved by the grace of God, have come to the realisation of our sin and come short of the glory of God, when we hear of Christ dying on the cross of Calvary, shedding his blood for us, that should make a change in our lives.  That means when we become a child of God we become those with a vision.  Antioch was a city that needed to hear of the Lord.  It was a city full of hopeless people, a city of commerce and culture with many leading men and women but they needed the Lord Jesus.  These men had a vision of God working.  The people did not just come and look but they realised here was a city that needed God.  Remember Paul when he came to Athens.  He saw men and women without Christ, they were given over to idols.  His heart was stirred in him as a result (Acts 17).  That is what we need – a vision.  A band of men and women who saw the need.  It was the need of the poor and the rich who lived in Antioch.  There was no difference at all because there were those in Antioch who had no religion at all.  Here were a band of men who realised here was a city that needed the Lord.  That is what we need today.  We cannot live on the vision of a past day.  Paul had a vision for Rome – “I am ready to preach the gospel.”  There were many intellectual people in that city but they were sinners too “I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation.” (Romans 1 verse 16)  Think of the vision of Hudson Taylor for the people of China or David Livingstone for Africa.  Have we a vision today?  Have we a desire to see what God can do through us?  We are only channels but God can use us to challenge men and women today.  Can we see them going out into a lost eternity?  These men had a vision and we need such a vision today.  We have the answer for people today – Christ.

They were also men of vocation.  They were called of God. We need to get before God today and ask “is there something I can do for you Lord?”  These men were available for God.  They had trusted God yes but they also surrendered their lives to Christ.  Remember the fishermen sitting mending their nets one day – they left them where they were because they had a higher calling (Matthew 4 verse 20).  They were now going to be fishers of men.  You are saved to be used by God today.  It is not just a task for the few or the leaders of the local fellowship.  There is a work for everyone, not just the pastor.  In Acts 8 we see as here that they went forth and saw the need to tell men and women.  Philip had the vision to go to Samaria, he began to teach men and women of Christ.  These men in Antioch had to flee their homes, families and jobs but they had a vocation – to reach men and women for Christ.  Acts 13 the people were working in the church daily when the Holy Ghost came down and told them to separate Barnabas and Saul (verse 2).  A surrender of their lives.  Romans 12 “I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”  Are we seeking after that?  Willingly sacrificing our talents?  Have we surrendered them to the Lord?  Do we know the vocation of the Lord on our lives?  Are we sure of it?  Are we surrendering our lives, our worship, our finances to God?  David Livingston said “I am prepared to go anywhere provided it is forward.”  There were those who wrote to him on one occasion saying “we want to send our recruits, those who want to help you, is there a good road for them to travel?”  David Livingstone wrote back “if men want a good road to travel to me, I want them to come to me whether it is a road or not.”

These men ventured.  They stepped out.  We can have a vision and a vocation but we need to step out.  Jonah had the vision all right.  He knew what would happen if he went to Nineveh.  They were great enemies of Israel.  If someone went to preach a message of repentance to them they would turn and he didn’t want that.  He got up and fled from the presence of God.  We can have a vision and a vocation yet fight against it.  This was a big step for Jonah, not to take the gospel message to this city.  Paul said he was ready to preach the gospel in Rome, he would not allow the culture to deter him (Romans 1 verse 15).  He was going to venture out.  Maybe God is calling you today.  You might think it is impossible – how could I ever do anything for God?  You know it is not just a matter of coming Sunday by Sunday, there has to be a surrender.  Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up.  He heard the voice “who shall I send and who will go?”  Isaiah responded “here am I Lord send me.” (Isaiah 6 verse 8)  Maybe the Lord is calling you for a work he has.  Is there something you can do, is there a task God would have you to do today?

These were men who voiced the word – “preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.” (verse 19)  "How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10 verse 14)  If you don’t tell that neighbour of yours of the love of God how will they hear?  There is a message we need to present.  That is what the people need to hear.  That Jesus suffered, bled and died and rose again.  That people could have their sins forgiven if they trust in God.  “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16 verse 15)  The word has to be voiced.

These men were men who had a visit from God.  “they spoke unto the Grecians preaching the Lord Jesus and the hand of the Lord was with them.” (verse 20) In the Old Testament “the hand of the Lord” meant the wrath of God.  In the New Testament it is the blessing of God.  We need that blessing today.  We cannot do it ourselves.  That is the answer even today as it was in those Antioch days.  For the hand of God to step into our work again.  He did it in times past.  We need it again today.   We have many gimmicks today.  On the day of Pentecost Peter preached the gospel and 3000 were saved.  The Holy Spirit came and brought great conviction.  Remember when Peter was called to go to Cornelius.  God send a message to him to go and see Cornelius.  Cornelius was concerned about those in his family, in his neighbourhood.  He had a concern for their souls too.  Peter found much people had already gathered.  If we don’t have that concern today will you pray and ask the Lord for it?  Peter arrived at Cornelius’ house and he didn’t bring anything with him. He went into his house and preached the Lord as Saviour.  How the love of God sent his son to be the Saviour of the world.  How his death on the cross would be the means of salvation, how he was raised on the third day and is now seated at the fathers right hand where one day he will come again.  When he said these words the Holy Spirit fell on the whole congregation that was gathered there.  That is what we need today. For the Holy Spirit to come and move in a mighty way.  Will you allow him to move in your heart today?  Are you prepared to say “Lord here am I, send me” like Isaiah in the Old Testament?

The importance of the word of God

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 6 AUGUST 2023

2 CHRONICLES 34 VERSES 14 – 21

The incident we want to look at is the book of the law found whilst the repair of the house of the Lord was under way.  It happened in the reign of Josiah a young man.  When he came to the throne he was only 8 years of age.  He was taken and placed on the throne of Judah and Jerusalem.  There were different stages in his life you can see that in the early verses of this chapter.  In verse 1 he was 8 years of age when he began to reign and he reigned for 31 years.  Verse 2 “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord.”  It is a good thing to do that today because one day we must stand and give a final account of the life lived in the body.  Verse 3 “in the eighth year of his reign … he began to seek after God.”  Only 8 when he came to the throne and at 16 he set his sights on God.  Have we set our sights on God to seek after him with our heart?  “There is none righteous, there is none that seeketh after God.”  There has to be a day when we seek after God.  God so loved you that he gave his own son, his son was given as a ransom for the world, for your sin and mine.  Verse 3 “in the twelfth year of his reign he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves and the carved images and the molten images.”  He began to make inroads, to bring the nation back to God. Commanded the people to come to God’s house to prayer.  In verse 14 we see that whilst carrying out the repairs to the house of God they found the word of God.  The house of God had been run down for 50/60 years.  It was neglected.  This man sets out to repair and build it again.  He wanted the people to get back into the worship of God. This godly young man realises he has the word of God in his hand.  Let us look at the significance of this find and the lessons we can learn from it.

 

This book that was found was the book of the law.  It had been ignored.  It set out the demands of God.  That is how important this book was.  This is a book setting out the just demands of a loving God who wants you and I to live for him.  Manasseh was Josiah’s grandfather.  He was a wicked man when he came to the throne.  He undid everything his father had done.  He brought the nation into false worship.  The nation began to crumble and fail as a result.  When he ignored this book that is what happened.  If we adhere to this book today we will continue to have great fellowship in our lives.  If it is read and studied and adhered to our home and family lives would be different.  We dare not ignore it or neglect it.  Manasseh was an evil king.  The book was ignored and set aside.  They did not want God, they wanted to do their own thing.  When he departed his son Amon came to the throne and he was another wicked king.  He only lived for some 2 years after coming to the throne.  Josiah then came to the throne and he had a different mindset.  He wanted to bring the nation back to God.  He set about reforming the people.  Paul wrote in Romans 1 verse 18 “for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”  There are those behind the sacred desk holding the word of God down because it will have a great effect on peoples lives.  Jesus taught of the man who had the privilege of hearing the word of God.  Jesus taught parables that touched lives.  Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meanings.  One man was taught from the word of God but he turned his back on it.  He lived his life as he wanted to, walking and not practising what he heard.  Jesus called him foolish.  A man who ignored the warnings in the word of God.  He was like a man who went out to build his house, instead of getting a good foundation, he built it on the sand.  It all looked ok while it was good and calm, only when storms came, when the rains fell and the winds blew the house came down.  He is like the man who hears my word but goes out to practise what he wants.  If it is not built on the word of God, it doesn’t matter how religious you are, if you do the best you can, you need to be born again of the Spirit of God.  The rich man Nicodemus came to Jesus at night.  Jesus looked into his heart and said “you are well off, except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.”  He was lost in sin, his religion did him no good. Do we ignore the word of God today?  Maybe you are saying “this is not me, I do the best I can, I am as good as the next person.”  The bible says “there is none righteous, there is none that seeketh after God.”  “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  Peter said “there is no other name given amongst men whereby we must be saved.”  Being saved is not a word used only in this church but it is written in God’s word.  If you are not saved today you cannot be saved any other way.  Is the bible ignored, set aside?  Is it read or studied?

 

A book that was important.  This book was given by the prophet Moses on top of the mountain.  God spoke with him and gave him the dictates of God.  As Hilkiah found it he realised it was very important.  No other book stands in the same significance today.  As he unrolled the scroll he realised it was from God.  It was very precious.  He began to read the pages.  Paul to the church in Rome was asked “what is the point of being a Jew, of being circumcised?”  “For unto you was presented first of all the oracles of God (the word of God).”  It is an important book.  Hilkiah realised that this book was so important that others needed to hear it.  He called in Shaphan and asked him to read it.  He wanted to share it with others.  This book is not an ornament but something to be preached from.  Hilkiah wanted the king to know about this book and he asked Shaphan to take it into the palace.  It is to be preached to everyone – from the richest to the poorest, from the person of great importance to the pauper.  In 2 Timothy 4 verse 2 Paul encouraged Timothy to “preach the word, be in season and out.”  Paul warned that there would be a day when the people will turn away from this book and turn to fables.  Are we not living in days when people don’t want to hear the word of God but would rather listen to the dictates of the world?  When you open up this word of God you will see what God desires.  This book shows what God expects of you and I.  Verse 21 “Go inquire of the Lord for me and for them that are left in Israel and in Judah concerning the words of the book that is found for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book.”  David in his first psalm talked about a man who loved the word of God – “he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season.”  He was not going to be moved easily.  Jesus was walking in the wilderness, a barren lonely place when the devil came to him.  In a time of weariness and hunger the devil approached him and said “turn these stones into bread.”  In other words why not have a good feast, satisfy your stomach.  Jesus replied “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”  The importance of it. 

 

The instructions it gives us – how to reach heaven and home.  This book tells us of 2 places.  Paul to Timothy spoke of the last days – 2 Timothy 3 verse 14 “But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”  It is an instruction book of how to get into a relationship with Jesus, God’s son.  How will we ever see heaven’s glory and God for himself?  The bible tells us we are sinful and separated from God but he doesn’t stop there – if we are willing to repent of our sin and take of the atoning work of Christ on Calvary then we can know salvation for ourselves today.

 

This book had an impact – verse 19.  The king rent his clothes.  It was a sign of repentance and sorrow that brought about conviction.  When the word was read he realised the people were not living according to this book.  He knew he was not fit to sit in the presence of God.  We are told in the scriptures that in the last days men will have a form of godliness.  There will be a religiosity, or Christianity but no reality.  Remember Lydia in Acts 16.  She was sitting in the meeting listening to Paul as he opened up the word of God.  God reached down and opened up her heart.  She received the word of God that day.  It saved her soul, made her fit for heaven and home.  Or think of the Bereans who listened to the word of God. Such was the impact that they went home and searched the scriptures for themselves to see if what had been said was true.  It is important today to hear what God has said to us.  Time is running out in this world – where will you spend eternity?

The parable of the marriage supper

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 30 JULY 2023 pm

MR JACKSON McVICKER

MATTHEW 22 VERSES 1 – 14

The Jews had rejected the Lord so many times.  “How often would I have gathered thy children together even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings and ye would not!” (Matthew 23 verse 37)  The picture is of a hen with her chicks when something disturbed her.  She calls her chicks and raises her wings so that they can hide until it is safe again.  God says “I have called, I have preached, I have healed but you would not come, I would have comforted you but you would not come.”  This parable is told of the king, the invitation to marriage.  It is all about Jesus inviting the people to come into his kingdom.  Before the marriage there was an espousal period.  It is a bit like an engagement time.  It was a period of one year when great preparation was made.  This parable is about this certain king.  We know that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.  Some think it is a wee story but this story is actually true.  It is not a fable.  It says in this passage that there was a certain king.  He was someone the Lord had in mind.  We don’t know who Jesus had in mind.  There was a certain son, a certain bride.  This is the truth.  The Lord wants to explain to you and me the reality of this truth.  A king had made an invitation to the people.  The invitation was generous to a fault.  He made a free, no cost to the guests banquet, of the very best the kingdom could offer.  Nothing was held back.  There was no sense of need or want.  There was an abundance overflowing.  Nothing unworthy was placed on the kings banquet table.  All the best to offer, it was generous to a fault.  If you have ever been to Windsor and go into the castle, it is a place of splendour.  All the wallpaper is made of silk, so old and beautiful, finely made, intricate.  In the actual banqueting hall all the cutlery is set in a measured position.  All the splendour is evident.  But only VIP’s get into the banquet.  Here is a king giving out a gracious invitation. 

 

The invitation was far reaching – “go out into the highways and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.”  They were not inviting on a local scale, it was extended to far away places.  Near and far were invited.  All roads would be travelled with this invitation. To the places where the kings word was not usually heard.  Not a lane missed, no distance too far to travel.  The call would go forth and be heard in many places.  The people would be awakened by the servants.  Verse 4 the call was “come unto the marriage.”  They would travel with confidence because it was the king’s son.  The servants knew the king had power to fulfil the invite, supply the table and banqueting hall.  They were going in the name of the king.  The word “highways” means the crossroads.  They went north, south, west and east.  Spreading the invite of the king.

 

The invite had no respecter of persons – verse 10 “they found both bad and good.”  They came as they were, some religious, others irreligious, the literate and illiterate.  The colour of skin didn’t matter nor age, status, whether they were poor or rich.  It didn’t matter their political preference.

 

The invite had no limits – “as many as they found.” They were not worried about numbers.  Jehovah Witnesses today strive to be included in the number who will be included at the end of life.  There is no limit in this marriage feast.

 

Finally the banquet hall was full.  It was not that the hall couldn’t hold any more, it just means there were no others to invite.  What an atmosphere there must have been in the hall.

 

In verse 11 we see the king comes in to cast his eyes over the guests, to welcome them, to thank them for coming.  The king’s eye falls on one guest who is not fitly clothed.  He asked “Friend, how comest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.”  The king wanted to ensure they had suitable dress, that they had obeyed his instructions.  Some might have said this man was not wealthy, maybe he did not have the wherewithal to come and purchase an outfit for the wedding.  Maybe that man had tried his best but the answer is he didn’t have to purchase the clothes because the garment was already purchased for the guests.  The king would have provided the robes for them – this was his way of displaying his glory.  He didn’t have to afford anything but he did not have the robe on.  We can only assume he refused the provision.  He came to the wedding in his own apparel.  That would have insulted the king.  The garment provided was rejected.  The king rejects this guest and casts him out into darkness. 

 

What is the teaching behind this parable?

 

The king is God, the son is Jesus, the marriage is possibly the marriage supper of the lamb.  Revelation 19 verse 8 tell us that we will be clothed in fine linen which is the righteousness of the saints.  The covering here is provided.  God has prepared heaven for us – John 14 “In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.”  He has sent his servants.  They have preached the gospel, given out invitation after invitation.  “Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.”  This is the invitation.  It has no respecter of persons.  It comes to all.  It is for the rich and poor, the blind and maimed, the educated or those not educated.  “Whosoever will may come.”  The invitation has been given out.  There is no limits to the power of this invitation.  None has ever been turned away.  Are you saved tonight?  Or are you lost?  Has the Lord ever turned anyone away?  If the sinner would see his need tonight and ask “can I be saved?” the answer will come back “whosoever will may come.”  He will not be turned away.  The Lord never turned anyone away.  Remember blind Bartimaeus.  The crowds had gathered around the Saviour that day.  There was a great noise but blind Bartimaeus cried out “Lord, Lord”.  In the midst of the crowd the Lord heard his voice and he stopped.  If a sinner cries out “Lord be merciful to me a sinner” would be reject him?  The invitation had no limits, no-one was turned away.  “All the father has given me shall come to me.”  The invitation has travelled across our world, our land has been saturated with the word of God.  Would you come to God as Saviour?  “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.”  A transaction takes place if you believe.  You become a new creature in Christ, the old things have passed away, all things have become new.  The person desires change – why?  Because the Lord has come into your heart and you are desiring the food of the word.  You are clothed with the righteousness of the Lord.  You are declared righteous in him because we have no righteousness in ourselves, they have become as filthy rages.  “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation; he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61 verse 10)  We could never get ourselves clean.  He has purchased that righteousness in himself.  “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities.”  You must be declared righteous in Christ.  This is not the righteousness you get in church, it does not happen because of our circumstances or because we know certain people.  It does not come down from father to son or mother to daughter.  It has to be purchased by Christ.  If you reject his covering you will be cast out.  The man in the story was not prepared and he was punished as a result.  God looks over us tonight.  Is there one here tonight and you haven’t got on the wedding garment.  You are not saved.  You might be good, kind, neighbourly but salvation has never entered your heart.  People have sat under the gospel for years, they thought they were saved but when it comes to their deathbed and the minister calls, a surprise is found.  “I am not ready to meet the Lord”.  Pretending to be a Christian but never met the Lord.  The blood has never been applied.  As the Lord looks down do you know him as your Saviour and Lord?

Fear not to go down into Egypt - reasons to fear not

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 30 JULY 2023

MR STEPHEN FLETCHER

GENESIS 45 AND 46 verses 1 to 7

Joseph is in Egypt and had just revealed himself to his brothers who in earlier years had sold Joseph into slavery. Look at chapter 45 verse 3 and Joseph’s first question to them “is my father still alive?”  He instructs his brothers to return home and bring his father down to Egypt.  They responded by returning home and telling their father that Joseph was still alive. Notice the irony of Joseph saying to them before they left “see that ye fall not out by the way” verse 24. He knew them so well; he had heard them speaking and knew how they would react as they returned home.

In chapter 45 verse 3 we read of Jacob, Joseph’s father making the decision to go down to Egypt.  This would be a place of trial.  A difficult situation.  Here we see Jacob was being instructed by God to go down to Egypt.  He is told by God “fear not”.   I have entitled this message today “Reasons to fear not”. 

Prior to chapter 45 God had not instructed Jacob to fear not yet when Jacob hears his son is still alive, he is willing to go down, to meet him in Egypt.  In chapter 46 verse 1 we read that Jacob still worshipped God.  He “offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.”  Life was difficult for Jacob, yet he still worshipped God.  Many years ago, he thought he had lost his son.  There had been famine in the land.  There was hardship.  Famine was not only present in his land but in all the lands around Egypt.  He had allowed his son to go and travel to Egypt.  He had been left alone.  Then he had to part with Benjamin.  We can go even further back in his life to the days when he had tricked his own brother Esau and then years later feared meeting him again to be reconciled.  Still he worshipped God.  This would not be a short visit to Egypt.  Jacob knew it would be a one-way trip.  Verse 28 “I will go and see him before I die”.  Verse 4 “I will go down with thee into Egypt and I will also surely bring thee up again and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.”  Joseph would close Jacob’s eyes in death.  From the time God had spoken to him at Bethel until now he had followed God.  Even if this journey resulted in his death he was still going to go.  No matter what our journey is in life we should all be serving God like Jacob was doing here.

Firstly, notice the road Jacob was about to take.  He didn’t know what lay ahead.  It was unknown. Jacob clearly defined the destination – Egypt.  He did not know what the road would hold for him.  It was an unknown road.  It was a road previously travelled by his father and grandfather before him.  In Genesis 12 we read of a famine in Abraham’s day.  We read that Abraham went down into Egypt and things didn’t go well for him, so he returned home.  His own father Isaac in chapter 26 was told not to go down to Egypt.  Here in this chapter, we have exactly the same circumstances.  There is famine and hardship in the land.  The instructions though were different this time.  The promises however were still the same – I will be with thee and will bless thee.  God asks us to trust him, and he will always be with us.  God was telling Jacob to go a long 200-mile journey.  It would take almost a month to complete with all the children of his sons with him.  In the heat of the day, they wouldn’t have travelled far.  It was a lengthy journey.  Even though he didn’t know the road God knew the way.  God was with Joseph when he was sold into Egypt.  God had been with Joseph’s brothers when they had travelled back and forth to Egypt for food.  Remember Job who said “he knoweth the way that I take.”  No matter what the journey is ahead God knows the way we are taking.   Jacob was excited to see his long-lost son Joseph.  Egypt would be a place of judgment for God’s people.  They would spend 400 years in this land.  The road God has called you or I to travel is maybe unseen, unknown, there are many dangers.  It could be a road of loneliness, heartache even separation for some.  God has asked us to take that road and maybe we think the journey is too great for us.  Maybe we have had more trials and problems than we ever thought possible.  Perhaps we are fearful of the daily provision needed.  The burdens on us are so great no-one else knows about them.  Egypt is the land of the enemy.   Jacob is about to go headlong into bandit country.  The journey started with Jacob.  No matter what point you are on this journey God has given us a reason to fear not.

The reasons that Jacob was to fear not.  There were not one but many reasons not to be afraid.  The first reason to fear not – it was God who is telling Jacob not to fear.  This wasn’t just a dream or a vision, that he remembered something his father or grandfather said, it wasn’t a recommendation from family or guidance from a theologian or one versed in scripture.  It was God who was speaking.  God who created heaven and earth, who formed man from the dust of the ground.  He was in control of all things.  That same God speaks to us today.  It is not a vision in the way Jacob saw it but through God’s own revealed word that instructs us.  He is the God of his father Isaac and grandfather Abraham.  He is the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient God and he is saying “fear not”.  He is the creator God, the maker of heaven and earth who sent his son into the world to die for our sins, to redeem us from our sin for ever.  Jacob was to fear not because God was telling him to.  The second reason to fear not – God knows our name and everything about us.  He called to him “Jacob, Jacob”.   He had revealed himself before to Jacob at Luz when he was given a new name, Israel and renamed the town as Bethel.  God knew his need all those years before and again when he met Esau.  This was a personal call.  It was directed specifically at him.  There was no mistake he was speaking to him.  He directly called him.  He called him by his name twice.  How many times has God called us?  He knew his name and knew everything about him.  The third reason to fear not – because God does not change.  “The God of thy father.”  It is the same God of Isaac and Abraham and now Jacob.  God had guided them in times past.  He had not changed throughout the years.  Jesus is the same today.  Malachi 3 verse 6.  God will not start us on a journey and then change halfway through.  He is consistent in his promises to us.  Another reason to fear not – God will bless the journey.  “For I will there make of thee a great nation.”  In verse 26 we read that 66 people made the journey with Jacob.  He took everyone with him, he didn’t leave any behind.  400 years later we read of the many people that came out of Egypt.  God has promised to bless us along the journey.  Romans 8 verse 28 is easy to quote but we need to read on to verse 29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”  The trials we face are for our good but always for God’s glory.  They are designed to make us more like Christ, to bring him honour and glory.  Many times, we don’t see it until the clouds have disappeared.  Then we see that God has been with us very step of the way.  God is going to bless us on the journey.  Another reason to fear not – God will be with us on the journey “I will go down with thee into Egypt.”  Jacob was not going alone.  Yes he would have his family with him but the promises and assurances would have been empty if God hadn’t gone with him.  Hebrews 13 verse 5 “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”  Joshua 1 verse 9.  Even in the valley we know that Christ the good shepherd is with us – Psalm 23.  You might be carrying a burden no-one else knows about, but you are not facing it alone.  There is always one with you – God himself.  Remember the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus after the crucifixion.  They were downcast and disheartened when “Jesus himself drew near and went with them.”  Isaiah 41 verse 13 “for I the Lord will hold thy right-hand saying fear not I will help you.”  The Lord will be right beside you on your journey whispering “fear not”.  No matter what we are going through God is with you.  Another reason to fear not – God will bring you up again.  He would bring him out of Egypt.  There is a certainty in this promise.  Jacob could go down with confidence knowing God would be with him but also God would bring him up again.  1 Corinthians 10 verse 13.  The last reason to fear not – God will provide everything we need for the journey.  God used Pharaoh, an unbeliever to send enough to bring Jacob to Egypt.  Isn’t it the same for us - God makes provision for us in our journey in life.

The promise God gave Jacob – verse 4 “Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.”  This is a reference to Joseph closing Jacob’s eyes in death – Joseph would outlive his father.  Jacob would be with his son the rest of his days on earth.  The desire of his heart was being granted.  One little phrase struck me in verse 5 “and their little ones.”  Such was Jacob’s trust in God he brought the youngest children with him on this journey.  We are entrusted with children, and we must leave them in God’s care and keeping.  Even though the journey would be hard, even though they were going into enemy territory, the road ahead would have many trials and hardships, but God would take care of them all.

The response Jacob made – it was one of obedience, full of trust.  Verse 5 “And Jacob rose up”. 

The result of Jacob’s obedience – chapter 47 verse 27 and 18.  For 17 years Jacob lived in Egypt.  That was his reward and faithfulness to God.

The remembrance by God of his promise – Exodus 3 verses 7 and 8.  God did not forget them.  He remembered his promise and fulfilled it.  We need to do the same today.

 

Psalm 139

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 23 JULY 2023

SPEAKER: MR JEFFREY FERGUSON, ACRE GOSPEL MISSION

Psalm 139

Verses 1 to 6 – The Lord knows all there is to know about us.

“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.  Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.  Thou compassest my path and my lying down and art acquainted with all my ways.  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.  Thou hast beset me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.”

Isn’t it amazing to think that the God of the universe knows even you.  There are 8 billion people on this earth today but God knows them all.  He knows every detail of every person that has ever lived.  Every second there are 4 babies born into this world.  God knows them all. He knows when a little sparrow falls to the ground.  He knows our coming in and going out, our movements, our thoughts, the words even before they are on our tongue.  He knows our inner most thoughts.  He knows me in a way no-one else can know as a human.  We can describe the human characteristics of someone we know, even their personalities and sometimes intimate knowledge but there are limits.  We don’t know the thoughts on someone’s mind or their unspeakable fears that they might have.  Sometimes we hear the expression “I thought I knew that person but now I see a different side to them.”  We cannot understand that – it is infinite. We talk about God as omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent.  God is all those and more.  He knows every problem we have, all the things that trouble us.  As our great heavenly father he knows what we need.  Can we really say we know everything there is to know about our family members?  Even as parents we don’t know every thought or worry our children have.  God knows though.  We can leave every care with him knowing he understands.  That can be a blessing but also a warning.  God knows your thoughts and deeds but maybe there are things you wish no-one else knew about it – remember God knows them.

 

Verses 7 – 12 there is no place we can hide from God

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?”  If I ascend up into heaven thou art here; if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.  If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;  Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.  If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.  Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.”

As Christians this should give us a sense of security and hope.  He is present every day of work, every place we go to. We cannot hide from him.  Many things overwhelm us but we should not be afraid.  Equally no matter where we run from God he is there.  Sometimes we don’t like this idea of being constantly watched.  We hear a lot today about Artificial Intelligence, the idea of being constantly watched.  That no matter where we go in life there are security cameras watching our every move.  It is amazing to see how technology has advanced so much.  As humans we want our privacy.  We grow suspicious of people knowing too much.  God sees all things.  There is no hiding from him.  Rather than being suspicious of God, his presence conveys to us the immense care and love God has for us.  God can lead us by his will.  We can be led by him.  Our natural inclination is to hide from God.  That comes from Adam and Eve hiding from God in the Garden of Eden.  If our sins have been forgiven today we no longer need to run from God.  We see in these verses a picture of love and care.  It is like a shepherd who looks after the sheep.  In Jesus’ day the shepherd would go before his sheep to lead them and then at night he would bring them into the sheepfold.  He himself would lie at the door protecting them from every danger.  Or think of the scene with a mother hen and her chicks.  She would protect them by ensuring they never left her side too far so that when the threat of danger came they could run to her and hid under her wings.  We can take encouragement from these verses today – God’s hand is on us day by day.

 

Verses 13 – 16 God knew you before you were born

“For thou hast possessd my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.  I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.  My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

These verses offer an amazing insight as to how God saw us even before we were born.  A wonderful picture of how we were created.  As human beings God had a plan to knit us together.  Our DNA, the very detail in our cells holds the information needed for life.  Every small detail is accounted for.  As we go through the world today many will be told it all happened by a big bang, it took years to form.  Doctors and scientists will say that we are just a formation of cells that one day will become a baby.  That takes away from the sanctity of life.  It takes away the idea of worth, that our lives do not count in any way.  Jeremiah 1 verse 5 says “before I formed thee in the womb I knew you.”  He knew you before you came into existence.  He has set us apart for himself.  He gave us a soul which will live for ever.  Today babies are being killed in the womb, old people are pushed to one side in society.  Life is so precious, so much so that Jesus came into the world to die for our sins.  He paid the price for sin so that if we accept Christ for ourselves we can be a partaker of a new heaven and a new earth one day.  God knows us inside out.  He knows how long we will live.  He will be our guide in life if we place him first and foremost. 

 

Verse 17 and 18 “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God: how great is the sum of them.  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.”

We can never understand the vastness of God’s knowledge.  Even with all that knowledge he has time to think of us individually.  We need to trust him to work in our lives and allow his plans to work themselves out in ours.

 

Verses 19 – 22 The Psalmist writes about the wicked.

“Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.  For they speak against thee wickedly and thine enemies take thy name in vain.  Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?  I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.”

David the Psalmist was exposed to the enemy many times.  He had to face many battles.  Here he unburdens his heart to God.  He was crying out and lamenting the situation he was in.  He knew that his enemies wanted to hate him.  He also knew he had a great God and the victory would be his.  In our lives we can call to the Lord for his protection.  We will face many different battles but the Lord will be there to fight each one for us.  God is the one who can defeat our enemies.  David was asking the Lord to step in and slay the wicked.  We know we have no strength in ourselves.  We depend on God to fight our battles.  David did not want to be a part of what his enemies wanted to achieve.  Do we set ourselves apart from what we know is wrong.  Or are we happy to join in with sinful things.  We can see how God will deal with the wicked in the last days.  They will receive God’s ultimate judgement.  God will have the victory.  Without Jesus as Saviour no-one will escape the righteous judgment of God.  We can have assurance and hope in God if we are his today.

 

Verse 23 the Psalmist wants God to look at his life and see where improvement can be made

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

That is how we can grow as Christians.  God will reveal to us over time in reading his word areas of our lives that need to be changed.  David wants to be right before God.  David asks God to examine his very thoughts to see if anything needs to be changed.  What a lesson for us.  We need to ask God to help us to live each day that is pleasing for God.  When we are open to God, giving correction in our lives then this is how we will grow more and more.  God is the Father and he loves us, views us as his child.  He is ready and willing to receive his children.  God is waiting to forgive you.  God knows you, who you are.  Let it be an encouragement to our hearts and challenge us to live for him.

God's plan for Gideon's victory

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 2 JULY 2023 am

JUDGES 7 VERSES 9 – 21

When God’s angel first came to Gideon, he was full of fear.  He had doubts, unbelief and questions.  The angel addressed him as a man of valour.  Gideon questioned the angel – if that is so why has all this happened to us?  It is wonderful how God cannot work with the too many.  Not much is great in the hands of God.  God reduced the people from 32,000 to 300.  In Gideon’s life God used 300 men to destroy the Midianite and the army of the east.  We see in this story …

The wonder of God’s plan – God wants to use us for his glory.  When under pressure you can do strange things.  Elijah was able to stand before the King of Israel and tell him there would be no rain for 3½ years yet when Jezebel’s words came to him, he ran away.  It is the easiest thing in the world to run away from our problems rather than face up to them.  Moses saw the Egyptian fighting an Israel slave one day and killed him but when he heard that Pharaoh wanted to put him to death he ran to the desert.  300 men seemed a hopeless number for Gideon when he saw the enemy in the valley below him – they were as grasshoppers. Sometimes we will go through such a valley in our own lives.  The situation we face today needs reliance on the Lord.  We might think God is not listening, but God has already won both the battle and the victory.  Gideon only had to play out his role.  God was going to show Gideon through the dream of the enemy, his plans.  Just as he is already in the midst of the difficulty we face; God will use us today.  The enemy had a dream of a barley loaf running down the hill and hitting the tent, squashing it as a result.  The dream meant more to his friend than to him.  He realised the dream meant they would be defeated.  Gideon came down to spy on the enemy and he came to the right tent at the right moment to hear of this dream and then of his friend explaining what the dream meant.  Remember Jacob – he was told by God in a dream to go forward with the Lord.  God also came to Laban, his father-in-law and warned him “take heed you do not speak to Jacob either bad or good.”  Then on another occasion when Jacob was returning to his home and his brother, he wrestled all night with God.  The following day Jacob saw Esau coming with 400 men, but they were not coming to fight, rather they had come as friends.  They were ready to meet and welcome him home, back into his family.  God has your situation on his mind.  We see something hopeless and helpless, but God is there already to sort things out for us.  The barley loaf was something despised, only fit for feeding to animals yet this thing that was despised was the very thing God used in a dream to defeat the Midianites.

Notice the weakness God uses.  They were to have a trumpet in their left hand and pitchers with lamps in the other hand.  God used a barley loaf to take away the fear of the Israelites.  What have we to offer God today?  The only right thing.  God only uses us at our weakest.  Paul after having a great vision was left with a thorn in the flesh – lest he should be exalted above measure.  When God didn’t deal with it the way Paul thought he should, he learned to rejoice in it.  In 2 Kings 7 Israel is being besieged.  All hope is gone.  There were 4 lepers sitting at the gates of the city.  They were despised and not allowed into the city.  They had no food.  They discussed amongst themselves the situation and decided to go to the Syrian army.  They discovered that the Syrian army had fled the camp because of fear.  They had thought every hope was gone but they were able to go into every tent and found plenty of food.  Then they realised that whilst they had all this food there were people in the city with nothing.  They went back and told everyone the wonderful news.  The element God used.  God still uses the weak things, the despised things of this world.  Remember Nehemiah as he rebuilt the city walls.  Many were criticising him.  1 Corinthians 1 “God hath chosen the foolish things to confound the wise so that no flesh may glory in his presence.”  You may do a work for God, but he will not allow you to glory in it.

The weaponry God used.  Gideon divides the men into 3 companies and gives them each a trumpet and a pitcher with a lamb in each pitcher.  It is not our ability, or our intellect that God uses.  “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (2 Corinthians 10 verse 4)  Most of all these men were looking to one another and Gideon.  With all his fear at the beginning now he is relying on God. That made all the difference.  Proverbs 6 verse 16 tells us that there are 7 things God hates.  Our work, witness and walk should be in harmony and unity.  We need to be careful we don’t sow discord or allow pride into our lives.  You and I are to let our light shine – Matthew 5.  Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 4 verse 7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us.”  The men blew on their trumpets, then broke the pitchers.  It made the light blaze all over the hillside.  It must have fooled the enemy into thinking they were facing a large army coming against them.  As a result, they fled.  The trumpet represents the testimony of God’s word and telling others.  The light represents the light of the gospel showing sin and the grace that is available.  “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify God.”  Revelation 12 verse 11 “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The winning that God gave.  God promised the victory to a world that might have seen foolish.  Imagine the enemy thinking that a terrible host was coming against them.  The glory was the Lord’s, and he made the difference.  Today the preaching of God is to some foolishness but for us who are saved it is the power of God unto salvation.

Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my soul

 LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 21 MAY 2023 pm

PSALM 66

 

“Come and hear all ye that fear God and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.” verse 16

The Psalmist had something to rejoice about.  Have we got that which is worth shouting about?  George Whitfield was preaching in the open air one day when a man was seen running down the street to where he was preaching.  This man made an open profession that he didn’t believe in God nor in the existence of God.  Here he was running down the street.  Someone asked him where he was going.  “I am going down to hear Whitfield”.  “But surely you don’t believe what he preaches.”  “I don’t but he does.”  The author here of the psalm is unknown and there is much speculation about who it is as well as its timing and background.  Some say David others say Asaph.  Some say it was written after the Babylonian captivity.  Others say it was written during the days of Hezekiah when the opposing armies came to the gates of the city.  Hezekiah received the letter and spread it before the Lord.  Others say it was written at the time when David was on the run from Saul or Absalom.  It is a psalm that shows there is something worth shouting about.  “Come and hear” stopping everyone in their tracks.  I have something to relate to you.  Here’s what the Lord has done for my soul.  The psalmist is giving his testimony.

 

A personal experience.  An experience he had with the Lord.  It was personal.  “I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”  Not saying what he has done for us or my father, mother, brother or sister.  It is for me that the Lord did this.  Remember the words of the hymn “This is my story, this is my song.”  We need to challenge ourselves – have we got a story to tell?  This was a personal experience.  Salvation is personal – when we come and realise we have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  When you realise Christ has died for your sin, died to take away the guilt of sin and will take you one day to heaven to be with him for ever.  “I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken when I was in trouble.”  The Psalmist was taking us back to that day when he called out to the Lord.  God heard and answered his prayer.  He was now telling everyone what God did for his soul.  Many people at a time of sickness and tragedy say ‘Lord if you help me through this, I will do this and that’ but when they are raised up again they forget all about it.  The Psalmist had something to shout about.  It was so important as a Christian.  Are you telling men and women you are saved by the grace of God?  Think of Saul of Tarsus.  It was personal for him.  He was heading off for Damascus.  He has a task in his mind.  God brought him to his knees and he was saved.  A personal experience.  The Ethiopian eunuch in his chariot had a personal experience.  The woman at the well had a personal experience.  Peter preaching the word of God on the day of Pentecost saw the Holy Spirit come down and everyone cried out ‘what must we do to be saved?’  3000 people came to Christ that day.  Individual and personal.  You cannot be saved because any of your family is saved.   It is a personal experience.  Has Christ saved you tonight?

 

It is a powerful experience – ”what he hath done for my soul”.  The gospel is the power of God unto salvation.  Those people on the Day of Pentecost came under the power of God.  Peter simply preached the gospel that day.  It affected the men that night.  3000 were saved but everyone was individual.  The psalmist is speaking here of something done.  W P Nicholson said “you cannot be saved and not know it, you cannot be saved and not show it.”  The Psalmist knew there was something definite that had taken place in his life.  “But as to many as received him he gave the power to receive him.”  Not feelings, something you realise and acknowledge.  If you depend on feelings you might not feel like going to work on your sin.  “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  In Psalm 40 the psalmist was waiting patiently for the Lord.  He was in a situation that was like a mud pile.  He kept sinking, there was no-one to help him out.  The Lord lifted him himself and put his feet on the rock never more to sink.  The woman with the issue of blood for 12 years tried every doctor, every remedy yet was none the better.  Someone told her of the Lord and how he was doing all manner of good.  He will not turn you away.  She believed with all her heart.  If I could touch the hem of Jesus’ garment.  She realised something powerful had happened when she did so.  We are not talking about an airy fairy thing, or joining a church but something that is mighty and it happens within the soul.

 

It was positive.  The Psalmist was ready to say “I will declare what he hath done for my soul.”  Salvation is a positive work of grace.  A positive change of nature.  We are made new creatures in Christ Jesus.  Nicodemus in John’s gospel came one night to Jesus.  “Rabbi we know thou art a teacher come from God for no man can do these miracles except God be with him.  He had only head knowledge.  “Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Christ died to take my sins.  He died in my place.  He died there for you as well as me.  “If any man be in Christ he is a new creature.”  Namaan the leper in the Old Testament went down to see the King of Israel about his leprosy.  The king told him to go to the prophet because he couldn’t help him.  The prophet told him to go into the River Jordan 7 times and afterwards we read “his flesh became white as a changed man.

 

 

 

It was a precious experience - “he hath done for my soul.”  Only God could do it.  The Philippian jailer asked “what must I do to be saved?  Peter and John replied “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.”