The cost of discipleship

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 23 MARCH 2025 pm - MR KEITH WILSON

LUKE 14 VERSES 26 TO 35

Some say there is no comfortable way to carry a cross. The biblical reality is that we are people who say yes to follow Christ. They are agreeing to carry a cross and that will be painful at times. If you are saved tonight can you testify that the cross you are are called to carry is painful at times? When I became a Christian my problems didn't cease but just began. I discovered that I had an enemy. I had a cross and it was painful. 

The words "you cannot be my disciple" occur 3 times in this passage - verses 26, 27 and 33. These are sobering words. These are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. He never made it easy to become a disciple. Jesus certainly was not interested in drawing a crowd, he was more interested in making disciples. That is why he says "if you don't do these things you cannot be a disciple of mine." There is denial. There is a cross and there is a cost. There is nothing we can do to contribute to salvation. 

In verse 26 we learn that if someone wants to be a disciple it will cost him his family and all his life. In verse 27 it will cost us our desires. In verse 33 it will cost us our passions.

Modern society throws it at us that it is all about you attaining as much as you can, get your own self confidence, self progress. It is all about having the best family, the best children, having the most beautiful wife or handsome husband. Paul knew all about denial. He said "it is no longer I that liveth but Christ that liveth in me." True discipleship is about denying ourselves. All our desires. All our passions. It is about coming to Christ and being born again of the Spirit of God. It is about God coming into our lives. 

For some they don't understand what verse 26 is saying. Is Jesus telling us we have to hate our father, our mother, our wife, our children, our brothers, our sisters even our own life? I believe the Lord is not telling us to hate them. What he is speaking of is our loyalty. Whenever we become disciples we must think about our loyal to Christ. No-one is to take the place of Christ. Jesus must be Lord. He must be pre-eminent in a person's life. He must be over everything, be in complete control. He must direct you, protect you. Denial has to do with our personal relationship. Where do our loyalties lie? We cannot allow anyone, no matter how much we love them to take the place of Jesus Christ in our lives. We are to be influenced by Christ. No person can be allowed to compete for our loyalty. Samson was told not to marry a Philistine woman because she would take him away from the Lord. Eventually a woman did take his loyalty away. The spiritual life of a Christian is determined by our loyalty. We cannot ignore what God says at the expense of another person. The Lord Jesus speaks to us through his word - Hebrews 1 verse 1. We cannot ignore what God says. There is a cost to following the Lord Jesus. He tells us "if you want to be my disciple I have to have your loyalty." These are Jesus' own words. The gospel tells us that Jesus has done it all on the cross but there is a cross for us too. We cannot live in sin and be a disciple of Jesus. It will cost us to give up our own life. That is why Paul said "it is no longer I that liveth but Christ that liveth in me." The disciples had to give up all their personal goals and devote themselves to him and his goal. Think of the apostle Paul - he was shipwrecked, beaten, many false accusations were made against him. 3 times he sought the Lord to take away his thorn in the flesh and the Lord didn't take it away. The Lord told him "my grace is sufficient for thee". 

It will not only cost you your family and your life but in verse 27 it will cost you your desires. There is a cross to bear. God does not want partnership with us but rather ownership of us. He doesn't want me to walk alongside him but he wants to control my walk so that I walk in his ways and his will. Are we suffering for his name's sake? If we deny ourselves and take up our cross it will hurt. If Christ wants to break us let him break us so that he can be praised and glorified. Denial and a cost. That is the Christian life. Carrying a cross speaks of death. The cross of Christ was necessary to save a world lost in sin. The cross is necessary for us to be a disciple of Christ. The apostle Paul counted the cost. He denied himself. He took up the cross. "From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus." (Galatians 6 verse 17) There is no other way for someone to be saved apart from the cross. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Peter 2 verse 24) Christ did not appeal to the intellect in convincing men or women. It took the cross to bear away the sin of the world. He bore it on his body on the tree. If we want to live for God we have to come through the way of the cross. The cross is essential if people are to be saved. The cross cannot be defeated because it defeated sin. Leonard Ravenhill said "the preaching that sinners might have a vision of hell might be entirely wrong, on the contrary he probably needs a vision of Calvary, of the suffering Saviour pleading with him to repent." We live in a world were people are not afraid of hell. They don't believe in hell. The biggest problem of the world tonight is sin. If we were to get a fresh vision of Calvary, what it cost God's Son to go there, we could really tell people to repent and come and put their faith and trust in Christ. We need the spirit of conviction across our land. How Christ died on Calvary. How he walked up Golgotha hill carrying his cross. How the crown of thorns was placed on his brow. How when he was thirsty was given a drink of vinegar. How we need a fresh vision of our sin. A fresh vision of the cross. The only way a man or woman can be saved is through Christ and the sacrifice he made on he cross. 

Verse 33 - these verses could be taken out of context. Is Jesus saying sell all you have and give to the poor. When speaking to the rich young ruler he realised he was putting things before God. For him it was his riches. For you it could be something else. It is not wrong to have riches or possessions. But when they possess us that is when it is wrong. God could be pointing out something in your life that you are holding on to. You will not let go of it. When God prises things out of our hands then we know they have a hold on us. Our hands should be open to the cross. When we live like that then we gain the whole world. 

The cost of revival

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 23 MARCH 2025 am – MR KEITH WILSON

PSALM 85

“There is no revival possible in any fellowship without a price being paid”

Pastor Kilpatrick was pastor in the United States of America. His congregation was 2000 in size. He wanted more so he spent time every Saturday night crying out for more, sometimes into the early hours of the morning. After a number of years preaching on revival and having weekly prayer meetings on revival, some people began to oppose him and his vision for revival. That hurt him a lot. One Saturday night he placed the keys of the church on the altar at the front of the church and he said to God he wanted to pastor  a church that wanted revival. If this meant he was sent to a small unknown church anywhere in the world so be it. Hence Kilpatrick was willing to give up his position in a large expanding church and see revival. He humbled himself before the Lord and paid the price – revival broke out 2 years after him humbling himself before God.

Psalm 85 verse 6 is often quoted when preaching about revival. “Wilt thou not revive us again that thy people may rejoice in thee?” I want us to consider 3 simple points – “wilt thou not revive us again?” Firstly revival is of God. “There we see God’s power in revival. The Psalmist is talking to God’s saved people, the children of God. Secondly we see God’s people – “that thy people may rejoice in thee.” Thirdly we see God’s praise in revival.

Context is very important when we read the scriptures.  It is important not to take a verse out of context and come up with doctrine and hold to it. That is what cults do and many people have been led down a religious path by such methods. Revival is 100% God. We clearly see that in Psalm 85 verse 6. There is a difference between personal revival and national revival. I want to ask you a question – “did you spend time with God this morning?” If the answer is no, I believe you need revival. The children of God should be spending time with God. I believe that. I believe it is important. Revival is of God. I believe we should be living in a constant state of revival. For that to happen there is a cost in our lives. Many fall into this trap, they think if I do this or that then God is obligated to send revival. He will send it in his own time.  The Psalmist is asking “will you do not it God?” but he recognises it is from God and God alone whether or not he will do it. It should not stop us from living in a state of personal revival. That is where the cost comes in. We must deny ourselves and count the cost. There are many godly men and woman who have prayed and lived righteous, holy lives before God but have never seen national revival – but they saw it in their own lives. They were in touch with God and God blessed them with the desire of prayer. Campbell Morgan said “we ought to so living that when God begins his triumphant march we should be able to fall in the first battalion part of the first victories.” Stephen Olford said “waiting for general revival is no excuse for not living for personal revival. We should be living in the place of revival. There are so many mighty quotes on godly men and women pinpointing it. A W Tozer said “it is useless for large companies of people begging for God to send revival. Unless we are prepared to reform ourselves, we might as well not pray.” W P Nicholson, the last one to see revival in this land, when he conducted a mission he spoke for the first week to the church, he didn’t mention the unsaved but spoke on the importance of living right before God. Living for love to God and not allowing things to creep into our lives that our hearts desire. What is your relationship to sin? Are you living with it? Flirting with it? The bible tells me sin shall not have dominion over the believer. Paul said that in Romans. No longer under the law of death but the Spirit of life. We should be living in the newness of life. We should be living in the power of the risen Christ. The same spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives in you. If you are a child of God go and try to raise someone from the dead – it is impossible. We should be living in a state of life under the Spirit of God not the law of sin. If we are not living this life of newness of life in Christ then we need revival. The nation of Israel recognised this because here we see a prayer of reconciliation and revival in verse 1. The Psalmist is recalling God’s restoration from captivity. God took them from the land of Babylon. 70 years after their captivity they returned again. The Psalmist recalls God’s restoration. In verse 2 he reminds God what he did for them – he forgave their sin. The Psalmist is saying God is saying something important to his children. The child of God is forgiven and covered in God’s righteousness. He sees his Son in and through them. He sees them as forgiven. He has traded their filthy garments for his robes of righteousness. That person is justified, just as if they had never sinned. The Psalmist makes an admission – if true revival comes God’s people would be a rejoicing people. They should be happy and rejoicing. They have been brought into the family of God. Translated from the kingdom of darkness into light. Why wouldn’t they be happy? What happens when a person turns from God – they turn to freedom in God. When we turn form righteous holy God and turn to sin what happens? They lose their joy. Something is robbing them of their relationship with God. They lose their joy. Can you imagine what it was like for the people returning from Babylon? The city walls were destroyed and the temple was torn down. All because of sin. When something loses its appeal it becomes worn, it needs revival. That is what the psalmist wanted for Israel. A revival from God. The Psalmist here is desperate for God to revive his people.  We will never be revived until we are desperate for God. God turns our eyes to him that we would seek him again, to be desperate from him. Are you desperate for God? For your loved ones? For your church? Are we like Haggai in chapter 1 verse 4 “is it time for you to dwell in your ceiled houses while God’s house lies in waste?” Haggai was saying “we are in these fancy houses but God’s house lies in waste.” Is that the sixth century or is that 2025?  It is as important today as it was then in Haggai’s day. Luke 9 verse 23 “If any man will come after me let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  So much for easy believeism. There are a lot of people preaching that to make a decision for Christ you simply have to say “I believe” but Christ was not interested in huge crowds gathering. Many times it says Jesus retreated from crowds. He was interested in making disciples but you have to deny yourself and take up his cross to follow him. Many people don’t accept it – the preaching of the cross, the holiness of God, sin, the wrath of God, repentance. Maybe we live in a generation hearing little of denying ourselves and taking up our cross to follow him. God is holy and those who worship him do so in holiness and truth. William Booth wanted to take his workers and dangle them for 24 hours over the jaws of hell. There is very little preaching of the cross of Christ. If people preach a social gospel why would they deny themselves? Why did Jesus die on a cross? The Lord Jesus died on the cross because man cannot save himself. There had to be a cross. He died to take away our sins, to bridge the gulf between God and you. It is only possible through the cross. C T Studd was a man who gave up a sporting career to pursue a missionary career. He knew nothing would last that was as worthwhile living for the world to come. Are you living for this world today? Are you living for the world to come? Do you see the necessity of the cross? For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son.” He came as the lion of Judah, he went to the cross to die for your sin. If you want to claim that you need to deny yourself and seek to follow Christ. How’s your prayer life? How’s your light before God? Are you seeking God? Are you wanting him to move in your life? There is only one way.

From the Pit to the Palace

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SUNDAY 16 MARCH 2025 - MR BRYAN CRUISE pm

GENESIS 41 VERSES 14 -16, 37 - 46

This is the miraculous story of deliverance - from the the pit to the palace. In our story I would like you to see 3 things - the prison, the provision and the position. 

Firstly, the prison. What do I mean when I say the prison? We see first and foremost in Genesis 41 verse 14 that Joseph was in a dungeon. Before our story tonight we find Joseph was falsely accused and imprisoned by Potiphar's wife. Joseph found himself in the dungeon. Although he was innocent he was cast into prison. In a place of  despair, isolation and darkness. He was in a dark place. There are many in great darkness. They find themselves in spiritual darkness. Darkness in the bible is seen as a place of sin. An absence of light. When God's presence leaves us we are spiritually blind, without hope. From the time of Adam and Eve humanity was separated from God's blessing and presence. Psalm 82 verse 5 "They know not, neither will they understand, they walk on in darkness all the foundations of the earth are out of course." Proverbs 4 verse 19 "The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble." Sin doesn't just stain your life but it blinds and enslaves you. Deuteronomy 28 verse 29 "And thou shalt grope at noonday as the blind gropeth in darkness and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore and no man shall save thee." It is the picture of an individual stumbling around in the dark. Is that where you are tonight? You are here tonight in spiritual darkness. Perhaps you don't realise your condition, that you are a sinner in darkness. Psalm 51 verse 5 "Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me." Romans 6 verse 23 "For the wages of sin is death." Wages is something earned or deserved. Because of your sin you earn or deserve to be punished. Some people don't understand that. They think they are not deserving of God's grace but actually deserving of God's punishment because of their sin. You cannot deny it. You are a sinner by nature and by practice. You see it every day when you switch on the news. We see mankind acting sinfully. Death is payment and it is threefold in your bible. There is more than 1 consequence of sin. First there is physical death. One day you will die despite all the medical advancement. In 2025 the death rate of mankind stands at 100%. Physical consequence. Spiritual death - you are spiritually dead. Eternal death without salvation. Separation becomes permanent in hell. God created mankind for a perfect existence with himself but because of sin we rebel against God. Your default destination is not heaven but hell. The most terrifying thing about hell I believe is its eternality. Hell goes on and on and on and on. Whenever you get there, there is no relief, no second chance. I don't want you to go there but if you do there is no relief. No second chance, no escape. Dante, a poet in the fourth century wrote a poem whose main character makes a journey through hell.  It was fictional of course. It represents that picture of hell. There is a chilling inscription above the entrance - "abandon all hope ye who enter here." A fictional story not to be taken literally but it is true. In hell you will have to abandon all hope because it will be too late if you have died and rejected God's offer. On that day it will be too late. In our story we have Joseph bound and helpless, confined to the prison. There was no chance to change his circumstances. He needed someone greater than himself to intervene for his deliverance and this image illustrates the image of the sinner. Sin is the prison. Those trapped cannot be rescued. You cannot make yourself righteous before God. You need someone to intervene. That is what happens in our story. The gospel is not about self improvement. It is about deliverance. A sinner cannot open the prison doors himself. Christ has already paid the ransom for you to be set free. John 8 verse 36. Christ has the power to set you free. If you are here tonight as a believer you are saved from the penalty of sin, the power of sin and one day you will be saved from the very presence of sin. But there is more - some day you will be saved from the propensity to commit sin. If you die in Christ you will be given a glorified body and you will be free from the propensity to commit sin. Will you be there because of your great deliverance by Jesus Christ, because of one who paid the price to free you from the presence of sin?

Secondly, the provision - verse 14. Pharaoh summoned Joseph from the prison. He didn't bargain his way out, he had to be sent for y someone greater than himself. Someone had to bring him freedom. He is summoned before the throne. He has to respond to the call of Pharaoh. If you are here and not saved God is extending to you a free offer of salvation. Maybe you are saying this cannot be about me. If that is you I am speaking especially to you. Will you come tonight and know forgiveness of sin? Accept his free offer of salvation? Joseph, before he could stand before Pharaoh he had to be changed. He shaved and changed his raiment then came into Pharaoh. Whenever it says that it is not a mere act of hygiene. No-one could approach the throne in filthy clothes, in an unkempt manner. Egyptians were known for cleanliness and strict grooming procedures. Joseph had to be made presentable. You cannot enter into the presence of God in a filthy, sinful condition. You have to be made righteous, not by our own efforts but by God's grace. Psalm 51 verse 2 "Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." Before you can enter into the kingdom of heaven, into the presence of God you have to be cleansed. That is what happens to Joseph. He changed before he comes into Pharaoh's court. I don't want you to think that as a minor note, of no significance. Of course he shaved himself, he was in prison for a long time. He had to do it but actually it means more than that. You see Egyptian archaeological evidence proves that men shaved all their head, everything. If you were a high ranking individual in the court you had no hair at all. They wore artificial hair wigs. Joseph didn't just shave his beard but everything on his head had to be shaved off. Why? For Joseph to stand before the king he had to look like the king. He had to shave off the entire hair off his head.  Before you can stand before the king of kings you need to look like the king. The only way is to put your trust in Christ and then you are clothed in Christ's righteousness. Because of the work of Christ your character will become more Christlike. No longer bear the marks of the old sinful life. You are a new creation in Christ if you trust Christ for salvation. He couldn't enter into the court with the rags of a prisoner. He needed a change of clothes. You cannot enter into heaven clothed in your own righteousness but in Christ's. Sometimes we talk of justification. What is justification? We would say "just as if I had never sinned." But it is more than that. You have a record tonight, a slate. On that is the record of your sins. If that was just whitewashed, removed that would still not be enough. What you need on your record is righteousness. The slate is not just wiped clean. He takes his own righteousness and stamps it in his place. He doesn't just see a clean slate, he sees the righteousness of his son. When that day comes to stand before God and the books are open, he doesn't see white paper. He sees righteous deeds done by his son. That is the only way you can enter into heaven. You need to be clothed in Christ's righteousness. God gives us an image of this in the Old Testament - Zechariah 3 verses 1 to 4 "And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, the Lord rebuke thee, O Satan, even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee and I will clothe thee with change of raiment." Joshua stood covered in filth, accused by Satan and God removes his unclean garments. He gives him robes of righteousness. They are pure and sinless. The sinfulness of your garments are taken off and you are given new garments in Christ. Think of the story of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15. When the prodigal son returns home he is filthy.  He had sat and ate with pigs in muck. He gets up, comes to his senses and returns to his father. What does his father do? He puts a new robe on him. When you come to Christ you come filthy and are clothed in his righteousness when you put your trust in him. He has clothed us with the garments of salvation. Tonight you wear either one of 2 garments - the garments of self-righteousness that are never enough or the robes of Christ's righteousness. There is no middle ground. You either stand in Christ's perfection or in your own filthy garments. What are you clothed in tonight? Are you clothed in Christ's righteousness? What are you resting on to get into heaven? Joseph cannot stand in his condition. He had to look like the king. He had to have a new robe put on him.

Thirdly, the position. In our bible it tells us Pharaoh recognises Joseph's wisdom and exalted him to a position of honour.  Joseph rode in the second chariot, adorned with a gold chain. He was given that authority over all the land. I want you to notice though the new name that is given to him in verse 45 - Zaphnath-paaneah. It signified a new identity, a purpose, new relationship. Scholars are divided about the meaning of this new name. Either it means God speaks and he lives or a revealer of secrets. He was provided with a new name. He needed it to go along with his new position. His name was Hebrew. No-one would have listened to him with that name. Pharaoh wanted to remove any obstacles to prevent people not listening to him. His name signified status. He was no longer Hebrew but an Egyptian official. You are given a new name in Christ. You are not defined by past sins, failures, brokenness. You are reborn. Revelation 2 verse 17 "To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna and will give him a white stone and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." When you are born into the family of God you are given a new name. You are bought into twice fold. Brought into God's family because you are born again but also adopted into the family. Your assurance of salvation is two fold - once biological and secondly legalised. The Lord showed his biological descent through Mary but he was also a legal descendant through Joseph. What security you have. A position in Christ that can be yours tonight. Born into the family, adopted. Just where you are tonight. Once a prisoner of sin now free in Jesus. Once a stranger now saved and a child of God. A new name signifies transformation. We need a new name through our acceptance of Christ. Once imprisonment now given a new status, position, a new place in the kingdom. Will that be you tonight? Will you be counted amongst the redeemed? Counted in the Lamb's Book of Life? Will your name be written there when it is opened one day? Or will you remain in the prison of sin? Will you respond to God's call and be lifted out of the prison? Jesus stands ready to save you tonight. Call on him for the forgiveness of your sins. Jesus casts no-one out who comes to him.

The raising of the widow of Nain's son

 

COLERAINE EVANGELICAL CHURCH

SERMON NOTES SUNDAY 16 MARCH 2025 am – MR BRYAN CRUISE

Luke 7 verses 11 to 18

D L Moody as a young man was once called on to conduct a funeral service. He sought the New Testament for inspiration, particularly the gospels to see the best way to conduct the funeral. He read the ministry of Jesus and found something very striking. Jesus didn’t conduct any funerals but rather he disrupted them. In fact in the gospels Jesus spoiled every funeral he went to. The resurrection story in Luke 7 is the only one recorded by Luke apart from Jesus’ own resurrection. None of the gospels have every resurrection story. Taking them in chronological order this is the first resurrection story in Luke 7.  Mark 5 has the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter and John 11 the story of Lazarus’ resurrection. In each of these resurrection stories there are different truths. They happened at different times in people’s lives. Jairus’ daughter had just died, the woman whose son had died here in Luke 7 happened a few hours after death. Lazarus as we know was dead for days. It didn’t matter when the individual died but all testified to the power of the Lord Jesus. We see 3 things in our story – first the afflicted woman, second the almighty Saviour and finally the awesome outcome.

First, the afflicted woman.  In our bible in verse 11 we see that this miracle took place the day after. The day after what? The day before the Lord was in Capernaum. That was a familiar place to Jesus. It was the home base to his ministry. His secret place. A place of rest and renewal. His ministry’s headquarters. There he healed a Roman Centurion’s servant. After that he goes 20 miles south to Nain. It’s name means beauty or pleasant. There is not much pleasant in our story. In fact when Jesus arrives it is a solemn day, an awful day. Why? Because a dead man was being carried out. He was the only son of a widow. Verse 11.  The Lord arrived in Nain. He went with his disciples and much people. This miraculous event took place in the first year of his ministry. It was a very active ministry. There were large crowds who started to follow the Lord. In Luke 6 verse 13 we read of Jesus calling his first disciples. Then he gives us the Sermon on the Mount – Luke 6 verse 22. He moves onto Capernaum and heals the centurion’s servant. Verse 11 “and many of his disciples went with him and much people.” I wonder what category do you fall into today? Can it be said you are a disciple of Jesus? Or are you just an individual who follows afar off? Maybe you are just at church today because it is a Sunday. Could someone point to you and say you are a genuine disciple. There is something that marks you out with distinction. If you are following the Lord Jesus Christ and if there was suddenly a law against your faith and you were arrested – would there be enough evidence to convict you? Behind closed doors are you the same there as here? Do you find yourself in the quiet place at home memorizing God’s word? Are you a disciple of the Lord? I want you to see this lady today, an afflicted woman. When the Lord approached the city, when he came near to the gate of the city he saw her. Nain is a very small settlement which still exists today. It was never enclosed with a wall. A small town. If it was going to be besieged by the enemy there was no need for a wall. Why? Because there was nothing valuable in it that it needed to be guarded. It had a gate which was a very important place. That gate would be very important to the woman in the coming days. The gate was where the elders sat and discussed affairs of the town. They were like a local council. One of the things that would be discussed in the coming days was how impoverished this woman would be. What would happen to her and her estate?  In Deuteronomy 25 verse 5 there is provision made for this woman to enter into a levirate marriage if she was still young. She could sell her estate to a kinsman redeemer as outlined in Leviticus 25.  They would discuss how poor she would be. They didn’t decide her fate at the city gate however – Jesus did. Jesus met here there are the city gate as he approached. Notice the words “behold there was a dead man carried out”. We are told to sit up and take notice. What follows after that word “behold” is quite unique. There are 3 things about this woman you can see in verse 12. Her only son had died. Remember the story of Hannah praying fervently and passionately in the Old Testament for a son? It was natural for a woman to desire a son more than anything else. The Israelite people thought so much of family that if you didn’t have a son all was lost. An Israelite woman wanted nothing more than a son. This woman was the same and her son has died. It was sorrowful, tragic, terrible. So tragic that the prophets of the Old Testament when they wanted to paint the image of something used the image of an only dying. Jeremiah 6 verse 26 “O daughter of my people, gird thee with sackcloth and wallow thyself in ashes; make thee mourning, as or an only son, most bitter lamentation; for the spoiler shall suddenly come upon us.” Amos 8 verse 10 “And I will turn your feasts into mourning, and all your songs into lamentation; and I will bring up sackcloth upon all loins and baldness upon every head, and I will make it as the mourning of an only son, and the end thereof as a bitter day.” You can see that when the only son died in Israel it was the most tragic thing. She is a widow. This woman in our story probably travelled this road many years before to bury her husband. James 1 verse 27  “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the father is this; To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Under the Mosaic law people were told to care for such woman. It is a priority for God’s people to care for widows. In Deuteronomy 24 there was strict instructions to leave a sheaf in the field for the stranger, the widow and the fatherless. In Deuteronomy 26 there was a tithe of firstfruits set aside for the stranger, the fatherless and the widow. This woman was loved of God. There was a priority from God to care for widows and orphans. For the Jewish people of Nain when a funeral took place the body had to be carried outside the city. The person couldn’t be buried within the city limits. If you seen a funeral procession you were obliged to join it. There were people paid to be mourners. It was an occupation in Israel to attend a funeral. They had to tear their clothes, wail and cry out. That is the type of people following this woman. A funeral in ancient Israel was very different from those here in the West. Ours is a much more solemn affair. When a neighbour in Israel heard the wailing they knew there was a death. This woman is in dire straits. A tragic, terrible situation. What a blessed thing it is when Jesus stepped in.

The almighty Saviour. Verse 13 “And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said unto her, Weep not.” The Lord Jesus steps into the situation. One of the most beautiful names for God is El Roi, the God who sees. It is found in Genesis 16 verse 13 and was given by Hagar to God. A woman, considered a second class citizen of Israel whose testimony would never have held up in a court of law. A slave, an Egyptian was the first individual to give God a name. He is the God who sees. I want to tell you that God always sees. Whatever circumstance or situation you are in, God sees. Whatever trial, temptation or tribulation you are in – God sees it. Christ knew precisely where this woman was. He met her in her hour of desperation. In the desperation, in the depth of sorrow and mourning she was not unknown to God. He seen her circumstances and he sees yours too. This is the first time in Luke’s gospel we read the word Lord in reference to Jesus. It is the word “kyrios” and in the Old Testament the word Adonai is used. The word YHWH is often used by God in dealing with his own people. That name is precious. Today sadly certain people have lost the reverence to God’s name. Some Jews would not say it out loud and if they were to write it they would break the nib of their pen so as never to do it again. Here we see the Lord God Almighty, Jesus, the eternal Son of God who saw this woman. He not only saw her but he had compassion on her. This word is “splagchnizomai” and it is only used 3 times in Luke’s gospel. In Luke 10 verse 33 with reference to the story of the Good Samaritan. He saw the man lying at the side of the road and had compassion on him. In Luke 15 verse 20 it is used in reference to the story of the Prodigal Son. When the father saw his son afar off he runs to him, kisses him and orders the best robe to be put on him. You can hear in every use of the word that the person is not a detached emotion.  Compassion leads to action every time. He is not the God who sees and does nothing. He moves on our behalf. He is not distant. He is not afraid. He doesn’t simply see and do nothing. The Lord says to this woman “weep not”. Then he comes and touches the bier. If your bible translation says “coffin” it is a mistranslation because the only people who used coffins were Egyptians. Basically a bier is a wooden plank used to carry a dead person to the place of burial. Jesus brings it to a stop and those carrying the boy stood still. It was like a stretcher. When Jesus touches the bier he becomes unclean according to Jewish law  - Numbers 19 verses 19 to 21. When Jesus touched the bier he would have been unclean for 7 days. It was one of the most severest uncleanness in Judaism. That is why people were buried outside the city. That is why whitewash is used on tombs. The white tomb would gleam in the sun and people would know not to go near the tomb. When the Lord touches the bier he exposed himself to uncleanness. For many scholars and pastors uncleanness is often associated with sinfulness. That imagery is certainly not always the case. To be unclean did not mean you were breaking God’s law. Leviticus 16 verses 16 to 18. For instance within a physical relationship in marriage the two could be unclean. Giving birth could also make a woman unclean – Leviticus 12. In Luke 2 verse 22 we read that Mary was unclean having given birth to Jesus. Uncleanness does not mean sinfulness. Sometimes it was unavoidable in day to day life. When Jesus touched the bier it should have affected him but it didn’t. He was not tainted by defilement. It goes in the opposite direction. The power of the Lord leaves Jesus and enters into the young man. Impurity does not transfer to Jesus but purity does transfer to the young man. Hebrews 7 verse 26 “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” Christ performs miracles in a variety of ways in the gospel, not in the exact same way every time. He raises people to life but he does it by speaking directly to the individual concerned. He said to the young man “I say unto you arise.” That is the power of God. All he had to do was speak his word and it quickened the dead. Psalm 33 verse 6 “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.” Later in on verse 9 he says “For he spake and it was done, he commanded and it stood fast.” He spoke from God.

The awesome outcome Christ speaks to the young man and he arises. God created the power that was displayed from Jesus’ mouth. The young man sat up. The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, Creator God of the universe. When he rose people from the dead the miracle was instantaneous. There was no need to be taught how to do anything again. Everything began to work again. He was fully alive. He was capable and mature. Why? Because he began to speak. Luke records this for us as evidence he was alive. “He began to speak”. This man in our story was given new life and he spoke about it. If you are found in Christ, are saved by his precious blood, are given new life in Jesus Christ. Do you speak about it? Do you neighbours know it? Do those you work with know about it? Do you speak of your Saviour? The man was given new life and he spoke. We are given eternal life, do we speak of it? In our interactions with people it is our privilege to speak of the one who died for us. What an impact we would have if we did. Robert Louis Stevenson saw a man lighting the street lamps. When asked what he saw he replied – “I am watching a man cutting holes into the darkness.” You and I when we speak of our Saviour are cutting holes into the darkness. The light of the gospel shines forth when we tell of our Saviour. Will we go forward this week and speak of the Lord? Will we lift him up? I believe that if this story in Luke 7 was the only story left in the gospel of the Lord, would be enough to tell us of a God who sees us, is moved with compassion and is all powerful. What a God we serve. As we leave this place today remember the Saviour we serve is the same Saviour as in Luke 7.

Gifts Unspeakable

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

WOMEN’S MEETING – 6 MARCH 2025

SPEAKER: DEIRDRE MULLEN

Gifts Unspeakable

First, the gift of love.

The value of any gift is in the giver. 5 gifts to think about:

The unusual gift, the unloved gift, the unexpected gift, the unwanted gift, the unspeakable gift.

Unusual gift – the most usual gifts are flowers and chocolates. King Charles apparently was given a number of unusual gifts. What is the most unusual gift you have been given? 33 years ago at my husband’s first church a lady gave me a gift wrapped in brown paper and tied with string. I was told to put it in my bag. When I opened it up I realised it as a piece of meat.

Unloved gift – a clock was given to my father on his retirement. He had expected a gold watch rather than the clock. For years he was a supermarket manager and he felt that the clock did not reflect his lifetime of service to the company. It was unappreciated and unrewarded.

Unexpected gift – something you do not expect, something out of the blue. Maybe keys to a car or an armchair.  When I was a child I received an unexpected gift from American – a pink frilly dress!

Unwanted gift – much more common at Christmas when there are queues to customer services in shops. People wanting to return items to the store. Many dog shelters have abandoned dogs after Christmas too. Owners don’t want them as they are too expensive and need to much attention.

Unspeakable gift too wonderful for words. Unloved, unexpected, unwanted. Paul in 2 Corinthians 9 verse 13 said “thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.” John 3 verse 16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” God’s gift was unusual. Christ was fully man and fully God. He was the son of Mary and the son of God. Christ was totally sinless, no-one else has been that. He was tempted by Satan but he overcame. Pontius Pilate declared him as sinless. 2 Corinthians 5 verse 21. God made him that knew no sin to become sin for us. God’s gift was also unexpected. The Jews were looking for someone to come and save the Jewish nation. On Palm Sunday they tried to make him King. Christ came into the world for the whosoever. Jesus said “go and make disciples of all nations” – that includes me. God’s gift is often unloved by many people in our world. They have little or no time for God. To people who are atheists God is dismissed. 2 Timothy 3 verses 1 to 4. God’s gift is often unwanted by people who trust only in themselves, in their good works to get them to heaven or by their possessions. Isaiah 53 verse 3. A rejected man. God’s inexplicable gift is offered to every one of us.

Secondly, your love for Christ

Maybe your love for Christ has grown cold. Perhaps as you have got older other things have become your priority – health for instance. Maybe you have become busy and it is difficult to set aside your time for Christ. Maybe you are just tired or weary. Hebrews 12 verses 1 to 3.

First notice we are told – let us throw off every weight. Athletes seeking to run in a race have to be disciplined. They train in all weathers, strengthen their bodies and aim to take off any excess fat. When it comes to the race they will take off all unnecessary clothing. When we run the Christian race we have to discipline ourselves by reading the bible and praying. Ever sin has to be thrown off. There may be past sins that trouble us or even present sins. Things we do that shouldn’t be done. There may be secret sins that no-one else knows about.

Second notice we are told – let us run with perseverance and patience. Athletes have to develop stamina. They must keep on running. As Christians we need to keep on running with perseverance and patience. To not give up in spite of discouragements. Mathew 10 verse 2. Keep on going even when there are difficulties.

Third notice we are told – let us fix our eyes on Jesus. The goal is to win the race, to achieve the prize. We must be focused. We are not to focused on family, spectators or other runners. Christians have to focus on Jesus and not be distracted by the world around us. There are so many things that get our eyes off Jesus. We should meditate on Christ and on his life. He was tempted and tried but he overcame, even to death on the cross.

Finally – using our gifts for God

The example of Maizie Smyth. Use whatever we have for God even if it is not important.

Maizie was born in Broughshane. She had a sister Isobel and a brother John. Every day she helped her parents on the family farm. On Sunday the chores were done early and the family walking or cycled to church 4 miles away. After lunch they attended Sunday School and returned to church again in the evening. She knew she was a sinner but it was not until her first year at secondary school when 2 Faith Mission Pilgrims held a mission near her home that she came under conviction of sin. The lady Pilgrim took as her text John 10 verse 9 “Jesus said I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.” Maizie knew God was speaking to her but she put it off. She was afraid to take that step. She still had her chores to do when she got home and in particular put the hens into the shed for the night. One little hen refused to go in through the door. Maizie chased the hen around for 10 minutes and realised that she was like that little hen. She went into her bedroom and asked the Lord to be her Saviour. She trained to be a secretary and started a job in County Down. During the week she boarded in Belfast and returned to the family home at the weekend. She started to grow as a Christian attending a local church where she taught Sunday School. Maizie didn’t realise that God would one day call her to be a missionary using Luke 12 verse 15. At that point Maizie surrendered her all – her work, her family and her finance. She went to bible college in Glasgow. Maizie felt God was calling her to work in Southern Ireland as she was not good in languages. At school the English teacher didn’t put her forward to sit the exam as it would be a waste of government money. God called Maizie to serve him in Africa and the Democratic Republic of Congo. She had to learn 3 languages in her service. Psalm 32 verse 8. In 1978 Maizie landed in Congo. She helped teach the 600 boy soldiers stationed near where she lived during the rebellion and eventually had to leave Congo as it became dangerous for all missionaries to remain. She was willing to go where God wanted her to go. She was tasked with creating a hymn book in 3 languages for the people of Congo which Every Home Crusade printed. I had the privilege as part of my work with Marie Curie to nurse Maizie during her cancer at her home in Broughshane. God will help you with whatever gift you have.

 

What's consuming your thoughts?

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 2 MARCH 2025 pm – MR KEITH WILSON

EPHESIANS 6 VERSES 12 TO 18

I wonder if I was to ask you tonight “what are you thinking”, what would be your response? That is some question. My reason for asking is what is consuming your thought life? You are what you think all day long. Thoughts impact our behaviour, our choices, our self-confidence, our health, the risk you do or do not take., that feeling of self-esteem in all arenas of life. Negative influences can affect all areas of life. Our thoughts affect our emotions or moods. What we decide to choose to do or not to do. Our thoughts affect our self-confidence very much. Our thoughts can react to other people. What we eat and don’t eat affects our thoughts. Thoughts of self-esteem and self-worth affect many people in today’s society when it is trying to promote everyone is important. Never at such time has self-esteem been at such a low. Young women because of pictures of super models have taken their own lives. Young men not able to fit in take their own life. Thoughts can have negative or positive experience on our lives. As Christians we are different. We have been changed by the Lord. Our thoughts should not be of things around us. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. How we look or not look shouldn’t cause us much thought. As Christians we should think differently. Philippians 4 verse 8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Paul is reminding believers at Philippi because they are Christians they should no longer be concerned with the things of the world. Temporary things, things that are perishing. I could be concerned with losing weight, having the right physique, the right amount of money, the right car. They are only temporary, they will not last. Paul wants us to think of things that are true. There are a lot of misconceptions that the devil will try to use to get our focus off the Lord. I do not need to tell you of the media lies that are told. They focus in on lifestyles – if you want to be a homosexual or lesbian you can be those. The media is promoting lies daily, hiding the truth, hiding emotional and physical feelings. Paul tells us to focus our thoughts. We don’t fill our thoughts with such things but with the word of God. Verses 16 and 17 “Above all taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Negative thoughts are from the devil. We need to fight them with the sword of God, which is the word of God. He wants you to believe things that are not real. There are so many living in fear today of things that are not true, of things that will never come to pass. The devil wants to bombard our thoughts all the time. Philippians 2 “let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” The enemy has no right to your thought life because for the child of God we have been delivered, set free and that is why he said in verse 12 “we wrestle not against flesh and blood.” That tells me something I don’t wrestle with. It is “against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” High ranking demons make war against God’s people. That is why Paul writes to Ephesus and says “Finally my brethren be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  You and I do not have the power to defeat the enemy. If as children of God can realise who we ae in Christ, what Christ has accomplished on the cross, that we have an armour God has given us then we can defeat Satan and all his forces. We need to put the armour on to withstand against the wiles of the devil. If we don’t put on the armour God has given us how will we be able to stand? Some people are in Christ and they are not in a battle. They will say “doesn’t matter I am saved and I can live as I like.”  We are reminded from the word of God that there is an enemy. We are reminded who we wrestle against. Ephesians 4. God called us from the foundation of the world and he saved us by his grace. He determind we would be born into the family of God, born with royal privileges. If you are saved tonight you are in a royal priesthood already. We wrestle in the flesh and blood. The Lord has already declared us to be holy, to be righteous. We have the righteousness of God. Now we have it we are already sanctified. That is our position before God. What you are in reality has to be lived out in experience. That is why Paul is writing these letters. He told them earlier in this book who they were in Christ – “in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself. That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him. In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. That we should be to the praise of his glory who first trusted in Christ.” Do we realise who we are? If so let us put on the armour of God. Let us have a state of mind that we stand on Christ and in Christ. In what he has done and what he wants to do. I am reminded of the enemy every day. I cannot do this or that very easily, to let those thoughts into my mind. If the enemy can get into your mind he can determine all your thoughts. That is where our battle is. The enemy wants to do so much. He wants to turn them against each other. He can get a thought into the mind and destroy a work. If we realise where our battle really is we would be on our knees and praying that God would come and give us that spirit of unity. Remember what Jesus suffered on the cross – a spear was thrust into his side, a crown of thorns was put on his head, stuffed vinegar was put in his mouth. They nailed him and cried “there are others he can save and yet he cannot save himself.” What did Jesus say in response? “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Christ hung on the cross for the whole of mankind. He saw the need for salvation. He didn’t have impure thoughts but rather loved everyone. There is an enemy who wants us to think impure thoughts. The outward man is perishing but the inner man is being renewed day by day. If I rest on Christ I realise who I am in Christ. I realise the battle is not mine but Christ’s. All he wants us to do is rest in him. In our make up we have a soul, a mind, a will, emotions and thoughts. That is what the devil wants to attack. To get our focus on temporary things. We are reminded that the godly shall suffer persecution. Why? To get us to depend on ourselves and not on God. Don’t you think that the demons and the devil are in hell itself? There are demonic forces in the heavenly realm against the rulers of darkness in this world. We are surrounded. There are certain things they cannot do if our faith and trust is in the Lord. In Job’s life the Lord allowed the devil to go so far. You might find yourself in temptation or testing but be reminded that the battle of the mind is to get you thinking of things that don’t really matter. So many are living in a state of fear, depression, oppression. We can be bombarded with spiritual attacks that take our focus off God and the word of God. We all have different make ups, we are sensitive to different things. The mind is where the enemy attacks. What is your focus?  The enemy comes and plants a thought in our minds. The more thinking you do the more down you become. The more discouraged you become. This is not from the Lord but the devil. We can cast down thoughts in the name of Jesus. We are told here to put on the whole armour of God that we wrestle not with principalities and powers. The question is what are we going to do. Psalm 28 verse 7. “The Lord is m strength and my shield, my heart trusted in him and I am helped, therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” Why don’t you think of these thoughts when the enemy attacks? When our heart and mind is stayed on Jehovah we will be kept in perfect peace Isaiah the prophet tells us. It can only be in putting on the whole armour of God. The devil attacks in times of weakness.  Remember the devil was defeated at the cross. He knows the weakness of the flesh. If he could bombard you with the media, if he can do all this, keep men and women, boys and girls from giving their all to Christ, to realise who they are in Christ. The enemy will try and convince us that we are in the mess we are in and there is no way out, we might as well give it all up. Why? Because there is no hope. The enemy is against the truth. Instead of being hopeless we have hope. Christ has died and defeated every principality, every power and all spiritual wickedness. He brought a victory through the cross and the blood of Jesus Christ. Allow yourself to be around people that are living for God. We have been redeemed. Ephesians 4 verse 30. There is a time of judgment coming but there is also a reward coming for the child of God. When the unsaved will stand before the judgment seat of Christ after 1000 years and they give an account of what they did with Christ. We have freedom from the enemy when we realise who we are in Christ. Christ has accomplished our freedom on the cross and defeated the enemy. That you and I could be saved, could have eternal life. Have you that eternal life? Are you saved? Have you repented of your sin? Have you come the way of the cross? Are you living for God or are your thoughts being bombarded by the devil?

Revive Thy Work O Lord

 

COLERAINE INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 2 MARCH 2025 am – MR KEITH WILSON

Habakkuk 3 verses 1 to 10

I don’t know if some of the more aged members of our congregation if they have ever had the privilege of hearing Duncan Campbell. He preached on the topic of revival and said “Revival is the most misunderstood of all subjects. First of all, when I speak of revival, I am not thinking of high-pressure evangelism. Evangelistic campaigns or special meetings is not revival. In a successful evangelistic campaign there will be hundreds or even thousands of people making decisions for Christ but the community remains untouched and the churches continue much the same as they did before the outreach. In revival God moves in the district suddenly. The community becomes God conscious.” I am sure if you had one soul saved you would rejoice. If you have a thousand souls saved would that mean you had revival? Revival is a move of God. The Spirit of God grips men and women that even work is given up as people give themselves up to wait for the Spirit of God. In the Isle of Lewis the Spirit of God was resting on the surrounding villages. His presence was present among the people. This is revival. The presence of God. In the Hebrides revival 75% of people who were saved were saved before they came to the meeting house or even heard a sermon preached. The power of God. The Spirit of God was moving in operation and the fear of God gripped the souls of men and women. This is revival. God sending revival as different from the respective efforts of evangelism. “Revive thy work in the midst of the years.” We looked at Habakkuk chapter 1 previously and seen his great burden. The Lord put it on my heart not to speak on revival but rather through a daily devotional I realised that I needed to speak on what actually is revival. We have not seen revival since the turn of the twenty first century. Verse 2 “O Lord I have heard thy speech and was afraid, O Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known, in wrath remember mercy.”

 

The prophet started with the words “O Lord I have heard thy speech.” The prophet uses the phrase “O Lord” twice. He is burdened. Back in chapter 1 verse 1 we read that. His prayer was not “Lord remember wee Annie or Jimmy.” Those prayers have their place. But we need a burden that God would send revival. He is burdened and he sighs “O Lord”. There is something on his mind. What was on his mind? Verse 2 “I have heard thy speech and was afraid.” What did he actually hear? He heard that judgment was coming on Judah. Habakkuk prays when he announced this judgment. Chapter 1 verses 2 to 5. What is that work that he will do – verses 6 and 7. Habakkuk is talking in chapter 3 verse 1 of the judgment of God that would sent on the nation because they had turned their backs on God. God is displeased with our nation because our nation has turned its bac on God. Will God send revival to this nation again? We are actually more ripe for judgment before God sends revival. God has been pushed out of society, pushed our of parliament, pushed out of schools, pushed out of hospitals. Habakkuk realised there was violence in the land – stealing, plundering goods, murdering each others, lieing to each other.  He says “Lord I know what you are going to do.” He had to accept the judgment of God but it never hindered him seeking a revival from God. Habakkuk couldn’t believe his ears. Surely God is not going to do this. He was afraid which really means he was in awe of God. I am sure he got on his knees, his heart pounding before God in awe of him. God would judge his nation, send them into captivity but after 70 years God will bring them back from captivity. Do we hear the speech of God? Have we heard what God is going to do? The judgment is coming on the unsaved. There is a time coming on this earth, a tribulation period when all hell will be let loose. The nation of Israel will be in such turmoil. The tribulation period is known as Jacob’s Trouble. The anti-Christ will sign a treaty with Israel. All will be well for that period but then there will be demonic activity work going on. Are we burdened for our lost loved ones? Those going to a horrendous place in hell fire? We are not to be playing about with sin. Here was the nation of Israel playing about with sin. They had turned from God and God brought them into captivity and God judged them as a result. “O Lord I have heard thy speech and was afraid.” He was in awe of what God is going to do. “O Lord revive thy work in the mist of the years.” Have we got a real burden that God will revive and work in the midst of the years? Even though judgement is coming the prophet seeks God for revival. The first time he heard the speech he was in awe of God. Now he is burdened again. This is vital for us to grasp. It is easy to understand it. Many go of in a wrong note. Those 3 words “revive thy work”. God’s work wasn’t the prophet’s work. It was not Judah’s work. It was not Israel’s work. Today it is not the preacher’s work. It is not the denominations work. Going back hundreds of years – it was not Duncan Campbell’s work, nor John Wesley’s work, nor Spurgeon’s work. It is God who revives the soul. Revives his church. It is God who revives a nation. For the coming mission let it be God’s work and let God do what he wants to do. Don’t look to man. Let your prayer be “revive thy work.” I am sure you agree we need revival, personal revival in our churches and in our land. Revival is going to come. Heaven sent revival. It will only come from God. Let’s pray that God will save. If the Chinese next door is not touched with the awe of God it is not revival. We need the Spirit of God to grab our communities. The presence of God to be so real that 75% of people are saved before they come through the doors of this church. Habakkuk prays “revive thy work”. He accepted the judgment of God but prays for the work to be revived. Don’t get focused on denomination, or the preacher, or the singers, fixate on what will happen. Very little happens if anything – why – because many are not looking for God. They are looking for results. It is not about results but it is about God. Habakkuk wanted God to revive his work. He realised it was with God. Habakkuk was burdened for it to happen again. Al of Israel’s kingdom were full of evil kings. Judah had a mixture of good and bad kings. They all had one thing in common – what our churches do not have – they feared God. They wanted God to revive his work. They wanted to take the background. We need not to be used but useable. That means I say “Lord I would like to see this land revived, to see people in my family saved but I want you to revive your work, I want to be where you want me to be.” Habakkuk wants to know power in the midst of the years, that Israel would repent and see God again. He maybe remembered God’s power in delivering them from Egypt, when they crossed the Red Sea. He heard of the waters parting and the enemy coming behind and the waters closing over. He knew the power of God working in the past. “These years” – he wanted it to be now. The motive for prayer for revival is the glory of God. That God will come but not just come, that he will give us a passion to pray “O Lord revive your work in the midst of the years.” He prays for mercy in the time of judgment that was coming upon Judah. God had said judgment would come long before Habakkuk’s time. Joshua had said “choose you this day whom you will serve.” Has something got hold of you that God’s glory is no longer predominant in your life. “In wrath remember mercy.” Martin Lloyd Jones said “the child of God cannot sin successfully because the true child of God will be chastened by God.” Think of the wrath that awaits the ungodly yet we still live in day of grace. Habakkuk was burdened. Twice he prays “O Lord” Remember David in Psalm 51 verse 2 “have mercy on me O God according to your unfailing love, blot out my transgressions." Ephesians 2 “because of his great love for us God who is rich in mercy has made us alive with Christ.” Christ is still to this day offering mercy. We live in a day of grace but God will judge this land. We need to pray “God in wrath remember mercy.” Whenever we come before God like Habakkuk “I have heard your speech, I know what you are about to do, I was afraid.” I was in awe of you. “O Lord revive thy work in the midst of the years.” Make it known. In wrath bring mercy. Let’s pray God will be seen and honoured and men and women, boys and girls would live for the glory of God. That none will be seen save Jesus and him alone.