Revelation 1 - A vision of Christ

Sermon notes from Sunday morning 22 April 2018

Revelation 1 verses 9 - 20

John has this wonderful revelation, not only what is taking place in the present but what will take place in the future.  He has his mind opened to what will take place in the future.  Christ will come again one day and take his children home to be with him.  That leaves something of a dark scene.  What does it leave here on earth?  Everyone not saved will be left behind.  There will be a great separation on that day.  There will be those raptured up to the splendours of glory and there will be those left behind.  They will believe a lie, a lie of the man that is to come, the anti-Christ.  We have the spirit of the anti-Christ working today in this world.  One day he will be raised up and have the power and the authority of the devil himself.  You can almost see the need for such a person today.  A Europe that is grasping at Britian pulling out of the Union because if they do others will also pull out.  They are setting rules that need to be put in place before that happens.  Before we get down to the anti-Christ John wants to give us a view of Christ himself.  Sometimes we can lose sight of Christ, focus more on the anti-Christ.  John gives this picture of the Lord himself.  The Lord points us to himself.  Verse 19 John is told to write - "write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall be  hereafter."  Before he does that John gives a record of Christ.  What the church needs today is a vision of Christ.  We can get so caught up with the singing, all the things happening around us and somehow lose out on the focus of Christ himself.  Lose out on the awe of Christ.  Sometimes we don`t have that presence with us.  That is why we need to get back to that awe as Isaiah had when he went into the temple in chapter 6.  He saw the Lord high and lifted up.  He looked into Christ`s face and saw his own sinful state.  Like Moses.  He was doing the everyday job in the desert of guarding the sheep when something attracted him - it was the burning bush.  Does the word of God still attract us today?  Moses heard the voice of the Lord out of the burning bush.  Are we so taken up with the presence of Christ today?  Are we listening for his voice to bend us and break us today?  Sometimes we have fallen into the trap of what the church needs today.  What we need today is a vision of Christ.  Think here of this vision John gives us of Christ.  Verse 17 as he gazes on his face look what he says "when I saw him I fell at his feet."  Not when they sung or when he listened to someone singing.  He was so taken up with the Lord that he fell at his feet.  This message that came to John on the Isle of Patmos.  The Lord had made an assessment of the churches and now wants John to write them down.  John gets a view of him.

The assessor`s abilty - verse 15.  He looks at the Saviour`s feet.  When we come into the presence of Christ our gaze is down because we cannot look on the one who is holy and perfect.  His feet are like brass.  The feet speak of stability.  The one who is stable and sure, what we can build upon.  "Cast all your cares upon him for he careth for you."  He is able to care for us.  Paul in Corinthians talks about the foundations he had laid and it is these we are to build upon.  We cannot build on something that is not stable or sound.  Brass speaks also of judgement "as if they burned in a furnace."  He is speaking of judgement, one who went through that judgement for you and I.  He bore that fire for you and I if we are willing to allow him to.  He was "wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed."  How many times did the feet come into John`s mind.  Sure he remembered Luke 8 and a young demonic boy who had a legion of devils within him.  He had to leave his home, his mother and his father one day.  I`m sure their hearts were broken but there came a day when they couldn`t handle him any more.  He went out to live amongst the tombs, it was the only place he could live.  He cried and cut himself daily.  They tried to use chains to bind him but he broke them in two.  The people came out of the cities to see him and there he was sitting at Jesus` feet.  Speaks of peace and redemption.  He died on the cross for you and I to save us.  When we come to the cross we repent of our sin and take him as Saviour and Lord.  He saves us.  This morning as we come into God`s presence can we take a look at his feet.  Luke also tells us of the woman who came into Jesus` presence one day so thankful for what Jesus had done that she begins to weep and washes Jesus` feet with her tears.  She was serving Christ.  Are we serving th Saviour?  Here was a woman so thankful for what Jesus had done for her.  Luke`s gospel also tells us of Mary and Martha.  A feast was made for the Lord in their home.  Martha was in the kitchen so busy preparing the meal but where was Mary?  Sitting at Jesus` feet listening and learning.  Have we sat at Jesus` feet today learning from him?  Learning how to serve him?  Think of John 12 whenever the Lord came into the house and Mary broke the expensive perfume and anointed Jesus` feet.  That speaks of commitment.  Are we committed to Christ today?  Are we doing whatever he wants us to do in service?  Are we in discipleship with him?

In verses 12 and 13 John sees the Son of Man.  Notice here the assessor`s sustaining power.  in verse 20 we read of the meaning of the candlesticks.  The Lord is in the midst of this.  The Lord is in the midst of the church today.  He sees the Lord walking.  He is sustaining the church.  Christ has to sustain us individually.  He will lead us, direct us.  The candlestick in the Old Testament was in the tabernacle.  The priest had to make sure the lamp was burning constantly.  Burning brightly all the time.  The priest had to make sure the wick was cut and their was plenty of oil added.  The church was to be the light of the world as we are individually.  We can only do that by listening to the word of God day by day.  Are we burning as bright as we should be?  Being a testimony today?  Speaking up for Christ?  Telling others of the work Christ has done in our heart?  Will people point to us and say "that is a man of God?"  Jesus said "without me you can do nothing."  You get up in the morning, don`t hand your life into the Lord`s hands then you are on your own from thereon in.  Remember the boy with the fishes and loaves.  The crowd had to be fed and his was the only food available.  He brought it to Christ.  Andrew knew there was nothing he could do with these loves and fishes.  He even asked the boy "what is this among so many?"  This boy stepped out of the crowd.  Andrew said "I don`t know what the Lord can do with this but let`s see."  He gave all to the Lord for him to use.  The Lord will use what we give him.  He will not snap it out of our hands.  Peter walked on the water only as he looked to Christ.  It was his sustaining power that kept him going.  The moment Peter took his eyes off him, when he looked at the wind and the waves, then he began to sink.  The Lord was the sustaining power.  That is what he wants of you today.  You and I are to be the light of the world kept topped up with the spirit of the living word.  That is hunger today, that the Christian has to trust in.  The scripture tells us I am to hold forth the word of truth in an evil generation.  John 15 shows us the symbol of the vine growing - Jesus is the vine and we are the branches.

The assessor speaks here of security.  Verse 17 the candlesticks are described in verse 20.  He speaks of the stars being in his right hand.  Where does the star shine? It shines in the darkest night.  Where do you and I shine - in the darkness when Christ is filling us.  He has the stars in his hand.  The 7 stars represent the 7 letters to the churches or the 7 spirits of the churches.  They are in his right hand.   A firm grip, no-one shall pluck them out of his hand.  The believer is secure and safe.  There is an eternal security for the believer today in the hand of Christ.

The assessor`s sovereignty.  Verse 13 we are speaking here of the one who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  The world stripped him naked and hung him on the cross.  The Lord clotheth him with royal robes.  We read here of the girdle, the golden girdle.  The linen girdle speaks of service while the prophets girdle is made of leather.  The Lord`s girdle is not around the waist.  That speaks of his kingship.  Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lord`s.

Notice lastly John`s surrender - verse 17 "and when I saw him I fell."  He couldn`t stand when he looked at the Saviour.  He fell at his feet.  Peter said "depart from me for I am a sinful man."  This world is not getting better but delving deeper and deeper into the abyss.  The Saviour wants to save you today, to make you a new creation in Christ Jesus.  Get our eyes on him today, forget everything else.  One day he is coming again and he will take us home to be with him.

Addicted to the ministry of others

Sermon notes from Sunday 8 April 2018 - Mr Chris Killen

1 Corinthians 16 verses 13 - 19

I beseech you brethren (ye know the house of Stephanas that is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints.) verse 15

When we think of addiction we immediately think of drugs, alcohol, gambling.  It is wasteful, distrustful thing.  It not only affects communities but nations, society, families and of course the individual.  It affects a person physically, psychologically and spiritually.  It has far reaching consequences.  The person who starts out never intended to be in that way.  Addiction comes in many different forms.  Drugs can be either legal or illegal but alcohol has to be included.  The most potent and powerful drug is alcohol.  There are many however who are addicted to pleasure and the pursuit of the things of the world.  It is the pursuit of many to have wealth and fame.  Addictions that affect not just the body but also the mind, emotions and ultimately affect the soul.  Whilst we think of addiction as a very negative thing there is such a thing as a healthy and helpful addiction.  This house of Stephanas had a very good addiction.  We would do well to consider and learn from them.

The origin of their addiction.  Where did it come from?  I have never met or will ever meet anyone who set out with a purpose in life to be an addict.  I have heard many who have said "I just cannot believe how I ended up in this mess, how was I so stupid, I did not see what was coming."  If you could see the consequences of addiction you can begin to realise the serious consequences of it.  The root cause of stubborn addictions and habits lies in the heart.  "The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked; who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17 verse 9)  The heart of the problem is getting to the problem of the heart.  The reality is we have a sinful heart.  Man cannot free himself from that addiction and sin.  We all have that addiction to sin and to keep on sinning.  We read about this family Stephanas in verse 15.  They were the "firstfruits of Achaia".  Paul went about preaching the reality of sin, its effects, the consequences and delivery from sin.  We find here this family responded as they heard the gospel.  Perhaps you have heard the gospel so many many times, have listened as you have been told you need to be born again, you have been told you need to call on the name of the Lord.  You are like his family, brought to the point as Paul preached the gospel that you know you should be saved.  As Paul preached the gospel he saw Stephanas and his family converted.  We are not told the circumstances of their conversion, perhaps Paul preached for a series of nights but what we do know is that the whole family came to the Lord.  Here is a family changed by the grace of God.  What a wonderful change the Lord makes in a house, he makes it a home.  We do not know the circumstances of when they came to know the Lord as Saviour but we know they are serving the Lord in Corinth.  Each one of them had to come to know the Lord personally.  It is not enough that your mum and dad are Christians or someone else in your family is a Christian.  Salvation is personal.  We think of this new addiction they have, an addiction to helping the church, be a blessing to the Lord.  It came about because the Lord gave them a new heart.  They each personally came to know the Lord.  John 1 verses 12 and 13.  It was not by family relationships or the work done or the best intentions of others but by God himself.  Each one of us has to come personally to Christ and trust him as Saviour.  Have you done that?  The origin of their addiction was in their hearts by the grace of God.

The object of their addiction - "to the ministry of the saints."  A good English dictionary, Webster`s says of the word addiction "the act of devoting or giving a practice to".  They were given over to it completely.  Normally we are born with addiction to sin.  When Christ saves us he gives us new desires.  Tragically addiction is all about how much you can get and make from it.  It is a selfish thing.  When the Lord saves it is all about what you give back, how you can be a blessing to others.  That desire was in Stephanas` house.  If you love the Lord you will want to talk about it.  Hebrews 6 verse 10 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shown toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints and do minister."  God sees what you do, he sees everything you do.  All those little things in the background in his name he sees them.  God sees what you have done to other people and what you have done to help them.  We serve others because we love the Lord.  That is the order and it must be correct.  We are to be a blessing to another member in a body.  Christ is the head and there are different functions of the body.  We are in that body, when one part suffers the other parts feel it too.  Therefore as we love him we love our brothers and sisters in Christ.  As we love the Lord we will love each other in the church.  We love the community and reach out to others.  Addicted means to be determined, to be appointed, to be ordained, to set in order.  We have to be determined to be a blessing to others, to go out of our way to help others.  When someone wakes up in the morning and they are addicted to drugs their minds are working out where they will get their drugs from that day.  They are consumed, devoted to their addiction.  In this church in Corinth here is a family that has been changed, that selfish desire has been taken away and they want to be a blessing to others every day they live.  We should be doing likewise.  It doesn`t take much to say to someone "I missed you out and about, how are you keeping today?"  Whenever someone is not well it is very difficult for that person to read and pray.  We ought to think about such people, visit and read scripture to them.  Paul went around preaching the gospel, establishing churches - he just loved people and wanted to see them coming to Christ.  Remember Christ himself was the servant king - "he came not be served but to serve." (Matthew 20 verse 28)

The outcome of their addiction.  Here is a family devoted to serving others, to be a blessing in the church.  They made a difference.  We only have a short brief life and we need to make it count.  Some time had passed since Paul had established this church, probably 10 years.  In chapter 1 we read of the controversy over some saying who they were baptised by but this family were so meek and we read of the grace that they displayed.  Verse 16 "That ye submit yourselves unto such."  Paul was telling the members to look at Stephanas and his family and be like them.  Verse 17 "I am glad of the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, for that which was lacking on your part they have supplied."  Paul was thankful for the coming of this family into the church at Corinth.  Verse 18 "For they have refreshed my spirit and yours."  Instead of being a discouragement they were encouragers.  They had an addiciton that was constructive not destructive.  It was a blessing to many.  Has this change been wrought in your heart and life?  Do you know the Lord as your own Saviour today?  

The attitude to the resurrection and the effect that the resurrection has on individuals

Sermon notes from 1 April 2018 pm

Luke 24 verses 1 - 8, Acts 17 verses 32 - 34

I want us to turn our attention to those verses in Acts 17 verse 32 "and when they heard of the resurrection of the dead."  Think of the attitude to the resurrection and the effect that the resurrection has had and will have on men and women`s hearts as they heard the gospel message.

Athens was a city of great culture and learning.  The architecture was magnificent.  Paul came here on his own and he was waiting on the others to catch up with him.  His heart is moved as he waits there because the whole city was given over to idolatry.  In verse 21 we read that the people of the city would gather together to talk and discuss things of interest including new things that were happening all around them.  Here on this day they came face to face with something new.  A Saviour who died on a rugged cross, was buried in the tomb and on the third day he rose again from the dead.  That was the point of stumbling.  There were 3 effects to the story of the resurrection.  Some mocked, others said we will hear thee again of this matter and the third believed on the words spoken to them.  Is there a stumbling block in your life that keeps you back from coming to Christ?  It`s a real mountain they cannot get past or over it or around it.  What did this message mean to the preacher?

Here was a message that was developed.  Paul came with this wonderful message of a resurrected Saviour, he is living and alive for evermore.  In Acts 17 verse 1 Paul travels to Thessalonica alone and doesn`t stay there too long because he has trouble there.  He moved on from there to Berea verse 10.  In verse 16 Paul waited on Silas and Timothy in Athens and he saw something that made him very sad.  His soul stirred within him.  He saw the whole city given to idolatry.  They had their own religion.  Verse 22 you are so religious he tells them.  He has been watching the people coming and going.  His very heart is touched.  Whenever our hearts are touched it is amazing thing to witness even when we see it among our family and friends.  They were so religious in their ways.  Verse 23 he does something for them.  An altar has been built for the worship of God.  Paul says he found it.  We are not told what it was built of.  This one was very special - it had an inscription on it - "to the unknown god."  Each of them had their idols and images, all the things they bowed down to, prayed to, worshipped.  Now they were saying in case there is another god we have forgotten about we will build one to him.  Paul said "you are too religious."  Sadly we have them in our own families today.  "Don`t talk to me about your religion, I have my own, I have been to my own place of worship today already."  If that is the case then the church has taken the place of Christ.  Now it is an idol.  Doesn`t it prove one thing to us - religion does not satisfy.  Here were people worshipping, praising all sorts of images and idols but they were still looking for another god.  They were still not satisfied and hungry.  Some people would criticise Paul`s message.  They say he watered it down when he came there.  They said he never mentioned the cross nor Christ`s resurrection.  But how could he get to the resurrection if he didn`t speak of a death first?  It was only when they reached the resurrection that the hands went up.  He developed a message that would meet the hunger they had.  These people had religion, were fervent in their religion but still had an altar to the unknown god.  You will hunger unto the day you bow your knee at the cross and take Christ as Saviour.  The rich young ruler who came to Jesus had everything he wanted but there was a hunger in his heart for something more.  He kept all the commandments but they didn`t fulfil his hunger.  That could only be filled with the gospel, that Jesus died for his sins.  Remember at the feast of the Passover in John 12 verse 21.  The Jews were there but there were also some Greeks.  They came to Philip asking "that we might see Jesus."  Ritual doesn`t fill the soul, only Christ can do that.  It tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 verses 3 and 4 "Christ died according to the scrptures; And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."  Paul had a complete message.  He had Christ as died, rose again and in heaven even now.  1 Thessalonians 4 verse 14  "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." 

It was a message that was despised - verse 32 "and when they heard of the resurrection of the dead".  They listened well, their ears were opened but when he started to tell them of an unknown God, when they considered it, thought about it, they couldn`t believe it and walked away.  At what point will you wander away from the message of the gospel?  Pilate asked "what shall I do with Jesus which is called Christ?" (Matthew 27 verse 22).  Will you either accept Christ as Saviour or reject him as your Lord?  Paul gathered with the people wherever he could - sometimes it was in the synagogue with the Jews, or in the marketplace with the Gentiles.  Notice in verses 19 and 20 that they were curious.  They came to the meeting with their minds so closed to start off with.  The devil does that - he will do all in his power to close our minds to Christ.  Either accept it or reject it.  The people who despised that message left, some mocked it while others thought it was utter nonsense.  Paul takes up the message of God as the creator in verse 24 and then he moves on to tell them what they are in the sight of God - verse 25.  We are sinners in the sight of God.  There are others who teach a different message - that man is his own boss and can do his own thing, reach whatever height he wants to but there is one he can never reach - the mark of God.  We have all come short of the glory of God.  He took his very best, his only Son and sent him into the world to die on an old rugged cross but it was all God`s plan that we might be saved.  Maybe you have never been saved or maybe you are in a backslidden state.  God wants you to come to him.  Paul points to what God expects.  He had another day in mind when he sent his Son to a manger.  He had another day in mind when he sent him to the cross.  He had a day in mind - when he will come again as a judge.  This world will come to an end one day.  The Lord will come back that you might stand before him.  Paul says to this people God created you, you are a sinner before him and one day God will come to judge everyone for their sins.  Now he says God calls everyone to repent before God and have faith in the Lord.  This message was despised by the people because they were hungry for God.  What makes young people try something for the first time?  For satisfaction to their hunger.  As soon as they try it once something else kicks in, the mind begins to blur everything.  All that once worried them is gone now.  Why do they do it?  Because of a hunger.  They want to see what it will do to them.  When that hunger is filled with Christ they despised it.

The effect on others - "some mocked and others said, We will hear you again of this matter."  Not all rejected the message though.  There were a number who listened very carefully.  One turned to the other and asked each other "what do you think of this message?"  This is the first time we have heard of a Saviour who came in the world, who died and rose again.  We could have new lives, we could be changed forever.    Maybe a bit of doubt creeps in.  Maybe we should think about it, count the cost of it.  Don`t put Christ off by thinking you will get saved another week.  "Behold now is the accepted time."  Maybe tonight you want to be saved, would love to be saved but just not tonight.  Felix of old trembled as Paul stood before him.  Paul spoke of the gospel, righteousness before God, temperance, self control and the great judgment day of God.  When Felix heard this he trembled.  He told Paul "go thy way when I have a convenient season I will call for you."  Joshua in the Old Testament said "choose you this day whom you will serve."  For the last group of people it was a message that delighted because it filled their hearts and souls and changed their lives.  They "clave" unto the message he preached.  This message culd change your life for eternity.  They listened with intent.  When they did that it struck a chord .  They had placed their sins upon a sacrifice who had died and risen again.  You can have your sins laid on that same Saviour and accept him in the beloved today.

Fake News

Sermon notes from Sunday 25 February 2018

Galatians 1 verses 1 - 10, 2 Corinthians 11 verses 1 - 4

I want us to take a moment or 2 to think of a term that we have been listening so much to - fake news.  A term that is widely associated with the President of the United States Mr Donald Trump himself.  It is a term that speaks of lies, falsehoods against the government, society or maybe to someone in person.  Something that has been written about someone or is said about someone.  It is lies, sent with the intention that it might be believed.  Maybe there are some things you see in social media, that you read in papers, hear on the news in the evening, the moment you see them you realise something is wrong.  They don`t affect you.  You don`t realise they are real or fake because it doesn`t affect you.  Paul warns the Galatian and Corinthian believers, to those he had preached to in times past, he had met with them, watched them trusting Christ as Saviour.  He warned them of this happening.  There were men coming in and taking believers away from the true gospel.  The great subject is this message we have to proclaim.  It is a message preached by the prophets of old, by the disciples of the early church right down to this day and hour in which we live.  Therein lies the great importance.  What is the importance of fake news?  What is the importance of genuine news?  It is that your soul lies in the balance of what you believe in.  Have you come into this meeting with that reality?  That this may perhaps be your last night on this earth.  What you believe tonight might seal your fate for all eternity.  

The apostle Paul warns of a deceptive policy.  He had come to Galatia and Corinth, laid the foundations of the gospel, pointed men and women to Christ who had shed his blood on Calvary`s tree that he might reconcile your soul and mine to God, that he might save your soul tonight.  He came to Corinth and Galatia, preached the word of God and there were those who came to Christ and were saved as a result.  He returns now to them - verses 6 and 7 "I marvel that you are so soon removed from him."  He had preached the real genuine gospel but others came in after him and preached a perverted gospel.  They were drawing them away from Christ.  Are you saved tonight?  Are you in that place  where the Lord would have you?  He was addressing a situation that revolved around fake news.  People who came with another spirit.  Men and women were being drawn away.  A hardened warden in a American young people`s prison for those aged 15 - 17 years of age had heard so many stories and seen many situations but the hardest task he had to do, as he locked these young people up, was to sit down and convince them that they had done wrong.  "Everyone believes they are there because they believe they are innocent."  Isn`t that the most difficult task for the preacher - to take the word of God and persuade men they need to be saved.  How do you stand tonight?  Have you listened to the Saviour who came into the world to save souls?  There is a spirit in this world that deceives.  Maybe you are not saved tonight.  Maybe you can point to a date in the past and are living on that.  You do not have a real relationship with Christ at this moment in time.  Salvation is more than a stirring of the heart, agreeing with what the preacher says.  It is more than simply stepping out and walking to the front or raising your hand in a meeting  It should cause a change in behaviour, cause a hunger for the things of God, to have a life of holiness and righteousness sought after through God or are you still depending on something that happened 10 or 15 years ago?  That you have to confess really there is nothing there.  This is what Paul was preaching about.  Someone has got access to your mind and you are now believing a falsehood.  Jeremiah was preaching the word of God day after day, telling men and women if they wanted to escape the judgement of God they had to go into the hands of the king of Babylon.  There were people who rose up and said "don`t listen to him God will never pass judgement on his own people."  But that is what happened - they were carried away into captivity.  People listened to that false news, that God would never judge them.  Do we not hear that same message today?  How God will never turn you out of heaven.  He loved you so much that he sent his Son to die on Calvary.  If he loved you so much then he cannot turn you out of heaven.  That is false news.  Depending on God never turning you away.  He would have to turn you away.  On the cross he died for your every sin yet you have never claimed that atoning work.  You haven`t admitted you are a sinner, asked the Lord to come into your life, make you a child of God.  There was fake news in the Garden where the tomb was.  The disciples came to find the body of Christ was gone.  Fake news.  The soldiers said the disciples had come by night and stole the body away.  When God made creation all was good.  There was no sin.  The devil came in with his deceptive policy.  You will not die he said to Eve.  She replied  they could eat of every tree but there was one tree they were not allowed to eat.  In that day they ate of it they would die.  The devil said you will not die.  A deceptive policy to take her away from God, to form a wall between her and God, to destroy God`s wonderful creation.  She believed in his word.  The Lord was not talking of physical death but spiritual death.  In that one act we died to the holiness of God.  The apostle Paul had tremendous dread on his heart.  2 Corinthians 11 verse 3.  He was still concerned about that deceptive policy.  Paul said "besides those things that are without that which cometh upon me daily the care of all the churches." 2 Corinthians 11 verse 28.  He was afraid of this deceptive policy, drawing men and women from the faith.

Paul speaks of discrediting a person.  2 Corinthians 11 verse 4 "if he that cometh and preacheth another Jesus." A work to discredit the person of Jesus.  To carry out this idea would be to break up relationships the believer has.  The devil has to be so close that you will never give it a second glance.  I guarantee tonight that as we preach, invite, instruct - in the depths you could know you are not saved, that there is a battle on because the devil doesn`t want you to come to him.  In his great plan he has to discredit the person of Christ.  He is preaching another Christ.  He wants them to remember the Jesus Paul preached.  Do you remember the Christ I preached?  Acts 17 "They came to Thessalonica there was a synagogue of the Jews.  And Paul as his manner was went in unto them and 3 Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures."  He goes into the synagogue, begins to expound the word of God, alleges that Christ must needs suffer, he must rise again from the dead.  Not only a suffering Christ but a Christ that was dead and a Christ that was resurrected from the dead.  If anyone presents another Christ.  The false teachers present another Christ Jesus but not Jesus of the scriptures.  Not the sinless son of God, not born of the virgin Mary, not come to seek and to save.  Without sin the cults have another Jesus.  Paul preached about a dying Saviour, a resurrected Saviour, a glorified Saviour who is coming again.  Jesus to many is dead and in the tomb tonight.  He has made no atoning sacrifice, no salvation.  What a terrible life.  Where do you stand tonight?  Jesus turned the 2 disciples on the Emaeus Road to the word of God, to Moses, the Psalms and the prophets.  He convinced them who he was.  The Christ of the scriptures.  Is this the Saviour you are depending on?  We are not just talking about cults tonight.  We need to be careful tonight.  What do we see?  A discreditation of Christ`s work.  Man doesn`t need a Saviour.  He is on his way to heaven and home.  He can earn his own righteousness.  He will fling open the doors of heaven.  We do not need the atoning blood of Christ.  Just live the best life we can.  Attend church, say our prayers, sit at the Lord`s table.  It is fake news.  If that is what you are believing in tonight heaven will never be home to you.  Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life no man cometh unto the father but by me."  You need a living relationship in the saving blood of Calvary.

A denying of his power - chapter 11 verse 4.  Another Christ, another Spirit.  Isn`t that what the devil wants to do with a deceptive policy.  To take you away from Christ.  Invent another spirit tonight.  The false cults will tell you the spirit of God is not a person, not the third person of the Trinity.  He is nothing like that.  He is a sort of something you can depend upon at certain times but he is not an eternal power.  Remember what the apostle Paul said of the gospel.  He preached "it is the power of God to everyone that believeth."  Peter in Acts 2 took great theme of Jesus God`s son.  Peter took that message of a living Saviour.  How he came into the world, the miracles he wrought by his hand, his death at Calvary`s cross, spoke of his resurrection.  What was happening in the hearts of men and women?  They were "pricked in their hearts."  The preacher couldn`t do that.  There was an outside power working in the congregation, opening up hearts and lives to accept the gospel.  They realised they needed a Saviour.  Acts 10 verse 44 in the house of Cornelius he took the same message again. His miracles and his works.  While Peter spoke these words the Holy Spirit fell on them.  

There is also a destructive plan.  You can take that policy that disrupts and takes people away, speak of a person discredited, a power that is denied but the Holy Spirit finishes with a destructive plan - to take you away from Christ tonight.  To damn that soul of yours in a lost and Christless eternity.  What will it be tonight?  Satan said to Eve "thou shalt not surely die".  No qualms about it tonight.  Already as you consider the situation and condition are you realising for the first time that you are not saved?  You may have made a profession but you are not saved.  You know nothing of a life transformed, changed, an assurance of God`s salvation.  Will you not come to Christ tonight?  Trust him as Saviour.  Make certain of it tonight.  The devil said to Eve "you shall not die".  Maybe the devil is saying to your soul "that man has it wrong, God will never turn you away."  Why not come to Christ tonight, trust him as Saviour and Lord.  Have you been listening to fake news?  Maybe you have to step out, leave that old life and you have to come to Christ.  It will be a costly salvation.  Leave the old life behind.  Go through with God.  Allow him to teach you.  Come to him tonight.

The Times We are Living In

Sermon notes from Sunday 18 March 2018 (pm)

Rev John Hayes

2 Timothy chapter 3

I want us tonight to look at this scripture portion not just a particular text but the first 9 verses.  How relevant these verses are to the times in which we are living!  Look at verse 1 in particular "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come"  I belong to a company of people that believe those days are already upon us.  Paul wrote this epistle in 66AD.  This man was looking down the centuries and the Spirit of God gave him an understanding of what society would be like today.  It is significant that there are those trying to tell us the word of God is out of date, it is not relevant to the times in which we live.  Some years ago there was a man on a train journey through London.  He was a Pastor and he was sitting reading his bible.  In the same carriage were 4 other men who were reading the Sunday papers.  The Pastor became aware that all eyes were on him.  He said to the men "Gentlemen you are reading yesterdays news today but I am reading tomorrows news today."  That is how relevant the Bible is.  The Bible prophecy is the pattern of things that have happened in the past but also practical for what is going to happen in the future days.  This man under the inspiration of the Spirit of God revealed to him the way in which society would live.  Paul gives us clear picture of our society living and acting in the last days.  

Verse 2 the pursuit of self love will dominate the culture.  Have you noticed in todays society, today`s young people known as the Millenial Generation, born in the 21st Century, called the me generation, it is all about me, mine, I.  Social media has become the great thing.  One thing young people are prone to is their love to send selfies to each other.  Photographs of each other.  Some people are very good looking and that is true but it leads on to disturbing things.  A doctrine has developed today - you cannot love anyone until you love yourself.  That is a lie that comes from the devil himself.  That is a fallacy.  Matthew 23 verse 6 tells of a lawyer who stood up and questioned Jesus one day.  What is the greatest commandment he asked.  Jesus replied "thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind and thy neighbour as thyself."  Jesus never mentioned self.  The human being is bent towards self.  It must be dethroned.  The person who will give you the biggest problem in your life is your self.  That self life needs to be dealt with.  Only the power and the Spirit of God can do that.  Jesus needs to get control of your life.  That is really what it is all about.  There is a law of selfishness in the world today.  The pursuit of self will dominate the society in which we live.

Secondly proof of a rebellious culture will be overwhelming.  We have definite proof of that today.  We see it all around us.  People wanting what others have.  Jealousy, greed, pride, self examination.  If you went to a ladies bedroom the carpet would be perfect except in front of the mirror!  We live in a society where people use the name of Christ as a swear word.  Then you come next to the dishonouring of parents.  Parents are having a hard time today.  The powers that be, the experts are telling us how to bring up our children.  We cannot give a child a good smack because the child knows how to respond - by having parents arrested or reported to Social Services.  There is a full on attack on the family unit today.  Never before like what is happening now.  Someone once said recently "unless we have a return to the traditional family there is no hope for children."  In America 80% of those who have committed murder and are in American prisons have come from one parent families, a mother and no father.  Yet the powers that be say to us that 2 lesbians can adopt a child and that 2 homosexuals can adopt a child.  A father and a mother is what God decreed.  There is the necessity of a mothers love and a fathers control in the family.  There is an old song which rings true "A mother`s love is a blessing."  Nobody could contradict that.  See how a mother devotes herself to the child and a father is a stronger character to stabilise the situation.  God in his wisdom designed it just so.  Experts know better than God today.  The road we are going down today is heading to ruin.  Ruining families and destroying family life today.  The American dictionary defines marriage as "2 or more people who have decided to live together."  That is not a true definition of marriage, it is a traversty.

Their approval of immoral lifestyles will become common belief and practices.  If you were to write into a newspaper today about these issues, criticising how society has become what would happen?  You would bring the LGBT brigade down upon you like a ton of bricks.  On the internet you would be bombarded with filthy insults, there would be letter after letter written condemning you.  That you come from the ark, that you are an ignoramus.

Their accusations will contain false words.  They will make up untrue stories.  Their acceptance of the sanctity of human life will be lost.  That is happening today.  In May the Republic of Ireland will vote on abortion, to change the law to allow women in the Republic of Ireland to murder their babies in the womb.  Their acceptance of the sanctity of human life will be lost.  Imagine - a doctor can murder a baby in the womb.  He used to be allowed to do it early on in the pregnancy but now it can be done right up to the time the baby is born.  Murder is murder.  God almighty said "if you shed mens blood by man will you be shed." (Genesis 9 verse 6)  A murderer should die in God`s programme of things.  When you murdered your life had to be given for the life of that persons life taken in the first place.  Society wants to kill babies in the womb.  We are also getting a glimmer of euthanasia - dying with dignity.  It is an inconvenience to look after that older person today.  That day is coming.  We are living in an uncaring society that disregards the law of God.  Making a mockery of the bible.  False ideas and teachings are being instilled into our young people today.  They are being told that the world is billions of years old, that Genesis is not true.  The world is old and the word of God is wrong.  Thank God we have a lot of great scientists putting forward scriptures, Answers in Genesis and Creation.  These people are being raised up to defend God`s word.  "despisers of those that are good" anger against immorality will increase.  Comedians are mocking the word of God today.  Verse 4 we are in big trouble - when you cannot trust a person, how sad that you and I can come to a place where we cannot trust ourselves.  What is left?  That passion for pleasure will replace love for God.  When you arrange some ungodly event today people will come from miles away just to attend - pleasure more than lovers of God will control people`s lives through the lusts of the flesh.  2 Peter 2 verse 14 "having eyes full of adultery." 

The practice of religion will increase without the power of God - verse 5.  Our churches across the nation contain people that have a form of godliness, repeat prayers but very sadly there is nothing of the power of God in their lives.  I have seen people sit a lifetime in a church that has no mention of the gospel preached.  How many ministers come to church to preach the gospel and before too long they have to leave - the gospel of Jesus Christ is ignored or denied.  How sad today.
The pressure to compromise will intensify.  Don`t take clear stand on certain issues in case they might offend someone.  Not say anything about things in case someone might disagree with me so I will compromise.  Sadly this is all too common today.  The pursuit of knowledge will not include the knowledge of God`s truth or God`s word.  Never be a time when knowledge is so available.  It is absolutely amazing the knowledge that is available today.  It is not the knowledge of God`s word though.  "Ever learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth" verse 7.  No relationship with God, never invited Christ to come into life, just struggling on week in and week out.

The practice of religious deception will not be able to replace the work of God - verse 9.  God is a sovereign God.  People who make foolish statements about God today.  We are living in a nuclear age.  Some mad man may press the button and we will all be up in smoke.  There is a sovereign God in heaven and he is still in control today.  The wrong button can only be pressed if God allows it.  The world will not end in that way - the bible tells us it will not end that way.  If the world wants to be brought to a conclusion where would you stand?  Will you be ready for such a thing?  The bible teaches us the wickedness of man came up before God.  Remember Sodom and Gomorrah.  What happened there?  Their wickedness moved God.  God could take no more.  Noah preached for 120 years but the people did not listen.  Eventually judgement fell.  Think of Ninevah in Jonah`s day.  Their wickedness came up before God.  There is a level that God will allow and we must be at it.  We are getting there and getting there fast.  God will take no more.  When a person or a nation can come between God`s patience and his wrath and it is a fine line today.  Society is getting there.  We are in the last days and soon Jesus will call the church home.  When the church is called home then God starts pouring out his wrath on this Christ rejecting world.  There will be a tribulation period then the battle of Armageddon will take place.  When Christ comes to deliver the nation of Israel and he will set up his Millennium kingdom.  He will reign on earth for 1000 years.  Christ is in control.  That day is ahead of us.  Are you walking with the Lord, serving him, pleasing him?  Thank God you can start tonight, so turn to him and trust him to be your Saviour and to be your friend.

The effectiveness of a testimony

Sermon notes from Sunday 18 February 2018

John 4 verses 27 - 42

I want us to continue with the theme we have been considering these past Sunday nights - that of testimony.  As we started off the series in February we realised that a testimony is something you are asked to be sure of - the facts that you know.  Not something you think of.  If called into a court of law you are not asked what you thought you saw and heard rather what you actually saw and heard.  A testimony of saving grace is to know without any doubt you are saved by God`s grace.

Paul said "examine yourselves to see if you are of  the faith."
The expression of a testimony
The effectiveness of our testimony to a community around us.

We read here of this woman, how Jesus makes his way and stops in Sychar.  He is tired and weary so sits down on the well.  Has greater purpose for one lost soul living there.   That soul comes out in the midday heat.  The Lord points here to himself.  The salvation of her soul that day.  She was changed.  Something dramatic happened and she couldn`t wait to tell others.  She started in Samaria telling others what happened in that day.  A testimony should always point to Christ himself.  Remember Lazarus in John 12.  There was a supper in Bethany.  All were gathered there.  It tells us many came just to see Lazarus but the chief priests insisted that they might also put Lazarus to death.  Why would they do that?    He was the man who was dead whom Jesus raised back to life out of the tomb.  Here he is now sitting at the table "because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away and believed on Jesus."  That is the effectiveness of a testmony.  The reason why they wanted him to be put to death.  Notice what is said of this man in verse 29 "come see a man which told me all things that ever I did, is not this the Christ?"and verse 39 "and many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman which testified  he told me all that ever I did."  Many believed on Jesus because of Lazarus.  Many believed on Jesus because of the saying of this woman.  "And many more believed because of his own word." verse 41 .  In verse 42 we read "now we believe not because of thy saying for we have heard him ourselves and know that this is indeed the Christ the Saviour of the world."  

She spoke first of this man`s conduct.  She could only speak of the Saviour`s grace.  No word of criticism for her, no more condemnation for her.  The Jews and the Samaritans have no dealings with each other yet this man could stop where he was, draw me to himself and speak to me the word.  John 4 verse 9 he was about his father`s business.  That brought him from the realms of glory, from the worship of the angels.  Praise brought him into the world to an old rugged cross to save a lost mankind.  That I might be saved tonight.  If you have never been to Jesus` cross close in with his offer of mercy and goodness.  If you have never trusted Christ as your own Saviour, are still in your sin,  on the way to Christless hell for all eternity, the Lord bids you to come to him and he will give you rest.  He will give you eternal life.  "God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him."  John 3 verse 16.  This woman could only speak daily of his conduct.  He didn`t point his finger at her but to the well of living water that she might receive eternal life.  We want to see you trusting him tonight.  Remember the woman caught in the act of adultery who was brought to the Lord.  She knew what the law said - she should be put to death.  Caught in the act itself.  The Lord said "let him that is without sin cast the first stone."  One by one they filtered away until there was none left.  He looked at the woman and asked her "where are your accusers?"  She told him there were none left and he said "neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more."  What a Saviour.  That is the Saviour we are inviting you to tonight.  Pilate in the Judgment Hall said "I find no fault in this man."  Remember the thief on the cross.  He looked at the other thief and said "we are here because of our own misconduct, this man hath done nothing amiss."  Have you found a fault in the Saviour - is that why you are not saved tonight?  If you are looking at some person tonight, profess to be saved, not living up to the standard you would consider worthy of being called a Christian, get your eyes off them and get your eyes on Jesus himself.

A man who had so much concern for this woman.  Jesus came through this country especially to find her.  He stopped here at this well just to talk with her.  The God of heaven has brought you tonight to challenge you.  Another opportunity to get right with God.  Come to him, trust him as Saviour and Lord, be saved tonight.  Here`s this lady and you can imagine her telling her story to the Samaritans.  She waited until midday.  Perhaps she was fed up with gossiping tongues.  She had 4 husbands and the man she was with now was not even her husband.  She waited until the right moment so no-one would see her or stop her.  Then she saw a man sitting at a well on his own.  God always brings us people concerned for our salvation.  He was ready to engage her in conversation.  A Jew to a Samaritan.  This man was willing to stop with her.  He is also waiting for you to stop and talk with him tonight.  He was willing to take your sin.  Perfect in all his ways, sinless yet he was willing to take away your sin.  He was so concerned about us that he would take our sin, lay it on his body, paying the price of sin on Calvary.  Verses 13 and 14 Jesus spoke of the water in the well.  Here was a woman with a restless soul trying to find pleasure and friendship.  She could never find it.  We could never find that which never satisfies our soul not until we find Christ as Saviour.  He placed a great value upon this woman`s soul.  The Bible tells me "what shall it profit a man if he should gain the whole world and lose his own soul." Are you content, satisfied?  Is there a peace that overwhelms you?  Would you be sure of going straight into the presence of God for all eternity? Is there still something lacking, hasn`t filled the void in your soul?  We would never be satisfied or can be satisfied until the Lord comes and takes control of our hearts.  Matthew 5 "and if thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that if one of thy members should perish and not that thy own body should be cast into hell."  We are talking about the severity of sin.  It will take you into a lost sinners hell tonight.  What else did this woman say in her testimony?  

The compassion he had - that he stopped with her.  He was waiting for me, explained all these things.  The compassion that took the the Lord to the cross for you and I.  He had concern for this woman when she had no concen for anyone else.  He was dying for you.  He died the just for the unjust to repair that broken relationship.  This woman is beginning to think of this water - "give me this water."  Is there one tonight and maybe at this stage you are crying out for something.  You would love to be saved.  He will save you if you trust him tonight.  Verse 15 this woman is beginning to turn away.  When this woman comes to this very place she knows what she should do, where she should go for this water.  Jesus says to her "go and tell your husband."  The Lord is getting her to that place where she has to acknowledge her sin.  Maybe she thinks I will avoid this question.  I don`t have a husband.  In telling the truth the Lord tells her he knows all about her, that she had 5 husbands and the one she was with now was not her husband.  Maybe she is saying I will avoid this question.  The Lord brings us to the place where we acknowledge we have sinned and come short of God`s glory.  If we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves.  We are sinners in the sight of our holy God.  If we confess our sins and trust him as Saviour we will be saved.  Remember David and his sin with Bathsheba.  For 12 months he denied it then he acknowledged his sin.  It was for this reason that Christ came into the world that the world through him might be saved.  The woman said "come see a man that convinced me" verse 20.  She throws up a religious question - she is trying to avoid what Jesus is getting to.  This woman does not dwell on the subject of living water.  Their father worshipped in this mountain.  She started an argument, the most important question to answer tonight resounds back to you.  He invites you - the question is not where Cain got his wife, not what about the heathen being saved who live in the jungle.  The greatest question is will you be saved.  Trust him as Saviour and Lord.  Are you saved tonight?  She said to her audience come and see the Lord.  Opened up the word of God to her.  He convinced her she needed to be saved.  It matters not what I say, it matters not what any preacher says, it matters what the scripture says and what Christ says.  If there is the slightest glimmer of salvation in your heart why not come tonight.  Don`t be convinced any anyone else.  See what the scriptures have to say about your soul and the destiny of it.  The woman said to this people "come and see a man that changed my life."  She went out to the well that day, she met Christ that day and her whole life was changed.  She left the waterpot at the well.  She went into the city and spoke to the Samaritans - "come and see a man that changed me."  She told everyone she met "come and see Christ."  Come and see Christ tonight hanging on the middle cross, beaten, bruised, treated so badly, left to die for your sins and mine.  Will you not come and see him tonight?  He was bruised for our transgressions, with his stripes we are healed.  Have you entered into God`s salvation?  This woman going out into the village the next day, the next week, the next month - she would remember that moment she met with Christ.  There she was totally changed.  She received the waters of eternal life.  Will you be saved tonight, wll you call to him tonight.

Prayer - its seriousness, the sympathy it evokes, a singularity in mind and the subject of prayer

Sermon notes from 18 February 2018

Acts 4 verses 23 - 31

I want us to continue on following the progress of the church in the book in Acts, to pick out these wonderful dynamic situations the church of Christ found themselves in.  Men and women like you and I, not superheroes.  They had their faults and failures, had difficulties, burdens and problems.  That is what the church is made up of today.  In Acts 1 a group of men gathered on the Mount of Olives and witnessed Christ ascending from them.  They received the commission to take the gospel of Christ to the furthest ends of the earth.  Before that they had to return to Jerusalem to wait there.  They needed the power of God to do that.  If you wait there the Holy Ghost will come and empower you for the task.  For every child of God there is a responsibility to be filled with the Holy Ghost - yes saved by Christ, known the cleansing of sin but do we know about the anointing of God and the empowering of God on our lives?  The subject we want to look at is the subject of prayer.  In Acts 3 Peter and John came down to the time of prayer at the temple and met a lame man.  They healed the man of his lameness but as a result the devil became very active as Peter and John were arrested as a result.  R A Torrey said "pray for great things."  Maybe this is something we need to learn as we come into the house of God.  R A Torrey went on to say "expect great things."  We can pray and not expect God is able to do great things than we can ask or think.  As we come into God`s house let`s ask and expect great things from God.  "Let`s work for great things but above all pray."  The principle of the prayer meeting is not just above running into the prayer meeting and sitting down.  There is something we learn here.

The seriousness of prayer - verse 23 "and being let go."  We need to go back earlier in the chapter to find out what is happening here.  Verses 2 and 3 Peter and John were arrested, taken off the streets and put into prison.  They then are let go in verse 23 and being let go they went to their own.  What would they do then?  Pray.  Verse 21 the people could find nothing they could do so they let them go.  Peter and John had to go to the temple and this man had reached out his hand for some silver or gold.  Peter responded by telling him about the Lord and the power of the Lord healed him.  Peter helped him onto his feet and he was able to walk.  The old Pharisees could do nothing, had no words of comfort or cheer for him.  It had nothing to do with Peter, it was the faith the man placed in the Lord that raised him up.  It is not because of what we have done.  God has looked on you with grace and mercy, pointed you to his son, put your eyes on him, this is what I have done for you, then you believed and trusted and put faith in the Lord.  No longer are you on a Christless road.  Today you are saved and on your way to heaven and home.  The lame man went into the temple to praise the God of heaven and all the people saw this.  They thought it was something wonderful and great. When news got around Peter and John were arrested.  They could do nothing to them because of public favour so had to let them go again.  Where did they go immediately - back to their own people to pray together.  Maybe that is what happened to Demas.  He felt he had given the Lord enough and wanted to get out of the public eye.  There is a seriousness in prayer as we involve ourselves in it.  We realise the seriousness of it.  Prayer is a serious thing.  That is why they gathered together - to bring it to the Lord in prayer.  We are in a serious time at present and we need to take these matters to the Lord in prayer.  We need to seek the Lord in prayer, getting to grips with the seriousness of prayer.  The church is the mechanism by which the Lord will reach the multitudes.  That mechanism is fuelled only by prayer.  E M Bounds on the subject of prayer said "the church is looking for better methods, God is looking for better men, men who will give themselves totally over to the Lord.

The sympathy that is evoked.  We are not thinking of `poor me attitude`.  They had spent the night in prison, ridiculed, cautioned in so many ways.  It was not a case of being hard done by.  The people were of kindred minds and spirits.  That is important in the prayer meeting.  That we have kindred spirits, saved by grace of God, cleansed by the precious blood, filled with the Holy Spirit and have kindred minds.  The people in Acts made it a priority so they wanted to gather with this group of the same mind.  God`s word was under attack.  The only thing they could do was to band together and pray because had it in their hearts to do so.  Verse 23 "and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them."  They talked the issue through with one another.  We should bear one anothers burdens.  When we come to the prayer meeting we should share with one another.  Peter and John told them they were not to speak in the name of Jesus.  It is good to be informed when we come to pray.  It is good to know the problems the fellowship is facing.  When you pray for them you should do so with a good knowledge.  Here there was an attack on the word.  Verse 18 - not to teach in the name of Jesus.  These were Pharisees who would stand in the synagogue and reach from the scriptures yet they told Peter and John not to teach in the name of Jesus.  This prayer meeting was serious and sympathetic.

A singularity in mind.  When they heard what had happened to the disciples they had one mind and lifted up their voice to God with one accord.  It is good even in your own private time to pray aloud as it keeps you focused on Christ.  That is what was happening here.  These people were focused on what they were praying for.  There was an agreement.  Here are people coming from all walks of life.  Peter preached about Christ`s life, death and resurrection.  These people believed as a result.  They came from every walk of life, rich and poor, old and young, women and men.  They all believed what they had heard that day and were added to the church of Christ.  Saved by God`s grace.  When they came to pray they were of one mind.  Praying for the good of the church.  These people cried out "what shall we do" and Peter told them "repent and be baptised."  Oneness here, no descensions or disagreements or under currents.  They agreed with Peter and John and they prayed with a singleness of mind and heart.  When we come together we believe that Jesus died for all people.  The gospel is for all people.  "Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

The subject of prayer - the sovereign Lord God.