A LIFE TRANSFORMED

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 18 OCTOBER 2020 am

Judges 6 verses 11 - 16 - a life transformed

As we turn here to the Old Testament scriptures to the book of Judges we are going into the home of Gideon.  The spirit of the day of Judges was that every man did that which was right in their own eyes.  Men and women have turned from God, doing that which they wanted to do.  No-one would tell them what to do.  We want to think of a life transformed.  That is the experience of this young man Gideon.  That is what happened in his home.  That is what we need today.  We need a life transforming experience from God today.  Maybe you have never had that in your own life.  Maybe you have never trusted the Lord as your own Saviour.  God is giving you that opportunity today.  It is God's word that brings a transforming experience in our lives.  Maybe you have never invited the Lord to be your own and personal Saviour yet.  The Midianites had taken ovr Gideon's land.  Where is Gideon?  Threshing a little wheat, hiding it from the Midianites.  There came an angel of the Lord verse 12.  Most commentators would agree that the angel was the Lord in human form before he came to be born of the virgin Mary.  We get a gimpse of him here.  We need to be careful also in that this is a man's view.  Commentators say the best commentary on the bible is the bible itself.  In verse 13 Gideon was sure this was a divine person when he said "Oh my Lord" and then in verse 16 we read "and the Lord said unto him."  This is the Lord Jesus in human form meeting with Gideon.  One little thought comes to mind as we see this transforming experience.  The Lord is reminding Gideon that he is with him.  Verse 13 Gideon asked "why then is all this befallen us?"  Where is God in all of this, I don't see him, I cannot recollect him?  Why is he hiding from us, it would seem he has deserted us.  Many people are saying 'where is God?' today.

Firstly Gideon reflects on his situation.  I feel for this young man.  He had no role model, no influence in his home.  His father has given himself over to the worship of Baal, a false religion.  Further down the chapter we read that Gideon's father has made an altar to Baal and sacrificing to him.  Verse 12 "the Lord is with thee."  The task he was doing should have been done in the open air.  Threshing wheat was done on the hill top when they would flail the wheat and the chaff would have blown in the wind.  Threshing the wheat would have been done with great rejoicing.  Gideon is harvesting a few sheaves, then carried them into his house less any would see him.  He is working within the cellar of his home.  We read in the New Testament "the god of this world (the devil) has blinded the minds of them which believe not." (2 Corinthians 4 verse 4)  We are claiming back something from the devil today.  Verse 3 "And so it was when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up and the Amalekites and the children of the east, even they came up against them." "For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude, for both they and their camels were without number and they entered into the land to destroy it. And Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried unto the Lord." verses 5 and 6  It was a day of great confusion and fear.  Is that not reminiscent of the world we are presently living in?  There are no foundations in Gideon's home, no godly influence at all.  We want to serve the Lord today in our homes with our children and grandchildren, instil into them the things of God.  Remember Moses in the palace - he no longer wanted to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter.  Where did his teaching come from?  His mother.  She would teach him about the creator God and the children of Israel.  We see it also in the life of Daniel.  He was only a young man when taken captive into Babylon.  A feast was set before them.  All the others never saw anything like this before.  What did Daniel do - he reflected, 'I cannot do this, eat of the king's meat and drink of his wine.'  He turned his back on all that.  Daniel got that standard from his own home, from his father and mother.  He turned his back on that which would defile him.  So many today are leaving home and have no basis for forming relationships, following God himself.  Paul said of Timothy "from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation."  He was taught by both his mother and grandmother.  It is our responsibility to teach the next generation, to tell them about the Lord.  In Psalm 42 the Psalmist spelled out his frustration.  He had a deep desire for God's presence.  The enemy knew how to inflict the wound "as with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me while they say daily unto me, where is thy God?"  Gideon looked around him and said "if God is for us then why have all these things befallen us?"  Many people are asking that question today.

Notice his reflection but also his recollection.  Verse 13 "where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of".  This young man couldn't turn to his father to tell these stories.  He had to turn elsewhere.  He found no help in his own home.  His father was worshipping a false god, idolatry worship.  A false religion.  Years had passed since the Israelites had crossed the River Jordan and settled in the land.  Gideon had to hear those stories from another person.  Gideon was raised by teachers who taught the scriptures.  The seed was sown in his heart.  As the Lord talked with Gideon that day Gideon was able to recall the stories he had heard of.  He would have heard of that night in Egypt when God delivered his children, the Israelites out.  How the lamb was killed, the blood was poured into a basin, hyssop was dipped into the blood and spread on the doorposts of the houses.  The firstborn was saved that night.  He would have heard how the blood delivered them.  He would have been told of how the manna fed the children of Israel in the wilderness.  These things were instiled in his mind.  Do you see the value of being taught the scriptures?  I am sure Gideon was told of the Red Sea and how it opened up before them so they could walk across on dry ground.  He would have been told of the presence of God day after day.  How they had the cloud by day and fire at night.  God would not desert his children, he reassured them continually day after day.  Gideon still asked "but where is God now?"  As we gather today is God searching our hearts today?  Or are we just treating it as another mundane Sunday.  This is a truth Gideon must face up to, he must prove God for himself.  We need to prove God for ourselves today.  Gideon couldn't look back on the basis of past blessing, he couldn't live in the light of them.  We cannot live in the past.  We used to have churches flooded with people but we have to prove God for ourselves today.  What is God doing in our day today?  We too could be like Gideon, we could read of the great awakening in Ulster in 1859 and might well say "well we don't have days like that any more."  We could read of the work in the Hebrides in Scotland and the Welsh revival but where is that today?  We might well ask the question "were are the men and women of God for revival today?"  Elisha followed Elijah before he was taken up into heaven, through the various cities, until they came to the Jordan River when it separated and they walked across.  Elijah was taken up in the whirlwind but his cloak was left behind.  When Elisha went back to the Jordan River he asked "Where is the God of Elijah?"  God was right there.  He had to prove God for himself.  He couldn't depend on Elijah any longer.  We cannot live in the days of Nicholson, we have to prove God for ourselves. God is still waiting for us to get down to pray for revival once again.  Gideon's people had turned from God and rebelled.  Now God had given them into the hand of the Midianites.  The challenge now comes to prove God for himself.  We too need to prove God today.  God told Gideon "I will send you to save the nation."

Gideon's reaction - verse 15.  Gideon had to accept that responsibility.  We have to go in the strength of what God has said in his word.  Elisha's young servant went out and looked up to the hills.  All he could see were the enemy forces coming down.  Maybe that is all we can see today.  Despair and gloom.  Elisha's servant wondered how they would survive.  Elisha told him that there were more with them than against them.  Elisha prayed for the servant's eyes to be opened and when he did he realised that God was on their side.

Gideon's refreshing company - "have not I sent thee?" verse 14  "Surely I will be with thee" verse 16  God said to Joshua some 200 years before "Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest." (Joshua 1 verse 9)

God's rewarding promise - verse 16 "thou shalt smite the Midianites."  Reassurance was in his heart for the way ahead.

The sower and the seed

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

HARVEST THANKSGIVING - SUNDAY 11 OCTOBER 2020 AM

MARK 4 VERSES 3 - 9, 14 - 20

I was greatly encouraged this week by this sermon preached out in the open air by the Lord himself.  I trust that you will be like Mary of old.  Martha was so busy preparing something to eat but Mary sat at the feet of the Lord listening to what Jesus had to say.  May we sit at his feet today.  The Lord took the simplest of things to make deep spiritual applications.  This sermon was on the farmer sowing the seed in the field.  Jesus spoke as no other man spake.  He had no letters to his name, he had no formal education yet no man spake like this man.  There is a great emphasis on education today and it is good to have every opportunity but when a man is lying on his deathbed and needs someone to tell him the truth of God's word, he needs someone who can tell it simply.  A sower going forth to sow.  Jesus explains the outcome.  Mark says in chapter 4 verse 3 "the sower went forth to sow.  In Luke 8 we read "the seed is the word of God".  Jesus is explaining it all here.  The sower is sowing the seed of the word of God.  A man or woman sharing the word of God.  Matthew dwells more on the fruit that comes forth.  I want to think today of the sower.

The sower's priority.  We need to think of the year in which Jesus taught this parable.  There was no machinery, the seed was scattered by hand.  He carried an apron around his waist with the seed in it.  He scattered the seed near and far.  The sower was the Lord Jesus but also represents anyone who shares the word of God.  We need to sow the seed  - that was the sower's priority.  "You have nothing to do but see souls saved" John Wesley said to those he was sending out to preach.  You can share the word of God with whoever you come into contact with.  1 Corinthians 1 verse 17 "Christ sent me ... to preach the gospel."  Chapter 9 verse 16 "woe unto me if I preach not the gospel."  Remember the church in Jerusalem, Paul was a great opponent of the disciples who shared the word of God.  He sought to put them down, to close the church down, to quieten this message.  He would arrest people and put them into prison for their faith so much so that the disciples had to flee from Jerusalem not for their own safety.  However it would open up to them a brand new avenue of service.  Acts 8 verse 4 "they were scattered abroad (and they) went everywhere preaching the word (of God)."  Are you sowing today?  Have you sown any seed in the past week?  The disciples did not forget the command of Jesus "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel."  We all have a responsibility.  Paul said to Timothy "preach the word be instant in season and out of season". (2 Timonthy 4 verse 2) When you don't feel like it or when you do.  Why did Paul say this?  Because he was looking forward to the day when he would see the fruit of his labours and the harvest would be brought in.

The practice of the sower.  "He goeth forth to sow."  Sometimes we think we should be giving out a track, speaking to someone about salvation but we never do it.  Psalm 126 verse 6"he that goeth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtless come again with rejoicing."  Going out with one priority to sow, tries to cover as much ground as possible, unaware of what is happening beneath the surface.  There were no fences or hedges, just wide open space.  He scattered as far as he could.  What is unknown to him is the seed falling where it did.  Perhaps some fell on hard ground, an area covered with stone underneath.  Maybe it was an area full of weeds.  Don't be put off by spreading the gospel because some people are hard.  They appear as they don't want to know but we do not know what is going on beneath the surface in individual's lives.  They may be hungry for the gospel.  Maybe there are people who really want to hear the gospel but it could be hard for them to do that.  In Acts 17 Paul was preaching about Jesus' death and resurrection but at this point, some people mocked, while some said "we will hear you again on this matter" but then there were those who believed.  In the Old Testament scriptures Hezekiah was a godly king who sat on the throne.  His father was very ungodly who stopped the religious services.  Hezekiah opened up the temple doors, it took a week to carry out the rubbish and to set up all the golden vessels.  Hezekiah sent messages throughout all the land to come back to Jerusalem because they were going to celebrate the Passover, the delivery from Egypt under the hard bondage of the taskmasters, how God had provided for a lamb to be the sacrifice, the substitution for their sins.  The practice - they went out with the message.

The patience of the sower.  We need patience as we sow the seed.  James 5 verse 7 "be patient therefore unto the coming of the Lord.  Behold the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain."  Don't give up - in other words maybe you have been praying for someone and would love to see them saved but they are not saved yet, as if they don't want to be saved.  The sower scattering the seed sees the birds carrying the seed off.  This pictures is of someone who is listening to the gospel message, God wants to save them but they never come to Christ.  They have never trusted him as Saviour and Lord.  Putting these things to the back of their mind.  Something they didn't understand and they are not going to try and understand.  The devil is like the fowls of the air.  He comes in and picks up the seed and carries it away lest people hear and accept the seed.  Underneath the surface there is hard stony ground.  Seems as if there is no fruit.  The sun comes up and the winds blow and the seed falls away.  That is what happens today.  Sometimes the gospel is preached, people step forward but in a few weeks there is nothing there.  There is no root in their lives.  Maybe as the sower goes forth underneath there is a bed of thorns.  Some seed falls to the ground.  As it grows up the weeds choke it up.  Maybe sometimes someone is genuine and really trusts the Lord as Saviour but something happens in their lives - promotion, new responsibilities in their life, family, car, need extra time to work.  All of this takes them from the word of God, meeting with God's people and prayer time.  They are choked by the word of God.  No fruit.  We need patience.

The prize of the sower.  He sees that which he has laboured for bringing forth a harvest.  Is our priority sowing the seed?  What is your practice - are you doing it today?  Do you need that patience to wait.  Maybe we feel like giving God a helping hand but we should be waiting on the Lord to work.  Some fell on the hard ground.  Some fell on the stony ground and withered away.  Some of the seed was choked.  Then he sees a harvest - "bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty and some an hundred."  He forgets about the hard times when he sees the results.  "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenth." (Luke 15 verse 10) Paul spoke in Thessalonians "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?"

A call to remembrance ... of faith

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER 2020 pm

2 TIMOTHY 1 VERSES 1 - 6

The apostle Paul is writing to this young man Timothy out preaching the gospel.  Paul was in prison and these were his last words recorded for us.  His last letter was to this young man to encourage him.  Maybe he saw him under tremendous pressure.  In verse 4 he remembers well the day they parted company, shed tears with one another then looked forward to the day when the opportunity would come to meet again.  He calls to remembrance the spiritual wellbeing of this young man Timothy - verse 5.  He was concerned about his physical wellbeing but more importantly his spiritual wellbeing.  The Lord in our midst is interested in your spiritual wellbeing.  He didn't ask how he was getting on in the world, whether he was climbing the social ladder but was concerned about his spiritual wellbeing.  The Holy Spirit is here to search your heart, ask you the question "are you saved or not?"  "Are you going to heaven or into a lost Christless hell for all eternity?"  Paul says here in verse 3 "I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day."  He used the word persuaded or convicted.  "When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee."  Does that statement bring a challenge to your heart?  Does it bring the thought to your mind that perhaps you are not saved?  Is that faith in your heart and life today or have you missed out?  Have I neglected the invitation to get right with God?  

Timothy had a great example lived out in his home.  "I am convinced this faith was in your grandmother and in your mother also."  There was a time when they were not saved.  They needed a Saviour, they were lost in sin.  Under the ministry of the apostle Paul these dear souls made their way to Calvary, bowed their knees and were saved.  They witnessed to Timothy and Paul said he could see that same faith in him now.  We are saved by grace through faith, it is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God.  Are you saved tonight?  In Acts 14 when Paul preached in Lystra that family was gathered there.  The invitation was given out and Lois looked to the preacher.  She acknowledged her sin before God, she went beyond to the cross of Calvary for that work of grace.  She saw Jesus suffering and bleeding, giving his life for her.  She accepted the Lord as her Saviour.  There was a transformation in the home then Timothy saw his mother trusting the Lord as well.  A tremendous example to him.  Isn't that a challenge to you tonight?  That we would be living a life before our children, that they would hear and see something of saving grace in our lives.  Paul said to the Corinthians "ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men."    Maybe you have seen someone in your life coming to faith.

The evidence he saw.  "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature, old things have passed away, all things have become new."  Paul could see the evidence of salvation in their lives.  Evidence seen of the grace of God.  "By their fruits you shall know them."  Think of Zacchaeus in Jericho.  After his conviction he said "the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation I restore him fourfold."  Needed to get right with God but also with the people around him.  The Philippian jailer - the evidence in his life when he trusted the Lord as Saviour.  He brought them into his own home, washed their stripes, gave them food to eat.  He was genuine, sincere, not hypocritical but real.  That is what Paul was saying to Timothy.  Have you a salvation that is real, has changed you, means that heavens door is open to you tonight?

An experience that was real  It didn't matter what his grandmother or mother did.  He had to have a personal experience of saving faith in his life.  "He came unto his own and his own received him not."  A transaction of God.  Not something half hearted.  It matters not whether your parents are saved, that cannot get you into heaven.  Maybe you have had the privilege of being born into a home where the scriptures were read, when you were taught the gospel faithfully in a church or in a Sunday School.  Think of Paul's conversion on the Damascus road.  What an experience that was.  Zacchaeus' experience - he was sitting up a tree, no-one knew where he was.  The Lord stopped at that tree, bid him to come down in front of everyone.  Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because he didn't want anyone to see him.  Each experience was individual to each of them.  Have you had that personal experience?  On the day of Pentecost 3000 souls were saved.  The Holy Spirit began to convict them of their sin.  Everyone was individually and personally saved.  They all called on the Lord individually and they were saved.  It is between you and the Lord tonight.  You can trust the Lord as your own Saviour tonight, admit you have sinned, acknowledge the fact that you are a sinner.  Only Christ can save and only through his work on Calvary.  You can be saved if you repent of your sin, confess your sin, turn from your sin and be saved.

The expression of this young man's faith.  Maybe you have someone you know who has experienced this faith and you know you need that same faith.  Will you come and trust him as Saviour?  Timothy was preaching the word - Paul told him "stir up the gift that is within you."  The Ethiopian eunuch realised that the waters of baptism were available.  He showed he was following the Lord Jesus.  He identified with the death and resurrection of the Lord and went down into the waters of baptism as a result.

An encouragement to Paul

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 4 OCTOBER 2020 AM

2 TIMOTHY 1 VERSES 15 - 18

Today we are thinking of Onesiphorus.  These are uncertain days.  When Paul wrote this last letter to Timothy I am sure that he didn't know what lay ahead.  I am sure not one of us thought this year would be like it has been.  Last week we were thinking of encouragement.  Jesus spoke to his disciples who were concerned and worried.  He told them not to be worried for their heavenly father knew the things they needed before they asked for them.  Onesiphorus was an encourager to Paul.  Is there someone you could be an encourager to today?  Maybe someone who has been forgotten about, has been isolated, out of the way for a while  Paul was going through a dark time in his life.  He hadn't a friend in the world - verse 15.  "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. ... I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me." (Phillipians 4 verses 11 and 13)  "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God." (2 Corinthians 3 verse 5)  Paul was not depending on his friends.  King David encouraged himself in the Lord.  In this passage in 2 Timothy Paul thought of some fair weather friends - Phygellus and Hermogenes.  These are the kind of friends who will leave you in some desert situations but there are others who will stick with you through thick and thin.

The sympathy in which he acted.  Onesiphorus showed an interest in Paul who had fallen on hard times.  Paul had been arrested, accused, placed in prison.  He could see his friends leaving him but one.  He was in this terrible prison and it was down to him to get himself out of it.  Onesiphorus had concern for Paul.  He hadn't heard from him for a while.  The news was he had been arrested and placed in prison.  Somehow he had fallen on hard times.  These 2 men are named here has having departed from him.  The sympathy we should have on our hearts today.  Think of the Old Testament and the house of Naaman.  Naaman was a mighty warrior, a great soldier, well respected but he had a problem - leprosy.  It had taken over his body.  Naaman had a maid in his house, every time she saw Naaman she saw him as he really was.  There was a sorrow in his heart.  Behind closed doors his life was falling apart.  He didn't know what to do.  There was sympathy in that maids heart.  She had been taken captive from Israel and placed in Naaman's house.  She said to her mistress "if Naaman would go to the prophet he would be healed."  Joseph also was sold into slavery in Potiphar's house then cast into the prison house.  The warden could see that the Lord was with him and put him in charge of the prison.  One day Joseph meets the butler and the baker from the king's palace.  He had an interest in these men who had fallen on hard times.  He had a sympathy for them.  Think of the Good Samaritan.  A man left for dead on the road side.  The priest and the Levite came by but both passed over on the other side of the road.  They looked but didn't do anything.  No sympathy for the man.  Maybe they were in a hurry or maybe scared in case he was a decoy and if they stopped to help they would be ambushed too.  Then there comes a Samaritan and he had time for the man.  He went over and took care of the man.  1 Corinthians 13 "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."  Have we time to encourage someone else today?  The reason we meet together is to encourage others as well as listening to God's word.  The Psalmist David said "I looked on my right hand and beheld but there was no man that would know me; refuge failed me, no man cared for my soul." (Psalm 142 verse 4)

The search that Onesiphorus makes - "he sought me out very diligently and found me."  His heartfelt sympathy was now turned into action.  Maybe we have concern for someone but never turned it into action.  He wanted to see Paul for himself.  "he oft refreshed me" verse 16 and "how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus" verse 18.  Why were these other 2 men named?  Maybe they tried to justify themselves.  We get those kind of people, they are with you until hard times come but then they filter away.  Maybe that is why Paul pointed them out.  Onesiphorus said 'I want to see this man face to face.'  He had heard enough from others but he wanted to see him for himself.  Think of David - he had cared for his men, listened to their complaints, worked with them, fed them, comforted and tried to do everything possible for them but there came a day when they turned against him and were ready to stone him to death.  David had to encourage himself in the Lord.  Onesiphorus went to find Paul.  It meant leaving his family, his loved ones, his workplace.  A sacrifice because he wanted to go and encourage Paul.

The sincerity of his search.  Here he was now in Rome.  It was not going to be easy to find Paul.  He was "not ashamed of my chains".  Paul was in prison for preaching the unsearchable riches in Christ.  He preached of a Saviour who came into the world to save that which was lost  God's son left heaven's glory and stepped into this world to die on a cross to save mankind.  Jesus came not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved.  It is only through him that we have the means of salvation.  Paul could say "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ."  When Onesiphorus came to Rome he searched the various prison houses.  He put in time and effort to find Paul.  No doubt there were those who were walking away from Paul, they were ashamed of him.  Are you going to search for someone today who has been left behind?  Imagine this man going around askng for Paul the evangelist.  People turned away from him.  Joseph in the prison house encouraged the butler and the baker as they considered their dreams.  Joseph drew alongside them and asked them "why are you so sad?"  He had the welfare of these men on his heart.  The Good Samaritan had the same welfare on his heart.

The succour that it brought.  Put yourself in Paul's shoes.  He is lying in a cold, wet, prison cell.  Imagine the encouragement he received.  Only company he had were the Roman soldiers he was chained to.  Imagine being told there was someone to see him.  "He oft refreshed me"  Imagine the meeting that day.  That was such an encouragement to Paul.  Would you encourage someone today?  Maybe there are those sitting behind closed doors today.  Maybe God is asking you to go and encourage someone today.  Matthew 25 verses 34 - 40 "Then shall the king say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father; inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.  For I was an hungered and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger and ye took me in; Naked and ye clothed me; I was sick and ye visited me; I was in prison and ye came unto me.  Then shall the righteous answer him saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?  When saw we thee a stranger and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren ye have done it unto me."

From darkness to light

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHUCH

SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2020 pm

ACTS 8 VERSES 26 - 40

I want us to follow the steps of this man brought from darkness into the light of the gospel.  We see the love of God for the souls of men and women.  God took Philip away from a mighty work in Samaria.  He had preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.  Philip saw many people saved, healed, delivered from demon possessions.  Then all of a sudden the word of God comes to him and tells him to go down to a desert road to a certain man sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah.  This man was returning home from Jerusalem to Gaza.  God took Philip away from his work to win one soul for his kingdom.  Remember Jesus did something similar when he stopped at the well in Samaria.  He came that way for one precious soul.  That is how much the Lord loves a soul.  Tonight he is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to faith in him.  Think of this man, a eunuch, Ethiopian.

The hunger in his soul.  He was a man of position - verse 27,  He was a man of distinction, he was a responsible man of great authority.  He was a respected man.  He represented the Queen Candace's government.  He was a diplomat.  He had everything to do with the queen's money.  He was a reliable man.  He was also a religious man.  He had been down in Jerusalem to worship.  The unfortunate state of this man was he was not saved.  If anything had happened to that man he would have been lost and lost for all eternity.  He had a hunger.  He had been climbing the social ladder, in well to do circles but forgotten about his soul.  It is very easy to set the Lord aside, to forget about our soul.  There is an everlasting soul in man which will live into the realms of eternity.  He was reading the word of God and it bothered him.  Maybe night after night somehow you cannot get away from the word of God.  Maybe that little text of scripture you have heard preached on it time after time.    Never been to the cross, knew nothing of his sins forgiven.  "The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life."  There is this spiritual death.  We have been cut off from God.  There is the physical death you and I will experience when the breath of our bodies stops.  This verse is talking of eternal death, separated for all eternity.  You and I must die one day, we must go through the valley of the shadow of death.    We must depart from this scene of time but after this face the judgment of Christ.   The Ethiopian eunuch was reading the portion of scripture "as a sheep to the slaughter and a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth."  He asked Philip "who is this man, the author or is it someone else?"  Philip lifted the scriptures from there and preached unto him Jesus.

The humility this man bore.  He was a man humble enough to know he needed help - verse 31.  There is nothing I can do to warrant my place in heaven.  Jesus has done it all.  Humble to recognise he needs help but also humble to ask for help.  Maybe you realise your need.  This is the starting point.  You are not saved by the grace of God, know nothing of your sins forgiven.  You realise that and are humble enough to come and seek help.  It is not of this preacher or this church.  We can do nothing for you but point you to Christ.  "He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities."  Jesus bore our sins on Calvary .  The day he gave up his ghost to atone for the sins of the world.  He cried with a loud voice "it is finished".  The way of salvation is available to you.  Nothing needs to added to it.  He was a man of humility.  Philip may have recognised him by his clothes but it didn't matter.  He was guilty as the criminal who hung beside Jesus on Calvary.  He was lost in his sin.  Here is a man just as lost as Bartimaeus on the Jericho road sitting begging.  I am sure Philip got into the chariot in fear and trepidation.  As he opened up the scriptures he began to tell this man what Jesus had done for him.  Jesus had taken his sin, bore it on the cross of Calvary, died in his place that he might come to Christ and be saved.  He died in his place that he might come to Christ and be saved for all eternity.  That is what Jesus has done for you tonight.  He came into the world to seek and to save that which was lost.  You need a Saviour as this man did.

The honesty he shows.  Philip showed this man the Savour's great love - "greater love hath no man that a man lay down his life for his friends."  Jesus laid down his life for everyone.  You are included.  He prayed "Father forgive them for they know not what they do."  Philip took this man to John 3 verse 16.  We can see this man's honest confession - verse 37.  "Do you believe?"  He answered "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."  This man acknowledged what had just happened in that carriage.  He was saved by God's grace.  This man was saved in the chariot where he sat.  If you acknowledge you have sinned, have come short of God's glory, that you need the Saviour who is Jesus, if you invite him into your heart you will be saved.  Romans 10 verse 9.  This man believed with all his heart.  You cannot get saved half heartedly.  This man was honest in what he had done, taking his stand for the Lord.  Just like the woman who pressed through the crowd and touched Jesus' hem.  Jesus stopped and asked "who touched me?"  She had to make a stand and admit "it was me".  Would you trust the Lord, acknowledge him as Saviour?

The haste to follow Christ.  He did not want to stop - "what doth hinder me to be baptised?"  He would take his stand for Christ, would be a follower of Jesus Christ.  Believer's baptism is going down into the water, being totally immersed.  It shows new life in Christ.  It is an outward sign of an inward action.  Bartimaeus received instant sight and he followed Christ immediately.  On the day of Pentcost people took Christ's name.  They wanted to follow the apostles doctrine.  They were baptised and "continued stedfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship."  They were doing that from the moment they were saved.  Remember the young demonic who was saved.  He was transformed and wanted to follow the Lord wherever he went.  No the Lord said, go to your own village and tell them what the Lord has done for you.

The hope that he now possessed - verse 39.  Philip was taken from the eunuch's side.  He didn't want him to be a crutch for this man.  This man had a hope that went beyond Philip.  Do you have a hope that goes beyond man or church or your good works?  Do not put your faith in man, come to God himself.  Paul said to the Corinthians "when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God ... and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men but in the power of God." (1 Corinthians 2 verses 1, 4 and 5)  Are you trusting in the Lord tonight?  Have you taken him as your Saviour?  Look to him, the one who died on the middle cross.  Have you gazed upon his pain and the work completed just for you?  Have you realised that Jesus took your sin on his body, died to put away your sin?  All you have to do is come and trust him as your Saviour.  "The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."   

Do not be worried ... but seek first the kingdom of God

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SUNDAY 27 SEPTEMBER 2020 am

MATTHEW 6 VERSES 25 - 34

I am sure this week has been one we have met with different emotions.  Turn on the radio or the television, lift the newspapers or read on social media and you will know that this week has seen much by way of bleakness, very dark.  Yet again many are cut down by the virus, many have spoken of the death of their loved ones.  Restrictions have now been imposed on us so that we are unable to visit our loved ones and sit with them.  We are no longer able to sit on a bus or train and have a conversation with the people beside us without masks on.  There are many things to discourage us.  Redundancies and places closing down never to open again.  Matthew 6 speaks to our hearts.  Jesus is saying "I do not want you to be overly concerned about the things that are happening around you.  There are times when we do get concerned and worried.  That is natural.  The Lord is speaking of over anxiety, how sometimes we misinterpret it.  Paul writing to the Thessalonian church who asked about their loved ones who had passed away said "I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4 verse 13)  Why can we say we don't have to be over anxious  - our God is still in control.  

It is firstly because of our identity  - verse 32 "your heavenly father" - what a wonderful relationship.  We do not have to be unnecessarily worried because we are his children.  Have we made that decision today?  Is the great creator God your heavenly father?  He spoke the word and everything came into being.  He is our heavenly father today.  Have we made that decision to follow him?  Joshua coming into the promised land told the people "choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24 verse 15)  Isaiah 43 verse 21 says "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise."  Elijah was hidden in the brook Cherith.  God told him to go there and that he would be able to drink from the brook.  Morning and evening God promised to send the ravens with bread and meat for Elijah.  God remembered where Elijah was.  Elijah did not doubt God's provision.  Maybe there is something in your mind today, maybe doubt in your mind, you feel that God has forgotten you.  The Children of Israel were in the wilderness and started to murmur "would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt when we sat by the flesh pots and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger." (Exodus 16 verse 3)  They thought God had forgotten them.  God provided the manna for them every day in the wilderness for 40 years.  God has not forgotten you today.  "No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm 84 verse 11)  We are people of God today and have no need to be anxious.

We also have the power of God - verse 32.  God knows what you need right now.  "The Lord knows the thoughts of man" (Psalm 94 verse 11).  Think of the 4 men who brought their friend to Jesus one day.  They lowered him through the roof to where Jesus was.  Jesus said to the man "thy sins be forgiven thee."  Do you know your sins forgiven today?  Have you confessed your sins, repented of them and know forgiveness today?  There is a separation because of our sins today.  Jesus came to die for our sins, he died to take away our sins.  As that man was lowered to Jesus, Jesus knew he needed to have his sins forgiven.  The people and the leaders that were in the house were angry.  They said "who can forgive sins but God only?"  They didn't realise that God was in their very midst.  "And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts?" (Mark 2 verse 8)  Jesus knows where we stand today.  Gideon was a young man raised to deliver Israel.  He was grinding wheat when the angel came to where he was with a message from heaven.  "The Lord is with thee."  Would that not have comforted his soul?  Not for Gideon.  "Oh my Lord, if the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?"  He felt the Lord was against them.  Maybe you feel there are things happening in your life that you think God doesn't really know or care about.  We allow ourselves to become anxious.  The parable of the sower and the seed - some fell in the thorny or weedy ground.  The word of God gets in but the cares of this world choke the seed.  God's word is being choked in our lives.  We are getting overly concerned about things in our lives.  We are told we cannot add one cubit to our lives through worry.  The German word for worry means to strangle.  In the book of Esther Mordecai had a lot to be concerned about.  He was living in Persia when one day information came to him that the king would be put to death by 2 men he trusted.  When he heard these words he sent word to Esther who informed the king.  The incident was recorded in the journals for all to see.  There was another plan being hatched by another man in the palace.  Haman was a man with an awful hatred for Mordecai.  He hated all the Jewish people with a passion.  Haman was elevated to a great position by the king, everyone would bow down to him except Mordecai.  He hatched a plan to put Mordecai to death and every Jew in that province would also die.  We read in Esther 2 that Mordecai sent word to save the king and it was recorded in the king's book of chronicles.  In Esther 5 Haman complained to his wife about Mordecai and she told him to build a gallows to hang Mordecai on it.  In Esther 6 verse 1 we read "on that night the king could not sleep".  He asked for his book to be brought and read to him.  He read about the incident where his life had been threatened.  Then he asked if anything has been done to thank this man who had saved his life.  Imagine the power of God to put it into the head of the king to not be able to sleep and then read from the book about Mordecai.  He asked Haman "what shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour?"  Haman thought he was talking about him and said he should be given the king's horse to ride and a crown put on his head, then one of the king's noblemen should accompany him down the street.  The king then told Haman to go and do that to Mordecai.  God overturned the whole situation in the kingdom of Persia.  Mordecai lived and Haman was hanged on the gallows he had made.  The Jewish nation was saved.  Why should we worry today - we are the people of God and we have the power of God.

The providence of God.  He knows what you need and when you need it.  Did you notice the little word "but" in verse 33?  Rather than being overly concerned or worried God tells us to "seek first the kingdom of God".  God cares for you and me.  He still provides.  Is there something on your mind today that is weighing you down?  Maybe over these past few months and weeks you have felt God has forgotten you, forsaken you.  Remember the widow woman in the Old Testament.  Elijah was sent to stay with her.  He asked her to bake him a cake.  The woman was so worried about her own situation.  She had only enough to make one cake and told Elijah that she planned to make enough for her and her son and then they would die.  Elijah told her to make a cake for him first.  When she listened and obeyed Elijah she had enough meal every day to continue to live.  God had been placed first and God honoured her as a result.

The promise of God.  "and all these things shall be added unto you."  We do not have to worry about tomorrow because it will look after itself.  Maybe we might have more bad news tomorrow but we should not worry about it.  Deuteronomy 33 verse 25.  God gives us enough for the days that lie ahead.  Are you in a relationship with Christ?  Do you look to him every day?  Do you need to come and refresh your relationship with him today?  Maybe you need to surrender your life once more to him.  Maybe you have never made that first step of accepting Christ.  Come and put your faith and trust in Christ today.

A conflict Moses had at the burning bush

 LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2020

EXODUS 3 VERSES 4 - 10

We want to bring to a conclusion our thoughts on the life of Moses.  We picked up his life from an infant saved out of the bulrushes, adopted by Pharaoh's daughter, came through the education programme of Egypt.  Moses was mighty in word and deed, a tremendous character.  We saw that day when he took his stand and no longer wanted to enjoy the pleasures of Egypt.  He looked on his own people, the children of Israel.  He was called to deliver them.  He went out and took the life of an Egyptian.  He was willing to set aside everything to serve the Lord.  Are we willing to set aside everything to serve our master today?  Moses fled to the desert and 40 years later we see the conflict Moses had there at the burning bush.  He was called to go back into Egypt, to go into Pharaoh and demand the release of the Israelites from their slavery.  He didn't have the ability nor the strength to do this.  This is a conflict Moses faces within.  He faces up to what God wants for his life.  I'm sure the enemy was not too far away.  See the many excuses  "who am I?", "what can I say?", "they will not listen to me."  That is the enemy speaking.  Maybe as we hear the word of God, God speaks to us showing us what he wants us to do.  Already you have excuses.  The meeting at the burning bush was preparation for the task at hand.  Before Moses takes on this task he needs a confirmation .  

Moses gets a recognition of the God that he served.  Here at the burning bush he needs that confirmation.  So too we need that confirmation - as we take on the work of God whether it be teaching a Sunday School class or going around the doors or even just speaking to someone in our families.  "Not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord of hosts." (Zechariah 4 verse 6)  Paul said "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4 verse 13)  Christ will strengthen you for whatever task you are going to do.  Not a week before hand but right at the moment we need it.  "Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me." (Psalm 23 verse 4)  "My grace is sufficient for thee." (2 Corinthians 12 verse 9).  Moses had to get recognition of who he was, God's person.  Verse 6 "I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob."  What was Moses' reaction - it is a recognition of who God is.  Look at verse 14 I was in eternity past, I am in the present and I will be in the future."  The eternity of God.  We serve an eternal God.  Moses had to learn something of his presence - verse 12 "I will be with thee."  When you go through all for me I will be with you.  A sign of his great power - chapter 4 verse 3 "what is that in your hand"  It was just a shepherds rod used for guiding the sheep but he was told to throw it down and it became a serpent and Moses fled before it.  Then he was told to lift it up again and he took it by the tail and it became a rod again.  He was then told to put his hand into his bosom and it became leprous.  When he put it in against his bosom again it was turned whole again.  Remember Isaiah's vision in the temple.  He saw the Lord high and lifted up and his train filled the temple.  He saw the living beings crying "holy, holy, holy"  He knew he was in the presence of the Lord.  We stand today on holy ground in the presence of a thrice holy God.  Isaiah looked at himself, the Lord and the people around him.  He realised that he was a man of unclean lips and he lived amongst a people of unclean lips.  We need to be reminded of the presence of the Lord in our lives today.  To many today God is such a small person.

Moses also gets a reminder of the future.  Verse 7 "I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows."  He needed a reminder of the great need in Egypt.  He was reminded of the sufferings of the people.  Moses was taught well in Egypt.  For years he may have been far from the call of God  Now Moses saw for himself the downtrodden people.  He had to be reminded again.  Where there is no vision the people perish.  Do you need to be reminded of the need all around you?  Think of our loved ones and families.  Maybe like Moses out in the wilderness minding the sheep Egypt is something in the far distant past.  Maybe he has become content to do the task he is doing at present.  The suffering has been left in the far distant past.  Maybe we have become settled in our time with God.  We need to see the suffering and pain of people around us - is it in the far distant past?  When we first got saved our vision was to bring many to hear the gospel, to even witness among those we knew and loved.  Maybe we need a reminder today.  There are people suffering today.  In those days the people were suffering under the dictatorship of the Pharaoh.  Many are under the slavery of the devil today, fear, anxiety, loneliness and lost in sin.  Do we need a reminder today?  Jesus wept over Jerusalem at their rebellion and ignorance and knew judgment was coming.  Jerusalem would soon be pulled apart.  Maybe we don't weep as we used to.  Paul was stirred in his spirit when he went into Athens.  He saw the people going about their everyday business but Jesus was far from those peoples thoughts.  Paul was stirred in his soul. (Acts 17 verse 16)  Romans 1 verse 14 "I am a debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise."  Moses had to be reminded of the suffering in Egypt.  It was right out of his mind.  Jesus said "their suffering has come before me.  I am come down to deliver them out."  Paul felt an awful burden for those who were lost.  'Christ saved me, it is my job, I am in debt to those who are perishing."  There was nothing he could do to see them saved but he prayed and pleaded for them before God.  What a Saviour we have today.  Are we not willing to tell others about Christ?

A refreshing of his calling.  40 years had passed.  God was speaking.  Verse 10 Moses was asked to surrender his life to God.  "I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee; behold now is the accepted time; behold now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6 verse 2)  God has a task for you today, wants you to do it, not in your strength but in his.  40 years had passed since he had turned his back on Egypt.  He had killed that Egyptian.  He thought the people would understand. (Acts 7 verse 25)  Maybe God came to Moses one night about all the wealth and position in Egypt.  I want you to deliver this people.  Maybe he went out the next day and that was the day he killed the Egyptian.  He thought he could do it in his own strength but he couldn't,  Maybe you need to be reminded once again - maybe God is reminding you of a promise you made years ago.  Moses would not depend on his own ability.  What are you doing for the Lord today?  Have you walked away from the task God gave you?  Do you regard it as unimportant to him? 

God gave Moses a realisation of his plan - verse 10 God is sending him this time.  Maybe you have invited someone or spoken to someone about their soul and it went badly.  God is asking you to try again.  Verse 17 "And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites and the Amorites and the Perizzites and the Hivites, and the Jebusites unto a land flowing with milk and honey."