JOHN 12 v 1-8 

This Chapter brings the talks of Jesus to the end, in future only his private conversations will be mentioned in the gospel of John.  It also has a story of love and devotion to the Lord..

Jesus is at the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, having been called by Martha and Mary following the death of their brother Lazarus.  Jesus attended with his Apostles, and raised Lazarus to life, after he had been in the grave for four days.

The time was drawing near the end for Jesus. He knew the authorities were waiting for an opportunity to kill him, yet he was on his way to Jerusalem for the Passover festival, so stayed at the home in Bethany, which He was most fond of. Bethany was less than a mile from Jerusalem on the slope of the Mount of Olives.

Martha was as usual looking after the house and preparing dinner,  she was a practical woman who gave her best, and she showed her love for Jesus by her busy hands, and was committed to follow him.

The proof of the miracle of Jesus in raising Lazarus from the grave, is at the table, where he is seen eating and drinking; no longer can it be said this was just an optical illusion . This preceded the raising of Jesus, which would take place a short time later, when the Apostles would find him by the lake cooking fish for them to join him.

This story, is also a story of much love and devotion. Mary was the one above all who loved Jesus, she took the one precious thing she owned and gave it to him. 

 Jesus had helped Mary and she never ceased to be grateful, loving him with utter devotion, On his visit to  their home, she produced a precious bottle of perfumed ointment which she took, and anointed the head and feet of Jesus, not randomly, but with personal care. We are told there was a pound of ointment, which would mean a large jar.  Pure nard was imported from India, and kept in an alabaster jar.

The house became filled the perfume, administered with full loving gratitude by a woman whose heart was filled with admiration of her friend, and Lord, and for all his attention.

A great preacher once stated, while faith makes all things possible, love makes all things easy.  Fellowships in Churches may be happier if there was even just a little of the commitment of Mary.

Mary showed she thought that nothing was too great or too good to bestow on such a Savior, at whose feet she had sat in past  days, hearing words that had given her peace for her conscience, and forgiveness for her sins.  Her brother Lazarus was also in the room, and she would show added gratitude for what Jesus did for him- much had been given, and much given in return.

Mary released her braided hair, something Jewish women would never do in public, and with her hair wiped the feet of Jesus. There were people present who thought she had gone too far, and wasted money which could have been given to the poor by selling the ointment, which would have been almost equal to a year’s wages instead of placing it over Jesus.  She wasn’t concerned what people thought of her.

We are told the room was filled with the perfume of the ointment, it meant the lovely deed created many memories. Love stories are world stories immortalized.

There have been writers whose minds were obviously perverse, who have sought to suggest  a sexual relationship between Jesus and Mary. Such writers are those who can never understand, even at the present time, that it is perfectly normal for a man and woman to be friends, who enjoy the company of each other ,without a need for any sexuality to occur.  We are normal human beings created in the image of God, and we respect God’s teaching.

The extent of love’s giving is shown by the cost of giving. Love does not think how little do I need to spend when giving a present for someone dear to them, but how much will be enough to show one’s feelings. Love is not love if it counts the cost. Love is willing to give all, and how often do we reflect it wasn’t enough.

How much do we men think of the love of our wives and mothers must have, in the way they do so much without grudge or complaint. In the majority, freely because of their love for us, which is not always reciprocated.

One of the prominent objectors was Judas, who had been an Apostle, who by his action showed how little he thought of Jesus. He displayed his character, but Jesus knew of the traitor, and had given him a chance to redeem himself. Jesus had let him be the treasurer for he had a gift in handling money, but he became a thief and pilfered from the funds.

Judas saw the loveliness of Mary, but saw it as an act of extravagance. A person can see what they want to see, and hope to see.

There is still a mass of people who do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus,  and a previous Archbishop of Wales was once quoted as saying, we cannot expect people to believe in the resurrection story.

In 1984, an unbelieving cleric was to be consecrated as a bishop at York Minster, without the approval of many evangelical Christians because of his extreme liberal views, and especially after mocking the resurrection story as being like a bag of tricks.

The Minster at that time had just gone under a refurbishment with new fire sprinklers and fire protection system. After the service had ended, there was  a lightning storm, without being accompanied with rain in the city of York, and serious damage was caused to the Minster with the popular rose window being blown out.  The cause was investigated by a collection of meteorologists who were in possession of meteorological maps, which, showed the sky above the Minster was the only place across the Yorkshire county where lightning was revealed. They unanimously concluded it was an act of God, yet the then Archbishop of York rejected that decision as being ridiculous.  I wonder often how such clergy can even be in the Church.

In an age of unbelief, we shall continue to find doubt, although that should not be within the Church, but eminent lawyers have stated the evidence for the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ was so strong, that any modern Court would have no difficulty in finding the case proved. The rising of our Lord is there for our faith to accept, all the Lord’s true followers will also be raised, as he has promised.

There are professing Christians today, who are ready to fail to display sufficient respect for Jesus, they have other things they allow to take precedence.  If you tell of the need to spread the gospel, you will find little if any response. There are many Church members who will not even disclose they attend Church, lest they be frowned upon.

We hold what are called (falsely) services of baptism on demand for babies and children, without the parents having any belief, yet no one seems to think that necessary. We then let them make vows they have not the slightest attention of keeping, and we know so. They then put coppers on a collection plate as a payment.

Those who have much to say about the failing of the Church doing things for the poor, are those who do nothing themselves, and fail to recognize it is usually mostly Christians are who are helping the poor.

A day will come when those who have done things for others, whether a bottle of perfumed ointment or anything else, will have their names recorded in he heavenly books and will be well rewarded

We lastly see the bitter hardness in the hearts of men.  The Chief priests wanted in their unbelief, to put Lazarus back to death again after his  rising. They could not bear to see him alive, giving proof after being in a grave for four days, which they could not accept and were ready to commit murder.  Jesus marveled at such unbelief, and the refusal, to accept proof by the presence of Lazarus.

The bitterness of Judas has been shown in every age, and will continue to be shown. Judas lived with Jesus and fellow Apostles, saw the miraculous deeds of Jesus, his ready compassion to all, the teaching of Jesus personally, and all he could offer in return was a bitter heart and betrayal.  We still see the hard heartedness of people, who reject all Jesus suffered on the Cross on their behalf, by a cruel death.

In life there are things we can do at any time, and there are things we can never do.  So often we mean to do them, but put off doing so and they then never get done.  Later, a time comes when it is too late to do them, and we are full of regret.  Judas who spoke of giving to the poor, could have done so himself, but in fact was a thief.  People will always be poor, but won’t always have Jesus.

In all the way of life, we should pause and ask, are we doing all we should do for the faith, for the Church, for God; are we doing all we could for our husbands wives and families, for it will be too late if they die before us, and you will bitterly regret your omissions.

Let this passage inspire you in your faith, and to be true to all those for whom you have love.  Make sure no one is waiting in vain to hear from you.

Let all who claim to have faith, thank God with all our hearts, even if we feel a sense of weakness.  Pray for your faith to be true and genuine , sincere and not just a temporary impression.

Especially, pray you will not be touched by the way of the world, or the words of false preachers.  Think instead of the words of the Apostle Paul, ‘if you are feeling strong, mind you don’t fall’.

May God bless his Holy Word to us. May we always seek to glorify him.

        M O T H E R I N G  S U N D A Y

On Sunday we are celebrating Mothering Sunday which falls on the fourth Sunday of Lent, this having been decreed in the 17th century, when most people went to Church. People would walk to Church, often to the one where they had been baptised, and some would carry flags and banners. Girls in domestic service would be given time off by their employers, to visit their mothers, and some would bake simnel cakes as presents.

In the United States President Woodrow Wilson passed an Act of Congress in May 1914, that the 2nd Sunday in May would be known as Mother’s Day, for the public expression of love and reverence for mothers. This term has been claimed in the United Kingdom, rather than our understanding which emphasises the religious significance.

Those of us who have  fond memories of our mothers, however many years have passed since we were in their arms; will not forget as we acknowledge the love for our mothers, and all they meant to us. To bear a child is a costly, and sometimes very painful act, calling for endurance sometimes beyond the mother herself. Mothering Sunday calls on us to remember it is the giving of oneself.

The Bible states, ‘in the beginning God made man, and thensaid, it is not good for man to be alone, I will make a ‘helper’ for him.  God saw that man needed a companion, so God made a woman and brought her to the man, and gave woman as man’s helper, someone who can be at man’s side, who will give life more meaning, pleasure and support; someone to love and cherish. This was God’s most precious gift to men.

God has now made two people, man and woman, Adam and Eve.  Both would be equal, no superiority, but have different bodies and characters. Women would have a caring nature.

.We must accept that God knows best, and when he wanted man to have a companion He made a woman as the perfect answer, someone who could complement man in every way, physically and mentally in a way other men could not, and men throughout the ages have appreciated and recognised this. God wanted to supply what was lacking in man’s life, and together they could have children and create the ideal family. God planned the human heart to love, marry and have children.

The foundation for every home is a father and mother, and the breakdown of family life  is reflected in the breakdown of the nation’s morality. It is now unrealistic to expect marriage to be for life, but rather until we get fed up with each other.

Motherhood is a special privilege, and a sacred duty. Abraham Lincoln, the great American President, once remarked, that no nation is greater than its mothers, for they are the makers of men. The Rabbis have a saying, ‘God can’t be everywhere, so He made mothers.’

The Bible is full of stories of prominent mothers,
Jochebed the mother of Moses, who let an Egyptian princess bring up Moses rather than have him killed; and this morning I just want to look at the women who, are featured in our Bibles.

Eve who was the first mother; Sarah, Hannah, and Elizabeth, all who waited for a miracle. Hagar driven away and disowned.  Rebecca had to raise her children in another country. Rachel wept for her children, Naomi and Ruth who rose above all the trials of life, and turned hard situations into good. Lois  and Eunice, the grandmother and mother of Timothy , ready to share the love of Christ with their children.

In an Old Testament reading we have the story of Hannah, who hurt deeply because she desperately wanted to be a mother, and in her agony she cried out to God. He answered Hannah’s prayer, and she literally leant her son back to God, and she made a commitment. Hannah trusted God, and taught Samuel to worship God, rejoicing in the Lord and His salvation. We dearly need mothers to day to teach their children to worship God, preferably by bringing them to Church.

 Our famous mother from the Bible is of course Mary, a young Jewish girl, from whom the emancipation of women began when there appeared to Mary a vision from heaven, and she heard the angel’s annunciation of the news, that of all the women on earth, she was to be the mother of our Lord, the one woman ever to wear entwined, the red rose of maternity with the white rose of virginity.

Mary was ready and willing to be looked down upon by all who knew her, for it was shameful for an unmarried woman to have a child in those religious times. Jesus became a baby, and grew up and accorded women with a new dignity so that women like Mary have been loved and respected.

In the Christian context we remember Mary and how our Lord honoured motherhood, showing concern for His mother even when in agony on the Cross.

God intended them to be mothers, and motherhood to be of the highest calling, and endowed them with special gifts. It took the 20th century, in the so called name of progress and equality to pull women down to make them like men, and some to be of the coarsest of men.

An article in a newspaper once said, that women were leaving Christianity for Islam, because of the greater moral code. Whilst recognising and admiring, the strict Islamic moral code, it is also a fact that no religion has greater respect for women than Christianity;  the Christian code is as moral as any, it is just Christians do not adopt it.

A mother's love is special and unique, and God gave woman a special and caring nature for His purpose. Today we have the ridiculous and offensive suggestion, that children can be raised by two men after some woman, known or unknown, has provided the child by some means.

 An American psychologist stated, a child will never come to full development psychologically, without a mother in the home. A family is only a true family with man, woman and child(ren) To-day, it is the target for left-wing and other activists, for if the family is destroyed, their philosophies and ideologies can be adopted.

A mother’s presence in the home is essential, and there has never been a more urgent time, when good mothers are needed. I have worked in every social class of society, but have never known a Jewish child get involved in anti-social behaviour or criminal activities. I once asked a Rabbi why he thought this was so, and he told me it was due to the control the Jewish mama has over her family. I am sure Christian mothers have control over their families, but not to the extent of Jewish mamas sadly.

When my two sons were growing up, my then occupation required me to be away from the home for many long hours, and so much care fell upon my wife. It is to her credit, that they both entered the Christian ministry, after being youth leaders at their local Church.  Today they are successful Vicars at Churches of their own, where they have been a powerful influence in the Churches they have served.

Spiritual matters should be of concern to mothers. Promises are made at baptism services that children will be brought up in the fellowship of the Church, although few have ever any intention of keeping the promises made.

Homes are falling apart, and the breakdown of family life is reflected in the breakdown of the nation’s morality. Rather than say we stay together until death do us part, it is now until we get fed up with each other, and never mind the consequences as long as we are happy in someone else’s arms. People even enter into marriage anticipating divorce. It doesn’t help when silly feminist politicians advocate women going out to work, or when this un-family friendly government, favors unmarried people in the tax system.

We need women who will lead their families back to more old style morality, decency and purity. Children are being brought up without any religious knowledge, knowing nothing about Jesus or Biblical characters, even in the homes of whatever class of home.

An idealism prevails as to how children should behave, but it is often in modern phraseology, ‘cool’ for a child to be sexually aware. Explicit sex education is readily given, but a distinct aversion to Christian teaching. Schools play little part in educating children in religion or conduct, unless the school is a private one.

This country so much needs young women, who will once again teach their children the morality of yesteryear, they have an enormous responsibility. Many mothers will go to endless lengths to secure a good school for the children, and that is to be applauded, but an academic education needs to be supplemented with ethical and moral standards, especially when so much pressure is put upon them to act as they see fit.

The modern child is so often brought up in decent comfortable home, but a thoroughly non-religious one. Parents have some vague idealism as to what they should know, but do not know how to give it. If children are being brought up without a Christian background, we are to have a nation of pagans. Schools in the State system, are in so many places staffed by teachers who have no faith, and certainly no interest in teaching, even if they were able to do so.

Mothers continue to care and worry for their children even when they reach adulthood, and stand by them no matter what they do, and even when that is not deserved.

 Salome the mother of James and John sought favor for them from Jesus, to whom she prayed that, Jesus would give them places near Him in Paradise,  However wrong she might have been, she was showing her concern for her sons.

 The Bible calls on older women who have an honored place in society, to play a major part in guiding younger women in the bringing up of children from their years of experience. We must have concern for women bringing up children, in a world where all moral values are being eroded. Theirs is a big responsibility, especially when the nation’s broadcasting system gives out such foul talk and explicit scenes, that cause weaker minds to think that is the natural way of life.

Sometimes, women are asked on television or radio, what their occupation is, and often the reply comes, ‘only a housewife and mother’. There is nothing only; such is an honorable occupation.

At this point, we ought to remember all those women who do not have children, and may be feeling distress today when presents of chocolates and etc, are being passed. Some have chosen not to be mothers, rather preferring to follow a career and contribute much to society. Other women through physical or medical reasons, cannot be mothers, and our prayers must be for them. We also grieve for mothers who have lost a child. Whilst we may cherish memories of our mothers, some will not have such pleasant thoughts.

May God bless all mothers, and those longing to be mothers.

 

We Praise God for all His gifts and pray He be ever Glorified.

 

Prayer

Almighty and loving God, we give thanks for all mothers, and especially those who have been unable to have a child for whatever reason.

 We pray as we grieve for those mothers who have lost their children and we realize the pain and suffering they bear.  For those mothers whose children have not responded to the love offered them, and those who live far away.

 We thank you LORD for giving us mothers, for the love and care you gave in their nature, and we acknowledge our gratitude for all they bore for our sakes.

 May your Church have eyes to see and ears to hear the needs of mothers in this troubled world.  We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

          

E X O D U S  2. v1-10

 

The Sunday next, is the day we celebrate what is known as Mothers’ Day in the United States of America, and Mothering Sunday in the United Kingdom; we add a spiritual attachment  to distinct a religious celebration from the business approach.

 This day is an opportunity to emphasize the debt we owe to those to all who were a mother, who through good or bad times, cared for their son or daughter,  Mothers sacrifice themselves in every possible ,way to support and care for their child

 It is to show an example of how this manifests such care, by looking at a story in the book of Exodus in the Old Testament. This is an account of the birth and development of a dominant and revered man of Israel’s history.

 The land of Israel faced extinction, as it has through the years, when the power of Egypt, was ready to use all resources to eliminate the people of God for all time.

 A number of Jewish people had moved from Israel to Egypt, and were becoming as many as the Egypt people, when a new king came to power as Pharaoh, and made a decree.  This required all midwives to kill all babies born as male. God was good, and some midwives did not keep to the decree, and saved boys. One of the families was that of Amram and his wife Jochebed, who became pregnant and bore a son. She hid the son for three months, and then had to make plans for the future.

 Jochebed mad a basket with papyrus seeds, and made it waterproof, by a mixture of tar and pitch.  The baby was put in the basket, and was taken to some bushes on the bank of the River Nile.  The sister of the baby boy kept watch to see if any one went to the basket,  and one day saw the daughter of Pharaoh walking along the bank of the river with her maids, and they heard the baby crying, so stopped to look at the basket.  They realized it was a Hebrew child.

 The sister approached the Princess, and asked if she would like a Hebrew mother to look after the baby, and be a nurse for him. The Princess was pleased, and asked the sister to find such a woman. The sister went and fetched the mother, and  the Princess offered to pay the mother if she would be a nurse, and it was agreed, so the mother took the baby back home. The boy grew, so the mother took the baby back to the Princess, who decided to adopt the child as her son.  She called him Moses.

 This is but one example of the extent a mother will go to protect her child, Jochebed was prepared to see her son grow up with another woman, instead of facing certain death.

 Many of you reading this story, will have felt similar times relating to yourself.  My own wife, spent her life caring for her sons, as many of you will have done. How we must thank God for giving women such self-sacrificing natures, even if it makes men realize how lucky we are, that God favored us with such ‘helpers’ to be our wives. No longer can we call women the weaker sex!

 This passage is the Epistle for Mothering Sunday.  The Gospel message will follow, in which we continue to witness the glory and grace of God         

 .

1 Corinthians 1 v. 1/17

 

Paul was on a missionary journey having visiting Ephesus when he heard of dispute in the Church at Corinth.

This is the first of Paul’s Letters to this Church, which was situated in the heart of Corinth, a trading and manufacturing centre. The city was a cosmopolitan and sophisticated place where there was sexual immorality, which likened it to the Soho of the day.
Tensions had arisen in the congregation when powerful and arrogant men where preventing Paul’s desire to advance the gospel, due to their reluctance to work together with weaker members, and there was a request for Paul to give guidance.. The worldly view of spirituality and morality did not equate with the Church’s standards, but some members were influenced and were encouraged by false teachers. This was causing disunity, and such grieved Paul who disliked Christians disagreeing. This is what caused him to write and give guidance.

It is disappointing and frustrating when Christians are disagreeing, especially as now when the press revel in seeing and reporting.  Then, as now, a major problem was sexuality which is particularly irritating.

We must decide, are we going to follow what God has laid down or not.  The Bible is unequivocally clear in what we are expected to believe and practise. If anyone in Ministry cannot accept, they should cease to minister, and if there was proper leadership, such would be advised. Unfortunately, a number of our leaders are more confused and unfaithful to the Lord. If a kingdom is divided against itself it cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself that house cannot stand.
One issue which all Christians should be concerned, is that of falling attendances. Whilst we have to accept that we live in a godless age, where the Church is a no go area to a lot of people, except of course when it suits their purpose; occasions arise which demonstrate that there is still a lot of feeling for the Church. It is incumbent therefore for the Church to make a supreme effort to attract those people back.  We will not be successful however when it is seen the Church is divided against itself. It is foolish to suggest we should preach the Christian gospel to intelligent people, who can recognise don’t accept it.

I have taken services at over 30 Churches in and around Bedford over the last few years, many in villages,  but congregations are small. The people live in beautiful surroundings with lovely homes, most in good employment, no anti-social behaviour as some people are forced to endure, so it is not unreasonable to expect them to be grateful for such blessings and give an hour to thank God for such. 
We get told there is pressure on combining home and business life, which makes it hard to attend Church on Sundays, but Muslims seem to manage attending their places of worship it without much difficulty. I can assure however you, if letters were sent to the homes of people in these village parishes telling them the Church was closing there would be an immediate outcry.

There are of course Churches which have large congregations, which suggests logically they are doing something right, which other Churches are not, but they seem few and far between.

In the opening verse of our passage, Paul calls on Christians to agree and be of one mind and judgement. We can only achieve this if we are all one in Christ Jesus. He alone is means of unity and the only way to God.
You will note how relevant this Letter has become to us, as the same thing is happening here and other Western nations. Parts of the Church are embracing, encouraging and accepting society’s moral standards, which causes anguish to others.
If we look at Eastern nations in the Orient and Africa, the Churches are growing at massive rate, and China once seen as the anti-Christ, has now more Christians, and committed ones, than any other nation on earth. In those places, they have not been dismantling the Bible.
Jesus Christ said, ‘I will build my Church.’ In Acts we read the first Christian Church was devoted to the teaching of the Apostles, in consequence ‘the Lord added to their numbers daily’. So there is a message, follow the teaching of the Apostles, who were taught by the Lord Himself. God graciously provided us with a copy of their teaching; it is called the New Testament. That is the purpose of the Church, to preach the gospel, not social or political issues. When we do, the Lord will bless and help us, when we fail and follow the world’s agenda rather than God’s Word, we fail.
When we try to please man rather than God; when we depart from the Bible by adding to or subtracting from, we are causing cracks in the foundation of Apostolic teaching; we are building on sand rather than rock.
If we allow ourselves to withdraw from plain speaking of the gospel, we are failing our Lord and reducing ourselves as a Church, to little more than just another social organisation, perhaps with a spiritual touch, in which case we have nothing to offer those lost souls seeking real spiritual help. We have to show that we do have something special to offer which no other organisation can.
Paul then rebukes them for following and favouring particular preachers. It is natural for us to have a favourite one, but there is also a danger that we may become attached to one who is not a biblical teacher. Paul was concerned, and had occasion to warn that some people, who did not want to hear sound doctrine, were turning to teachers who would say what they wanted to hear rather than what they should hear. 
Paul reminds that Christ was not divided, and neither should we be. We can still worship in different ways, as some like much ceremony and others a simpler method, as long as the doctrine of the gospel is the same. 

There are Churches where the practice is to have different preachers each Sunday, which can be most confusing. As a conservative Minister, I could be followed by a liberal one. who would obviously be of totally different preaching.  The purpose of preaching is to help people to understand and appreciate the Bible, and this can only be worthily done by people being built up with consistent teaching.
Paul turns to baptism, where some were boasting of who baptised them, when it is the act which is important not who the baptiser is. We have situations, where people who never attend Church on a regular basis, ask for a particular Vicar because of a past connection of some kind. But baptism in Paul’s day was not the charade it is today, whereby a person enquires about baptism, and is told to turn up at the Church on a certain date.
I have witnessed Churches, where the scheduled Minister was replaced because the parents, who were not even Church members, wanted their own man from somewhere else. Such is completely unacceptable and makes a mockery of baptism.

Baptism is the most sacred sacrament of the Church. In its original form, it took place when a person made a public confession of faith, repented of past way of life, and turned their life to Christ. This was the way people entered the Church. At some point the Church adopted the practice of baptising the children of committed Christian parents, but it was never meant to be of the indiscriminate kind we practice. A major problem is that people think baptism is for the purpose of giving the child a name. Further, it is rare for them to be taught what baptism is either at the time of consultation, or in the service.

People generally have not the remotest understanding of baptism or the sacred ceremony; it is meant to be the admission to the Church by a person who has made repentance of past sin, and is committing to follow the teaching of Jesus Christ.

What is more unacceptable, is we ask them to make vows to bring up the children in the fellowship of the Church by their example, which they promise to do without any intention of doing so, and we perpetuate this falsehood. How rare to find a Church with a Sunday school these days, or the presence of those who made promises.

In the final verse, Paul emphasised the importance of preaching the gospel in simple words so all could understand and believe, so contrary to some preachers who like to show their intellectual abilities. The Church of England had one eminent person who spoke in such convoluted terms few had any idea what he was talking about.
We must be committed to letting people know what the gospel is in simple, unabridged terms. There are so many people with cares and worries and the Bible offers encouragement and hope, but it must be preached without fear or reservation.
There is now a reluctance to be really faithful to the Bible, for fear of being called a bigot, or accused of having some sort of phobia, if one speaks out. If we face up to reality, we have modified Scripture to avoid offending other faiths or none. Secularists, humanists, and followers of Islam will not allow their beliefs to be suppressed, and neither should Christians; 
Believers have a reasonable expectation that the Churches will stand up for them and not surrender to the humanist agenda.
As Christians we have to make sure our nation continues to hear about Jesus Christ, and stop the attempts to push Him out of public life. We have to make sure an authentic Christian message is heard. At the moment people hear many different voices speaking in the name of Christianity, some of which are not faithful to the Bible’s teaching. The Church must awake from its slumbers, for people need to hear that the Christian message.
May the Lord bless us in this task, and may the Church here
be a part by making this place be a beacon of light in a darkened world.

 

We praise God’s Holy Name and pray God will be Glorified

 

Turn now with me to Paul’s 2nd Letter to Timothy in Chapter 3

V10-17
Paul is in a Roman prison, and this is the last Letter he will write, he knows this and wants to ensure he passes on his ministry to someone he can trust, to faithfully carry on in the manner he has done so.
Paul begins by speaking of the ‘last days’
The Bible states, during the ‘last days’ there will be a time, when scoffers will be present who will mock God, saying He is ,dead, we can’t find him anywhere, and they will scoff at any talk of judgment or the return of our Lord’.
When the Bible mentions last days, as it does numerous times, it is referring to the days between the day of Pentecost and the time of our Lord’s return.
Many Bible scholars think we are in that period now, and they may well be right. The Bible lists terrible events which will come before the final end, and whilst these have in some way been seemingly applicable to past years, they seem to be most applicable now. When we look carefully at them, we can claim they are very much relating to our time.
In the first nine verses of Chapter 3, Paul talks of godlessness, describing the very conditions we find today; lovers of selves and money, unholy, children having no respect and disobedient. This is what happens when a nation turns its back on God. We live in an age of relativism, in which there are no absolutes, no basic morals, a case of if it feels right it is. They become lovers of themselves, and there is a moral collapse as the pursuit of money becomes so important.
In v10 Paul expresses his faith, purpose in life, endurance, love and patience. and living a godly life, and warns of impostors.
He then points out the suffering he endured, and Timothy must be prepared as every Christian must, to find he suffers be it mild or harder.
Paul must have felt saddened, to see a falling away from Church after it had made much progress. It is sad when people fall away, and once they do so find it hard to return, but is so easy to succumb, often to outside pressure.
Paul is telling Timothy to follow the teaching of the Apostles, which he means sound words, and not be led astray; still a good message for to-day, when the pressure is constantly to avoid being positive in keeping to Scripture. Sound words are those not distorted or weakened ones. It is so easy to be distracted and led astray.
A woman Bishop in America, once publicly stated that it was not necessary to believe in Jesus Christ to be accepted by God, for you cannot keep God in a box. I have no doubt there are others who would agree with her remarks, in both America and Britain. Paul likens this to James and Jambres, who opposed Moses, these two men opposed the truth and corrupted others in mind, disqualifying the faith.
Paul contrasts all that, with the way Timothy has been brought up with a love of Scripture, something children of several generations have been deprived of in the present ages. The Ten Commandments have become Ten Suggestions, or pick any four from ten. We have raised a generation, who are unaware of even the most basic beliefs. A majority do not even understand the true meaning of Easter and Christmas.

 

It is a disturbing situation, where all the traditional manners are not practiced, because few know what they were. Children are denied the basic details of the Bible or its characters, and Jesus is just a word they hear adults use when they swear.

Many of us here to-day, grew up in a totally different culture. We may not have had all the wonderful technological aids and comforts that now are available, but we benefited in other ways. Like Timothy we were taught about the Bible at home, and went to Sunday school as youngsters, learning the stories about Jesus, which gave us standards and values and a good foundation for life.
We had morning assemblies in all schools, now largely avoided in (state) schools. This may not have been widely followed up in life, but the basics had been laid, and our lives were directed by Christian values. Children are now denied these foundations, and are growing up without knowing the country’s religious faith and heritage.
In v14/5, he refers to the teaching Timothy had, having been brought up in the faith by his mother and grandmother,( and also had been taught much by Paul, and in fact Peter had helped a little, so he had the two Apostles who wrote much of the new testament.) Now Timothy had the wisdom to receive salvation, by trusting in Jesus Christ, the only way to God.

In v16 we come to an important verse when Paul reminds him that ALL Scripture is inspired by God, and tells what is right and true, so we can recognize wrong way.
In v17 God prepares his people to do good work. This will mean Timothy to be fully equipped for his ministry, when he has to correct people who are not speaking the truth, rebuke those who mislead, and encourage with patience those who are learning the gospel.
We are told God inspired and guided forty men, using their different characters and occupations, to write the Scriptures which would be His message to the world. We can reasonably presume that if God gave us these words, He would not have done so just to fill pages, but meant us to take note of all that was given. God wants us to understand and know Him, and the only way we can do that is by Him telling us, which He does in this book. He tells, we listen and obey him.
There are 66 books in the Bible, 39 of which are in the Old Testament and 27 in the New, written by 40 men, all but one being Jewish. God used their individual personalities and occupations, to communicate His words, and none of them would claim it was any thoughts of their own. Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Amos, all state they did not feel worthy, but God laid a burden on them. This was done over many years, without any collusion, they did not meet each other, yet there is no contradiction in writings.
The Bible is given to teach us and guide us in the way God wants us to live. It is the supreme authority for the Church containing the very words of God and does not need any amendments.
This is a very stressful world in which we live. This is a post Christian age, when most people under the age of 40 have little if any knowledge of the Christian faith or Church. It may have been written by men, but these men were inspired by God, to give us the message that God wished us tohave. We are therefore enabled to live according to God’s teaching.
The important word is, ALL. Once you start discounting parts you challenge the whole credibility and authority of the Bible. When we fully understand God’s Word, we are more able to inform others.
I don’t think even Church members, give the Bible the attention one would expect. I know there are many whose sole connection with it is in the Sunday service. But even then, is mainly a case of listening to it being read.
In evangelical Churches, it has been the practice of having Bibles in the pews, or at least available, so that members can follow the readings, and I always found it helped to follow the sermon, (when the sermon is Bible based that is.) I went to take a service at one Church where there wasn’t even a Bible to read the lessons from, and someone had to go out and borrow one.
I am very impressed by some Churches I have seen in the United States, which have large congregations. When the Pastor announces the Bible reading, the whole congregation turn to their own Bibles; this is revealed when the cameras show all different Bibles; such is the attention paid by the people, they are making notes of the sermon. This was once common in our Churches, but after many years in ministry, I never saw it happen.
There is a basic question we should all ponder. Why do we come to Church? There are many answers, but the real purpose should be to worship God with reverence and awe; to learn about God and how He would want us to live.
In order to do this, we need to know our Bibles and be prepared to accept what is taught there. I know this will not be acceptable to some people within the Church, for it may condemn the way they are conducting their lives.
The Bible has to be the supreme authority of the Church. I heard a Vicar state in her sermon that we should not take the Bible literally, and there are other Ministers who will say the same. You should question them as to why not.

 

May God’s Holy Name be praised and He be Glorified

 

Ephesians 4 v 25/end.    

This morning I want to turn with you to the reading from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians Chapter 4.  Paul was talking about the importance of unity and maturity as two aims of the Church, and now moves on to show purity is necessary for those who belong to the Church. 

He is writing to new Christians who have converted from paganism, so is anxious to show they have to behave, and live in a totally different way from the past.  They have to leave their old way and turn to Christ’s way. 

In this passage, Paul gives practical examples of how Church members build up Christ’s body based, on what is true of them as Christians. This is a continuation from previous verses dealing with Christian living. He contrasts the heathen way with the Christian one. He writes, ‘I INSIST you no longer live as non-believers’.

They were separated from God, their lives were dark, they had hard hearts,  they were insensitive, and they were concerned with empty things.

The word Paul uses, is likened to a stone harder than marble, meaning they were so insensitive, so hard,  they could not feel goodness.  They sinned at will. 

The process of sin is gradual.  No person becomes a great sinner all at once. At first, it is regarded with fear and horror.  Some regret, and remorse enters the heart, but as this continues, there comes a time when it loses all sensation, and shameful things are done without any feeling.  The conscience, which once found such things unacceptable, now finds them acceptable.

 People abandon themselves to every kind of unclean conduct; the lust of desires, and shameless wantonness.  Like a drug, it can get so much a hold on a person that they lose all sense of decency and shame.  That sort of life can be dominated by sin, so that people become like beasts. 

There is a desire to possess, a desire for things which others have, and if they can’t buy then steal.  They will be ready to sacrifice others for themselves, don’t get in my way.  Desire to have what there is no right to have, and are not prepared to legitimately earn.  People don’t care who gets hurt in the process   Paul saw hearts which did not recognise any wrong in their actions.

People do not see themselves as doing anything wrong or shameful today.  We see vast sums of money being wrongly taken from employers, justifying it on the grounds of wanting pleasures they see others having. 

Drunken youths making fools of themselves.  Women shedding their dignity and inhibitions, to be doing what men do, and to the worst excesses of their male counterparts. Men dressing and acting as women, and parading in city streets.        

Not everyone lives a decadent life in the non Christian world, but there is a direction in which every life can head without God in their life.  All life has to progress.  There has to be a sense of purpose and truth, a sense of decency and modesty. 

Becoming a Christian is a radical life change.  A Christian must live their life as required by Christ, so we put off the old ways and put on the righteousness God gives us. 

Paul says, put off your old way of life as you would put of old clothes.  He sets before them the highest standard in the world.  He is warning of what Christians can slide into, if they don’t change.

Paul spells out, the things which must be banished from the Christian life.  The   followers of Jesus Christ, must stand out in life and be known for being truthful and having integrity.  No lying, yet we see from the highest public offices of government, blatant lying and deceit. Sometimes, by men and women who like to inform us of their Christian credentials.         

You can lie deliberately, or without intention, through carelessness or exaggeration.  Truth demands a deliberate effort.  It is so easy and tempting, for people to elaborate a story to create a greater effect. 

Sometimes of course, we tend to tell in an exaggerated way out of kindness.  I recall often, being asked if I liked the cakes  a particular lady made, and like a good Vicar said they were lovely.  It would have been totally ungracious of me to say they tasted like sawdust.  Imagine, what domestic disturbance could be caused if a man told his wife, what he really thought of her new dress. 

 There is the lie of silence.  Keeping silent when we should speak out, so giving the impression, that by our silence we approved some action which one actually knew was wrong; or failing to rebuke, when it was necessary to do so. 

Then Paul gives the reason for being truthful.  A body can only be healthy if all senses are working properly.  If the brain tells the hand something is cool, when it is hot, pain will be caused.  If we as Christians are one body, all must be true and faithful to each other; deception impairs the work of Christ.    

Paul talks of anger.  There is however, a right and wrong anger.  To be angry as part of a fractious nature, or to get upset at trivialities, is wrong.  Some anger is not only right, but essential.

The anger of William Wilberforce led to the end of slavery; the anger of Lord Shaftesbury led to the end of inhumane working conditions; Jesus got very angry at the moneychangers in the Temple, and went about with a whip. 

There is a need for greater anger among Christians.  We compromise sin in a way God never does.  God hates sin, and  so should we, and we should speak out.  I get angry when I see clergymen/and now women, speaking on radio or television, stating we must reinterpret the Bible, to meet current attitudes to morality.  We owe it to our Lord, as our duty, to challenge these liberals for trying to set their own agenda on the Church, by changing Scripture to their thinking. 

No amount of reinterpretation, would ever convince me it was acceptable for a Bishop to divorce his wife, abandon his family, so as to go and live in a relationship with another man, and in so doing knowingly and willingly cause a whole disruption and schism, the worldwide Anglican communion, without any regret whatsoever. Indeed, he expected everyone to accept and support him.

There was an exhibition in Glasgow, where the Bible was put on display and people were invited to write comments on the Bible, defacing it where condemnation was made of homosexual practice.  Despite protest, the organisers refused to withdraw. Although ultimately they were forced to cover the Bible in a glass case and let people write their comments on paper to be attached to the Bible. Noticeably, they refused to put the Koran on display. 

 Now compare our response to that of Muslims in Pakistan, who burned Churches and attacked Christians, when it was falsely alleged by militants that the Koran had been criticised by Christians. 

Equally important however, is the situation when two people in a Church don’t get on.  It must be dealt with at once.  The longer it is left the more bitter it becomes.  All need to have the grace to say sorry and be forgiving.  Don’t give the devil the opportunity.  An unhealed breach causes dissension and strife, for two people at odds can cause a war to develop.  Remember too, reputations can be murdered over cups of tea or coffee. Be honest. That means no stealing, but also give a fair return for what you are given.

No evil talk; that means no foul language.  Today on our television, foul language of the worst kind is commonplace.  The comedian, who won the award several years in succession for favourite comedian trophy, relies on foul language and content.  What a verdict on society. 

Two of the greatest comedians ever, were Bob Hope and Jack Benny, neither of whom ever made a rude joke.  Ricky Tomlinson, himself an actor and comedian, once stated  that our greatest comedians of the past would be a failure today, for they were always clean in language. 

So Christians should speak in a manner which will help others, and not degrade them or themselves.  Don’t be insulting either, use words wisely.  Dennis Thatcher once commented,’ better to say nothing and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt’   It is so easy to have an outbreak of passion, revealing anger which flames like straw.    

Paul sums it all up in a few words, be kind, be concerned with the feelings of others, don’t show bitterness in your heart or nurse grievance.  Pray God will teach you to forgive and forget.  Love your enemies.  As one cynic remarked, ‘love and be kind to you enemy, it will make him mad’.  Have love and care for others. 

There is much good in this country, but there are things which desperately need to be put right.  The Church is the only body which can do that.  You are  the Church.  Speak out and speak up for your Church…  Let it be known what a glorious body it is, and we have a glorious Savior to follow.  It may be polluted by a few members, but the vast number are good people who love the Lord.

 

May God  inspire our hearts with His Holy Word, and may He be glorified.

 

Gospel of LUKE chapter 13 v 6-9

The Gospel reading is the parable of the fig tree. 

The fig tree occupied a favorite position.  In Palestine it is possible to see fig trees, apple trees and thorn tress in vineyards

The soil is very shallow, and the poor trees grew wherever there was soil for trees to grow, but the fig trees had more chance  to grow, but had not proved worthy of it.  Repeatedly Jesus reminded men, that they would be judged according to the opportunities they had.

Clearly, the parable teaches us uselessness is a disaster.  The whole process of evolution in this world is to produce useful things, and that which is useful will grow in strength in the economy, while that which is useless will be eliminated. 

The parable teaches that nothing which only takes, will not survive.  The fig trees were taking strength and sustenance from the soil, and in return giving nothing. 

In the last analysis, there are two kinds of people in the world, those who take but put nothing  in, and those put in more than  they take out.

In one sense we are all in debt to life.  We all came into this world at the peril of someone else who loved us.  We have inherited a Christian civilization and a freedom we did not create.  There is the duty laid on us of handing on even better than we found.  Abraham Lincoln, the great American President once said, ‘die I may. I want it said of me I plucked a weed and planted a flower wherever I thought a flower would grow.

  This parable tells us of the gospel of second chance.  A fig tree takes three years to grow and reach maturity.  If it is not fruiting in that time, it will not fruit.  But the fig tree was given a second chance.  Jesus gives us chance after chance.  Paul, Peter and Mark all gladly have witnessed that God is infinitely kind to the one who falls and rises again.

The parable makes it clear that there is a final chance.  If we refuse chances of God’s appeal and challenge in vain, the day will come when God has shut us out, but when we in deliberate choice have shut ourselves out from  God, we can only say

God save us.

     

                             *******************

Whilst I was reflecting on this parable of the fig tree, and all Jesus was meaning, it seems as if we have drifted so far away from all that God gave us, to live in a wonderful world, full of beauty and goodness, with the opportunity of being able to live a fruitful life.  As we look at how a minority of people have forced a standard of behavior that is contrary to all decency and respect, and we realize the task before us.

In this parable the Christian who can hear, and not feel shame and sorrow at the state of Christianity must be someone who takes their faith lightly.  God gave us privileges, and He expects proportionate returns. 

We must never forget the countries in the world, where other faiths operate in opposition to the Christian gospel, and the Christian people who face such challenges. They suffer mentally, spiritually, and physically in places. We tolerate other faiths, and accept their right to hold different beliefs, but this tolerance is not always reciprocated.

This is a warning to Christian Churches. If sound doctrine is not being taught, if people do not live holy lives, they are in peril of destruction.  God is always observing and taking notice of our ways.  Some Churches have much ceremonial practices, to which they give much attention to the cost of  Bible teaching. This puts in line for destruction. This happened to the Jewish Church, forty years after the ascension of Jesus.

If anyone doubts this could happen to us in dear old England, just consider how many Anglican and Methodist Churches have closed in recent years, when all the liberal influences took over. 

The Bible states, there is one body, one Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one BAPTISM.  So why has the Church of England created a second baptism for the benefit of those who have changed their gender from how God made them?  Why has the Methodist Church taken up same sex marriage without seeking approval from ALL members before doing so?  The fig tree in such circumstances has withered without producing fruit.  The axe is ready to fall the tree.

The parable has a warning for all who are partly Christians, and there are many in the Church who are, let it be impressed on them that they come,, and are meant to give attention.

I preached at a  Church on the theme ‘all Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness’.  After the service a lady came to me and referred to the American President at that time, calling for capital punishment for men who had gunned down Jewish worshippers. She asked me if I agreed with him, and I replied I did fully, and told her the Bible authorized it should be so.  She said but that was in the Old Testament. I had to remind her the verse I preached upon said ALL Scripture, and the Old Testament was included.   Yet another example of part reference to the Bible, and hearing what one wanted to hear.  The New Testament does not differ.

But we must look beyond the Jewish Church if we mean to get the full benefit of the parable.  We must look at Christian Churches.  They have light, truth, and doctrines and precepts which the heathen never hear. There is great responsibility, and it is only right that God shall expect fruit from them.

We must look to our hearts, we live in a land of Bibles, to a certain amount of liberty, some element of Gospel teaching. There are solemn truths; few things are forgotten as the close connection between privileges and responsibility  We learn what a dangerous things to be untruthful  under such privileges.

We live in what was once a Christian country, and many people want it still to become, rather than the godless nation it has become where all absolutes have been abandoned.  The spiritual and natural way of life God created, is being turned over and discarded.

We belong to Churches which have set aside the guidance God, set out in His Word, and His means of grace, and ignored the call for repentance and failed to ask for forgiveness.

The parable should make every Christian feel sorry and ashamed, as they consider how the teaching of the Christian faith, with sound doctrine, has been abandoned with Churches openly adopting services contrary to the Bible, and calls to disregard Scripture are led by the leaders of the Church.

We have Bibles, with the liberty for the gospel to be preached, although we have a government at present debating whether we will be allowed to give sound doctrine. The country which at one time took the gospel to the world, is betraying the legacy of men and women who gave their lives to live in primitive conditions as they taught people who otherwise would never have heard of Jesus Christ.  Now, peoples living in Africa and Asia, are making every effort themselves to spread the Gospel, in lands with very limited resources, and no funds or means to acquire them.

 

Prayer

Heavenly Father, I pray that your Word may spread   and be glorified and triumph, and that I and every other preacher of the Gospel may be delivered from perverse and unrighteous doctrine I pray that you protect everyone who is being persecuted for their faith, but even more, I pray that in the face of persecution, the Word of Christ gains strength and delivers the lost from the bondage of sin, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

May God be Glorified