THE HOME

 Perhaps the greatest tragedy for the welfare and good of this nation is the fact that marriage has been downgraded and the need for a stable family virtually ridiculed.  The well established principle of a family being a man (father) and woman (mother) being joined in holy matrimony and bring up children together has been cavalierly dismissed as old-fashioned.  We see so clearly the consequences.

     We constantly read and hear reports of young people  between the ages of 7 and teenage years terrifying whole neighbourhoods.  They abuse, assault, vandalise and rob at will, and if anyone should remonstrate with them that person runs the risk of stabbing or serious injury. On several occasions men with families have been killed whilst defending their property.  Whole gangs roam the streets seeking confrontation with other gangs and their members, which have cost the lives of substantial number of young men, sometimes innocent victims. 

     On so many occasions, broken homes have been a cause of such behaviour, with a mother unable to control or showing an utterly irresponsible line.  One 12 years old boy terrified an estate and his mother said he was ‘her little Satan, but wasn’t really evil’. An unwitting contradiction in terms, but added he just needs understanding.  He certainly needs something, but more severe than understanding. Yet again an absent father.

      In the Old Testament, Joshua a great leader of the Jewish people, addressed the nation and said, ‘as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord’

     ‘A nation is only as strong as its homes’, said Abraham Lincoln, and today our homes are reflecting the state of the our nation, which is in the deteriorating state of moral and social decay, which should make us fear for the future of our children and grandchildren.

       The first home was instituted by God before Church, schools, or government. God made man, and then woman to be his wife, to live together and have children. It was meant to be where father, mother and children lived as a family. It was a place where children first heard about God as parents told them about Jesus

     The home now doesn’t mean as much today as it used to do, and to so many people the idea of two people being married as the ideal is old fashioned and rather stupid.  .  Marriage was built on the foundations of the Bible.  It has been said that in 100 years from now, marriage will have ceased to exist, and if some poitcians had their way it would be in a lot less time.

     There are indeed powerful forces within the government and liberal establishment who are determined to destroy the traditional and biblical image of the home, marriage, and family.  One senior politician is waging a one woman war against it, and is quoted as having said categorically that there is no such thing as the ideal family.  The same silly woman who campaigns vigorously for equality, stating that there should be a woman wherever a man has a place.     Is it not ironic that the same woman who stated two men cannot be trusted to run anything and need a woman, yet she considers two men are capable of bringing up children through adoption.

     God has laid down clearly what He expects, and we ignore to our peril. Homes are the foundation and bedrock of society, and they are being destroyed.  If evil forces win the battle for the home there is nothing left worth fighting for.  We have to restore the home as the basic unit of society.

     An indication of how our judiciary thinks and views the Christian faith was displayed in the High Court when it was said, ‘marriage is not generally regarded as a sacrament and divorce is a statistical commonplace’.

      The Bible teaches that marriage is holy and sacred in the sight of God. I'm afraid that some enter into it like it's all a big joke. Others go into marriage for luck and they break up and there's trouble and there's disappointment.  That is wrong. Marriage should be preceded by the most careful thought.

      One of the nations’ favourite television programmes has been featuring two people, who are neighbours, conniving at having an affair as a major story line  People are so captivated by television stories they think they have to emulate them in real life.  I dread seeing weddings or funerals on television as I know some of the ridiculous actions will be asked for in the following weeks.

      You can’t have a relationship with God and be in an adulterous relationship. In the Old Testament it was considered so serious it was a capital offence punishable by death.  God wanted to show the world how serious was the marriage vow

     We have so much unhappiness and trouble in the home today because we've got away from God's laws, rules, and regulations governing marriage, When God performed the first marriage, He laid down the rules, and He said if you want to have a happy home, obey these rules. If you want to have trouble, disobey them.

     Having children means more than conceiving and bearing them. Raising children is a vitally responsible and important task.  It is more than being a novelty for some celebrity or as a passport to the top of the housing list for a young woman.  A whole future life is in the hands of parents, yet we hear of multiple children of a woman from multiple fathers who have no interest in the poor children.

     It is reckoned that in the majority of homes no biblical knowledge or teaching is being given to children, probably as much due to the fact the parents have none.

     Each generation claims things are worse than in their time, but I can never recall a time when children were allowed to terrorise whole neighbourhoods and cause such fear vandalising, abusing and stealing knowing they are virtually immune from any punishment.  They are fully aware of the law which protects them, and little help is offered in most cases by police.  It is hard to comprehend how the police allow such behaviour to develop, they certainly wouldn’t when it was known as ‘the Police Force’ rather than what is now little more than a social service.   Society must decide what sort of a future we want as far as children are concerned.

     The Bible says listen to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.   We can learn so much from Jewish parenthood.  Father’s teaching to his children of the Ten Commandments, one for each of the ten fingers, and the history of the Jewish people from the Old Testament, and the mother controlling behaviour.  I have never known nor heard of a Jewish child being involved in violent disorder or crime.  When I have sought an answer, I have been told it is because of the Jewish Mama in the home.

     Mothers can indeed have a great effect on children.  I was often required to be away from the home for long hours, and it is a great tribute to my wife that two of my sons became ordained, and have proved to be very wonderful and successful Ministers.

     Far too many children are left to their own devices.  How can teenagers roam the streets drunk and threatening people, stabbing other teenagers, and forming life threatening other gangs, without the parents knowing of it?  So why don’t they do something about it.  Yet again, in the days of an interested and efficient Police Force, action would have been taken under the Children’s Act for failing to control their children.

      Some feminist thinkers have said that motherhood will have to go in a new social order and find a new way of raising children.  You may have seen women being asked on television what their occupation was, and sometimes you hear the reply, ‘just a housewife’   No apology is needed.  A housewife and mother is as great a calling as any in the world.  Like God they are a very present help in times of trouble.  My sons have all held their mother in the highest esteem and my son who died called Mum as his last word.

     Christian standards have gone from many homes. Everywhere people search for happiness from the wrong things and wrong places.  Many criminals have come from homes where there has been no peace, no discipline nor Christian values or teaching. The biggest cause of young criminals is due to marital breakdown and separation

     Children take up home values. When a father dodges working, a son will invariably copy.  God ordered us to work and there would be less poverty if more people were working.

     It is a matter of great regret that government is forcing councils, some of which don’t need that much encouragement, to foster and send for adoption children to two people of the same sex.  A child needs a father and a mother, both of whom are essential to a child’s moral and social development and welfare.  It is therefore irresponsible to make such enactment and reveals contempt for God’s decree.

     The Bible says we have to have discipline in the home. It is a sign of the times that discipline has become non existent in many homes, schools, and society in general and has become a word considered vulgar. Children have a natural bias to do wrong; you never have to teach a child to say no.

     If Britain is to defend its values successfully, it must rediscover the Christian faith in which those values are ultimately rooted.  Marriage and the home are firmly part of those roots. When the founding principles are eroded, and the morality and biblical fundamentals are taken away, there is no foundation for society, which is a dangerous thing and we are seeing some of the consequences developing

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 ^{LUKE 5 Verses 33-39}

They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” Jesus answered, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?  But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

 He told them this parable: “No one tears a piece out of a new garment to patch an old one. Otherwise, they will have torn the new garment, and the patch from the new will not match the old.  And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined.  No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.  And no one after drinking old wine wants the new, for they say, ‘The old is better

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The Pharisees tried to compare the disciples of John the Baptist fasting whilst the disciples of Jesus did not.  The Pharisees followed the Old testament practice on fasting themselves, but only one was required which was celebrated on the day of Atonement.

Jesus referred to himself as ‘the bridegroom’, a term he used several times, and Jesus says they are to rejoice, and only when he is taken away will they need to fast.  He then told them two parables.

No one could get a message across better than Jesus, as he took ordinary everyday practices to illustrate a deeper meaning.  He told the folly of sewing new cloth on an old garment;  there is a lack of harmony between the old and new.  If you put new cloth on old it will tear the old and make the tear wider.

In Palestine the bottles were made of skin, and when new wine was poured in it fermented and expanded, whereas if the bottle was new, it had a natural stretch which allowed to take the pressure.  The old skin would be dry and hard, and the pressure would burst the skin.

The lesson Jesus was making drew attention was there was a need for the Church to progress, and accept new ways to worship. There is a marked reluctance in the Church in many places to change, more inclined to adopt the phrase, ‘as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be.’  But we do have to benefit from new inventions. Narrow thinking is that the old is better than the new, such is the Pharisees response, but the old was new when first introduced, so we can’t expect to follow what happened in the first century; we can learn from it but not fully adopt it.

Jesus is showing how a rejection of anything new is unwise.  He is saying don’t let your mind be like an old wine skin, accept the new.  No reasonable person would prefer doctors to use old healing ways, when modern technology has provided us with marvellous machines which can detect illness within minutes.  All of the great inventors have had to fight to get their inventions accepted.  We should never reject new ideas out of hand.  If we have true faith, we trust God to let the Holy Spirit lead us in the truth

There can be no institution or organisation more hidebound than the Church, at large. I could fill pages with examples to illustrate the message of the parables in today’s Church.

An enterprising Church warden visited another Church, known for success with young people,  She thought it would be a good idea to introduce such a service she had witnessed, into her own Church, and suggested on those months which had five Sundays, the new service be used on the fifth Sunday.  The normal  services had the King James Version of the Bible, and had anthems played of course on an organ.  The proposal she made cause such outrage, it may have been thought she was suggesting something approaching destruction of the Church. Never mind the young people, no change.

When Billy Graham first came to this country in the 1980s, bishops were against people attending his meetings. They feared he was bringing new American ideas, fortunately he did to some effect.  People flocked to the meetings in thousands, and he was forced to extend his stay for three weeks to accommodate the crowds anxious to hear him.

People heard massed choirs singing new hymns from Mission Praise hymn book, preaching by the greatest and most successful preacher in Christian history, and they went home with either a new faith or a rejuvenated one. Then in the following weeks they returned to the local church, and heard canticles and anthems, with slow mournful music, often with dull preaching and a liturgy fixed in stone. In one church a lady asked the Vicar about starting a bible study group, and was told to go home and just read her bible. 

The contrast was too much for a lot of people who just gave up.  We still have bishops telling congregations not to attend meetings by the son of Billy Graham (Franklin) as he is a hate preacher. (Translated that says, he preaches marriage is between a man and a woman.)

 

 

John 5:1-17

Jesus was attending a major feast in the Jewish calendar, one of which all male Jews were expected to attend in Jerusalem. Near to the sheep market there was a pool around which all kinds of men gathered hoping for a miracle to happen.  There were five porches situated around the pool where the weak and infirm would shelter. The name of the pool was Bethesda.  There are many Independent chapels with that name today.

It was believed that on occasions an angel would visit and disturb the water, and when this happened the first person into the water would be healed  This is similar to what happens at the Catholic shrine Lourdes, where spas are thought to have healing powers, and to which many desperate for healing visit hopefully.  What actually occurred was not the work of an angel, but due to there being an intermittent spring, this happened when a surge from the waters from a hill reservoir caused the spring to rise and fall.

The facts, of course, are that the pool of Bethesda, like many similar pools in the Jerusalem area, is an intermittent spring. At times water is released in surges from hidden reservoirs in the hills around the city, causing these springs to rise and fall suddenly. Some healings did occur there. Even today healings take place in these special areas where people go, believing they can be healed. But most of these healings can be explained psychologically. When people believe they are going to be healed, and they are in a place where healings supposedly occur, and they do the expected thing, many of them are healed. Thus the pool at Bethesda had established a reputation as a place where people could be healed.

Some Churches have healing services where dramatic healings do take place, and they go there expecting a healing,  and subsequently feel healed.

This man at the pool at Bethesda been ill, and in comparison with to-day, this is like someone suffering since 1984.  But although there were plenty of others, with all kinds of infirmities, when Jesus went there He chose this man.We do not know why. He is weak, feeble, and unable to stand, probably because of some wasting disease .

So here was a great crowd of people -- paralyzed, blind, lame, sick -- all waiting for the water to be troubled. Out of that crowd Jesus picked one lone man. He did not empty the five porches, healing everybody. He did not invite them all to come down so that he might lay hands on them; nothing of that sort. He went to only one man.

The value of a story like this, and the reason it is in the gospels, is not only to reveal to us who Jesus was -- truth about the Lord himself -- but also to show us how God proposes to deal with human helplessness and weakness. Undoubtedly it was the helplessness of this man that drew Jesus to him.

We all can see ourselves, in a sense, helpless, weak, lying at the pool of Bethesda this morning. We all need help. We all find ourselves paralyzed at times, unable to do the thing we want or ought to do. This story is included in the gospels in order that we might understand how God proposes to help us through the ministry of Jesus.

When Jesus saw him and knew he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healed?"   This may seem a strange question to ask a man who had been ill for so long, but Jesus would not have asked this without cause, He wanted the man to answer. Obviously it was important for this man to answer (at least to himself) the question, "Do I want to be healed?"

I had a man in one of my congregations who loved to tell how ill he was.  One lady said about him, I never ask Mr X how he is in fear he may tell me.  The man would walk jauntily down the street, until he saw someone he knew and then start limping. A lot of people want to feel ill just to get attention.

 There are people who like to be or feel unwell. We have heard plenty of stories of people who are falsely claiming disability benefits, and so cheating the government when in fact they are perfectly able to work; some have been found taking part in  sporting activities.

I know many people today who do not want to be healed. They do not want to receive divine help in their problems. They do not want to be helped out of their weakness. They love their weakness, their helplessness. They are always craving the attention of others through their helplessness. They sometimes flee assuming responsibility for their own lives. I have even seen people turn their backs on a way of deliverance they knew would work, because they did not want to be healed.

I am sure if this man had answered Jesus along these lines, our Lord would have gone his way and not done a thing for him. You cannot help somebody who does not want to be helped.  Some, are not ready to admit they cannot make it on their own.. Jesus can do nothing for them.

This man really did want to be healed, but was always beaten in the rush to get into the water and had given up hope.  In such situations people are tempted to give up, and feel they must just accept things.  Often people suffer from alcohol addiction, which seems to get the better of a lot, they try but the pull is too strong. 

Jesus responded to the man by saying ‘get up’.  At once the man did so. feeling he had better do what Jesus had said, and was told to throw away his bed as he would not need it any more.  The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.  In other words, "Yes, I want to be healed, but I cannot. I've tried, I've done everything I know how. I want to get into that water, I want to be healed, but I lack the ability; I've no one to help me. I've given up. I have no hope."

Many people here are like that. They have given up on their situation, refusing to believe there is any hope it can change. They see no way, from a human viewpoint, so they have resigned themselves to being weak, failing and faltering Christians for the rest of their lives.

I know there are some who thought they had it under control. You tried to stop, but you discovered you could not. It is amazing to me, how many people casually feel they are in control of something that really has control of them. You have heard of the person who said, "It's easy to stop smoking. I've done it hundreds of times!" That is a revelation, of course, of how much it controls him.  

Jesus then said, ‘Rise, take up your pallet, and walk." And at once the man was healed, and he took up his pallet and walked.  Notice that the first thing Jesus says to do is what the man could not do, what he had tried for 38 years to do. The man must have reasoned  "If this man is going to help me then I have got to do what he tells me to do."

In those words he is saying something very important to people who need to be healed: do not make any provision to go back on what you have done.. Cut off any possibility of going back. Let somebody know the new stand you have taken so that he will help hold you to it.

The third thing: "walk." Do not expect to be carried -- walk. Many people want to be carried after they are healed. They expect everybody to gather around them and keep them going -- a common area of failure. But if Jesus gives you the power to rise, Jesus is the One who can give you the power to walk every day, to keep going. That is an important thing to see.

John now traces the immediate reaction of others to this event, for that day was the sabbath. Now the man is in trouble over the Sabbath restrictions.  The Law of Moses did say that the Jews were to keep the Sabbath, and not do any work on that day.  The rabbis had carefully studied that regulation, and, probably innocently and with good intentions, had spelled out different ways by which the Sabbath could be violated by certain types of work. But the real motive of their hearts is instantly revealed when the man says to them, "The man who healed me said to me, 'Take up your pallet, and walk.'" Their reaction, was instead, "Who is the guy who told you to disobey one of our regulations?" This reveals them for the religious bigots they are.   The man is in trouble.

The man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you." The man had gone to the temple because the Law required that one who had been healed had to make a thanksgiving offering. Jesus knew where to find him.

He calls the man's attention to the fact that not only had he been physically healed, he had been spiritually healed. His sins had been forgiven; he had been washed, he had been cleansed; he was a new man -- physically, spiritually. It is not always sin that makes people sick. There are other accounts in the Word of God, that indicate sometimes it is the corporate sin of the whole lost race that produces sickness in an individual. We must remember, from the book of Job, that we are not to always blame the individual for his sickness. But sometimes -- and I think the individual always knows -- sickness is caused by sin he is involved 

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. He had to explain who it was had healed him, and he told them. And this was why the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did this on the sabbath.

They had heaped all these regulations on the Sabbath law, but Jesus ignored them frequently because the regulations were the tradition of men. Jesus explains why he breaks the tradition. Jesus is saying, "You go back to Moses, and to all that the rabbis have added to his Law. But I want to go back further than that: God is at work; God is doing this. The merciful and compassionate God has found this man. He is working and I am his instrument. That is why I am doing this."

What Jesus said is true for us today: God is working in this twentieth century. He is working in  the pressures and problems that come to each one of us; Only God's work will last. All that men do will fall away to nothing. Even though it be religious work, it will be nothing.

Jesus was giving a message so vital to those who feel like giving up, don’t accept failure, and don’t feel you are helpless and need assistance all the time. Some people do expect a lot of attention, and want everybody to give them help.

But care has to be taken in receiving advice also.  I had a lady who felt she had healing powers, and told an elderly lady who suffered with arthritis badly, that she would lay hands on her and pray for healing, so that medication could be thrown away as she would be healed.  The elderly lady did so in great faith, and became quite ill.

John tells that Jesus went on to face the wrath of the Jews, because the man who He had healed was seen carrying his mat, and the priests told him he should not do so for it was the Sabbath day.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        

A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH.     AMERICA (STILL) THE LAND OF THE FREE .

The United States of America was created on July 4, 1776, with the Declaration of Independence of thirteen British colonies in North America. In the Lee Resolution of July 2, 1776, the colonies resolved that they were free and independent states.

On 17 September 1787, a Constitution was signed in Philadelphia, and the United States was truly born. The Founding Fathers created a framework of government which has been hailed as the most finest and perfect charter of government ever made. Set out, are the responsibilities and limitations of government for the first thirteen States of the Union. A further thirty seven States have been added over the years.  Each State was given its own right to create a ruling body to legislate, and State Court to deal with legal issues,

The Supreme Court of Justice was formed to adjudicate on important legal issues contested by the Congress and President of the nation, and to pronounce final authoritative judgement from State Courts.

In 1973 a controversial abortion case of Roe v Wade was taken to the Supreme Court of that time, challenging a ruling by the Texas Court, ruling against abortion.  There were suggestions made at the time, that the case was set up to test Texas law.  The Supreme Court ruled that a woman had the right of abortion, which virtually meant creating a new law, taking away the right of the State to decide.  In doing do it was suggested the Court had exceeded its power in making law when its purpose was to exercise governance.

Under the Constitution, each State in the country had the authority to decide its own course, and the people of the State could express their view by the ballot box.  This seems a very wise and efficient practice, whereby the big States could not dominate their views on the smaller States.

The present Supreme Court Justices have, after years of dispute within the nation, corrected the first Supreme Court judgement, and returned the decision of abortion to the States. Inevitably some people were pleased and others outraged, but they have not despite the outcry by the likes of the Vice President, outlawed abortion itself. Abortion has not been totally banned, and it irresponsible to say that it has; the Court has just corrected to the Constitution.

Each State will decide whether to ban, or allow an abortion up to certain dates of pregnancy, bearing in mind one notable and vociferous female politician was once campaigning for abortion up to the time of birth. Such would have meant an extremely cruel and vicious operation, to pull the baby from the woman and then kill it.  If a woman is determined to have an abortion, she can go to a nearby State which allows it, if her State does not.

The protests and public display, by people who consider themselves offended by the Justices decision, some of whom should have spoken more responsibly, have acted in a disgusting and disappointing manner, which has brought shame on this great nation, and will earn mockery from other nations which dislike the United States. The homes and families of the Justices, including young children, have been attacked and the occupants been vilified. There appeared to be little police action in protecting and stopping the shameful display.

What exacerbates the issue is the President, who on his installation stated in his usual pompous tone, stated he wanted to bring unity to the nation.  In the meantime however he has succeeded in only creating disunity.  He has not criticized the attack on the Justices, and with his administration, unsuccessfully tried to rush through a law authorizing abortion, when the majority of the nation are opposed.

Turning to consider abortion, the definition of which is, ‘the termination of a pregnancy’. In other words, killing off an unwanted person. Birth begins with conception, as defined by medical experts and the Bible.  In practice it is a matter of life and death.  There is a spiritual, moral, and ethical issue. God condemns the shedding of blood, and the destruction of life.  God created life, woman ends life.

A baby is a person, a person separate to the woman, who has a right to life as well as a woman. The child may have a different sex to the mother, with a body who has separate genes, and a blood stream of its own. If the mother feels she cannot cope (possibly for selfish reasons) she should have thought of that before putting herself in a situation in which she could have a child.

There is an excessive emotional response with loud cries of a woman’s right to choose, but she still has a right to choose, but no right to kill. If a woman has been raped, in a state of health which may cause problems, or if a woman is of an older age, which meant a deformed child would be left without a mother, there are grounds for showing compassion, which I am sure some States would consider.

The majority of pregnancies will be caused through a lack of protection when having casual sex on a wild night, hence using abortion as another means of contraception.  We see every week-end or special occasions, young women under the influence of alcohol, barely dressed, in the company of young men looking for sexual action; and people wonder why so many abortions.

The number of abortions is staggering, and in America runs into millions, with it being stated more babies are aborted than kept. It is estimated one in three babies are aborted.  The big Planned Parenthood agency makes much profit with its abortion clinics, and was awarded large taxpayers money by the Obama administration, which was maintained under his successor.

In the United Kingdom we have more than 220,000 a year, and Nurses and Doctors, who by conscience do not take part in abortion operations, can be penalized.

It is a big industry and there is money to be made for medical staff.  However you consider the subject, it is uncivilized with women being traumatized, leads some to suicide, some being led to regret and feelings of guilt when they have aborted a child, and then seen the happiness of other women.  So easy for men to support abortions, when they can leave the horror to women whilst they walk off, completely free and unconcerned at what they caused to happen.

But how sad that the Churches have been almost silent, if commenting at all. Indeed, a senior official in the Episcopal Church of the United states, has reaffirmed its commitment to abortion rights.  A woman in the same denomination, reaffirmed her support for access to abortion. She is quoted as saying, ‘ the extremists are on the verge of making good on half a century of threats  and describes moves to outlaw abortion. As Episcopalians we have a particular obligation to stand against Christians who seek to destroy our multi-cultural democracy, and recast the United States as an idol to the cruel and distorted Christianity they advocate.’  Rather rich for the Episcopalians to speak of others having distorted Christianity.

Fortunately, I don’t think the Episcopal Church in America carries much influence, it certainly appears they don’t follow Bible teaching, so there is little difference to the Episcopal Church in England.  There is a lack of courage in the Church to speak lest they get criticized, but I am sure there will be a different response from the Evangelical Churches.

Every reasonable person will have sympathy for women finding themselves pregnant and frightened of the consequences,  being difficult in numerous ways, but if there are genuine reasons as stated above, there will still be access to abortion.  For those whose situation is due to careless and/or reckless behaviour, it is the same outcome all people pay for their failings.

 

 1 Corinthians 12 v.1/11

Paul is writing to the Corinthian Church having received a letter from them seeking guidance, and has come to a point where he is dealing with spiritual gifts. Corinth was a major seaport and some of the immorality of the city had entered into the Church and divisions were created. Paul hearing of the disruptive influence, wrote this Letter offering guidance as well as rebuking them.

If we are going to understand how we can relate to the teaching of this Letter, we must first understand what it meant for Paul. He founded this Church in Corinth and it had grown and prospered, but had also developed disharmony.

He begins by stating he does not want them to be confused and not understand spiritual gifts. In calling them pagans, which meant Gentiles or non-Jews, he reminds them they were worshipping idols so had been led astray, but acknowledges they have now become true believers in God.

Some of these converts were worried about people who were speaking spiritually, or what is referred to as ‘speaking in tongues’, and Paul is assuring them no one can say ‘Jesus is cursed’ if they are speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit, but can say ‘Jesus is Lord’. If a person can truly say, and believe, Jesus is Lord they are being led by the Holy Spirit and have been born again

We have to be very discerning when people claim to be ‘born again’; some years ago, especially in the United States, there was an epidemic of people claiming, it seemed particularly fashionable for politicians.

Every Christian has some gift which can be used in the Lord’s service. It has to be acknowledged and accepted that every gift of every kind we possess has been given to us by God.

We find professional men and women who have their professional talent to use in the service of the Church and they serve well and so usefully, especially gifts of accountancy and law. But also valuable is the man or woman who can do technical work effecting repairs; or the lady gifted with flower and decorative arrangements; ladies who spend hours baking for Church fairs. I had two sisters in their 80s who worked tirelessly and I cannot imagine how we could have done without them

We may use as an analogy that of an earthly father who has a family of children who passes out presents to them, and knowing each child, will give what he knows that child would best like and use. God knows our characters and gives to meet them.

Paul likens the Church to a human body and describes it as the body of Christ. The Church is the means by which Jesus reaches out to the world; Jesus is no longer physically in the world, so it is very important that we keep this in mind. We, the members, are the Lord’s voice, hands and feet to carry out His commands.

The Bible states that we are ambassadors, and the duty of an ambassador is to represent the monarch of his/her country, and we represent the King of Kings in what is a country foreign to our standard of belief. We are also soldiers for Christ, bearing mind the world outside of the Church is a battleground not a playground.

There also different types of service, and all should bear in mind whatever service we perform, we do it for the Lord. In the New testament, when the Bible speaks of God it refers to the Father, when it states ‘Lord’ it refers to Jesus, and there is God the Holy Spirit.

Paul then writes about some of those gifts, and even beyond this passage he continues to name some. Some have a supernatural gift of wisdom from God, others just a natural gift. Some have a special endowment of faith for some mission.

Paul speaks about the gift of tongues which has long been a subject of contention, in that some charismatics claim unless a person can speak in tongues, they are not a Christian. I had a lady very distressed because someone had said that to her. This is totally unacceptable to rule any gift is particularly necessary.

Speaking in tongues can also be counter-productive. If there is such being practised in a church and some stranger walks in seeking spiritual support and heard such speaking, and there was no one present to interpret, they would wonder what was happening.

We also have to be aware that for a body to function in a healthy condition, all parts relate to each other, working in unity, and functioning as intended.

The Church is not just a group of religious people gathered together to enjoy mutually desired functions. We should be sharing the same kind of life, belonging to the one Lord, filled with His Spirit and be working together to change the world; such is what makes a true and healthy Church. Just coming to Church in itself does not necessarily make you a Christian, you have to believe in and trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.

Paul emphasises the analogy of the human body to that of the body of Christ by explaining how the body functions. He stresses the importance of each part of the body working together, and indicates that every member of the Church is of importance. An ear performs one vital function, but so does an eye; the body needs both; similarly, with hands and feet. Never consider yourself as an unimportant part of the Church. You may not be called to preach or lead a Bible study group, but there are so many other equally important tasks in their own way by which you can take an active part. If everyone did the same thing the Church would be ineffective.

But a body only functions properly if it is healthy and every part is working properly. We must accept we need one another and there is no need for competition or jealousy. Occasions arise when someone feels they are not being given the recognition they feel their secular work demands, and others are doing what they should be doing. If any organ in our body fails, the whole body is affected and any disruption in the Church affects the whole situation.

So, in what way can you play your part? There are so many ways by which your gift can be exercised, possibly in a manner you have never considered. In a Church I was once at we gave everyone £5 and invited them to use their talent to increase it with the proceeds going to the Church. People found they had hidden gifts. So often gifts are seen as only relating to ministry which is so wrong and narrow an outlook. The Church is not like a bus with the Vicar being the driver and all others passengers.

.Sometime of course it may seem as your work is not appreciated when you do not get the thanks and recognition your work has merited. Do not be depressed or disheartened, if you have done it for God, He will be pleased and recognise you. When all our gifts are put together we can become a strong body able to serve the Lord as He would want.

God bless you. Be at Church on Sunday

 

Turn with me to Matthew Chapter 6, in verses 5 to 15, which contain the Lord’s Prayer.

This is a model prayer used in Church services and in personal praying since first having been given by our Lord. For over two thousand years and across the world, it has been said, heard and read times beyond numbering.  This prayer was also quoted in Luke, but I have chosen Matthew’s version as being the recognised fuller account.

Whenever I  hear the prayer, I am reminded of a scene broadcast on the Christian Broadcasting Network in America.  It is of the first English settlers who landed at Virginia Beach in April 1607,planting the Cross and then reciting the prayer. They had sailed the Atlantic to find the land they believed would allow them to worship God in freedom, and with full commitment.  They were the forerunners who were joined by others, to make that such a great and powerfully Christian nation.

I often wonder how many people really think what they are saying when they recite it, for many it is said automatically rather than thought. Is God our Father, and are we his sons and daughters. Are we his children by our faith in Jesus Christ, do we care for his name and will, and for his Kingdom to come?

Prayer was a pillar of Jewish piety.  It was common to have prayer said aloud in morning, afternoon and evening.  At the set time of prayer, pious Jews would stand and stop what they were doing. Some discreetly but others with pretentious display.  Jesus did not condemn public praying for He did so, but did not admire making a display of it, and went on to say for personal prayer we should retire to a room and shut the door, so as to be exclusively with God.  There can however, sometimes be helpful to pray with a friend, bearing mind Jesus stated when two people ask for something in his name……  Some people do have a prayer partner.

Before praying we must consider if we are burdened by sins; God will not answer unless we have confessed and repented to him of anything we are guilty of.

      In praying we should not use unnecessary words and phrases, I have been in churches where the intercessor rattles on praying for every conceivable person and institution, rather than embracing causes. Jesus condemned people making long prayers, likening it to the pagans who think the more words used the more effective. Prayers should be concise asking God to grant what we need, remembering God is an understanding God and knows what we require. The prayers in the bible are short , per Moses, Elijah, Solomon

Jesus encouraged us to ask, but to do worthily, and not imagine God to be like a heavenly father Christmas. We pray to God, in the name of Jesus Christ, and God will answer possibly in a different way to what we intend, but because he like an earthly father knows what is better and safer for us.  We need to believe, have faith in God and expect to receive, if we doubt we are wasting time and effort.  The Bible calls on us to pray ‘fervently’, quoting by example the occasion when people were praying fervently for Peter to be enabled to get out of prison.

Having advised of the approach to prayer, Jesus then gives his disciples an example to follow when praying. 

Jesus began calling God ‘our’ Father,  but not everyone is entitled to call God in this way, only those who have accepted Jesus as Saviour and so are in Christ.  In John’s gospel, Jesus taught that those who reject him are not children of God. This tells that the prayer was meant for believers.

Hallowed be thy name calls us to hold that name in reverence, and to glorify God. We pray that God’s character, attributes and perfection may be more widely known, honoured and glorified. The importance cannot be overstated. God’s name is far more honourable than any earthly ruler.  His Kingdom is the only one to which we conform

Thy Kingdom come, they will be done on earth as in heaven, calls for us to pray for God to be received here on earth into human hearts, and is a prayer for those in missionary work. But we need the will of God to reach us here on earth as it is in heaven

We pray that God will provide for our daily needs, bread being the basic food which sustains our physical life, so we are asking God to supply for us as He did for the people of Israel when in the wilderness and He sent manna from heaven, just enough for one day.  In Jewish households bread was made on daily needs. This reminds us of our dependence on God, and approach each day as a separate entity in our life.

We recognise God’s grace as we seek forgiveness for the debt we owe to God for sinning, and lay our sins on Jesus Christ. The Bible states ‘there is no one righteous, no not one, we all fall short of the glory of God’, so here we confess we are in fact sinners. There is the need to forgive those who offend us, forgiving the person not the sin, for only God can do that.  This is a hard call for many people and even harder to put into practice. It is important to remember that the word ‘sin’ has a far greater meaning than just sexual matters, which people usually have solely in mind.

We plead with God to so order our lives that we do not face temptation beyond our ability to resist.  God will never lead us into temptation, but we face this every day of our lives and will do so as long as we live on this earth. At this point we also want Him to protect us from evil which abounds so much all around us, and so order our lives that we may not be faced with anything we cannot bear. We live in an evil world, full of temptations.  Television controls so many minds, and some find difficult in separating fact from fiction, and young people leaving homes to go to Universities mix with all manner of people, some from richer background and family status, lead behaviour in ways not practised in lower classes of society.  Even older people who should know better, copy that which they see portrayed on television. We pray against temptation, but that does not mean God provides  it, we just are asking for his protection.  God will never allow us to be tempted beyond our own powers to  resist.

We are taught lastly  to pray for protection from the evil one. This is a description of the world, evil. The stories we read in the newspapers  and on television seem to get worse as time goes on. There is corruption, lies, deceit from the highest echelons of society, and when exposed people just either shrug off or lie. Children are being brought up with no guidance, as schools do not hold assemblies as they should. Schools and school authorities, seem to think teaching sexual activity is more important than Christianity. The Churches of each major denomination, all now allow services expressly against the teaching of Scripture to be made, and even rejoice in doing so. How God must weep when he has to see such rejection of his Word.

Finally, since all of God’s virtues are reflected in his world of creation and redemption, in each according to its own nature; the children of the heavenly Father, are deeply impressed with the manifestation of his power, wisdom and goodness, and glory, show by the sincerity of their words, and their conviction that the Father will attend to their needs, the prayer is concluded.    

 

 

 John 12 v 20-26

I want to greet all those who have kindly turned and looked at this blog.  I thank you for your interest, and hope I will continue to have your company. 
For the last three months there has been a dramatic fall in the number of people looking at it, too great a number to be normal, and there seems not to be any clear reason. I have been told I must have clashed with the algorithms, in other words, an automatic method to censor political incorrectness. Google have ignored my asking for assistance. Whether that explanation is correct, I know not.  If anyone is missing out, I will gladly email direct to you.

 

To-day I want you to look with me at these words from the 12^th Chapter of St John’s Gospel. ‘Sir we want to see Jesus.’

 

In many small evangelical churches in the United States, they have these words inscribed on the pulpit to remind the preacher that people have come to hear about Jesus Christ. .  I had the joy of preaching recently at a small Methodist Church which had the same words inscribed on the pulpit. It is a call to the preacher that he must only preach Jesus Christ and not engage in philosophy, politics, or be submissive to political correctness. These words were the theme of the preacher when I was ordained at Chester Cathedral, one of the godliest men you could possibly meet.  I hope you who are reading this will want to see Jesus, for He wants to show us Himself.   

Jesus had entered Jerusalem for the Passover festival having just raised Lazarus from the dead, and was receiving an enthusiastic welcome from crowds of people gathered for the festival.  But there were some who did not welcome Him and indeed were plotting His death.

At such a time as this many Gentiles would go to the city, and although not Jews would join in the celebrations.  Some Greeks were amongst the crowds who had heard of Jesus and were determined to meet Him.  They were from a settlement in the North of Galilee and went to Philip who came from near their area and said to him, ‘Sir, we want to see Jesus’.

Having heard the stories of what Jesus had done, they realised something was missing from their lives and wanted to receive from Him that something  So when they said they wanted to see Jesus, they were in fact seeking a meeting with Him.

When Jesus was told of their request He was pleased and responded immediately.  He had not gone to Jerusalem to enter for the same purpose as the crowds had in mind, so when He heard a group of people were genuinely seeking Him, He said, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified. Jesus meant the time had come for him to be crucified.    

He went on to say "Truly, truly, I say to you."  Whenever Jesus used those words, it meant that He was going to say something important.  Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone." He was here meaning. He was the grain of wheat and unless He went to the cross,  His whole purpose in coming to earth will have been in vain.  If He had not made the sacrifice on the Cross, you and I and everybody else, could not have forgiveness. When He met those Greeks it was as the first sign that the gospel was to go to all the world, and part of God’s plan to bring salvation to the Gentiles,  the symbol of the great harvest for which He came.

If He had not died we probably would not know any more about Him for He would have just been another figure of history, of no greater significance than any other great religious leader. Because of the cross, He was able to do something He could never have done otherwise.

Everything that happened to Him was part of God’s great plan foretold in the Old Testament, and His death on the Cross brought Him glory. When Jesus stated ‘The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified’, He  knew what He had  to face and that He is going to be glorified through the sacrifice the cross, because by that cruel death the way to forgiveness for all believers was made possible.

At the cross, Jesus underwent the judgement we deserve and paid our debt to God.  His death gives us hope of everlasting life with Him one day. He wants to give you that hope in your life today. He alone can give you that new life that can never fade.

You may have started coming to church recently, or have been a faithful member for years, and then one day you come and a preacher says a word that makes you realise there has been something missing in your life, that perhaps you have even noticed in someone else; you know that you are still on the outside looking in.  You do not understand it all, but you sense there is something you need to find out.  You need to meet Jesus.

If we want to see Jesus we should refer to our Bibles where you can meet Him there, not of course personally but through a spiritual encounter. If you turn aside and want nothing to do with him, then in the end He will close the door on you – for all eternity.

There are those, and within the Church even, who challenge His divine birth and physical resurrection, those liberals who have merely a casual relationship with the Bible.  If however we reject these doctrines, we reduce Him to what many want to see Him as, merely a religious man cum social worker. But, that is not how the Bible portrays Him.

Jesus went further, and said, much to the annoyance of to-day’s politically correct theologians, ‘no one can come to the Father except through me.’  This is now unacceptable to many Christian preachers who claim (erroneously) that all religions lead to God. 

There are so many reasons for wanting to, ‘see Jesus’. People in these high pressure days are so often weary and depressed and looking for that spiritual something.   Jesus said ‘I can fulfil all those needs.’

People are looking for something beyond themselves, looking for a way that gets the most out of life, yet carrying a load of guilt, fear and worry.  Jesus said, ‘come unto me all you are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest’ 

So many men and women these days are doing things and behaving in a way that once would never have been thought of, so carrying all sorts of moral problems.  Indulging in activities they know to be wrong, yet unable to resist the temptations. 

If they had turned to Christ they would have had someone to offer help. But when a person claims to be someone, you have to make sure they really are who they say they are.  Many people claim to be who they are not.  Margaret Thatcher, when Prime Minister, visited a psychiatric hospital and met an old lady.  She greeted her and said, ‘hello, I’m Margaret Thatcher, your Prime Minister.’  The old lady said, ‘don’t worry dear.  I was the same when I came in here, you’ll get over it.’ 

A day is coming when we will all see Jesus.  The Bible says everyone will assemble before Him as He sits on the judgement throne.  Some will go one way with the goats, some the other way with the sheep.  We will have either joy in the after-life with Jesus, or eternity with the lost. The criterion is how we respond whilst we are here on earth.  The bible says ‘now is the time of God’s favour, now is the time of salvation’.  It will be too late after we have died, and no amount of intercession will then save us. 

This story is telling us there may be people who would like to come and know Jesus, but are not sure of the way to do so. Churches suggest strange imaginations in people’s minds, and not all Churches actually look welcoming. An important role is that of a steward, one who greets people as if they are the most welcome to ever come through the doors.  

But this is not always the scene. I as a known Minister, was visiting a Methodist Church as a guest preacher, and was met at the door by an elderly woman who looked as fierce as were her words. Knowing I was a Church of England Minister, she opened up saying, ’this is a Methodist Church you know.’  Just imagine a newcomer meeting an old tyrant like that, they would never approach a Church again. Always be ready to take a friend for the first visit.

We also learn from our Lord’s words that death is the way to spiritual life and heaven for Christians. From the Cross and the death of Christ, was to bring forth the fruit of his teaching, and to provide redemption for it is as true for Christians (real true Christians) as it was for Christ, and we must follow him to  life after death.  Just as a soldier follows his general, and sheep follow the shepherd, the professing Christian follows Christ.

To serve Christ in name and form is easy work, and satisfies a lot of people who attend Church, but to follow him in faith and life involves more than many are prepared to give.  A new readiness to follow the teaching of Jesus, and to ignore the mockery of people, are often too severe for many.  But Jesus holds out encouragement, saying ‘where I am there shall my servant be; if any person serve me, my Father will honour them’.  The world may well pour scorn on our religion, but when our Father honours us at the last day, in the presence of angels we shall find his praise makes amend for all.

May we ever be like the Greeks in our passage, and want to see Jesus and seek Him with all our hearts.