JOHN 15 v 18-27

 

The Collect for the service this coming Sunday asks Jesus to give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship in spirit and in truth. Let us turn therefore to the gospel of John in Chapter 15, verses  18-27.

It is John’s way to see things as black or white; there is the Church and the world, and there is no fellowship between.  There is no half-way or compromise solution. For John it is a man of the world, or a man of Christ.

At this time, the Church was under persecution. Christians were individually persecuted and Christianity was illegal.  In the Law Courts the Magistrate would ask whether the man was a Christian or not.  No matter what the charge was, a Christian would be liable to a severe punishment or even death.  A Christian could not pretend he did not know or had not been warned.   John reported this as it was.

Jesus told His people they could be beaten in the Synagogue, and be taken before the rulers for a testimony against them.  Within families, brother would be against brother, and even between parents and children, they were ready to betray each other. When John wrote about such hatred, it had already begun and was frightening.

The Roman government hated Christians, because they deemed them as disloyal citizens.  The Empire of Rome stretched across Europe and North Africa, and the unifying force was Caesar, who was called Lord, but the Christinas insisted on only  Jesus being called Lord.

The Eastern and Western Churches of Christendom were divided about their meaning, and in some ways still are.

Jesus did two things. First, He exposed sin. He told of things which grieved God, and told them the way God wanted them to walk.  Secondly, He provided the remedy for sin, and did so in a double sense.  He opened the way to forgiveness for past sin, and gave them the power  which enabled a person to overcome sin and do the proper way. Those were the privileges and knowledge which he brought forward.

Suppose a man was ill and would call a doctor who diagnosed the cause, and offered a cure. If the man disregarded the diagnosis and refused to take the cure, he had no one else to blame. If he survived in a condition in which his life is ruined, he is at fault.  As John saw things, they  should have done what told they told to do.  The Psalmist said in Psalm 19, they hated me without cause.

It is still possible to do the same. There are not many hostile to Christ, but there are still those who live their lives as if Jesus had never come, and simply disregard Him.

The world dislikes people whose lives are a condemnation of it, in fact, it can be dangerous to be good.  The world likes a pattern; it likes to be able, to take a person, clarify him and put in a pigeon -hole.

The basic demand on the Christian, is the demand that the Christian should have the courage to be different; this can be dangerous, but no one can be a Christian unless accepting the risk, for there will always be a difference between a man of the world and a Christian man.

In verse 22, Jesus has returned to a thought recorded in John’s gospel. It is the conviction that knowledge and privilege bring responsibility.  Until Jesus came, people never had the opportunity really and fully to know God.  He tells His Apostles if he had not spoken and done among the Jews, which no one had done before, they would not have had sin. By this he means they would not have been as sinful as they were then, but were entirely without excuse They had seen the works of Christ and heard His teaching, yet remained believing He could not have done anything more.  They wilfully sinned against the cleanest light, and of all people were most guilty.  No one can know life in this world, or in the world to come if they disregard the Lord of all good life.

John uses two ideas which are close to his heart, and which are entwined in his thoughts. The first is the witness of the Holy Spirit.  When the story of Jesus is told, we recognize Him as the Son of God and we see divine wisdom. That is the work of the Holy Spirit.  It is the Holy Spirit within us, who moves us to respond to Jesus Christ.

The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as a person, and with God the father, and God the Son, is the third person in the Trinity.

Jesus said to His Apostles, you will be witness about me.  There three elements about Christian witness

.(1) Chrisian witness comes from long fellowship and intimacy with Jesus.  The Apostles are the witnesses for Christ, having been with Him from the beginning.  A witness is someone who can say this is true, and I know it to be so.  There cannot be witness without the experience, we can only be a witness when we know Christ.

(2) Christian witness comes from inner conviction.  The accent of personal inner conviction, is one of the most unmistakeable accents in the world. A person hardly begins to speak, before we know whether it is really believed  what is being said.  There cannot be witness without inner conviction, which comes from deep commitment with Jesus.

(3) A Christian witness issues in outward testimony. A witness is on who knows Christ, and is prepared to say that they know it is true. And wants others to know Him too

This is our privilege  and our task, to be witnesses in the world for Christ, and we need inner conviction and outward testimony, and a knowledge of Christ.

 

 

John 3 v/1/16

The gospel this morning is one of the outstanding passages in the whole Bible. In it, Jesus is calling for an inner change in your life. So often we seek change in relationships or in other people, here Jesus seeks a change in us.

In verse 1, we read of Nicodemus. Here was a man who recognized that he needed a change and wanted to go deeper, he wanted what Jesus offered. Sometimes it may be difficult to admit this, but Nicodemus was ready to face up to it

.He was an important man in the community. He was a Pharisee, one of an elite company never more than 6,000, who took a pledge to spend all their lives observing every details of the Jewish Law. To a Jew, that Law was the most sacred thing in the world. He was also on the ruling council called the Sanhedrin, a Court of 70 members, the Supreme Court of the Jews. All the people looked up to Nicodemus, for he was a teacher and answered questions. He tithed a tenth of all his income, fasted and prayed for two hours each day. He was a man many Churches would welcome. He had religion, but not Christ.

One night he went to see Jesus, which meant he was taking a great risk, for if found doing so it would have meant losing his position, so he had to avoid being seen. No one need to be afraid of seeking Jesus, He will take you however you come. There are people now who don’t like to acknowledge that they are identified with the Church of Jesus for fear of embarrassment through being mocked and want to live a secret faith.

So beneath an Asian sky, on a hill overlooking Jerusalem, when it was dark, Nicodemus went to find and speak to Jesus and say, no one could help but be impressed by what Jesus had achieved. Jesus replied that it was not the acts that were important, but it was the effects on a life that mattered.

The religion of Nicodemus was that of doing good works. The problem with a religion of good deeds is that we can never know when we have done enough, but that is the basic religion of the world. 95% of the population today, believes that as long as you are honest, kind and helpful to others and do no harm, you are a fully- fledged Christian with a passport to heaven. What we need to ask ourselves is, if I stood before God to day and He asked me why I should be allowed into heaven, what would I say?
Jesus saw that Nicodemus had in his heart a great need, for he could see the effect Jesus was having on the crowds and he wanted that experience. He sincerely believed he was doing what he thought God wanted from him, yet he realised something more was necessary; it was that feeling which led him to Jesus and risk incurring the wrath of his people. So many people like Nicodemus.

Jesus answered him with that phrase, which has been immortalized by evangelical preachers, ‘you must be born again’. Jesus didn’t say ‘you must think about it’ or ‘you must consider it’. He said ‘you MUST be born again.’ This verse is so difficult for many within the Church to accept, for it means a change in their way of living; in other words, it condemns them.

Nicodemus took Jesus’ words literally and asked ‘how can a man be born when he is old. Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb. Jesus was of course speaking figuratively.

The problem with so many people is that they think they are quite satisfactory and don’t need to change or do anything. They like a certain amount of religion, but not too much; having to attend Church is an unnecessary thing for them to do. Now people are fooled into thinking if their morality is in line with State law, they have a way of easing their conscience, failing to appreciate God’s law overrides State law.

But there is also a lesson and warning for many within the Church. It may be entertaining and give one a feeling of self- importance and learning to justify writing books and taking part in profound discussions in academic circles, but all that is useless in practical terms, if unable to communicate the simple message of Christianity to ordinary people.

The Apostles of Jesus were ordinary men without a degree among them. Well has it been said, ‘the Church is falling apart by degrees’.

If you go into hospital you don’t want the surgeon to give a lecture on the workings of the human body, you just want him to make you well. Christianity is something we accept by faith; we do not need a theological treatise.

Like many people today, Nicodemus felt he was too old to change, to set in his ways, but we can begin anew at any age. So many people are desperately unhappy and unsatisfied because they are missing out in their lives. They seek refuge in alcohol or drugs or gambling or whatever. The thought of seeking spiritual help is beyond their ability to think of such a move.

What Jesus calls for is a complete transformation in our lives. To lead a life in which we submit all willingly to the will of God. This means in our thoughts, words and actions. A true Christian cannot live by society’s standards from Monday to Saturday and think a token statement of repentance on Sunday will be acceptable. Nor is infrequent attendance at Church, and/or a casual attitude to faith during the rest of the week.

If you think of a birth, the body exists before birth and can move and feel, but knows nothing of this world. It cannot see nor communicate yet the world is all around it. At the moment of birth, the embryo comes in to the world and can see, breathe and make contact. The baby is born of the flesh.

Jesus told Nicodemus he needed to be born again, that being to be changed in such a way that can only be described as a re-creation. To be born of the Spirit means to have the Spirit of Jesus Christ living inside of you, and you are ready to believe that Jesus Christ was Lord and is the Saviour of the World.
People come to a point in life when they feel that they are going through the motion of religion, of having the ritual without there being any sense of the real thing. If you come to that point in your relationship with God, and it happens to people all the time, you need to come before Jesus and ask Him to come into your life and give you that new life.

At this time John had been baptizing and it was a sensational event. Many people now superstitiously think that if they have their babies baptized that will ensure their entrance into heaven, a sort of once and for life matter irrespective of a life in between, which is pure superstition. Water may cleanse and may make you smell nicer, but that is not enough in God’s eyes. What it stands for is important, but you have to grasp the full meaning, which is repentance for sin, and the start of a new way of living.

Most people don’t want to admit there is anything to repent of, they are perfectly good and God should recognize that. A Vicar put a notice outside his Church which read, ‘this church is here for sinners.’ The next week two thirds of his congregation was absent.

Jesus referred to the wind blowing and being heard without it being seen or knowing where it came from or where it was going. When we are born again we feel the Spirit of God inside us. You don’t see God or control Him, but you see the effects when Jesus takes hold of your life. Your worship becomes more meaningful and necessary to you. You don’t find so many excuses for not coming to Church.
When we are born of the Spirit we have a new power within us. It may be asked how do I get it? 

Sometimes a man and a woman meet and immediately know they have met the person of their dreams, instantly they fall in love. The relationship may last for ever or indeed may fall apart after a while when they reconsider with the regularity of normal living. Another man and woman meet and meet again and again, and suddenly realize how deeply they have come to love each other and they live on happily. If you asked them at what point they actually fell in love, they could not tell you it just developed.

So it is with religion. Many thousands of people went to the Billy Graham Crusades in the latter half of the last century. Touched by rousing hymns, massed choirs, sermon by the world’s greatest preacher, they immediately had a Damascus road conversion. Quite a lot of men became clergy and even bishops, others went back to their parishes and in the more mundane atmosphere of 1662 Matins, poorly put together services and indifferent preaching, fell away; whilst others with regular worship and a desire to know the Lord just grew in grace over time.

We have the whole message of the gospel in verse 16, ‘God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ Just as a mother suffers to give us physical birth, so Jesus suffered on the Cross that we should have spiritual birth.

Jesus went on to Jerusalem and the Cross and a cruel death in the most horrific form of execution, and after being beaten with a leather belt fitted with steel studs 39 times.

Jesus endured this that we might be forgiven of our sins.  As you bear this in mind, think of the pain He suffered, and consider if He gave His life so willingly for us, our first reaction should be, we are willingly going to follow His teaching and accepting Him as Savior.

 

May these words so motivate our hearts to follow the teaching of Jesus,

 

 May God’s Holy Name be Glorified.  

 

                              A LOOK AT TWO CHURHES

 

All my life, from a boy in a Church choir, to a young man at Liverpool Cathedral,  eventually to being ordained in the Church of England.  As I look back at the Church over the years, I find it hard to believe it was the same Church as now.

The Ministers were largely fine English gentlemen with engaging manners, always dressed in smart suits, easy to speak with, indeed it was a pleasure to do so. They conducted their services in professional way, and their sermons were Bible based.

Of course, the Churches were well attended as it was an accepted attitude that Sunday was Church day for parents, and children in Sunday School, although Sunday School depended on which district they lived in.

Most of this was ended as Governments changed, and a different kind of Church resulted also. I know those Ministers would be horrified by the way the Church had developed. It has become a rather different Church now.

For one big difference, by a change of living, in which the Church has for so many people become irrelevant.  There are few Churches which have a Sunday School, or Junior Church as now called.  This is due to families going out together, and most children do not have any true religion assemblies in school to give them an interest.  Something is a mystery, how do other faiths still attend regularly. We can however always have those people who come when they want something which only the Church cam provide.

The biggest difference of all is, that the Church of England has become an Apostate Church.  The Bible is not the authority, for all preaching and teaching, it has been silenced in places to meet the culture of to-day.

The view of the Church’s decline, could not be more clearly displayed than by the reaction from other countries.  The Church of England is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and Global South Fellowship, and the Church of England was the mother Church with the Archbishop of Canterbury was the leader. Both Church and Archbishop have been disqualified, because of following a doctrine  which is against the Word of God.

The Church has agreed to follow a false doctrine, to give blessings to unions of (so called) same sex marriages in secular places. This is going to be exacerbated in the near future ,as it is likely to be agreed to have such ‘marriages’, and allow clergy to have a same sex partnership. This is in direct opposition to the Bible in Genesis 2 and Matthew 19. When both God and Jesus stated marriage is between a man and a woman.  All ordained clergy make an affirmation at the Ordination service to ban all false doctrine. The failure to keep to the affirmation, in turn has created problems.

An Oxford Chaplain was engaged by a private school as Chaplain, and a group promoting sexuality was also engaged, and in one lesson called n the pupils to all shout ‘down with heteroploidy’.  The Chaplain was asked by two boys, if they had to believe all they were told by the ideology group, and he said no, but respect other people’s views. In a teaching lesson, he is stated to have told in a moderate and thoughtful way, that marriage was between a man and a woman.           

The  headteacher reported the Chaplain to the elite Police anti-terrorism Unit for their attention, and they probably thought the teacher was rather confused. for thinking of terrorism, and sent it back.  The Chaplain was ten sacked.

The Chaplain returned to his Diocese, and his bishop after having him examined by a safeguarding woman, decided to suspend him. Now after five years, that Chaplain has been banned from any Ministry, has no employment. He is an ordained Minister of the Church, who quoted the Official doctrine of the Church. In other words, he was suspended for doing his work properly.

He appealed to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who rejected him and gave full support to the bishop.

Christian Concern Legal team took the case to the Court.

The adjudicating Officer, was legal expert Gregory Jones (KC) who ruled that there was no evidence to justify the Rev. Bernard Randall being marked as a risk to children because of his Christian beliefs on sexuality. Evidence was found that the  Diocese had blacklisted him, under the watch of bishop of Derby, after it had departed from safeguarding guidance, and had no reasons for doing so.

The Archbishop of Canterbury was said to have misguided himself  and misunderstood the scope of his powers, after saying there was no case for the bishop of Derby to answer, over the power which led to blacklisting. The Archbishop admitted safeguarding powers had not been followed, and  a safeguarding complaint that the bishop herself had been guilty of abusing behaviour.   The action taken, was described by the judge as egregious and gross.

The bishop was told the safeguarding process, which led to the Rev .Randall being blacklisted was flawed, and needed to be reviewed. The team had discriminated against Dr Randall because of his certain theology.

The Chaplain is still out on his own, but a large number of people have signed a petition for him to be reinstated.  By any standards, the bishop let herself be unworthy in this case.

This is an example that safeguarding is being abused and misunderstood.

If a man/woman has been selected for ministry, it should be assumed they have a sense of personal responsibility, and know how to conduct themselves in speech and action. Any improper behavior, improper speech, assault or theft, would all be against the law of the land, and become a   straight Police matter.  If a Church law or Article is breached, the matter is for a Bishop to deal with.  The Church has managed for thousands of years without safeguarding,

I have had my license revoked, because I only attended one safeguarding lesson. I declined to take two more lessons, as the first taught nothing, and I had taught safeguarding in my previous profession.

I can no longer preach in this country, and I am disappointed, and I am sorry to miss you, but the Church has got another biblical preacher out of the way. I have many friends in countries around the world,who follow the sermons I publish on the internet, and have invitations to visit their Churches, so am not completely cast out.  I am quite sure I am not alone in recognizing the safeguarding system is really little more than a charade and fallback purpose.

The Church is the family of God, and if not protected, the damage caused will increase the division within the Church. A parish priest will be put in difficulty as part of the congregation will have a different opinion to the other half and each will feel aggrieved if not listened to.

The Apostles once asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, and He did so saying, Our Father, now we have a change wanted so as to be able to say Our Parent. In other words, to say that Jesus was wrong; just as hear God got it wrong when He made two genders male and female.

God has not got anything wrong.  He made man, and then as man’s greatest gift, he gave him a woman.  Two people, of equal standing, but different bodies so together they may have children to form a godly home.

Franklin Graham, the son of the world’s greatest ever preacher Billy Graham, came to this country to hold evangelical meetings in towns, and whilst not in the same way as his father, is still a world famous preacher, attracting large  followings. There must have been many Church members anxious to hear him, but were advised by some bishops not to attend as he was a hate speaker. When asked what hate he spoke, the answer was he stated marriage was only between a man a woman.  There must be many hate speakers now, but remember that Jesus and God both state the same words.

When people come to Church they expect to hear the full gospel, to hear the teaching and works of Jesus, to see and hear of the love of God, to find comfort in the midst of despair, depression and grief.  It is like going to a restaurant which offers good food, but when visiting get offered junk food. The present situation, is like safeguarding--flawed.  If a  preacher is not preaching the Bible, he should not be wasting people’s time.

On a hopeful note, the largest London Church has initiated a scheme in which men are commissioned to go into parishes, and be guided in Churches which have biblical Ministers, so preparing for future ordination. The Church is doing all it can to bring back the Bible.  This will stop the process in which Ministers are leaving the Church of England to enter the Fee Church of England.

 

May God so inspire the hearts of all those engaged in Ministry that they faithfully preach and teach that which is laid down in Holy Scripture and may God’s Holy Name be praised

 

 

JOHN  6  v52/70

Few passages of Scripture have confused people as the gospel reading. A sense  has been put upon it which was never meant to  be.  The verses do not mean in a literal way, but mean  more in a spiritual meaning. 

Jesus had fed the five thousand by the Sea of Galilee, and to avoid facing the crowd that had gathered moved to Capernaum, where the crowd traced him. He knew they were following him for the food he could give them and no other cause.

He told them. ‘I am the bread of life, and whoever eats my body and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.’  The very idea of eating flesh and drinking blood would be revolting.

The bread Jesus is giving, relates to his death on the Cross, and those who believe in him are made righteous before God. Jesus meant life to be more than mere existence, he was speaking of a new life in a relationship with God, which is only possible by accepting Jesus into your life as Saviour; without him no one can enter into a relationship with God. He is the bread, in the sense that he nourishes us spiritually, and satisfies the longing of our souls. Those who accept him into their lives will not therefore hunger, because their spiritual longing to know God will be known.

This chapter gives us a vision of Jesus, whereby we can relate to him not just as someone we read about, but rather as someone we can turn to, and both he and God become a friend, as the hymn states, ‘what a friend we have in Jesus’. This invitation is extended to all people, but there is a stubborn resistance which refuses the offer, so that what the heart is really searching for is lost. This is where the Jews lost out, they could not believe that someone who came from an ordinary home could possibly be a messenger from God.

When Jesus said he was the bread of life, he was saying he was essential for life, so to refuse to accept his offer means to lose eternal life in heaven. He was the mind and voice of God, who lived a human life among us and offers help to all who seek him. He spoke the words, ‘come to me all who labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest’.

Jesus said he was the living bread, in that all who believe in him shall have their spiritual longing filled. He went on to say, unless we ate the flesh and drank the blood, there would be no life within them. To eat the flesh means to believe in him, and to drink his blood means to accept his death on the Cross where he shed his blood.  

We are reminded when we take Holy Communion of the sacrifice made which the body and blood is representing. The Roman Catholic Church did at one time, I do not know if it still applies, believe when the bell was tolled, the bread broken and wine blessed became the body and blood of Christ. And in the High Church Anglo-Catholic wing, parts maintained that belief.

In Jewish thought, blood stood for life, and when a body bleeds life flows out of it, and to a Jew blood belongs to God, which is why Jews will not eat meat unless it is has been completely drained of blood. Jesus wants us to take his life into the very centre of our hearts and life.

Some people were thinking God did not choose them and Jesus would turn them away, but he promises anyone who turns to him will never be turned away. Jesus said no one can come to him unless God sent him/her, which implies that no one has the moral and spiritual ability to come to Christ unless God the Father draws them, that is gives the desire and inclination to do so. All of us who have turned to Jesus and accepted him into our hearts and lives, were inspired to do so when God touched our hearts and gave us the choice of accepting or rejecting Jesus. All who truly believe in Jesus will be saved  and have eternal life, and on the day of judgement will be raised up to the fulness of eternal life.

You may have a precious book, which you never got down to reading it, just having left it in a bookcase. Eventually you do read it, it thrills, entertains and inspires you, and you are left wondering why you turned away from it from the start.

But people are still finding Christianity is a problem and staying away from Church, and what increases their resistance, is the demand he makes on our lives; we are bound to accept him as the ultimate authority and accept moral standards of purity.

I had a lady in my Church who came infrequently, and I met her in the town one day and asked why I had not seen her at Church, she said, whenever I come to your Church I always feel you are getting at me. I told her that it was probably someone much higher than me speaking to her, as I prepare my sermons well before I preach  them and never can rely on her presence.

How true is the saying, if you never upset anyone, you are not preaching well.

The reason the Church is falling apart is that fewer and fewer within are accepting those demands. God is not going to bless a Church which is acting and preaching contrary to that which he has laid down. We are making accommodation in our teaching and liturgy, for what is unequivocally rejected by God in his Word, (the Bible).

Paul told Timothy, preach the Word; by that to tell what the Bible states, without any amendments or personal opinions. Unfortunately, there are preachers who feel the Bible needs to be made more relevant to modern culture, but their feelings are not a consideration, it is to be stated as written.

We need to seriously consider, what it means to be  a follower of Jesus; it means you accept Christ as Savior, and follow all  Christ teaches and demands. I was once asked to explain what  a man in Songs of Praise meant when he said, he had attended church for years but had just become a Christian.  A Christian is someone more than just an attendee at Church; it is a man or woman who has offered their life to follow Jesus.

We see in this passage back-sliding. When Jesus explained what he meant by eating and drinking, from that time many went back and walked with him no more.

.Do not accept Jesus as just a character in a book, but someone to whom we can turn to as the final authority in life. The invitation is given to all people, but there remains a stubborn something which refuses the offer. The human heart defies God, but when we accept him the heart finds what it has been searching for.

As we come to the last verses in this chapter, we read that ‘many of his followers said this is very hard for us to understand, how can anyone accept it. Such followers were not true and genuine believers, but were following him for what he could do for them, such as healing and multiplying food.

Jesus knew there were some who were unsettled, and knew they would never accept the doctrines he expounded. Paul warned some people in the Church would not either, and would turn to those who were ready to say the things wanted to be heard, and how that is manifest in to-day’s Church.

There is much to be learned from this passage.  People place too much emphasis on ceremonial procedure, but Christianity makes the state of the heart the principal matter. Flesh and blood means the atonement of Jesus, and eating and drinking means faith.  Faith in the atonement of Jesus is of absolute necessity to salvation, and we are united with our Saviour.

We see the hardness of people’s heart.  Even when the preacher was Jesus who Peter describes, as ‘the Holy One of God’,( that is the One set apart for service to God) yet was not accepted by so many. When Jesus spoke kindly and clearly, not all listened.

The true grace of God is an everlasting possession, and true followers do not fall away.  But there is also fake and unreal religion in the Church, which is why some people do leave. Like the ground spoken of in the parable of the Sower, the stone is hard and nothing can take root there. Many words and resolutions are made, but they have not had the grace of God.

If Jesus experienced so much, well might we do so, but do not be discouraged; do not let your faith be threatened, there have always been failures in the Church who fail and want to take others with them;  the remarks of Peter apply to us.

Casual Christianity is not enough to save our souls.  Grace is needed to make a true believer, which will enable us to serve God in the most difficult times.  Never rest until you have that grace properly established in the soul.  The words of our Lord come to us when he states, ‘ask and it shall be given you’.

All Christians should by faithful and loyal to Jesus, and demonstrate this by not being hypocritical in their way of living, rather accepting and practising his commands. 

Millions have been baptised, and such has been the mendacious meaningless procedure, that we have never seen them attending further. We live in an age of free thought and behaviour, in which the sole aim is pursuit of self-pleasure. Those who deceive themselves they are heaven bound, because they consider they are so righteous on spurious grounds, will one day see their judgement overruled by divine judgement. Jesus said human effort accomplishes nothing,

When Jesus saw people walking away, he asked his Apostles were they going to leave him, and Peter who loved the Lord asked, ‘to whom shall we go?’  Peter knew Jesus was the only way to God.

May the Lord richly bless you, and help you to receive Jesus into your life.

 

E P H E S I A N S 6 V 10-20

Paul was leaving his people at Ephesus, and he is concerned, for he knows the struggles which thwart them. People had to live hard lives in Paul’s time. We may feel discouraged, often because we have those who govern us, who have promised us much to gain election, but when elected claim to have been left a legacy by their predecessors, to excuse the lies which were freely given, but we cannot compare with people of Paul, They believed in demons, devils and evil spirits. They thought the air they breathed was full of harm.  The names Paul uses, such as powers and rulers, where what he used for evil spirits and demons.

To Paul, the world was a battleground, and in effect it still is for us in the same way. The  people had to face attacks, and also found spiritual forces fighting against God. (Still the same today) We may not use the description of Paul, but now there is a more sophisticated way in which we face the same.

Robert Louis Stevenson once said, I met Satan at an icy cold Station in Scotland on a windy night. That actual experience was not mentioned, but we have all meet the same influence, which seeks to upset us.

Paul was all the time chained to a Roman soldier. Night and day, the soldier was there to stop him escaping. Paul was the kind of man who could get alongside anyone, and would have talked to all the soldiers he met. This gave him an idea, that the Christian could be a soldier for Christ, and could use armor like them.

The Belt of truth.

The belt was worn around the tunic, and had a sword hanging from it which allowed easy and quick movement.  Christians move freely, and in any situation know the truth.

The breastplate.

Righteousness is a breastplate, when a man is clothed with righteousness is totally protected.  Words are not a protection  from accusations, but a good life is. When Plato was accused of sinning, he said,we must live so to prove they were a lie. The only way a Christian can act if so accused, is to show how good a Christian they are.

There were sandals. 

The sandal allowed a man to walk quickly and be ready to move. The sign of a Christian is to be eager to preach the gospel, and tell of their faith and the story of Jesus Christ.

There was the shield.

This was a small round one. The most used weapon was the dart equipped with pitch on the point  The shield was made of wood, so that when a dart was fired  , it st,ck in the wood. Faith can deal with the dart of temptation, And give complete and perfect trust in Christ.  That means faith with a close relationship with Christ is safe from all  weapon of temptation.

The helmet.

This was for salvation. Salvation looks forward and back. This means your past sins are forgiven, and  strengthen you for things to come.

There is the sword.

The sword is the word of God. A   weapon to attack or defend. In the word of God we find protection from sin, and fight stops the sins of the world. Those who fought with Cromwell did so with a sword in one hand, and a Bible in the other hand.

Finally, we come to the greatest weapon, of prayer.

We have to note that which Paul used about prayer. It has to be constant in every time of life.  It is so often only used when things go wrong, or when things were wanted.  For Paul, it meant daily prayer.  Worry and stress cause lack of sleep and sometimes illness, so prayer needs concentration. Lots of words are not necessary, God will know what you need, so be concise.  And remember to give thanksgiving when answered.

,Paul asks for the prayers for his friends for himself. And this prayer is not for peace, this prayer is for comfort; this prayer is that he may be allowed to tell God’s secret, that God’s love is for all men, to all the world.  We would do well to remember  that no Christian leader and no Christian preacher, can go on unless his people are ever upholding their hands in prayer.

Lord, We give thanks for your word to us. May your Holy Name be Glorified

Mattew 6 1-18

We are looking at verses 1 to 18 in the 6^th Chapter of Matthew’s Gospel.

I would like to say right at the beginning of this sermon, that some of the statements I make may be quite different to the views which you have, and indeed  from what you have heard from other preachers.  It is good however, to hear different teaching, provided always of course, it is consistent with Scripture.

Each sermon should have a purpose, which should makes clear what the Bible message was meant to convey. When we turn to the Gospel especially, the words of Jesus we must realize are from a Jew. Jesus was a Jew speaking in this passage to Jews, and He was relating His words to Jewish culture and understanding.  When Christianity was adopted bynon-Jews, all His teaching applied, and still does to Christians.

At the present time, many people have a strong feeling against Israel and the Jews, and if you should be of such animosity, I pray you will remember we are looking at events of two thousand years past.  As I have stated, Jesus was a Jew, our Holy Book was written under God’s guidance by Jews, and we have the same God.  Our religious life has been based fromThe Old Testament Prophets which led to the life of Jesus in the New Testament.

 

Looking at the first verse, Jesus starts a discussion on three acts of righteousness. Up to this point, Jesus has been addressing the matter of personal righteousness in terms of morality, and now turns to doing the will of God in religious practice, especially the great hallmarks of Jewish piety.

To the Jews there were three works of religious life, three great pillars on which good life was based, giving, prayer and fasting.  Jesus, at the time of it happening would have expected His listeners to do these things, but He is concerned as to how they may be done, and warns to be careful.  He says, pointing to the motives behind our devotion and duty. are they sincere? The deeds may benefit someone , but are they done just to be noticed. What troubled Jesus, was so often in life, the finest things  were done for wrong motives,

It is a strange fact these three good works readily lend themselves to wrong motives. Jesus was concerned that we should be giving the right approach.  It was His warning that these things were done for the intention of bringing glory to the person or they lost the mostImportant part of their value. He assumes people will be watching what we do, and may try to impress people.  Jesus warns if our acts are to impress people, God will not be impressed and there will be no reward from our heavenly Father.  We should only be concerned to please God, it is His approval we should be seeking.

Public acts may be valuable and honorable, but if they are done merely for public recognition they will earn no reward.

In verse 2, Jesus begins to lay out our duty regarding giving.  To a Jew, almsgiving was the most sacred of all religious duties. They used  the same word for righteousness as almsgiving; they were one and the same thing, and to give alms was to gain merit in the sight of God.

A man may give alms not really to. the person to whom he gives to help, but simply to demonstrate a generosity and bask in the warmth of praise.

I have for a long time been against stewards in Church, walking around Church after the Minister has told the congregation it is collection time.  Some stewards hold the plate with a smile, and pull it away when a person is obviously a visitor, whilst others hold the plate with a grim look, as much as to say now give. Apart from the act, we ask people to come to Church, and then virtually ask them to pay for doing so, but money given to help the work of the Church should essentially be freely given, and the more considerate method is for the Minister to tell the congregation, that plates are available at the back of the Church for any donation people might like to give to aid the work of that Church. Some American

prayer Churches have the acute saying, ‘ thank you for your generous giving’. 

The second part of the first verse speaks of your reward in heaven. It has often stated that the reward motive has no place in the Christian life.  Virtue it is stated, has its own reward and the whole concept of reward is banished from Christian thought. This all very fine, but it is not which Jesus taught,

Three times in this passage alone, Jesus speaks of God rewarding those who have given Him the kind of service He desires. Throughout Scripture Jesus spoke of reward and punishment so we have to be careful we are not trying to be more spiritual than Jesus.

It is a rule of life, that any action which achieves nothing, is futile and meaningless, Unless the Christian life has an aim and a goal which is a joy to obtain, it becomes largely without meaning.  To banish all reward and punishment from religion is in effect to say that injustice is the last word.  It cannot be held that the end of a good life is the same as a bad one. That implies God does not care whether we are good or bad; it would mean there is no point in being good.

When Jesus  was speaking of reward, He is not thinking of material reward, His rewards are those only understood by spiritually minded people.  The first reward is satisfaction of doing the right thing is obedience to Jesus.  The second reward is a vision of God. the third reward is being given more to do.

The teaching of Rabbis was the same as Jesus, they too forbade the ostentatious giving. A Rabbi would drop money behind him so he would not see who picked it up. In the Temple there would be a room called The Chamber of silent people , who wished to make an atonement for sin, and they placed money there and poor people who had come down in the world were secretly helped by these contributions. But as in so many things, practice fell short and too often the giver gave in such a way that all may see the gift so that more glory was gained for themselves.

There are numerous ways in which giving loses its sincerity in so many walks of life. The more offensively arrogant is that practiced in political circles. Regularly we read or hear of men and women giving money to political parties, so that in return rewards of titles and peerages are being given in return. Political leaders promise to abandon the practice, but as time comes for them to retire or be replaced, the enthusiasm wanes for they may be denied that which they disapproved of.

 

In verse 5, we come to prayer.   No nation has a higher ideal of prayer than the Jews, and no religion ever ranked prayer higher in the scale of priorities than the Jews did. The Rabbis had a saying, he who prays within his house surrounds it with a wall stronger than iron. But certain faults had crept into the Jewish act of prayer and the can occur anywhere.  Thet are faults of misguided devotion and tended to become personalized.

A person may pray in such a way that their prayer is not really addressed to God. but to other people, or simply an attempt to show piety.

There two things in the daily use of which was prescribed for every Jew.  The first was ‘Sherma’ which consisted of three short verses from Deuteronomy and Numbers, and had to be said every morning as early as possible, and every evening; no matter where persons found themselves they had to stop and say.  Some would say reverently, others just gobble through it so becoming a vain repetition.

The second thing a Jew had to daily do, consisted of reciting 18 prayers which was and is still, an essential part of Synagogue prayers. They are well formed prayers, and no Church possesses a more beautiful liturgy.

The same thig happened again.  The devout Jew prayed with loving devotion, but there were many for whom it was gabbled formula.  We Christians do the same with the Lord’s prayer which Jesus taught us to pray.

Still further Jewish liturgy supplied prayers for every occasion. There is hardly an event in life that did not have a prayer.  It was the intention that every happening in life should be brought into the presence of God.  But there was the danger that prayers could slip off the tongue with very little meaning.

In addition, there set times for prayers, 9.0am. 12noon, and 3.0pm and no matter what circumstances a man might find himself in, he was required to pray at those times.

There was a tendency for prayers for long prayers. This is not confined to Jews. For some people who perform intercessions, length seems to be considered more worthy, and A person may practice good works simply to win praise and increase their own prestige and show the world how good they are.  As Jesus saw it, there is no doubt that kind of thing does receive a certain kind of reward, but is that is what you wany, you will get admiration from people, but that is all you will get as payment in full. If your aim is to get yourself the world’s rewards, you will get them, but you must not look for rewards which only God can give .

Sometimes the person reciting is unable to terminate.  God is not impressed by such praying, and neither should we be.

I once heard a Baptist Minister say how wonderful the prayers were in the Book of Common Prayer.  Each last just a minute and are completely contained.  Jesus insisted we must always remember that God to whom we pray, is a God of love who is more ready to answer than we are to pray.  His gifts and grace are not to be willingly extracted from Him.

In verses 16-18 Jesus criticized them for looking for looking somber and not washing their faces. Jesus never liked those who made show of their religion and considered them as hypocrites

The Jews had fasting customs, and to this day is part of religious life in the East. There was just one day for compulsory fasting,  the Day of Atonement.  Jesus was concerned that there should not be any public fasting, for fasting for its own sake is pointless. To seriously fast is to symbolize a humble state of mind before God,

 

We give thanks to God for giving us His Word. May He forever be glorified

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER. Matthew 13 v 1/13 and 18/23

This is a major parable of the twenty three recorded in Matthew’s gospel, and it is recorded by Luke and Mark, The parables of Jesus make up a crucial part of the Bible, to convey spiritual truth.

Here is a picture which people present with Jesus would understand. He had just left His house and got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people gathered on the shore in a sort of amphitheatre on the shore. It was common practice for a Rabbi to sit as he taught. He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one.

A farmer went out to his field to scatter some seeds. The field would be divided into long narrows trips, and between the strips was a walking path of way, and with constant walking would become hard by the feet of passers-by. As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on the footpath, and the birds came and ate them.

Other seeds fell on shallow soil only a few inches deep with underlying limestone rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died.

Other seeds it is told, fell on ground which was deceptive in that it might have looked good, but underneath lay roots of fibrous plants, and the seeds would mix with the weeds that grew up and choked out the tender plants, but the weeds flourished

More seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted.
His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

Jesus told them,, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.  A parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.

Jesus was bearing in mind a prophecy of Isaiah, the Old Testament prophet, who said ‘for they look, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. He was meaning they listened and saw him preaching, but would not turn to him.

.This is so indicative of so many people now, they are prejudiced and don’t want to consider anything different to what they believe.

This entitlement to differ. The followers of Jesus were thought to be worthy of listening to him.is so prevalent in political circles, and among intolerant activists who want to criticise all who hold different views and beliefs to them, but resent any alternative opinion. What individual people do and think is a personal matter for them, but others have equal

Jesus explained the parable. He stated there are those who hear the message and are like the seed sown on hard ground, it doesn’t have any effect on them. They don’t let it penetrate their mind or affect the way they choose to live. It can be a matter of pride causing a person to think there is no need to change their way of life, or there is a barrier to hear something different to what they are used to.

The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, and they fail to think things out properly and quickly reject. We have minds and hearts, and we have an obligation to intelligently reason out the demands of Christianity, which is not only a privilege, but also a responsibility.

There are the hearers who have lives full of other interests in life, and let the important matters be crowded out. Just like the seed which falls on the ground and gets choked by underlying thorns. The business man, for whom all life beyond the end of the Sunday service, is concentrated on business issues. Or be like a man, who once told me how he loved coming to Church, but it was difficult on some Sundays as he had golf to play. They hear a message, but fall away to temptations.

But there are the people who are like good ground. The seed falls and takes root in an open mind, willing to listen and react. He listens to the Word of God instead of other people. Such people are like the seed which produces a rich harvest, who trust and obey.

The doors of Synagogues were closing on Jesus, and He was not having a lot of success for they were trying to destroy Him. Some people were going to Jesus for what He could do to heal them, but then went away and forgot Him. How human nature never improves through the generations. The Apostles saved and believed implicitly in Jesus, but must have felt frustrated and even disappointed that people didn’t loyally follow Him.

This parable teaches that there is also the good seed, and good people to produce a harvest, and we see proof of that in the fact that while some Churches pretend to preach the gospel, there are those that really do so. This is a parable of encouragement. Just as a Sower cannot foretell the results of his sowing, neither can a preacher know the immediate result of preaching, in fact may never know.

I was on holiday, at a place a reasonable distance from my home, and went into a shop where the owner stated he knew me. He had once attended a service I had taken some time before, and heard things from the Bible which he had not previously understood. This helped him to believe and attend Church. We should never be proud, but it is good and acceptable to be encouraged to know one caused growth.

Jesus had to explain to His Apostles why He spoke in parables. He said to him who has much more would be given, but from the one who has not, what he has will be taken away from him. It might have been expected to be the other way round, but what Jesus was referring to was truth, We may hear and believe, but never act up to it. Jesus was meaning, that giving more will be given to those who can produce results.

In the parable, Jesus referred to different soils and the corresponding reactions by different ways to the gospel. Some people can be deeply changed by something they heard, and there is a change in their life, whilst others whose minds are shallow and are never touched.
We who live here, are home to one of the great names in Christian history, John Bunyan. He wrote a a Christian book named Pilgrim’s Progress, which attained world attention, and assisted millions of people. He was a man of much Christian faith and integrity, who served twelve years imprisonment, because he conducted services which were more forceful than the Church of England form, and refused to follow those the Church laid down. His memory is as strong now as when he lived between 1628 and 1688.

Jesus said the only thing that has power to change the human heart, is the Word of God. The parable teaches that this must be supported by people getting to see and hear we are an active Church ministry. There is need for us to try and invite unconverted people to services, and try to create an interest for Children, but without some of the gimmickry of some past ideas, where the emphasis has been on trivialities..

One essential necessity for any organisation, be it Church, Army, or business is strong leadership. A leader who is committed to the task with firm belief in what he is leading, solid discipline within the organisation to faithfully keep to the purpose stated, and have a clear plan of what is aimed for. Such is very much lacking within main denominations where there is no clear indication of the purpose for which the Church exists, what it believes, what is unique and which only the Church can offer,

In fairness, the Articles of a a denomination are clearly stated at the time of its foundation, but people regularly read of senior Ministers not accepting the Word of God, and even trying to make an unholy alliance with the culture of society, and even opposition activists.

How God must weep when He sees the wonderful Church He created, and the final commission of our Lord to take the gospel to ALL nations, making disciples and obeying the commands He had given.

This parable is itinually relevant wherever and whenever the gospel is preached; it described what happens within congregations. The work of a preacher resembles that of the Sower; good seed must be sown based on the Word of God (the Bible). Sadly, despite having made vows before being authorized to preach only sound doctrine, such has not been adhered to.

The teaching of the Bible, which is God’s command, is being blatantly ignored by the highest Offices of the Church to the lowest ranking lay preachers. We see the consequences in the number of empty seats in Churches. Rather than spreading His commands, the ways of the world are being communicated.

The parable tells that there are different ways of hearing the Word without any benefit. I have heard people think it amusing to say all the things they think of during a sermon. Such nonsense is not amusing, and just shows how much intelligence they haven’t got, and is shameful when it is borne in mind that they are present in Church to worship the God who gave His Son to die on a Cross for their forgiveness. Anyone who has lost a son (or daughter) will know how painful such a loss is. Truth has no more effect on such people than water poured over a stone.

Like the Sower, the preacher should use every opportunity to make the gospel prosper, as Paul stated at every opportunity. The preacher should not be discouraged or give way, for to do so is to betray and dishonour one’s commission. We can sow, but we cannot make it grow, only God can do that, and He would not bless some of the talk being given

 

May God’s Word and His Holy name be forever Praised

 

ROMANS 1. V.16/17

 

This week’s sermon is based on Romans 1 v16/17

 

I fear there is an awful lot of false teaching being given in our Churches as clergy, and lay preachers, skirt round social and moral issues from fear of offending and thereby being labelled a bigot, or having some form of the many kinds of phobias which now have been created, or amend the biblical teaching to accommodate the standards and culture of society, a practice totally unacceptable.

 

Paul is writing to Christians in Rome, the mightiest city of the day, a city full of learning, yet also full of immorality, where Christianity would not be appreciated, and he was ready and eager to go and preach the gospel no matter what the cost, even though Christians were in danger of persecution; a sort of London of the day. He had been beaten, stoned and left for dead as a result of his preaching, but never gave up; now he is in the most powerful city in the then world. We need to look at particular words in the passage.

 The Bible states, ‘preach the Word’, by which is meant preach what God has laid down in Scripture.

 

The Bible also states, ‘ALL Scripture is inspired by God,’ and warns that nothing should be added or taken away. There is no pick and mix option.

Two of the most of the significant verses and perhaps most encouraging in the Bible, are those in the first chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: the righteous shall live by faith’.

 

Paul says he was not ashamed, in fact he glorified in the gospel and that is what all Christians should do. But sadly, I fear we all do not. How many Church members are embarrassed when asked if they believe? Indeed, how many are ready to acknowledge they attend Church? How would we answer is asked to give our opinion on moral questions?

 

If you are not ashamed you are ready to speak out about your faith. Some people are fearful of their friends finding out they attend Church in case they get mocked, or because it might restrict the way they want to behave. Some will worry will they be called narrow minded or old fashioned. Remember the words of Jesus, ‘for whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this sinful and adulterous generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed when He comes in the glory of the Father’.

 

These verses were what sparked the most important event in Christian history after the birth of the Church, the Protestant Reformation. An obscure Monk in Germany posted a set of 95 theses on a Church door intending to initiate a theological debate, without any conception as to what would follow. There was a religious firestorm which swept across Europe when he made the statement which should be proclaimed from every Church pulpit, ‘the true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God’.  Any other issue must be considered secondary, the gospel is central, and anything which threatens to challenge the gospel must be ignored.

 

We may offer what is hard for sceptics to believe, but that should not stop us telling it. When we tell how God took a young Jewish girl, and caused her to conceive by the power of the Holy Spirit; that when this child became man He performed miraculous deeds and eventually gave His life by a cruel death on a Cross, in order that God would forgive people of their sins: that three days late would rise from the dead as a sign that one day all who believe in Him and accept Him as Saviour, would live eventually with Him in heaven.

 

The gospel is the story of Jesus Christ who gave Himself to be crucified for

our sins in order to reconcile us to God. Why should anyone be ashamed to tell that story? We all no doubt are ashamed of things we have done in our lives, and the things we have said but wished we hadn’t, and that is understandable. But we allow ourselves to become ashamed of something for which there is no need to be ashamed of.

 

For it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes

This power is for everyone who believes. This means more than just believing there is a God; the devil accepts that; believing means making a commitment. Too many say they believe but do nothing, which is why regular preaching of the gospel is important so that people may come to live by the Scriptures.

Some are religious and even show some outward inclinations toward Christianity. They come from a Christian background. They think that Jesus was a great religious figure. But they have not believed in Christ. Though the gospel is God's power for salvation, because they have not believed, they have not experienced this power nor have they known the gospel for what it truly is.

 

The reason so many people are not willing to accept the Bible they are more ready to listen to the strident outpourings of nauseating, insulting, self-indulgent secularists. For others accepting the gospel would mean a change of hedonistic lifestyle. It means accepting a standard of morality they are not prepared to accept.

 

God’s purpose for the Church is to lead people to salvation; to proclaim the gospel story to an unbelieving world. In order to help us do this according to his wishes, God created spiritual boundaries and we should not wander beyond what the Bible sets out for us.

 

There is false teaching being given from within the Church that all will go to heaven. It is said that God would not send anyone to hell, and that is right, but people choose to go there by their own neglect.

 

To believe as some do and preach that everyone will go to heaven is nowhere stated, nor can be found in the Bible, and is totally misleading. This perpetuates the belief, that as long as someone is kind and honest, they must be a good Christian and will go to heaven. Atheists and people of other faiths are kind and honest, but would be offended to be called Christians.

Never give up studying God’s Word and meeting other Christians, there is always someone who can help you. During the years of my ministry I have had the joy of knowing I have led people to know Jesus, and it has made all the effort worth- while, and I have been on the other side and led by the most devoted man I personally  knew in East Africa.

We cannot make ourselves righteous before God, but we can be through Jesus’ atoning death. Jesus acts as a bridge between God and us, putting us in good standing in God’s eyes, making it thus possible for us to be acceptable to God. This is God’s powerful way of bringing all who believe to heaven. It’s what our Lord achieved when he died and rose from the dead. We are saved by grace (Great Riches At Christ’s Expense) through faith. The gospel is the power that gives us salvation. But the gospel is bad news for non-believers, for it offers no future hope.

This righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: the

 righteousness is not ours. We receive it by faith as a free gift from God. All you have to do is reach out with the empty hands of faith, and cling to the Lord Jesus Christ. If you dare to let go of your good works and come with empty hands to the Saviour, Jesus will meet you with open arms. That's how you receive the righteousness of God. It is by faith from first to last.

You must have faith and believe. We are prepared to place our faith in many people, but reluctant to trust in God.

 

We have to accept we live in a country where moral absolutes have been abandoned, and the country is being influenced to follow an agenda by atheists, secularists who want to force Christianity from the public arena, and especially from aggressive activists in the LGBT Lobby who want their ways of life generally adopted and accepted, without any dissent..

 

How individual people lead their lives is a matter entirely up to each person, but the activists are deliberately creating situations which intrude on other lives. There is objection to any alternative opinion being expressed, but the Church must be given freedom to state what the Bible teaches. However, even that is becoming difficult for a Court in Bristol fined two street pastors £2000 each plus costs for quoting from the King James Version of the Bible.  Fortunately, this was reversed on appeal, which a charity funded.

 

Do you believe the Church is at the present time is able to face up to such pressures? Is it not a fact that the mainline denominations have bought into what is being put forward from outside? God set out guidelines in the Bible as to what He expects us to teach, and the Church has gone beyond that teaching.  

It is not too strong to say, immorality is permeating into Churches. People are not being taught the thoughts of God, but following blindly after the culture of society. 

 

To preach, fundamental truth will inevitably cause some upset. But let us take heart from Paul, who faced all that could be put against him, and so caused Christianity to spread throughout the ancient world. The Bible states, ‘preach the Word’ and those whose responsibility is to do so will one day have to account before the Lord for betrayal. Preachers should remember they are called to preach the gospel and abandon sin, not preach sin and abandon the gospel.

 

The Bible states, everyone is on one of two roads to eternity, either the narrow road, which fewer choose, is the one which leads to heaven by faith in Jesus Christ; or the broad one, which is always overcrowded, and leads to hell.

If you are on the broad road, you should change direction by turning around, and get on the highway to heaven, like Martin Luther and millions of others who chose the Jesus Christ highway.

 

Martin Luther was so inspired by this passage, it caused him to start the Protestant Reformation, and if all preachers were inspired similarly there would be fewer empty seats in Churches.

 

We have to accept that if you state you believe in the full authority of the Bible, ,you will find many will oppose you, and even those close to you will challenge you, perhaps within your own family. You will be called narrow minded, bigoted or of having some kind of phobia. How disheartening to hear from pulpits that we must not take the Bible too literally; or that there will be atheists in heaven.  The time may come, when those of us who stand firmly on the Bible will be frozen out, and attempts will be made to silence us. It has already begun.

 

The greatest revival in the history of this country took place under the ministry of Charles and John Wesley. The once great Methodist Church was built on a strong Biblical foundation. If they were alive today they would have much to say at the way the Church has failed to proclaim the message they left, that salvation was through Christ alone, the value of a person’s life was measured by their faith; by the manner in which they lived their lives, and the doctrine of heaven and hell.

 

The Wesley’s’ legacy has been passed down through the ages to the Church they founded. This should not be betrayed. Charles was one who wrote as he thought, and he saw the importance of conversion and a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. He became vividly convinced of the message of salvation, and saw clearer than ever before how faith in Jesus Christ could change a person’s life. This was the message he would take to as many people as he could, particularly to the poorer classes.

 

I was shocked to read one week, of a meeting being widely advertised to take place at the original chapel of John Wesley in Bristol, the oldest Methodist building in the world, to celebrate what is called ‘gay pride’. If John Wesley could know about this, can you imagine his reaction? I can tell you what he said, when preaching from the same chapter . His words were ‘such conduct was as horrible dishonour to the body as was their idolatry to God.’  I am amazed at the betrayal of honour to the founder of Methodism at his cherished chapel.

I do not bear any ill will to anyone. But my respect and admiration for both Wesley brothers is such, I am disappointed that they should have not thought or have concern for those who created Methodism. To act in direct rejection of the Words of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, would horrify the Church’s once great servants of Charles and John Wesley and their evangelical preaching.

 

Let us as Christians be as proud of our faith as other Faiths are of theirs. Remembering, there is salvation in no other name than Jesus under heaven given among men by which we can be saved.

 

All Christians at this perilous time, need to think of what we can offer to God. To paraphrase a famous saying, ‘think not what God can do for me, but what can I do for God’.

 

Let us proceed by faith and never be ashamed of being a Christian. Paul said he was not ashamed, and nor am I, but what about you?

 

May we be always true to God’s Holy Word and His Holy Name be praised and glorified.