34             

       John 2 v.1/11

The Gospel passage for Sunday, is the story of the first miracle of Jesus at a wedding, and we see God’s intention for mankind.

This story takes place in a village Cana, which is situated near Nazareth, and is the story of a wedding.  An Eastern wedding was a very special occasion, different from a Western one, where the bride is the main figure. Here, she enters a Church in all her glory to the playing of organ music, and the congregation standing to greet and admire her. In the East the groom is the main one and he pays for it, the bride just turns up.

It was Jewish law, that a virgin got married on a Wednesday, with the ceremony in the late evening after a feast, and the festivities would go on for days, often with relatives of both families joining in the celebrations. After the ceremony, the bridal couple would be conducted to their new home, through the village streets by the light of flaming torches, with a canopy over their heads. They were taken by as long a route as possible so as many people as possible could wish them well.

In a land where there was so much poverty and constant hard work, this week of festivity and joy was a significant occasion, and it was this that Jesus came to share in. An added problem was he brought with him five Apostles, which meant more people to wine and dine.

For a Jewish wedding wine was an essential, but there would be no drunkenness for that would be seen as a disgrace, and the wine would be two or even three parts water.  In the East hospitality was a sacred duty, so failure to provide would have meant humiliation.

Mary heard of the problem and told her Son, and Jesus answered her by what seems rudeness, ‘woman what have you to do with me, my hour has not yet come.’ Jesus was kindly stressing that she must not see him only as her son, for when he will suffer, the more she will suffer. She must the see him as her Lord.

Standing there were six large jars each holding about two or three measures, that is about twenty gallons of water, making a total of over a hundred gallons of water intended for purifying or cleansing. The roads were dusty, and as the men wore sandals the men’s feet needed washing, but Jews also washed hands before each course of food.

Jesus sorted out what normally would take hours in preparation, by cutting out the normal procedure of crushing and fermenting, and turned the water into wine. This is included in the story to emphasize the greatness of the Lord’s gift. The head waiter then praised the quality of the wine produced.

These verses tell of a miracle with special meaning for all true Christians.  It should be noted that Christ did not touch the water pots, He just commanded and willed the change

The ceremony was a time for happiness and joy, but also a time for reverence, and there is a place for both.

  We see Mary’s faith in Jesus. She turned to him when a problem arose, and even when he answered her sharply, she told the waiter to do what he asked, giving us a message to trust Jesus even when we do not understand is happening.  In every life, there comes period of  darkness when we despair and wonder what the outcome, happy are those who still trust.

Every Bible story has a meaning and a lesson for all the Lord’s followers, including this story. We see Jesus ready to share in all our celebrations.

This was the first of the Lord’s miracles, and it took place at a marriage of a man and a woman, which has a significant meaning, and it tells us how honorable and important marriage was in the eyes of Jesus, it having been ordained by God for society’s benefit when he made a man and a woman.

There is no more wonderful and beautiful union than a man and a woman, and that it is why God created us so. God told us He gave woman to be an essential part of a man’s life, and men have found what a great blessing He gave.

God created marriage as the first institution before all others, with two distinct people of different bodies, to have children and create a human family. Other relationships are condemned in Scripture.

Two people of the same sex cannot produce children, and so extend the human race. God knew what He was doing, giving them different personalities and bodies, with different genes and chromosomes, which cannot be medically changed, to fulfil His purpose for the world.

Since the creation of the world, thousands of years past, marriage has taken place in every country in the world, being recognized as a stabling factor in society, In the last twenty years, it has been attacked by secular activists, liberal politicians seeking votes, and shamefully by bishops and other Church leaders, who have actually called for the Bible teaching to be abandoned. We have reached a stage where marriage has no significance in public life, and now can even be ended without stated reason.

This has caused much distress and poverty, principally to women, and social study has established that children’s lives greatly affected. How ironic that Western nations where there are more material benefits, there is less marriage success than poorer Eastern nations where marriage is more honored.

What any two people decide they wish to do, is a matter for themselves to pursue without interference; God is capable of forming His judgement and any action He sees necessary. For the Church to formally give approval is to violate God’s teaching and our Lord’s commands.

For Jesus a home was special, no family abuse such as we see in so many homes.  A great loss in our time, is that Jesus has no place in the majority of homes in this country. The bedrock of our society was once a family home of a man and woman in a happy marriage, raising children with a Christian faith. Now, such a situation is mocked as old fashioned, but we never had so many teenage pregnancies, child abuse, and a divorce rate of more than 1 in 3 marriages. So many children do not know love, security and fellowship of a loving home. A lot of children don’t even know who their father is, and have brothers and sisters of different parents.

Jesus showed his glorious powers, and bestowed his blessing on marriage at a village girl’s wedding, and his Apostles accepted him as God’s Son.

This wedding took place probably in a village hall, no need for fancy mansions and plush hotels with large number of guests; Jesus is ready to take part in the ordinary things of our lives. 

Today the Church is almost performing a miracle in reverse, turning wine into water by diluting marriage into something having no greater significance than any other relationship.

Don’t be discouraged. When we let God and Jesus into our lives, all ordinary activities receive new power, so don’t close the door of your life on the Lord, for if you do you reveal your lack of faith and trust. Give God a chance to do want you cannot do.

Jesus said I have come that you may have life in all abundance; be prepared to accept and believe him.

One day a great marriage feast will be held, at which Jesus will be the bridegroom and his believers will be the bride.

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

It is the first miracle our Lord Jesus performed, and reveals the importance which the  Lord places on the honorable act of marriage.  This is the state ordained by God, and is a lesson for all the leaders of Churches, should especially take note. Marriage should never be treated with levity nor be disrespected or altered, thereby abusing God, for this is here signifying the mystical union between Christ and HIS Church. Society is never in a healthy state, nor is true religion when marriage is not properly esteemed. To blatantly change and ignore Christ in order to please society, is offending the mind of Christ, and should never be taken inadvisably, but reverently in the fear of God.      

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

Prayer.

Thank you Father for letting us share in this special wedding in Galilee.

We thank you for creating that relationship between a man and a woman which transcends all other human relationships. We pray for those young couples who will be starting a new life together that may share the joy and happiness which you alone can give.

 

We pray that God’s Holy Name be Praised and may God be Glorified.

 

 

Be at Church on Sunday; making sure it is a Bible believing Church.

 

                              1 Corinthians 12 v1-19

This is a very significant passage. 

 In this chapter, the apostle describes how the Church should function.  It is essential to remember that Christ built his Church, and in his last words of earth told his Apostles they were to continue his work and take the gospel to all nations. The Apostles faithfully fulfilled his commands, and now his followers to-day have a duty and responsibility of continuing the work.

Paul is writing to the Corinthian Church, and has come to a point where he is dealing with spiritual gifts.  The  gifts were those of the Apostles, to authenticate their teaching when stablishing the Christian Church, following the departure of Jesus.

Paul begins this passage and relates to pagans, which was just another way of stating they were not Jews.

Those Gentiles found that some in the Church were speaking ‘in tongues’, This means they were using what was known as speaking in a spiritual way, and having come from idol worship, the new members were confused and referred to Jesus as being accursed.  Paul told them that only people filled with the Holy Sprit could say Jesus in Lord.

Paul in later times, spoke against such speaking, as it tended to make new members leave, as the words could not be understood,  and it created an appearance of delusion.

 He 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, and we keep this in mind.                                                                                       

Paul begins by describing the Church is the body of Christ, and as a body is formed by many parts, so is the Church. All the parts are to function with dependence on each other in a body, and all members of the Church are to work in fellowship together.  The Lord fully expects his people to work in harmony and fulfil their work with sincerity. There should be no identifying as different people. Men/women, black/white, employer/worker. Irrespective of nationality.

Paul emphasises the analogy of the human body to that of the body of Christ.   The major part of a body is of course, the head, where the brain controls our actions and unites all the other parts, and Christ is the head of the Church.  

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.

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 states, for in one spirit we were all baptized into one body

You may ask, in what way can you play your part?   The Spirit unites people and avoids division. Water baptism is an outward sign of conversion, being baptized in the Spirit is having been fully committed after repentance and a declaration of faith and united to the corporate body of believers

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.

Often 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 valuablem 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. Other ladies regularly clean the Church, which is not to be seen as a meanial task, it is as worthy as any pother work, and is usually by females.

One thing I have always reegretted, is that many Churches have magazines in which are filled with events which have taken place.  There are also many seasonal fayers with members atending to stalls of various goods. The essential is, what is the individual Church doing to proclaim the gospel.   

Every Church magazine should have a Bible story, and full timetable of servicescstating the type of service.  The place of seasonal sales posted with details of the services on the entrance and leaving doors..  We miss vital opportunities to advertise our faith. Business spends thousannds of pounds on advertising and would only do so if it proved worthy,, we can do so with very little expence.  Sometimes it seems as if we are embarrassed at telling of our  presence.

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. 

 

 

May God bless His Word to us, and may He be ever glorified

M A R K  1 v4

John appeared baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance.

The Gospel for the Sunday service is about John the Baptist.

The Collects for Sunday’s service pray that we who are born again by water AND the Spirit; and may we recognise Jesus as your Son and our Lord.

 I have been asked (1)if I believe in infant baptism

                                       (2)have I baptised infants and if so why.
                                       (3)what kind of baptism do I believe in.

I do not believe in infant baptism as I think it un-biblical.

Yes, I have because as an Anglican priest I was morally obliged to do so.  Fortunately this was not in great numbers as my parish did not require it.  But I tried to limit this to parents who were prepared to come to Church before the service. I never included the section which asks if they have repented of their sins. It is hypocrcy to ask two unmarried people that question when they have two children.

At one time. the Church suggested that people planning marriage, could if they wished bring any child they wanted to be baptized.  A sort of two for one.  That didn't last long;perhaps someone realized how irresponsible it was 

I believe in the baptism for believers.  I do however respect the views of those who take a different attitude to me, and trust they will respect my understanding.

Following on from the events recorded in Acts, we find a confession of faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit happen together. Nowhere in the Bible is there a separation.   I believe this means that within Churches we need to have a deeper understanding of baptism and confirmation.  Whilst I have often preached on baptism, I have never been at a service when this has been preached upon by others.

 I think this is very regrettable, especially when people come to a baptism service who do not normally attend Church. It seems to be so essential that they should know exactly what baptism was meant to be. I have been at a baptism service when the name of Jesus and the word ‘Cross’ have not been mentioned once in the sermon. On other occasions there has been a good sermon in the normal course of things, but totally beyond the understanding of the non Church member.

 

Looking at the events recorded in Acts, the normal pattern to becoming a Christian is that someone ‘repents, believes, is baptized, and then receives the Holy Spirit’.  This, however, is not a chronological order.  These are the essential components to becoming a Christian, but God can change the order in which they happen as was the case with Cornelius and the Ephesian believers.

 

It is because Acts and the New Testament do not give a chronology that has lead the overwhelming majority of Christians over the Church’s history to feel that it is right to baptize the children of Christian parents.  However, it is the fact that, in Acts, it is the normal order that has also led some equally sincere and committed Christians to refuse to baptize anyone not old enough to decide for themselves.

 Whilst it may have been the intention that infants being brought for baptism should be of Christian parents, in practice it is now accepted that the infant of any parents irrespective of belief (or none) is accepted.

 Baptism has always been a problem for me.  I have read, listened and pondered hard, but cannot bring myself to accept the case for baptising infants indiscriminately.  I find myself compelled to sympathise with those who believe baptism should be for those who can make a decision for themselves. I do however respect the view of those who are in favour of infant baptism, and hope they will respect mine.

 As an Anglican priest I was morally required to do so, but felt distinctly uncomfortable in doing so.  It still distresses me when I see people coming to a Baptism service showing no respect for the place they are entering, and only being concerned to have their cameras and camcorders ready, without taking an interest in the whole service.  Fortunately for me all that is now over, I can choose which services I take.

 I believe when the Church first decided to baptise infants it was intended to be for the parents of worshipping members.  This can be deduced by the fact that the Canon relating to the subject states, parents and godparents must fulfil their responsibility to bring up the child within the Church, and by their own example. 

 Whatever the practice was in past years, it is now the common practice to accept anyone who requests, without any requirement other than being told to attend on the relevant date. 

 The Church of England liturgy in Baptismal services asks the parents and godparents if they turn to Christ as Saviour and submit to Christ as Lord, and are allowed to affirm without question.  Similarly they vow to bring up the child in the life and worship of the Church, but the falsity of this is shown by the fact that Church congregations do not reflect these promises.  Further, to state ‘this child who has been born again’ is theological nonsense.

 I cannot find any reference in Scripture to babies being baptised.  They were welcomed and treasured, but not baptised.  I accept it has become tradition to do so in  our Churches, but there is the question do we put tradition before Scripture.?

 Baptism is a most sacred act. There is a joint action between God and man. Man repents, God washes sins away and there is then forgiveness and a person can really say they are ‘born again’.  Can a baby have sins to be washed away?

Within Scriptural terms a person is baptised when he/she realises their life can be different and better if Jesus Christ is part of it; they therefore repent of past failures; believe that by His death on the Cross, Jesus Christ became their Saviour, and they promise to follow His teaching for their future life.  How such can be fulfilled by people who never have any intention to attend worship, never read a Bible, never contribute anything in effort or finance to the Church, or really seek to know the Lord, I have yet to understand. 

 I know it is often said to be a means of outreach, but apart from it being wishful thinking, it hardly justifies departing from the true purpose.  If all who have made the promises of the Baptism service and adopted the words used, we would need to build more Churches as they all joined us on Sundays.

 Where we can agree, I think, is that we ALL should have repented of our sins, believed in Jesus, been baptized AND received the Holy Spirit.

 Most of us, I think, can agree on the first three components of the Acts formula, but how many of us feel comfortable in saying that we, personally, have received the Spirit?  Received, that is, in a way that we know it to be true.

 In the Gospel of John, Jesus is stated to have said, ‘unless someone is born of water AND the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God’.  And also, ‘whoever does not believe (in Jesus) is condemned because he has not believed in the Son of God.’

May God's Holy Name be Praised and may God be glorified

The 8th Chapter of Acts (14-17).


The Collect for Sunday prays that we who are born again by water AND the Spirit may be faithful to our calling as your adopted children. Children obey their father’s teaching. Only Jesus however is a son of God, who has no grandchildren; God has graciously called us as his adopted sons and daughters

Philip , who was one of the seven deacons, not the Philip of the Apostles, had been telling the people of Samaria of the gospel, and had caused a spiritual awakening as men and women were becoming believers and seeking baptism. The news had reached Jerusalem where the church leaders met, and they decided to send Peter and John to find out what was happening.

When the two Apostles arrived in Samaria, they discovered that whilst the people had been baptised, they had not then received the Holy Spirit, so they laid hands on them for the Holy Spirit to be received.

There was a false prophet in Samaria named Simon,, and when he saw the Apostles laying hands on those who had been baptized, he offered the Apostles money of they showed him how to receive that gift. Peter rebuked him telling him to repent and seek forgiveness. Such false prophets are still in our Churches, and others write so-called fortunes in books and magazines for people who are misled into seriously believing.

Many people maintain this as the justification for the service of Confirmation, children (or others) who have been baptised as infants, come to confirm the vows made on their behalf and have hands laid on them by the Bishop.

If we study what took place at Samaria, we can realise how far the Church has drifted away from the biblical pattern of baptism. The people heard the gospel preached, they accepted the message and came to become believers, then sought to be baptised.

I have been asked (1)if I believe in infant baptism
(2)have I baptised infants and if so why.
(3)what kind of baptism do I believe in.
I do not believe in infant baptism as I think it un-biblical.


Yes, I have because as an Anglican priest I was morally obliged to do so. Fortunately, this was not in great numbers as my parish did not require it. But I tried to limit this to parents who were prepared to come to Church before the service, which meant I had very few baptisms. I also saw the wording was inconsistent, and did not require parents to make vows they would not keep.
I believe in the baptism for believers. I do however respect the views of those who take a different attitude to me, and trust they will respect my understanding.

Following on from the events recorded in Acts, we find a confession of faith and the gift of the Holy Spirit happen together. Nowhere in the Bible is there a separation. I believe this means that within Churches we need to have a deeper understanding of baptism and confirmation. Whilst I have often preached on baptism, I have never been at a service when this has been preached upon by others.

I think this is very regrettable, especially when people come to a baptism service who do not normally attend Church. It seems to be so essential that they should know exactly what baptism was meant to be.
Most take it as a Christening, to give the child a name, which it is not.  The name is confirmed at the local Council registry Offices.

I have been at a baptism service when the name of Jesus and the word ‘Cross’ have not been mentioned once in the sermon. On other occasions there has been a good sermon in the normal course of things, but totally beyond the understanding of the non -Church attender.

Looking at the events recorded in Acts, the normal pattern to becoming a Christian is that someone ‘repents, believes, is baptized, and then receives the Holy Spirit’. This, however, is not a chronological order. These are the essential components to becoming a Christian, but God can change the order in which they happen as was the case with Cornelius and the Ephesian believers.

Within Scriptural terms, a person is baptised when he/she realises their life can be different and better if Jesus Christ is part of it; they therefore repent of past failures; believe that by His death on the Cross, Jesus Christ became their Saviour, and they promise to follow His teaching for their future life.

At the beginning of the Church baptism, as recorded in Scripture, was for adults.

In the 2nd century the Church adopted the practice of baptising the children of worshipping parents. This can be deduced by the fact that the Canon relating to the subject states, ‘parents and godparents must fulfil their responsibility to bring up the child within the Church, and by their own example’.
Even however in the case of parents who are Church members, I feel it is stretching Scripture’s teaching. I cannot trace any instance in the Bible where the baptising of infants can be proved, but at least it shows some respect for the service.
Whilst it may have been the intention that infants being brought for baptism should be of Christian parents, it is now common practice to accept the infant of any parents, irrespective of belief (or none), who requests, without any requirement other than being told to attend on the relevant date.

I know it is often said to be a means of outreach, but apart from it being wishful thinking, it hardly justifies departing from the true purpose. If all who have made the promises of the Baptism service and adopted the words used, we would need to build more Churches as they all joined us on Sundays.
Baptism is a most sacred act. There is a joint action between God and man. Man repents, God washes sins away and there is then forgiveness and a person can really say they are ‘born again’. Can a baby have sins to be washed away?

Paul writing to the Colossian Church stated, ‘you were buried with Christ in baptism in which you were also raised with him in faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from death

This a metaphor drawn from Christ’s working on the Cross. Paul is meaning the Christian rite of baptism represents an identification with Christ and his death on the Cross, along with Christ in his resurrection, Dying and rising with Christ signifies death to sin, we reject ways of life which offend against the teaching of Jesus, plus we have the power to live new life that Jesus calls all believers to live, in imitation of him. All our past sinning is wiped clean, having been washed with the blood of Christ which was shed on that Cross,.

. The Church of England liturgy in Baptismal services asks the parents and godparents if they turn to Christ as Saviour and submit to Christ as Lord, and are allowed to affirm without question. Similarly they vow to bring up the child in the life and worship of the Church, but the falsity of this is shown by the fact that Church congregations do not reflect these promises. Further, to state ‘this child who has been born again’ is theological nonsense. What sins could a new born baby or young child had time to commit?

I cannot find any reference in Scripture to babies being baptised. They were welcomed and treasured, but not baptised. I accept it has become tradition to do so in our Churches, but there is the question do we put tradition before Scripture.? There is ample provision for parents to attend Church for a service of thanksgiving for a safe birth of mother and child.

Baptism has always been a problem for me. I have read, listened and pondered hard, but cannot bring myself to accept the case for baptising infants indiscriminately. I find myself compelled to sympathise with those who believe baptism should be for those who can make a decision for themselves.

It still distresses me when I see people coming to a Baptism service showing no respect for the place they are entering, and only being concerned to have their cameras and camcorders ready, without taking an interest in the whole service. Fortunately for me all that is now over, I can choose which services I take.

Whatever the practice was in past years, it is now the common practice to accept anyone who requests, without any requirement other than being told to attend on the relevant date.

Within Scriptural terms a person is baptised when he/she realises their life can be different and better if Jesus Christ is part of it; they therefore repent of past failures; believe that by His death on the Cross, Jesus Christ became their Saviour, and they promise to follow His teaching for their future life. How such can be fulfilled by people who never have any intention to attend worship, never read a Bible, never contribute anything in effort or finance to the Church, or really seek to know the Lord, I have yet to understand.

Where we can agree, I think, is that we ALL should have repented of our sins, believed in Jesus, been baptized AND received the Holy Spirit.

Most of us, I think, can agree on the first three components of the Acts formula, but how many of us feel comfortable in saying that we, personally, have received the Spirit? Received, that is, in a way that we know it to be true.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus is stated to have said, ‘unless someone is born of water AND the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God’. And also, ‘whoever does not believe (in Jesus) is condemned because he has not believed in the Son of God.’

We thank God for His Holy Word. May God be glorified

J O H N 14 v 6.

Jsus said,I am the way, the truth, the life.

The passage I have chosen to speak to you about this morning is one of the best known passages in the New Testament, even to non- Church people, and contains words, which are so relevant to Christian living and belief.

Jesus was spending His last night with the Apostles in what is known as the Upper Room for the Last Supper. Judas was about to betray Him, and when Judas had left, Jesus told the remaining Apostles that the time for Him to be glorified had come.

What Jesus meant by this was, this was the last time He would speak to them before He was to die. His glory is, that He is on His way to the Cross, His work on this earth is over and the crucifixion will also bring glory to the Father.

Jesus then for the only time, called His Apostles, ‘little children’; this was obviously an endearing term of affection, like a father who is about to go away from his family. It is the end of a close relationship of three years, and time to say goodbye.

Jesus was speaking to His disciples shortly before going to the Cross, teaching and giving guidance, and that same teaching is passed down for the benefit of all Christians throughout the ages.

Jesus had told them He was going to leave them, for He was going on a journey He had to take alone. The Apostles were devastated at the thought. Perhaps you can imagine their feelings if you reflect on how people feel when a Minister they are happy with, suddenly tells them that he is moving to another Church. This invariably causes sadness, unless there is a poor relationship. I have experienced this on three occasions in ministry, and it is hard to disassociate oneself completely.

Jesus said, ‘do not let your hearts be troubled’. The heart is the seat of all our emotions, and when that is upset it affects thoughts and actions, and causes personal disturbance. Jesus wanted to reassure them He was not forsaking them.

He told them they were to believe in Him as well as God. Most people believe in God, but have less thought for Jesus. He was putting Himself alongside God and, wanted them to trust Him and maintain a personal relationship.

He said, there were many rooms in His Father’s house, meaning heaven, and He was going to prepare a place for them. This meant there was the prospect of living for ever with Him there.

When Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for them, this was referring to the fact He was going to the Cross, to die for the forgiveness of sins for all people, and by that death He was making it possible for them to go there.

If you desire to go to stay at a hotel in some foreign country, you invariably go to a travel agent who arranges everything for you, and when you arrive at the hotel, they have a reservation waiting. You cannot just turn up because you think you are entitled to stay there without some preparation.

This passage is widely quoted in funeral services, when people assume that everyone is automatically going to heaven. I have taken hundreds of funerals over the years, and there has never been doubt in anyone’s mind, that the deceased is going to heaven irrespective of the life led. Nowhere in the Bible is this view upheld. Jesus was very clear in His teaching, that it certainly was not so. In parable after parable, He spoke of two roads, of sheep and goats, of tares and wheat, of heaven and hell.

Whilst it may be comforting, to believe that we can all get to heaven regardless of one’s beliefs, and we like to please our fellow men and women, it is quite cruel to mislead if it is not true. It is like telling a blind person standing on the foot-walk of a major road it is safe for him to cross when ready. If we say to someone who has no Church commitment, ,has only a tenuous belief in Jesus Christ, never reads a Bible or prays, that they are going to heaven, we are leading them astray.

Others say, if you just follow your conscience you’ll be fine, but consciences become dulled and hardened. Taking the lead from politicians, people can look you in the eye and lie without any qualm of conscience.

In this passage before us, He is talking to His followers, people who have made a personal commitment to accept Him as Savior. This is why it is so important, for each person to make his/her own decision, whether to follow Jesus in His teaching, commands and demands He makes on us.

You see, the Bible is all about commitment. We are reminded of the superficiality of commitment in our own time. Less than 10% of people think God worthy of one hour per week to visit a Church. Yet, if you were to ask people their religion, the vast majority would reply C of E, and seriously consider they were Christians. They would be mortally offended if you suggested otherwise. Very few people seem bothered to think of Jesus, even less to do anything about it.

It is easy to say I am a Christian, easy to say I read the Bible. 95% of the population today believe as long as you are honest, kind and helpful to others and do no harm, you are a fully- fledged Christian.

Jesus speaks firmly and rather profoundly, when He says not all who think they are to enter the Kingdom of heaven will in fact do so.

In every action of life we are confronted with a choice, where we must make a decision to do one thing or another. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus confronted us with a hard or an easy way. He makes uncompromising and tough demands of commitment, which many people cannot take, and are not prepared to commit. Then as now, some are ready to listen and walk with Him, learning to depend on Him, whilst others are just occasional supporters.

In its desire to be nice and friendly to all, with a craving to please society in general, has not always given sound teaching on this and some misguidedly preach that Jesus was giving a blank promise for everyone when He is clearly addressing His followers, and if we do not follow Him, our end will not be in the rooms of His Father’s house.

When Jesus said they knew the place where He was going, Thomas asked Him how they could know when they didn’t know the way. This brought forth from Jesus that profound immortal statement, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’

What exactly does Jesus mean when he says, we can only come to the Father through Him alone. Some time ago I went to Birmingham, and had to find an address. I asked a man passing if he could tell me the way, and he answered, ‘it is pretty difficult for you to get there on your own, but I am going that way and could take you’. He got into my car and we went directly there. That is what Jesus does for us. He says you can’t get there on your own, but I will direct you, guide you, and take you myself. He is saying there is no other way. This is an exclusive offer.

This is not generally liked as it is seen as being too restrictive, too bigoted and intolerant, and to be judgmental is not liked. Consequently, some clergy will not quote it, whilst others just will not accept it. Frankly, I think if any man/woman does not accept this verse, then they should not be allowed to preach, for they are betraying the Lord who said it, and the Church which they serve.

It can be hard to be a Christian in this country at the present time, and many find the going too hard and strenuous and the opposition oppressive. We have come to a state in this country now, where a Christian person may not express a personal view based on sincere religious belief if it might offend someone Any open expression of our faith is likely to lead to suspension or dismissal from work, and even the most innocuous adverse comment upon human behaviour, will raise hysterical shouts of phobia or bigotry. There is so much harassment of Christians, which is not reported here, and you have to listen to the American news channels to discover what is going on in this country. This does not apply apparently to other faith speakers.

I cannot understand how we can share in multi-faith worship and maintain Biblical integrity. Whilst I believe we should respect other faiths, and try to live amicably with them, in view of the unique teaching of our Lord (here set out in verse 6 that He alone is the way to God) we cannot justify sharing in multi faith services when our beliefs are so different, and it is matter of recognising the unique authority of Jesus. Only Christianity, maintains that Jesus Christ as divine, and salvation was earned by Jesus on the Cross. But we have the words of our Lord Himself, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’. Jesus is quite unequivocal.

It is widely claimed, erroneously, that we all worship the same God and all religions have the same way to heaven. Islam worship ‘Allah’, and see Jesus as a good man in the social sense, or a prophet at best. Indeed, the Islamic faith states, ‘God has no son’, which is in direct contravention of Jesus’ nature. We should each respect the right of the other in their belief, and try to live peacefully together.

I do admire the devotion and loyalty of Islam. Muslims in Islamic countries are Muslims in the full sense of the word, and they find difficulty in understanding how people who live in Christian lands, reject their faith so completely. Why, on the Lord’s birthday so many get drunk and engage in orgies. They will fight and defend their faith, and the men will not feel embarrassed or ashamed to be seen going to worship. Put many Englishmen in a Church and they feel lost and disorientated.

It is a common perception these days, that religious thoughts should not be expressed in public arena. Christians have gone along with this and divided their lives into two spheres, spiritual and secular.

No other group would accept such a deal. Try telling a Socialist they should keep their thoughts to themselves; or telling an LGBT activist he shouldn’t call for same sex marriage, then wait for the howls of outrage. BUT, let a Christian state he believes in marriage as only being between a man and a woman. I was prevented from taking a funeral because a member of the deceased family knew that was my belief, even though it had nothing at all to do with the funeral. No one had the courage to support me.

We are accused of being narrow minded and improper, for bringing up our children as believers, and if we should commit the ultimate crime of suggesting our faith influences how and what we teach them, and object to them being asked if they thinking they are of the right gender, we are of course a multiple of phobias.We are allowed to visit the sick and care for the poor, as long as don’t mention praying for them.

Jesus warns us that there must be a clear acceptance of His teaching, and total obedience to it. Just to recite a creed and attend Church is not enough. We honour Jesus by calling Him Lord, and sing hymns expressive of our devotion to Him. The lips that sing His praise should never be the lips that challenge Holy Scripture.

The temptation for us, as Christians, is to say what makes us popular. Too many preachers have forgotten about being authentic; about being true to the Gospel we have been entrusted with by our Lord; to be true to our values, and to proclaim them withoutembarrassment and fear.

Jesus said He was the truth. If a person is to teach moral truth, that person must have an impeccable reputation, and have no hidden misdoings. Only Jesus can claim moral perfection, which is why He can say ‘I am the truth’.

Thirdly Jesus says ‘I am the life’, meaning the opposite of death. He is the source of life, and gives life to His own. Just as death mean separation from God, so life means being in communion with Jesus.

The Bible tells us we must contend for the faith, once given to Christians. The faith once given, means the faith that which was given by the Apostles who had been taught by Jesus, and which was blessed by God when the Church was first established. Let this be the faith we adopt and believe, and not that now being re-interpreted to suit modern culture.



May God bless His Word to us and may He be glorified

I wish you all a very happy and blessed 2025.

New years are often a time for making resolutions and new starts. The best resolution a Christian can make is to follow a way of life advocated by Jesus and to be regular in attending Church to worship Him.

As members of a human family we like to meet with brothers and sisters in our parents’ home and as members of a Church family we should welcome the chance to meet with our Christian brothers and sisters.

A Church family is unique in that it consists of different ages, backgrounds, experiences and sexes. It is where God provides for us to be come equipped to carry out His message to the world. We sing praise together, pray for each other and for the worlds needs share bread and wine in Holy Communion and remember what God has done for us in Jesus Christ.

We live in two worlds. We live in the earthly world but we also live in the world of the Spirit, and there is always the danger we can forget about God and become so involved in earthly activities.

The Bible says, ‘let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another’. We need to meet with others to have fellowship, to gain and give encouragement. Each of us has to make an effort. Most people believe in God and many have a respect for the Church, but that is as far as it goes. They don’t want God or the Church to intrude into their lives, unless of course they want a baptism or wedding and then both can become useful.

But just believing in God’s existence is not enough we have to draw near to Him and the only way is through Jesus Christ. There is one way, one Saviour, one way to eternal life.

Jesus is described in the Bible as the great High priest of God. The function of a priest is to be a bridge between God and man so that we can come into God’s presence and Jesus makes that possible. Jesus can take us into the very presence of His Father.

Some people treat Church like a petrol station. They go to refill their spiritual tanks, and although there are lots of people on the forecourt, don’t wan t to get involved with them, but just drive in fill up and shoot off.

There are many, far too many people in recent times, who have forsaken Church and it can be so very easy to give up, go with the flow and fall away. Once this is done it is often hard to get back into the practice of coming to Church. This is why the Bible urges the need for Christians to be with each other.

There are numerous reasons for people giving up worship. There are the cynical voices pouring scorn making people feel doubtful. There are forces of secularisation, now given so much attention and credence. There are pressures from within families where some members are anti-church, notably husbands regarding their wives. The worry about taking a public stand, and indeed, from within the Church itself.

I know a lady who was a wonderful practising Christian, as practical as one might be. Always the first to offer help when any member was unwell, or in difficulty. Very active in the Church, taking a leading role in all activities, social and religious. PCC Secretary, trained to be a Lay Reader, and then a new Vicar came to the Church with a wife who was one of the most unpleasant women I have ever met. She was intensely jealous of anyone likely to overshadow herself or husband, and made the other lady’s life so difficult she gave up attending a Church she had attended for many years. Perhaps the lady was wrong in not moving to another Church, but when you have been attending a Church for which you have become so attached, it can on a human scale be quite demoralising.

So we should not be tempted to separate ourselves from those who are joined to us by a common faith. Meeting and following Christ can be costly but mostly well rewarded. We must always be aware of the fact that in many parts of the world Churches cannot exist, nor can Christians meet with other Christians for fear of imprisonment or even death. Increasing hostility is being displayed in countries like Egypt, Pakistan, and Nigeria, where Churches are burned down and bombed. Here we still have freedom to worship, but if not cherished and valued and fought for will be lost.

We are living in an increasing anti-Christian environment with so called Equality and Diversity laws making it hard for Christians to express themselves, as public servants strive to find ways of excluding Christian expression.

Coming to Church should be like sons and daughters coming to meet with their (heavenly) Father in complete harmony. My sons regularly visit my wife and self, and I would be very concerned if they did not. Our heavenly Father is also upset when His children neglect Him.

But there is one thing I feel needs to be stressed. We should ensure the Church we attend is one faithful to God’s Word and seeks to build each other up through the Scriptures, and where the true gospel is preached.

We have to acknowledge however sadly this is not always the case, so it serves no purpose going to a Church which fails to do these things. Too many preachers have their own agenda, which is created around a morality not supported by Scripture, and where the teaching is given to subscribe to the culture of the day.

You must find a Bible based Church. Research in America has shown that going to Church and meeting with fellow believers is good for your health. A survey in North America of 4,000 people, found that older people especially who attended Church, were less depressed and far healthier that their non religious counterparts.

There are few people who can say with hand on heart I have no worries, problems, everything in my life is sunshine and roses. We all need spiritual fulfilment.. To all who are worried Jesus says, ‘come to me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls’ He is saying He is waiting for you and has got the help if you only will go to Him.

Jesus added, ‘take my yoke upon you’. A yoke was a wooden frame placed on a persons shoulder in order to make a load easier to carry. So Jesus is saying let me help you carry your burden. In John’s gospel we have the promise of Jesus that He will never turn anyone away.

Let us therefore draw near to God. holding firmly to your belief, and never give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us always give each other encouragement. Don’t let unpleasant people, secularists, or anyone else hold you back. Remember too, Jesus said if anyone rejected Him, He will one day reject them. Such a fate is too horrible to consider..

HEBREWS 10 V25

Let us not neglect our church meetings,  as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that his coming back again is drawing near.

From the first day after the resurrection Of Jesus from the dead, the first day of the week was the day set aside for believers to gather together to worship Him. to share in fellowship, sing praise to Him, to pray, and to have the Scriptures taught.

For many years, Sunday was known as the Lord’s day.  Families would attend, father, mother, and child(ren) especially in middle class homes, and mother and children in other homes, the men viewed going to Church was a woman’s practice, and when they were obliged to attend for particular services such as baptism, so many appeared to be disorientated and uncomfortable. If anyone doubts this, just look at a service on television and count how many men are present as compared with women, notably when hymns are being sung.

In modern post war times, when successive governments turned their back in religion, the presence of sports and shopping replaced allegiance to Jesus.

To attend Church is something we should do with thanksgiving   , as we remember that He freely gave His life to be the Savior, to pay the price for our sins, and all who recognize and accept this free gift, can earn salvation and a future heavenly place.

The Bible states, that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, and all wo believe in Him will be saved.   God judges us by what our hearts reveal, and those who pretend to be believers are obtaining nothing by their hypocrisy.

We who live in the Western Hemisphere, have the opportunity to choose a Church which are in every part of the country, but those in the eastern part of the world, do not have that choice, for few, if any, in many countries.  I know and admire from my connection with them. The devotion to Jesus, despite less teaching being available, and by the loss of Bibles because of the cost, and not being able to access from elsewhere.  I know they long for Bibles in their own language, but no concessions are made from either a Bible Society or book store.

I was able to read in the past days of a woman named Helen Keller. Helen was born in Alabama,(America) and at an early child age of nineteen months, was made blind and deaf.  She lived until the age of 87 and died in Connecticut in 1968. She had a gifted tutor named Anne Sullivan, and was able to learn, and qualified to enter Radcliffe College, from where she graduated.

 Helen worshipped God and knew Jesus. That wonderful brave young woman, gave her life to Jesus, yet there many million people with perfect bodies who offer complaints for being  denied trivial things, and mock any thought of going to Church.

If a girl overcomes such disabilities and turn to Jesus, it should shame all those who make any excuse for not  giving thanks to God for their good health            .

When you add what Jesus did for all people, those self-concerned people, would be outraged if they were asked to attend Church, or even thank God for all they were able to be blessed with.

Charles Studd was one of England’s greatest Cricket players with a grand future, but after reading the Bibe, stated that when he read what sacrifice Jesus made for him, there was nothing too great for him to do for Jesus.  He dedicated his life to be a missionary  in Africa, and forfeited all he could have achieved as a sportsman. 

There are countless brilliant men and women, who made similar commitments. What peopleOverlook, is that those who give their lives to serve God, get rewards much greater than money can offer.  And before any smart Alec writes and ask me if I did, the answer is yes.

Jesus stated, ‘whoever loses his life for my sake will find it, for every man will be repaid by my Father.’.

Those who have been granted forgiveness of sins, will be placed in a state of no condemnation, because Christ paid the penalty and they are redeemed.

The Church is the Kingdom of Christ . We have been saved from the kingdom of darkness and placed in the kingdom of God.  The Church is a place of divine truth. We worship in spirit and truth as Jesus called us to do.

The Church is the living body in the world, and we are called to  speak in the truth of God.  This means we do not preach false doctrine, and it is irresponsible for Church leaders who turn away from the Word of God and lead others to do the same, in order to placate those who advocate against the Church.  If the Church wanders from the Word of God, there is no purpose for our existence.  There is no excuse acceptable for false teaching, and those who do defect from their vows, should hold their heads in shame.

It is beyond understanding that men and women, can flagrantly reject the words of Scripture. And by so doing, disgrace the Church, leaving all those who are faithful to be shamed.

If anyone finds it too  hard for them to keep to the Bible, they have the option  to resign.

Jesus Christ said,’   I will build my Church’  it is not to be a sentimental notion about God. It is an assembly of people who meet to worship God.  It is to proclaim the Gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ who is here to lead us to God.  It is to bring believers to learn how to live in accordance with the teaching of Christ, who can comfort the soul, and to belp those who are suffering in any way, for Jesus said that for those who are burdened, He will give rest.

Th Apostle John stated Sunday was the Lord’s Day, and it was so recognized.  There were those who rejected it as a day to attend Church, and there will always be the same.  But as we have just seen, there are many people who find it an inspiring factor.  Christmas of course is an exceptional time, but if the Church should respond with enthusiasm, and displayed a desire to call on them to regular, attendance, showing an interest in their presence.

The key to bring people to join in attendance is unquestionably  to have hymns with either well-known tunes or easy to follow, and to have the Bible at the heart of the service.  There are many interesting stories which have a current meaning, which newcomers could be touched by, and many parables to maintain an interest.

There is a frustrating reluctance by preachers, to tell exactly what the Bible states for fear of complaint or cries of bigotry.  If such happens, you either ignore because complainants are mostly reluctant to tell you before leaving the Church and send abusive emails, or you gently advise them why the Bible states so.  There is nothing in the Bible which can give cause for complaint`

Coming to Church is a family occasion, and Jesus went with His parents. For adults it is an opportunity to approach God together and make your marriage stronger, and for children it is a solid foundation on which to build their lives.

 

May God’s Holy Name be Ever Praised and may God be glorified,

 

God Bless You.  Be at Church on Sunday.