Matthew 1. V 18/25

The birth of a baby is a major event in the lives of a mother and father. The anticipation of the birth is exciting, and together they look forward joyously to the arrival of their union. There is of course always the possibility something may go wrong, adding to the stress and pain the mother will endure. I regret many men do not fully realize how a woman has emotional as well as physical pain, when giving birth to a child.

The story we are looking at this morning is one of the greatest ever told, the birth of the Savior. It is a most controversial story, for it is telling of an extraordinary event, unique and once in all history.

Our passage opens at verse 18, where it is stated, ` now the birth of Jesus Christ took place this way.’ Such is the positive announcement, before it goes on to describe the betrothal of Mary and Joseph.

Betrothal of the Jews was something equivalent to our engagement in theory if not in practice. The bridegroom and bride made a pledge in the presence of two witnesses, which was really the first step in marriage; the man and woman became husband and wife. The couple were then separated from each other for a period up to a year, and if during that time either became unfaithful, they were under Old Testament law, adulterers liable to be stoned to death. ,

If the marriage broke down, the couple were divorced, or if death occurred widower or widow. The marriage was consummated when they met again. Often the parents caused the marriage by making arrangements, and same people think they do a better job.   This was in the New Testament, where the true marriage was heterosexual as ordained by God, one man one woman.
Before the couple lived together, it was found that Mary was pregnant yet still a virgin. She knew she was pregnant, as an angel had foretold, she would be by the gift of the Holy Spirit. At first she challenged this, as she had not been with a man, but was told she, a young Jewish village girl had found favor with God.

Joseph may have come to the natural conclusion that she had been unfaithful with another man, being unaware of the angel’s message. He realized he could not live with her in such a case, but being a righteous man, he did not want to offend God, but was faced with the impression Mary had broken her pledge. He was however a compassionate man who loved Mary, and did not want to expose her to public humiliation, so decided to divorce her or send her away quietly, which he did not really want to do because of his feelings for her. In addition, his place would be a stain in the line of David down to Jesus.

Whilst he wrestled on what he should do, he fell asleep and began to dream. During his sleep he had a vision, in which he was told that it was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Mary was with child, and he should not hesitate to accept Mary as his wife.

Joseph was rewarded as he had turned to God in faith, and his concern was ended. The Bible states, ‘In all thy ways acknowledge God and he shall direct thy paths. This shows us that Joseph obeyed. He not only trusted God, he obeyed. As the hymn states, trust and obey.

As so often happens when you honestly seek God's guidance, and you plan to do things that seem right to you but are, in fact, wrong, God providentially corrects you.

The baby would be called Jesus, for he would save his people from their sins. Jesus is a name which helped many, by giving inward peace, and a rest for heavy heart; people have found Jesus has known their thoughts and hearts.
.At that time the Roman governor had ordered a census, requiring all people to register for taxation purposes. David being from Bethlehem had to go there to register, and took Mary with him. Whilst they were there, the time came for Jesus to be born. There were many people in that city, and all places were filled, and there was no room at an Inn they visited, so Mary was forced to bear Jesus in a manger The birth of this baby. who would one day become Lord and King of the earth, was in one of the lowest kind pf place, no palace, no royal robes.

God sent an angel to shepherds, watching their flocks at night time, and they were told of the birth at Bethlehem, so they went with haste. They praised God for having let them see the child.

The whole purpose of Jesus coming to the earth was to save us, acting as a ransom to pay the price of our sins. We must thank God for his goodness. The angel returned to heaven, and the shepherds went back glorifying God. He had made shepherds as evangelists, and like the Apostles of Jesus, there was not one who held a degree. As a cynic once stated, the Church is sinking by degrees.

The poorest man or woman who listens and understands the Bible, is wiser than many so called intellectuals and academics. We shall be judged one day by the way we have responded to God.

This means we should read the Bible honestly and reverently, and having done so, practice all it commands, and pray the Holy Spirit will apply to our hearts.

These verses tell us of the entrance into our world by Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior, and the doctrine of the Virgin Birth has been the doctrine of all denominations for centuries, and only in these liberal times has it been the subject of controversy. True, there were a few heretics like some modern bishops and clergy, who deny these accounts in pulpits; don't be seduced by them, but treat such talk with the contempt they deserve.

It is talk like that, which does so much harm to the Church. Some of us are trying to follow our Lord’s commission and make disciples, bringing people to church, then we have clergy at all levels, challenging of all things, God’s Word. and we wonder why people are not attending.

Matthew and Luke are trustworthy. The evidence that they are giving you are facts - not myths. That brings us to Mary.

There are depths which are too deep for us to fully comprehend; be content to believe with reverent minds, and not speculate that which we do not understand. There are many things we do not understand, but fully accept without hesitation, by faith.  Yet we don't accept God does wonderful things; member the words of Mary, with God, all things are possible.

It is by faith that, what we cannot see or words which cannot prove, we become true followers of our Lord, and millions of very clever men and women who have truly believed, have been prepared to go to the uttermost parts of the world and live hard lives, in order to take the gospel to those who have not heard

People will sing carols, and over eat and drink and spend more money than they can afford; pop groups will sing ,without ever giving a thought as to why it is-- Christmas.

We shall live for evermore because of what this baby Jesus went on to do on the Cross.

Above all trust in God and let this Christmas be one in which we remember the person it is all about—The Lord Jesus Christ.

We give thanks and Praise to God for giving us the gift of Jesus to be our Savior

May you all have a happy and blessed Christmas

 Luke 1 v 26/56

This Sunday on the week before Christmas, all our thoughts and prayers of thanksgiving are on, and for, the birth of Jesus.

The story we are looking at is the greatest ever told, the birth of Jesus. The Savior. It is a story telling of an extraordinary event, unique and once in all history.

If this Gospel message was told as a story in one of our daily newspapers, and so posted on their website, it would receive numerous scornful mocking comments, questioning as to why anyone would believe it. In fairness, if a daughter or friend came and told you she was pregnant, but had not been intimate with a man, you would reasonably think she was mad or trying to cover up a moral lapse.

Our passage opens at verse 26, where it is stated, In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.

This week let us think of the young Jewish woman Mary, who was honored by God to be the mother of His Son, and whose name would live on in all history. One day she was visited by the angel Gabriel when she was engaged to Joseph, a descendant in the line of the famous King David. She was betrothed, which in Jewish law meant the engagement could only be broken by divorce.

Mary is at the sixth month of her pregnancy, and Luke was specifying Nazareth was a city of Galilee, which suggests he was writing for people who were not from Palestine.

The angel Gabriel greeted Mary to create an atmosphere of tranquillity, and telling her she was highly favored by the Lord who was with her.
Mary was startled , We can deduct from this, she was a moral woman, who could not understand why had been chosen. The angel tells her not be afraid, for she had found favor from God.

She is told she will have a son, whom she will call Jesus, and He will be great and be called a son of the Most High God,. All this was fulfilment of an Old Testament prophecy, and that Jesus would rein over a Kingdom of grace and truth, and there would be no end to that Kingdom.

Mary asks how that can be as she has no husband, but does have faith and believes the angel although she cannot understand. She is told the Holy Spirit would come upon her, therefore he would be called the Son of God, not Joseph. Mary knew that becoming pregnant would not be easy, for it would expose her to ridicule and criticism, maybe even something much worse, but she depended totally upon God, body and soul.

The angel told Mary that her relative Elizabeth, who had been barren, was then six months pregnant. This was in a sense a miracle, for Elizabeth and Zechariah were of such an age that it was not usual for such to be able to have children. But for God, nothing is impossible, He is able to do all H wishes, and so grants Elizabeth and Zechariah a child after they had given up hope of ever being able to do so. Mary decided to visit the home of Elizabeth in the hill country of Judah. 

The gospel passage opens with Mary, deciding to go seventy miles to visit her elderly cousin Elizabeth, whom she had been told was also pregnant in her old age.

On arrival the two women greeted each other, and Elizabeth in a loud voice proclaims how blessed Mary was. Until that time, Elizabeth thought this was just a family visit, but now she realised how unique the situation is and feels she should have been the one visiting Mary. At the same time Elizabeth felt movement of her own baby.

Elizabeth’s joy, inspires Mary to fully recognise she is to be the mother of the Savior of the world and spontaneously sings a song, which has been sung at every Evensong in Churches all over the world for centuries since, the Magnificat. The Lord God is magnified in this song of praise, which is filled with Scripture.

Mary expresses her glory and rejoices in being blessed, and how gracious God has been to her in her humility. She readily obeyed God. There is a significant point made by her, in that she recognises she needs a Savior, which implies she recognises that only a sinner needs a Savior, which tends rather to negate some Roman statements about her. This reflects the words of John Newton, in that wonderful hymn which he wrote, that God saves us by grace.
Mary knows, that all future generations will speak of her, and indeed throughout the ages she has rightfully been praised, and she has brought honor to her sex. Mary has raised being a mother, ,to the highest of professions, although now some feminine politicians are anxious to downgrade motherhood and their sex, by trying to equate women on all levels with men. In the process, some women have demeaned their sex by not only copying men’s excesses, but furthering them.

When God created the world, men were intended to care and provide for the family, and women to be mothers, (primarily but not exclusively)and for that role were endowed with a more tender and caring nature. Now, for their own selfish purposes, politicians and social workers want to meddle with gender identities.. We are all equal under God, but are meant to have different roles in life.

Pope Benedict wisely stated, that the future of mankind is at stake, when the understanding of what a family means is challenged through same sex marriage. He said ‘In the fight for the family, the very notion of what being human really means is being called into question. He spoke of the falseness of gender theories, and of the current attack on the structure of the family made up of father, mother and child.

Mary told of how God is merciful to those who fear Him, and we should be mindful that whilst God is a God of love and mercy, He is also a God of wrath. In that respect, we should take note of Mary’s words, ‘He has brought down rulers from their thrones’. She has a profound view of God, who disputes the worldly values of status and misunderstanding of what it means to be equal.

She ends her song by singing praise of how God has remained faithful to His chosen people, the Jews, by keeping His promise to Abraham. Every Jewish boy and girl would know the history of Israel, and how God has blessed them.
Is it not amazing how peoples’ minds reason. Thousands say they will not believe what they cannot understand. If I should go out on to the car park of this Church and take out a little plastic box, and press a combination of 13 numbers, within seconds I would be speaking to my son in China.. Yet if I wished to speak face to face, it would take a journey of 13 hours to do so. People cannot understand how that happens, yet will believe because it suits them. If human men can do such wonderful things, people should have intelligence to realize God can do so much more.

Verse 37 of this morning’s passage, ‘for nothing is impossible with God’. Our minds are not meant to understand all the miracles and mighty deeds of the Lord; the Cross and atonement; the resurrection; the power of the Holy Spirit. We may not understand the virginal conception, but we accept all these by faith.

Mary did not doubt what the angel told her, she was just puzzled, as she might be, as to how this would happen. It was as if the angel was saying ‘Mary you are thinking as a human being and humanly you are right, but this is God at work and He shall come upon you with the power of the Holy Spirit, for nothing is impossible for God’.

This is why we should have concern for the nation of Israel, from which all our teaching emanates. We worship the God of Israel; we worship a Jewish Savior; born of a Jewish woman; and are taught from a book written by Jewish writers, who were all inspired by God.

One day Jesus will return to Jerusalem, the capital city of His chosen people.

The Rabbis and people in the Jewish religion cannot be held responsible for the Jewish government action, any more than the Church of England blamed for action of the British Government.

The Israelites constantly sinned and strayed away from God, but He still looked after them, fed and clothed them, protected and revealed Himself to them. The Old Testament is the history of the Israelites resisting God’s will, and the New Testament shows God cannot be limited. It was |God who sent His Son to prepare the great salvation after His prophets were rejected; it was God who raised His Son from the dead; God who gave teaching on how we should live and respond to Him.

If our Lord was to return now would He be happy about the religious teaching. Would He wonder why we Christians treat our faith in such casual manner, rather than the aggressive evangelism of other faiths? After staying three months, Mary returned to her own home.

In the past, the Roman Catholic Church has perhaps made too much of Mary’s position, whilst the Protestant Church has made too little. We should keep in mind that until the 20th century, in all the years prior, perhaps even more so, when Mary was called on to accept this call, that it would have been looked upon in society as scandalous, Women were expected to be married before having children, something these days seems unbelievable by many today.

Matthew and Luke are trustworthy. The evidence that they are giving you are facts -not myths.

There are depths which are too deep for us to fully comprehend; be content to believe with reverent minds, and not speculate that which we do not understand. There are many things we do not understand, but fully accept without hesitation, by faith..

How is it by holding a small plastic box without any outer connection, but by pressing a combination of numbers you can speak within seconds to someone on the other side of the world. Or by turning a switch on a television set in a room, you can watch an event in any part of the world as it happens. .How can a brown cow eat green grass and produce white milk? We cannot understand such things, but we still accept them without further thought. Yet we don't accept God does wonderful things; member the words of Mary, with God, all things are possible.

It is by faith that, what we cannot see, or words which cannot prove, we become true followers of our Lord, and millions of very clever men and women who have truly believed, have been prepared to go to the uttermost parts of the world and live hard lives, in order to take the gospel to those who have not heard and would never otherwise have done so.
People will sing carols, and over eat and drink, and spend more money than they can afford; enjoy the holiday, forget God and the

Little baby being born to serve the world, pop groups will sing of ‘chris.-ee-mus’,without ever giving a thought as to why it is-- Christmas.
All very well Harry Belafonte telling us we shall live for ever more because of Christmas Day, when in fact we shall live for evermore because of what this baby Jesus went on to do on the Cross.

Above all trust in God and let this Christmas be one in which we remember the person it is all about— The Lord Jesus Christ…

 

We Paise and Glorify God and Praise and Worship the Lord Jesus. 

 ROMANS 15  v 4-13

                The Apostle Paul was called by Jesus to be an Apostle in a unique and dramatic way, when Paul was on a mission in his role to persecute Christians. Paul had been a devout Pharisee, but God chose him to be an Apostle to non-Jews. Paul became a devout servant of God and served Jesus devotedly, creating Churches in several places in the Eastern world.  He suffered immensely for teaching about Jesus, but never forgot he had been born a Jew.  His greatest desire was to bring Jew and non-Jew together, but it took centuries before this happened, and only the United States and to lesser degree the United Kingdom, have recognised the will of God which Paul followed.                                   

One of Paul’s constant concerns was to bring together Christians in fellowship, with the stronger member caring for the weaker Christian. He saw the importance of uniting the different attitudes of people within he Church. This would mean unity in worship, and mutual harmony would draw people into the Church, and strengthen fellowship. The strong must support the weak rather than be in separation to satisfy their own desires.  The Christian life is based on the practice of the strong helping the weak in the example of Jesus Christ.

A true fellowship is marked by the study of the Scriptures, which inspires and encourages us, as we see it is better to be with God than man, even if means there will be some resistance. God’s way is never easy, but eventually there is satisfaction and eternal life offered.  God gave us a promise of support, and God always honors his promises, never letting us down.

A fellowship should always have hope, and a Christians hope is not a cheap one, it sees and supports without complaint, and still believes in God.  There must be harmony, but there is always someone who will be a storm centre in the Church.  The Church they are within may be a wealthy one, large and well-kept, impressing, but alternately there may be a poor location and an insignificant appearance, in either case there must be harmony.  This does not rule out debate or discussion, but such should be peaceful, as we must live peacefully. I found it helpful to make it known any that aggressive action between members in the Church would lead to the perpetrators being requested to restore relations before attending further attendance. Such was the  response no one was so requested.

When there is a united harmonios Church, there can always be real thanksgiving, praise being given to God, and a sense of spiritual achievement, and God is truly glorified. The whole purpose of worship is to give praise to God, by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross, made on our behalf, so that God can by his grace grant us salvation and a welcome into his Kingdom.

Paul States. ‘whatever was written in former days was written’ for our instruction. This is saying that God gave the Old Testament which is equally valid now, for they were not written just for one period but for all time. This was made clear by Jesus, who said the Scriptures could not be broken; and he came to fulfil not destroy them. 

The whole of Romans is to show the inclusion of non-Jews into God’s saving plan, and that God wanted his family to include many different kinds of people from many different backgrounds.   The term multicultural, is much in the news these days. Politicians and social workers love to use it, to describe a certain approach to a society in which they can appear to be in the right politically correct way.   When an earlier government was in power, there was the special way of showing their credentials by calling for special treatment for people of black coloured skin.  That controversial attitude was totally misplaced, because it antagonised a lot of people with white coloured skin, and in fact demeaned and cast doubt on the black people, who were ready to be assessed by own abilities.

A great mistake was the error of the Churches, particularly in middle- and higher-class society in ‘freezing out’ black people who were, and still are far more devout than many white. I speak from personal experience, for when I have preached in Churches with mixed races, I get a better reception each time from the black people.

That’s the negative side of multiculturalism. But by “multicultural” we should mean. people of differing cultural backgrounds, learning to work and live together.   God has a similar vision of his church, even if it is has not yet come true after 2000 years. When Jesus said, “Go and preach in the gospel to every nation,” he established the principle that all kinds of people would be welcome in the church.    The world has truly become a much smaller place, where cultures that were once separated by vast distances, now live and work side by side. This has been emphasised by such easy communication by smartphones, computers etc.  When you realise the Apostles took the gospel across the ancient world without such aid. There is a moral there for us.

The Bible does however in many places refer to Jews and Gentiles, which is just an alternative way of referring to non-Jews.  The Bible tells us that God loves all people, and wants all to be saved, and one day Jew and non-Jew will worship together.    Today the Christian Church stands alongside the Jew, and we show our close affinity in that we worship the God of Israel, a Jewish Savior, who was born a Jew and was a member of the Jewish race; we preach from a book written by 39 out of 40 Jewish writers.     God wanted his family to include many different kinds of people from many different backgrounds.    God’s heart is big and includes all the people of the world. In Jesus Christ there is no East or West, or any other alternative. 

 The Christian Church is a worshipping one, and as brothers/sisters in Christ, we can go anywhere in the world and be part with others in God’s family. We sing universally known hymns, say the same Lord’s Prayer, and read the same gospel. For two years I worshipped in a Church in Kenya, where as a port, Christians from across the world came on their way to other parts of Africa, and although of different sex, color, age, nationality, there was complete harmony, something you don’t sometimes get with people of one place. God is honored when his people join together in united worship and praise.    This is why we preach the gospel and share Christ with our friends; why we try to bring others to know the Lord.  The world needs a Redeemer, and his name Jesus. He is the light of the world and the Savior of all who trust in him.

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope’

 

Give thanks to God for His Holy Gospel. Praise Christ our Savior

 

 M A T T H E W  3 v1-12

 

Sunday next is the 2nd Sunday of Advent, and the theme is on John the Baptist. We do in fact honour John on the 24th June, and on that day in Spain, which is still largely a Catholic country, they do so in style with ceremonial processions through the streets. John was a very special character in the Bible, being described by Jesus as ‘one of whom there being none greater.’
A period of 400 years elapsed between the Old and New Testaments, and John acted as a bridge between the prophecies of the Old Testament and the coming of the Messiah. God chose John to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus.   John attracted huge crowds to see and hear him; they came from all directions, North and South, East and West. They came from all levels of society
He was a fearless preacher, giving a message of confession and repentance, and did so in the most direct way accusing them of being a brood of vipers, and told them there was a wrath to come. Most preachers would rejoice in being able to emulate his appeal,, although they would hesitate the language he used in today’s atmosphere, where the least criticism raises accusations of phobia or bigotry.
Because of his successful appeal to people, a delegation of priests was sent out to find out if he was acting in an orthodox manner. The Jews believed, and were proud of the fact, that they were God’s chosen people, and He would one day send a Messiah who would be a great national leader who would lead them to world conquest. It was also believed that prior to the Messiah coming, Elijah the great Old Testament prophet would come back to herald the Messiah’s coming.
The priests wanted to see who John actually was. When John spoke of baptism, it was not the meaningless kind that is sometimes practised in churches today, and I will explain in detail subsequently what I mean by that. Baptism was a symbol of admittance into the Christian faith, taken by someone who had come to need a personal Savior in the person of Jesus Christ, who they would take into their hearts and lives and live according to His teaching.

There is a tendency now, which has gained approval for people to telephone a Minister to have a child or baby to be baptized

at a date and time for their convenience, even wanting to choose the Minister baptizing.

This is an abuse of a sacred sacrament, which was meant to be the entrance into the Christian Church,  Baptism was originally  for those who understood the purpose, but was extended if parents were practising Christians, and then the charade we now have where parents make promises which all know they have no intention of fulfilling

John wasn’t concerned with numbers, or adding to some Church roll, he wanted genuine commitments. The Bible is clear in all four gospels, that the Christian life involved repentance, and the following of a new way of life. If we analyse our lives, we will find there are things we have said and done and sincerely wish we hadn’t, but there is nothing we can now do except pray that God will forgive us, as others will.
The place where John ministered was way out in the wilderness, a bleak and desolate place, living off the land, getting his clothing from wild camel, and food from whatever grew there. There is a wilderness in many people’s hearts.
John calls us to a new life in Jesus Christ, and it was with such a desire that people sought out John.

Jesus can come to us in very different ways. It may be through a poster we noticed, which is why we need well thought out poster displays which will catch people’s eyes, and strike them, and they ought to be relevant. Thousands have been led to Christ through reading posters placed on the London tube system by the London Christian Mission. Other people have been influenced by the words of a preacher, but the most telling witness is that of other Christians drawing in others by their way of life.
It is possible to become so engaged in religious activity, dressing ourselves with religion, without changing our hearts. We Christians need to be more aggressive about our faith, and be prepared to act and rebel as other faiths do when bloated bureaucrats try to stifle expression.
We are now approaching Christmas, and the secularisation of it is almost complete, which is why all who hold the Christian faith dear, must be prepared to support Christian worship. Advent is a time when we come out of the wilderness, and be inspired by the ministry of John the Baptist.

John spoke seriously about sin; he thought it an absolute necessity for repentance before someone was baptized. This should be judged by sincerity.  People not fully aware of spiritual matters will be fully revealed, unless we repent.

John spoke about the Lord Jesus Christ, He taught some people far mightier than himself  were coming, and he was just a servant to the coming of a King.  John could only baptize with water, the coming One would baptize with the Holy Spirit. who would judge the world.

Our children are growing up without having any knowledge at all, as those in the State schools are found plenty of space in the schedules for subjects best left alone, but no place for Christian teaching.

John spoke about the danger of the impertinent and the unbelievers and warned of the wrath to come.  People need to be warned to realize it is no light matter whether we repent or not, and remembered there was as well as heaven the everlasting punishment for the wicked.

The  best of believers need of encouragement, for we live in an evil world, tempted by evil ones, so believers need to know Jesus will bever forsake  or leave them. He will guide them through this life safely, until they have eternal glory.

We live in an age of false teaching. So never forget the features of a  faithful Ministry.  How happy it would have been if the Church of Christ had al the Ministers like John the Baptist.

 

Give thanks to God for His Glorious Gospel. Praise to the Lord Jesus our Savior.

 

Matthew 21 v 1 -11

Jesus had entered Jerusalem for the Passover festival having just raised Lazarus from the dead, and was receiving an enthusiastic welcome from crowds of people gathered for the event. This was the major festival held annually, to remember how God saved Israel. This was Jerusalem’s big annual religious festival: we might compare the Passover to our Christmas, when the Churches attract many people who attend not so much from a religious attitude, but see it as a social event.

At such a time as this, many non-Jews would go to the city to join in the celebrations. Great crowds of pilgrims had also gone to the city from the country for this Festival Feast, Many of the pilgrims had seen and heard Jesus when He was in Galilee, and wanted to welcome the opportunity to proclaim Him as the Messiah.

Matthew states the entrance of Jesus on a colt, fulfils the prophecy of Zechariah, and the presence of Jesus was an open declaration, that He was the Messiah as stated by David, and there as also a prophecy by Jacob who stated ‘your king is coming to you’ whose rule would extend over nations.

Jesus entered into Jerusalem humbly on a donkey.  Jerusalem is described in the Bible as the City of the great King (God), the centre of Israel’s religious life and Messianic expectations. Jesus referred to Himself as Lord, the Sovereign figure of the day. Matthew alone mentions a donkey and a colt, which may have been because the  moving in such a noisy entrance to the city, may have disturbed the colt so the donkey would add stability. In any event, Jesus had commanded His Apostles to fetch a donkey and colt.  

Cloaks had been spread over the ground to symbolize the crowds acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah, and palm branches were also thrown to show Jewish nationalism, with a sign of victory and with the Festival of Tabernacles.

The phrase ‘daughter of Zion’, is a term for the people of Jerusalem. Son of David means that Jesus is the Messiah, spoken of by the great king of Israel who the crowds acknowledge.  The Jewish religious leaders were troubled that Jesus was being received so well, He might usurp their power.

This event was celebrated in a different way to that which Jesus normally acted. He usually preferred to keep out of notice, sometimes be in the wilderness, which meant He fulfilled the prophecy, that He should not strive, nor let His voice be heard in public. Here, Jesus appears to come out of His normal way, and chooses to seek public attention. He makes a very public entrance to the city, at the head of His Apostles,

He rides surrounded by many people who were calling Hosanna, like king David returning to his palace in triumph, as mentioned in the Book of Samuel. All this was at a time when lots of Jews were gathered from many lands, stretching out of  Jerusalem who had come to celebrate the Passover. It was certain every house in the city had known and talked about.

The events we are reading about are important in our Lord’s life, and are told in different parts of the Bible, and for centuries in the Church has been celebrated as Palm Sunday.  Junior Church young people would parade in streets on the way to and from the local Church, and I am sure in the religious cities of Europe and elsewhere will do so on Sunday.

Now n this country, our schools are more concerned to teach young people about sexual activities and gender change, and a lot of parents having no religious education themselves, cannot help them. Pam Sunday will not have any meaning to them, even if told what day it was.  How sad, most people of earlier generations were brought up with at least a basic religious teaching, which gave them a solid foundation for life.    

 We learn here how Jesus went into Jerusalem for one purpose, to die on this last journey. He had spent most of His life away from the city, but when the time came to give up His life for our sakes, He took care to tell the rulers, Jewish religious leaders, Scribes and Romans.

Jesus knew the greatest event in all the world’s history was about to happen, as He would suffer in the place of  sinful men and women, the momentous sacrifice for sin ever to be offered. He, the Passover Lamb about to be crucified as the principal priceful  atonement, for the world’s sin to be made. He ordered that His death be made public, so that all eyes be made on Him, and then He decided there would be many witnesses.

How sad, so many eyes will not see and many ears will no hear, the importance of the death or sayings of Jesus; of the things He taught, or try to follow His way of life, or learn of His coming back one day, when He will care for all those who accepted Him, and judge those who rejected Him. From his death, we have all our hopes, as we remember all He did for us.

Notice that when He rode into Jerusalem, it was not in a royal carriage with massed bands playing, and a host of servants like the kings (and Queens) of this world. He came on a colt, sitting on the coats of his Apostles, and without a saddle. He never had any riches or wealth, and would be buried in a borrowed tomb.

There is nothing dishonourable in being poor, through birth or other circumstances. There is nothing wrong in working in a low capacity. Always remember, many men adwomen are working to serve others, are as honourable in many ways, and far more so in many cases. I find it objectionable to see people in hotels, treating waiters and waitresses so casually, as people so inferior to themselves, when such people work for low payment, and are so often more acceptable in God’s eyes than those they are serving.

Let us do what we have to do, in the way God sees us, and not feel ashamed whatever that is, if we are acting honestly. The Savior of the World cares for all people, irrespective of their place in society.

Give thanks to God for His Holy Gospel,  Praise to Christ our Savior.

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 M A T T H E W  24, V 36-44

Sunday is Advent Sunday and, for many Churches it is the start of the Church’s year.  For all Christians, it is a time when we think about the return of our Lord, although for so many people they have not recognised His first coming.  This is a very serious and important subject and should not be treated lightly. The teachings of the Bible are not acceptable to many folk within the Church, but they are quite clear.  Let us look at them together this morning.

The Bible tells us that God will one day bring an end to this world. 380 times in the New Testament the return of Jesus is mentioned, and the whole Bible promises His return. There is a call to be prepared to receive him when he returns, and a warning for those who fail to prepare.

Jesus warned ‘there would be wars and rumours of wars,  nations would fight nations,--- there would be famines, ----earthquakes,----Christians would be persecuted ----people would turn away from the faith. ----there would be false teaching,---evil--wickedness. 

Over the years since Jesus spoke these words, each generation has sought to apply them to their time, but I put it to you that no generation can claim more relevance to them than this generation. We have wars going on perpetually in Africa; there have been wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran promising to wipe Israel from the face of the earth---- famines of unprecedented scale.

Christians are being persecuted in some countries, with Churches being burned down, and barbaric action taken against them.  

People turning away from the faith, vitriolic attacks from atheists in the press, evil and wickedness in all the violence we see, and  politicians are telling us the greatest threat in the world is climate change. In addition, to all such events we have false teaching in the Church to placate the politically correct establishment.

No one appears shocked any more at any behaviour as we see, gay marriage legalised and people wanting the Church to practise, with few having any strong objection. Indeed, there are those within the Church who actively support the concept.

  We are called to live by the teachings of Jesus, and are warned there will be people who mock the faith.  They will do so in order to justify the sinful way in which they live.

People also scoff at any talk of Jesus returning or the suggestion of judgement, stating God will not intervene, and asking why He hasn’t done so.  They forget that one day to us is like a thousand years to God, who is giving time for more people to be saved.

They forget too, if they ever knew, that God did once destroy the earth and is saving up fire for when judgement comes.  This will be without warning, leaving no place or time for hiding.  The Bible calls for Christians to live pure and holy lives to avoid punishment that awaits the ungodly .

You don’t hear much preaching on this subject, the Church tends to avoid it.  The Church is remarkably quiet about anything which is likely to upset people’s tranquillity; there is reluctance in a politically correct obsessed society to suggest judgement or guilt.  But we are thinking here about the climax of world history, a point where any national psychopathic leader could, by pressing a button, unleash nuclear destruction on an unimaginable scale.  So we may be nearer to the end than many think or want to believe.

It is true, that such signs have been prevalent in each generation, but they increase in their likelihood as time goes by. If you look at present world events, there are grounds for concern. Wars and terrorism are occurring all over our world

False teaching aplenty is given in our Church’s, to justify and make acceptable modern moral behaviour. Christians are being forced out of Middle Eastern lands, where arson and murder reign against them, and they are treated barbarically. Jesus says all these kinds of things will happen in the last days,  that are before His return.

This is how it will be before Jesus returns to an unbelieving world, which will be living as they choose.  People laugh at this story and at today’s gospel; they call it a myth and fairy tale, but they will find out one day.   When Jesus returns, just as the flood brought sudden judgement, His return will do the same.  People will be caught unawares, as they will be unprepared through rejecting Christian teaching.  The world will be separated, even between families and friends as Jesus taught.  The Bible is clear – there was a beginning and there will be an end, when Christ comes again.  

Jesus stated two people will be together, one will be taken to be with Him, the other will be left.  A person who has accepted Jesus, who died on the Cross as their Savior, will be safe on Judgement day.  A person who has not will be left behind. There will be no chance to make a decision then, we have to be ready beforehand and decide we want to accept Him now.  The Bible states, ‘now is the day of salvation.’ God has given everybody a chance to decide and choose. These are Jesus’ words, not mine.

This is a very serious truth to consider, for the Bible teaches that the consequences are drastic, some will be saved for eternal life and the rest will be lost.  However much we might like to conclude there is a different ending, the Bible leaves us with no doubt.

There is a grossly mistaken notion, that as long as one is honest and a nice person one is assured of heaven.  That is not what the Bible teaches.  Many people who are atheists are honest, and nice people.  There has to be a personal commitment to Jesus.  The Bible states, ‘salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved’.  Jesus said, ‘no one comes to the Father except through me’.  The Church has not always given sound teaching on this; indeed there are those who do not accept those words.

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 busy road, it is safe for him to cross when ready.  Others say if you just follow your conscience you’ll be fine, but consciences become dulled and hardened.   We need to be prepared, just as any responsible householder will take care of their property against theft, for burglars do not give notice of their coming.   

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.

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 it necessary to think of Jesus, even less to do anything about it.

Some Christians have sincerely gone to extremes to prepare for Jesus’ return.  Jesus never called us to do anything more than to   be faithful in all that we do, and always to do things to the best of our ability, and be ready to greet Him either here on earth or in heaven.

 

Give thanks to God for His Holy Gospel, Paise the Lord Jesus our Savior

Matthew 18, verses 21 - 35

The gospel reading we are looking at this morning is all about forgiveness.

Turn with me to Matthew 18, verses 21/35, The Apostle Peter asks  Jesus how many times he should forgive someone who offends him, and suggests 7. Jesus answered him by saying he should be ready to forgive seventy times seven.

The Rabbis had laid down only 3 and no more, as God would forgive only 3 times, and man should not exceed God. So Peter probably thought he was being generous, and was shocked to be told by Jesus 490 times,. What in effect saying was, Keep forgiving. Jesus lays  down we ought to forgive to the uttermost.

Jesus then told the parable, Known as the unforgiving servant, a story about a man who  0wed his Master a vast amount of money, a sum amounting to twenty years of labor. When the man couldn’t pay, the Master ordered the man be sold with his wife and children, which was a practice in those times when a person was unable to pay his debts. However, the Master had a change of heart, took pity and released the man when he begged for mercy.

We then read a similar situation arose when the man released from his debt faced one of his servants who owed him, but could not settle, the servant was sent to be tortured.

 Bitterness and a desire for revenge can do so much damage to oneself; we get angry and raise the blood pressures of our body, even have a stroke or heart attack .There is also the advice, don’t get mad get even’  But Christians can get upset as much as anyone, we are indeed human. We come to Church and say the Lord’s Prayer, then go out and forget what we prayed.

I have seen people go to excess in forgiving. I had a colleague who lost his son through a drunken driver, and he made a great show of saying he had forgiven him. There are few who would take such a view, but I do not admire such, The man should never touch a car if been drinking alcohol. A young man’s life was lost, which is devastating for parents.

When Jesus told us to be ready to forgive, he never meant us to be bullied or walked on. He never meant we should overlook a criminal.

The message is for all Christians, who are expected to behave in a different way from those without belief. But Christians can be troublesome and create a war zone within the Church.

If you are finding it difficult to forgive because someone has wronged you, turn to God and seek his guidance.   A central point is, that if we do not forgive when such is justified, God will not forgive us, and if a person is unmerciful, they will not be granted salvation.

If we reflect on the years of our life, there will be many things we regret; thoughts , words and actions hurt, we have caused hurt to those we claim to love, all adding up to staggering debt.   Love doesn’t keep score, because love has a bad memory.

I think how sad it is to see two Christian people who once were good friends, fall out over some trivial action or word. How much goodness is there in doing so?   Two lives damaged and unnecessary waste of fellowship and pleasure. Then, I see men and women unable to fulfil their lives by disability; I am sure they would relish the chance to see and talk with.  How unbalanced is life.    Life is too short; I look back on my life and wonder where it has all gone.

God will forgive all who sincerely and truly believe, and accept the cruel death Jesus suffered on the Cross for sin, includes them. God in his amazing grace and rich in mercy, stated “I forgive all your sins. My Son has paid the debt. You owe me nothing.”

I have previously quoted as an example, the case of a mother who had children, but no food to give them. Determined not to let them be hungry she went to a supermarket and walked out with goods she had not paid for. She was arrested, taken to Court and fined a sum of money when she wept as she couldn’t pay  the alternative was prison.

The Magistrate realised her difficulty, made out a cheque in payment for her himself.  A man acting in a godly way. Just as Jesus does for us..

God gave us a beautiful world to live in, and gave His only Son Jesus, but the Jewish leaders hated Him because He exposed their evil, they plotted to murder him, creating false witnesses who told lies in order convict him. This was followed by Jesus being beaten by a leather belt, studded with pieces of steel, 39 times, then made to stagger to carry his own Cross, with a crown of thorns on his head.

A howling mob cheered as nails were hammered through his arms and legs to that Cross.  Jesus the Son of God, the One who knew no sin, the only truly innocent man who ever lived. As he died he cried “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” 

The Cross of Christ was substitution, Jesus standing there for us. But we have a part to play in responding to God’s call for repentance, which means more than ‘sorry about that’, but to turn around and start a new way of living, which is acceptable in God’ s sight. It is putting Jesus in the prime position in our lives.

What God expects from us to be reconciled to him, which relationship is broken when we sin.

Some people say I am good person, I do all I can to help everybody, I am honest, I believe in God, I even go to Church from time to time. Jesus will say, ‘I never knew you’

If anyone thinks all Church people are good and lovely people, they are living in a make believe world.  I have seen Ministers driven from their Churches by embittered people, who were upset at not being given the attention they thought they deserve.   The bible’s message is for all people, good and bad, for it says we have all come short of the glory of God, which means we have offended against him.

Salvation, which is the passport to heaven, is found in no other name under heaven by which we must be saved. It is more popular and cool to say all religions lead to God, which we mean the God of Israel, other faiths do not.  Islam states God has no Son, and worship Allah, and would not recognise the God of Israe.

 In Our faith. we worship a Jewish Savior, from a Holy Book written by Jewish men.  This would be totally rejected by another faith.  There is strong historical independent evidence, to support us.
Jesus Christ dying on the Cross held out two arms, one reaching out to us, and the other reaching out to God, to bring us close together. His message being, be reconciled to God. Even after we have become Christians, we will continue to offend God, and stand in constant need of forgiveness.

The Apostle Paul wrote,  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as God has forgiven you.  Some of us have been deeply hurt by the things others have done to us. People have maligned us, ridiculed us, lied to us, and they have done it deliberately,.  As I strictly believe in the full authority of the Bible, and try to be faithful to God’s Word, I regularly get verbal abuse, written of course to avoid telling me face to face.

What a happy world it would be if the words of Jesus were obeyed  How miseries would cease but for stubborn tenacity Remember a fire cannot burn without fuel; remember God stated He would not forgive us if we do not forgive others.

I readily agree some people can be really objectionable, in which case ignore.  To get upset will only take time off your life. 

In conclusion, be forgiving and forgetting. You will only spoil your life and a friend’s life and for what purpose? One day we will appear before God and we will be judged according to how we kept tp His Word.  Bitterness, unkindness, can only lead to tragedy. 

The most exciting event of the year is drawing near. This should be a happy time for many, but for others it will be very sad, who will recall the lost partners.  Be kind to each  other; slow to anger quick to make up.

Give thanks to God for His Holy Gospel.  Praise Jesus Christ