John 13

 

There are many people who will not live in a house which is numbered 13 and some roads omit the number, going from 11 to 11a or 15a.  The superstition originated from the story in this Chapter, not because of the number of the Chapter, but from the story contained in it.

This morning I want to speak on the uniqueness of Christ. This I fear is something the wider Church is not preaching on as firmly as it might.  There seems reluctance to state positively what our message is; that Christ was uniquely born; that His birth is still, (and the only one) universally known 2000 years later; and time is calculated from His birth. No other faith can make the claims we can make and we should be proud to say so.

Jesus entered the room with His 12 Apostles for the Last Supper, so making a total of 13, and within hours of doing so both He and Judas would be dead.  Judas would commit the greatest betrayal in history as he left the room to ‘go out into the night’ (darkness) to sell out Jesus.

Jesus knew what he was about to do and told him to do it quickly, 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.

We have to remember the paintings we see of the Cross only show a man having a painful death, but what the Cross really means, is that our sins were being paid for.  Jesus regarded His death as the most glorious part of His work on earth.  He does not see death as a disgrace , punishment or humiliation, but a  glorious event, glorifying both Him and the Father.  We Christians then should also glory on the Cross.

Paul who had much to boast about, but wrote to the Galatians saying that only in the Cross did he boast.

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.  Jesus noticeably waited until Judas had left before saying it.  It is the end of a close relationship of three years and time to say goodbye. Jesus tells them He is leaving them and they cannot go with Him, and that leaves them devastated.  They had only managed to stay together  through His unifying spirit, or  they would have parted.

He then gave them the command that they were to love one another, and by that He was calling on them to stay together and be faithful to each other, something all Christians should to show an example to the world.  So often, Christians are seen to be fighting with each other, due to some following a false line of teaching and not obeying Scripture, when they should be seen as a happy family.  This is a complete turn off to non-believers. 

 

Enormous damage has been caused to Christianity by the behaviour in Northern Ireland, where Catholics and Protestants have murdered and maimed in the name of religion, too often with the support of clergy on both sides.  Nor does Christianity benefit from men and women. who sing hymns in Church on Sunday and  act unworthily from Monday to Saturday.

Peter professes undying devotion, but Jesus graciously tells him He is going where Peter cannot then go, but indeed would one day follow.  When Peter said he would lay down his life for Jesus, our Lord knew perfectly well the weakness Peter would show. and told him kindly what would happen.  Whilst Peter betrayed Jesus, unlike Judas it was in a moment of weakness, rather than the cold blooded action of Judas.

Sometime people let us down and hurt us, and we get upset, perhaps even bitter.  If we could only remember that we all act contrary to our better nature at times of stress, and many tragic breaches of relationships could be avoided if we could forgive.

I can relate to the feeling of the Apostles when they heard Jesus was leaving them.  They had been in a three year intimate closeness to Jesus, and it is like the occasion when a Vicar gives notice he is leaving a parish, and both he and the members are sad.

Prior to coming to Bedford, I spent the happiest and most rewarding three years of my life in a Church on the Wirral, where I had such a marvellous time with the loveliest congregation possible.  When I gave notice I had to leave for family reasons, there were tears and much sadness, but I still have such wonderful memories of three golden years.  I am sure the Apostles had even more to grieve over

 

Give Praise to God for His Glorious Gospel

  

 

I

                   1 Thessalonians 1          

 

In the coming weeks, I hope to base the midweek sermon to be on the Letters of Paul to the Thessalonian Church.  I am aware a sermon was given a few weeks past, but this series will be more detailed as what it might be called a description of a true Church.

There is a big difference between a religious person and a Christian. There are so many people who think if a person is not of another faith, or is an atheist, and if living in this country must be a Christian; this is more  so if they watch Songs of Praise on television.  This is a total myth, for a lot of nice and good living people are Muslims, or even atheists, and would be understandably offended to think they may be Christians.

There is a story about a man who attended one of the Billy Graham Crusades, and after the service was approached by a counsellor and asked, ‘are you a Christian sir?’  The man replied, ‘ I have been an Anglican all my life and I am not about to change now’

I was once asked by a lady, to explain that she had heard a man on television say he had attended a Church for years, but had only just become a Christian.  What did he mean?

 

Turn with me to Paul’s first Letter to the Thessalonian Church, This was a Church which Paul had founded and he was very fond of it. I have come to like this Letter as it is so relevant and helpful, especially to new Christians. Most of the believers had come to Christ from idol worshipping, and they had made a huge impact as new Christian members.

Here was a Church which started off with new people coming into our faith, and such was the commitment and enthusiasm, it made others wanting to join. This typical human nature of people seeing others having something  which they hadn’t, so don’t want to be left out. Such was the vibrancy of their faith, that it spread widely, and the people were speaking of their devotion, their past practices left behind them.  The believers shared their good news through the area, telling what a difference God had made on their lives.  Their friends and families began to ask questions about what happened to make such a change.

Research has proved that the most successful form of evangelism is hat of ordinary men and women Christians telling others of how Christianity has changed their lives.

 Paul commended them for the main element of a Christian life, faith and love.  For a faith which works, love which labours, and a hope which endures.  Faith is not merely belief, it is something that changes your thinking, making you turn from something that is wrong to something which is right; love which causes you to work for the gospel; and hope which makes you steadfast in the faith and enable you to endure.  This is he whole Christiam life, beginning in faith, continuing in love, and culminating in the hope of eternal life.

Paul tells the believers they had been chosen by God.  The Bible tells us that God knows the secret working of our hearts, and knows when we are ready to acknowledge Him through Christ, by whom alone we can come to God. He, by His amazing grace, chooses and calls us into His family.  God finds us before we find Him.

Two things must happen in order for a person to become a Christian; first from God’s side and then from the human side; but God side must always be the first. A Christian then is then one who responds to the gospel message.

Have you ever wondered why two people can hear the same message. yet respond in different ways? It happens because one hears words, while the other man hears a message.  It is the Holy Spirit who takes human preaching, and makes it alive inside the human heart.

These Thessalonian Christians we are told, accepted the Word of God and received it into heir hearts.  It is like someone sending you a present, you receive it when delivered to you and you accept and use it for the purpose given. So the early Christians accepted the Word of God to improve their lives.

The last words of our Lord to His Apostles were to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father and Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching the, to observe all that I have commanded.  Here in the words of our Lord is the purpose for which founded the Church.

The Apostles taught the truth about Jesus Christ; they taught the way in which He fulfilled the Old Testament Scriptures, in order to bring people to salvation through His sacrificial death on the Cross, and His resurrection.  They also taught how salvation in Jesus was to be worked out in the life of a believer.  They did not teach something  that they made up in their own minds, only things revealed to them by Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  Jesus had already made clear to them that their teaching was to be consistent with His. Our whole gospel message is based on the Apostles teaching, now enshrined in the New Testament.

As the years went by, the Apostles went all over the world teaching the truth. The Bible tells us people were cut to the heart, in other words, deeply convicted. The people devoted to the teaching, there was no coercion.  Throughout he ages. God has opened the hearts of people, to call them to Jesus.

This is Christianity in its purest form, stripped of all human influences and addition of false doctrines and ritual, which transformed the ancient world  This is how it was in the beginning and what makes a successful Church, as opposed to a religious club. United by common interest; it is a people chosen by God, receiving power through Jesus Christ, who demonstrate this in faith.  All Christians should consider how deep our commitment is to Jesus Christ.

What should occupy our minds is if the Church, is still preaching, and is it fit message of the Apostles and is it fit for the purpose Christ and the Apostles built it? If we are going to be honest, only to Independent Evangelical Churches, for we have seem how leaders in main denominations have wandered into creating false doctrines to meet society’s calling. The Church has cast aside the Bible and in so doing caused the country to lose its

Influence. Guidance and moral standards, with the consequence the young people are not able to distinguish between good and bad. Church has become disconnected from the Word of God. With no firm statement of belief, so is unable to fulfil our Lord’s command to teach the Bible.

Martin Luther wrote, the true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God. This is what the Church should be preaching, but to many people are  Concerned to follow an equality and diversity agenda, Which puts forward childish and silly remarks. This has become now an obsession.

Jesus gave strict commands on spiritual, moral. Ethical, and social matters, and all clergy vowed at ordination to honour the words of Scripture and banish false doctrine.

We live in an evil world, and when you read newspapers, it is hard to believe how barbaric humans can be to fellow humans. There is ill concealed lying by politicians .corruption, deceit, cheating and lusting to such an extent that women are at constant peril from all manner of sexual attacks.

We have to accept that the Church exists primarily to proclaim the gospel. If we restrict that then we have no claim to be here.  Today there are many attacks on Christianity. The liberal lobby have lost all sense of reality with their spurious devotion to a woke agenda

All Christians at this perilous time need to think what we can offer to God. Above all, we must not be ashamed of the gospel, nor reluctant to preach it without fear or favor. Come to Church prepared to feast on sound teaching. Do not listen to anyone tell you that you don’t matter or count, you count tremendously.  Glory in what you do for God, He expects us to be His ambassadors.

The greatest revival on the history of the Church in this country took place under the

Ministry of John and Charles Wesley.  The once great Methodist Church was built on a strong Biblical foundation.  Sadly, that greatness has been destroyed and the Church seems to be falling apart, as many of the devoted older members have been abandoned by the so-called progressives. I say this from much personal experience, as when Visiting to take services, I was regularly told how appreciated they were to have an older man with a strong biblical message, not a regular experience. The Wesley teaching that through Christ alone was salvation given, and the value of a person’s life was measured by their faith, by the manner in which they lived their lives, and the doctrine of Heaven and hell.

I close with the words of John Wesley

I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came down from heaven. He hath written  down in a book. Give me that book. At any price give me the Book of God

 

Give Praise to God for His Glorious Gospel.

 

 

I 1 

 John 4  v1 - 45

Jesus was travelling to Galilee and was taking the shortest route, which meant passing through Samaria. This way was usually not taken by Jews, as Jews and Samaritans were not fond of each other, meaning the Jews faced defilement if attacked.

Jesus and His Apostles stopped in the village of Sychar to rest as He was tired, which revealed the human side of Him. Some people in John's day were denying that Jesus was truly human. He only "seemed" to be human, they said. Others were denying that Jesus was "divine". John makes it clear that Jesus was truly man and divine- God come in the flesh. He grew tired; he wept; and he was thirsty, as we are.
The Apostles left Jesus to go and find food, so He sat near a well which Jacob had given to His son, known as Jacob’s well. Women would go in the morning and evening to draw water, but one immoral woman went at noon when it was really hot. She did so to avoid meeting other women. Jesus took the initiative and spoke to her, and asked her to get Him a drink of water. He ignored culture and tradition.

The woman was astonished at her, a Samaritan woman, at being asked by a Jew. Jesus told her if she knew who He was, He would have given her living water. The woman was puzzled as Jesus had no means of drawing or being given water. She would have had in mind living water as being spring fresh water, whereas Jesus was meaning the gift of the Holy Spirit, which would give eternal life.

The conversation went on to talk of her husband, and her stating that she had no husband. She was startled when Jesus pointed out the man she was living was not her husband, and she had had five husbands before. She was obviously worried about the sinful state Jesus reminded her of.

Jesus was indicating that people living together, was not marriage. A marriage requires some form of official sanction and public ceremony, in which man and woman commit to the obligation of marriage.  Sexual relationships outside marriage were then considered wrong.

The mountain where they were was Mount Gerizim, a sacred place where Samaritans had built a Temple, but Jesus was saying neither there nor Jerusalem, which Samaritans despised, be necessary for worship as people could worship wherever they were.
But Jesus also stated the fact that the Jewish nation had a special place in God’s plan and salvation which was from Jews, for all of the Old Testament was from Jewish people, and Jesus Himself came from Jews.

The woman decided Jesus was a prophet, but referred to her people worshipping on the mountain, and not as Jews in Jerusalem. Jesus told her salvation came from the Jews, and in future worship will be true to God from wherever one is, and will be in spirit and truth.
God has a wonderful kind of existence that is not confined to one place, and having created the world, has dominion over all.

This story offers a lesson in evangelicalism as good as anywhere else in the Bible; the teacher is the Lord Himself. He and His Apostles had reached a part of their journey across the country at the hottest part of the day, and He was tired. Left alone whilst the Apostles sought food, He approached the Samaritan woman, a double act in offending tradition and culture, and seeks a favor.

This is often a wise approach, for a lot of people feel someone needs them, and are ready to make friends. This gives Jesus the opportunity of speaking further, in which He reveals who He is. The principal purpose of Jesus is to preach the gospel, that above all else, for that is what God sent Him to do.

He the Savior of the world, yet is prepared to speak with a woman of immoral character, who is also from a people at great enmity with Jews, something a Rabbi would never even consider thinking of doing. But, the woman went out and told people who she had met, and how well He had spoken to her, and many of the people turned to follow Jesus. You may never know how much good comes from telling an ordinary man, or more so a woman, about your faith and/or Church.

I met a lady, an ordinary wife and mother, and invited her to attend Church, which she did. She had I found, a captivating personality and soon other mothers came with children. Unfortunately her husband, who worked away from home on a North Sea oil rig found out she was attending Church, and gave an ultimatum, Church or him, so because of fear of losing her children we lost her. This was not in my experience an unusual case.

I cannot understand why it happens, as Muslim men are more intent on attending their places of worship than the women. It has to accepted, the |Muslim faith has a more moral base practised than we do.

The Church of today is more interested in getting non-believing parents to have their children baptised and confirmed. It was once suggested parents who had children out of marriage, should bring them to Church to be baptised, when they got married at the same time. What a mindless suggestion.( I imagine the one who thought of that even got a promotion however).

Jesus did not prioritise baptism, he made it clear He was here to preach the gospel, and when the Church does the same, we may see the Church growing rather than falling apart as it is doing. Baptism does not need to be neglected, but in the mind of Jesus, preaching was more important and necessary.

Any person with even half a brain, knows you don’t pour clean water in a cup with dirty water in. But that is figuratively what the Church is doing now. Contrary to what Church leaders may think, the majority of people in the country do have moral beliefs, and it is offensive to them to hear leaders of the Church calling for traditional marriage to be abandoned, and they are not able to understand any purpose in coming; even clergy who still believe in Scripture are leaving, and brilliant men are amongst them. Women Ministers appear to be either more liberal, or prefer to hold the position.

We lose valuable opportunities in holding Summer and Christmas Fairs, in which we have a collection of stalls offering goods, but we don’t offer details of the Church services, We have Church magazines with details of what has been happening, which pleases members, but I cannot understand how or why we don’t include a bible teaching page, and urge people to attend. In other words, have an external outlook as well.
Politicians make sure we know how wonderful their Party is, and all it will do (mostly overstated) It must be successful or they wouldn’t bother.

Let it be taken from this reading the lesson Jesus showed us, of speaking out for our Church and faith; may the leaders be moral like Jesus; and members make known the services are for all, who will be welcome.

 

Praise God for His glorious Gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior

 L U K E  20  V27-38

Discussion about Resurrection

²⁷ Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. ²⁸ They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.^[a] 29 Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children. ³⁰ So the second brother married the widow, but he also died. ³¹ Then the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them, who died without children. ³² Finally, the woman also died. ³³ So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth. ³⁵ But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. ³⁶ And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.

³⁷ “But now, as to whether the dead will be raised—even Moses proved this when he wrote about the burning bush. Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, he referred to the Lord^[b] as ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’^[c] 38 So he is the God of the living, not the dead, for they are all alive to him

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The Gospel for the coming Sunday is from Luke,

This passage opens with Sadducees going to Jesus to say  there is no resurrection. In the Jewish Church, there were Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Moses and  David who were all sceptics. This suggests the infidelity of some proportion, and we must be prepared to find infidels seeking to turn people away from the Scriptures. This infidelity is prevalent in some of the Churches, as false doctrine is preached

 Which is likened to society.  The modern equal to Sadducees are still moving among us.  Advocates against them may be weak in opposition, but the strength of the Church  will prevail against the gates of hell.

We find secondly, a favorite weapon, of the sceptics is a supposed case. The Sadducees took a woman to Jesus and told of her marriage to  seven brothers all of whom died; whose wife would she be in heaven in the resurrection?  They were trying to trap the reply of Jesus.  There will always be people here who are desperate to prove the Bible is wrong,  Any division will be shown when the true situation is exposed.  What we do not know now, we will do so one day,

Thirdly, we find the true character of Christians in existence in the world to come. Jesus replied to His accusers that those who obtain that world will not marry or be given in marriage, for they will be like angels.

It is  made clear, that respecting in glory, their happiness is not carnal happiness but a spiritual one.  No births, sickness, disease, or infirmity shall be no more .

Heaven is something little mentioned in sermons  We see those who reject the

teaching of Jesus are in serious danger, they will not be in heaven.  The cares of family relationships shall no longer be on their minds.

We see lastly, the antiquity of belief in a resurrection. Jesus tells of Moses belief in it. Faith in a resurrection and in a life to come has been the universal belief in God’s people since the beginning of the world. All the Church patriarchs were looking forward to a better inheritance than they had here.

Let us place our own souls on this truth, that we shall rise again. We are not like animals that perish, and there will be a resurrection of the just and the unjust. The recollection of this truth will cheer us in the day of trial and comfort us in the hour of death,  The just will find a life to come with no change, but shall see God. We shall not always be in a grave, our God is a living God.  The unjust will regret they did not listen to the teaching of Jesus.

 

We Praise God’s Glorious Gospel, and the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

EPHESIANS 5 V15 - 21

Sometimes the way to live in a holy manner is not made clear.  A foolish person has no plan for life, and misses the opportunity to work for God in an evil world. We are to be accurate in our lifestyle,  

There is the temptation to think if the majority behave in a certain way, it is fair for them to do so, and then say God will understand, and so they fail to live the Christians life as it should be lived according to the teaching we are given in Scripture. It is however totally unacceptable for Christians to think we can be casual in our lifestyle, indulging especially in moral conduct, that gives an impression we are hypocrites, yet it is a sad fact that there are those who shamelessly parade their hedonistic lifestyle. If we are not ruthless with sin in our lives, then what impression is that giving to our world?

The world is shutting God out of their lives and many are suffering the consequences. Let us provide the evidence that living according to that which God and Jesus laid down, adds to a better and worthy life, and not subscribe to all the whims and fancies of society; people should be able to distinguish the nonbeliever from the true believer.

In v 18 the Bible states do not get drunk with wine, be filled with the Spirit. Wine was the staple drink in Paul’s time, and was fermented to preserve it from turning into vinegar. Whereas wine can control the mind, and impair one’s judgement and lead to debauchery, in contrast  being filled with the Spirit leads to self-control along with the fruits of love, joy, kindness patience and gentleness, and gives a regular pattern or life. We should not give the impression that being a Christian involves giving up things, unless the bible commands doing so. There are Christians who say we should not drink alcohol , or go to the cinema, or dancing; if a Christian truly believes such activities are wrong, then it is perfectly acceptable for them to abstain, but they should not try to force their feelings on to others. This can do more harm than may be intended, and give cause to criticise our faith as intrusive.

As Christians we maintain our life style into our workplace, in our homes, and essentially in our worship place, so that wherever we are we representing the Lord with credit and not shame.

Make music in our hearts to God (v 19) – Not only do we express out joy with audible singing of praise to our God, but we are to do so from our hearts. Our praise to God is not a case of singing audible hymns, but our hearts need to go out to God in joyful worship as well. This will mean that our thoughts about God will be so great, that we cannot help but sing praise to our great God in our hearts if not in audible voices. The early Church was a singing Church, which came from being filled with the Spirit, joining in singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, and making music to the Lord.  Psalms were canticles, and were separated from general music of praise

So true worship is not just singing a hymn or a modern song, but it involves engaging our hearts in joyful worship, and adoration of God through Jesus Christ God's Son, is what every sincere Christian desires to do. Even if our audible voices are not tuneful its what is in our hearts that counts, it might not sound pleasant to others but if our heart is in it is extremely tuneful to our God

The early Church was a thankful Church, giving thanks to God in his grace had stooped to save them, and for all things which happened in their lives, and doing so in the name of Jesus, thereby trusting him as a mediator with God the Father. It was also was one where people honoured one another, and that was because they revered Jesus Christ and recognised the dignity of each person so mutual respect became easy.

Remember how God so richly blessed that early Church. The Bible states they devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles, which is why they got God’s Blessing.  Will the Church of to-day receive God’s blessing. I would think not, and the way the Church is falling apart give some credibility to that opinion.  Consider some of the points made in his passage.,   Paul told Timothy to use every opportunity to spread the gospel, and we have to practise that advice wisely.  This does not mean constantly harassing people with Scripture, but when there will be opportunities to do so which will fit in with the situation, we should be ready to encourage them to turn to the Lord. We all have limited time so let's make sure that we do not waste the time God has given to us and let us look for those God given opportunities

If the Church is to make a difference, it has to be making its influence felt, instead of being fearful of upsetting the activists in society.  A lifeboat is of no use standing polished and shiny in a station when people are in peril on the seas, it has to be out rescuing those facing being drowned; and that as Christians and the Christian Church is what we must be doing.

If the church is disunited and fighting within itself, then is that living out our faith accurately? Perhaps the church today is in great danger of failing to live out real Christianity, and it is giving the wrong impression about matters of conscience. When churches are loveless places, and when they are hypocritical places, then is it any wonder that people today have no idea what the Christian faith is all about.

  If someone asked me what the Church stands for, I would not be able to answer. I could of course tell what the Church should and was meant to stand for, which is now rather different. Consider therefore, the following points.

If Christ was at the heart of all our teaching; we would not be hesitant in adhering to the commands he gave prior to his departure.  We are not following the doctrines of the Bible, we are deliberately following the doctrines of the mixed up world we live in.  The Methodist Church has overwhelmingly decided to accept same sex partnerships as marriage, which directly contradicts that which is at the heart of God’s teaching.

God made man and woman to live and have children as a family, the bedrock of society, and the Church has ridiculed that.  The Church of England will soon follow with bishops and Archbishops in support. One bishop who has openly called for the bible teaching on sexuality and marriage to be ignored, now wants to change the words, in the name of God the Father and God the Son, to be gender neutral so we will have God the parent and God the child,

The guidelines of God’s teaching, which he laid down in Holy Scripture are not being followed, and it is becoming obvious that the only Churches we will find true teaching will be the black Pentecostal Churches.  We adopt much of American culture, some of which we could do without, but what a blessing if we could adopt some of its evangelism.

We Praise God for His Glorious Gospel and he Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior

                                                                                                                                                                                                        

 L U  K  E   19v 1-10

The Gospel message on Sunday next, is the story of Jesus and Zaccheus.  Jesus is  passing through Jericho, in which city there lived Zaccheus, a prominent tax collector.

The city was a wealthy place, different from that which is mentioned in the Old Testament. Herod the Great had obtained the city from Caesar Augustine and made a viaduct, a fortress and a monumental palace.  It had the approach to Jerusalem, a river crossing, and was called the City of Palms.

The tax collectors collected money from people and became very rich, Zaccheus  being at the top of the collectors, was the most hated man of the area. He was very rich, but not happy.  Inevitably, he had no friends and was lonely, for he had made himself an outcast. He had heard that Jesus was friends with some tax collectors and sinners, and so was determined to find Jesus. and no  one would stop him. 

Despised and hated, he wanted the love of God. He knew people might attack him, so was on his own mission.  He was a small man capable of climbing a tree, which  was seen to be like the English oak tree. He then made  a decision, that he would give half of the money fraudulently obtained from people, and with the other half he would give to people he had improperly taken money, especially on family  he deprived of food; the story ends with great words.

‘The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost’,  In the New Testament, it does not mean doomed, it means in the wrong place.  A family is lost when it goes out of its  own place into a wrong place,  A person is lost when they wander away from God; and is found once again in the rightful place, just as a child in the household of the family of the Father

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The verses describe the conversion of a soul,  Like the stories of Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman, the story of Zaccheus should be studied.  The Lord Jesus never changes; what He did for the man in this story, He is able and willing to do for us.

We learn firstly, that no one is too bad to be saved, or is beyond the power of Christ’s grace.  We are told of  a wealthy man becoming a disciple of Christ.  We see the rich man entering the Kingdom of God.  We see clear proof that all things are possible with God.

The door of hope which the Gospel reveals to sinners, is wide open.  Let us not be narrow-minded to shut it  We should never be afraid  to maintain, that Christ is able to save the worst, and that the vilest of sinners, may be freely forgiven if they will only come to Him. We should offer the Gospel to all, telling there is hope  if they will repent and believe.  Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, Some people may think this as foolish, but such doctrine  is the Gospel of Him who saved Zaccheus at Jericho.  Hospitals may discharge people who are deemed to be incurable, but there are no cases under the Gospel.  Anyone who comes to Christ may be healed.

We learn secondly from these verses, how little and insignificant are the things on which a soul’s salvation lies.  We are told Zaccheus sought to see who Jesus was, and yet could not because He was too small. Curiosity and only such, appears to be the motive of his mind, and he was ready to gratify it.  He climbed a tree, and on that small action so far as eyes could see, there lay the salvation of his soul.  Jesus stood under the tree and said, ‘Come down, I must abide at thy house’.  From that moment, Zaccheus was am altered man, and that night he became a Christian.

Never despise the day of small things, never reckon anything little that men and women, by ways of the Holy Spirit, are wondrous and mysterious.  In every work, there must be a beginning, and in spiritual work that beginning is small. A careless brother may turn and come to Church, do not let the motives be a question. Let it be far better to help, so that one day he may receive Christ readily.

We learn thirdly,  compassion to words of sinners, and His power to change hearts.

Unasked, He offers Himself to be a guest at the house of a sinner.

It is not possible with such a passage as this, to exalt too highly the grace of the Lord Jeus Christ, There is within Him an infinite readiness to receive, a chance to save sinners.  Above all, we cannot hold too firmly that salvation not of works, but of grace.  Let us grasp these doctrines firmly, and not let them go. The price is high. Grace, free grace, is the only thought which gives people rest in a dying hour.  Let us proclaim these doctrines, and bid all, to come to Jesus Christ, just as they are, and not wait in the vain hope that they can make themselves worthy to come.  Tell that Jesus Christ waits for them, and will dwell in their poor hearts.  He states, ‘behold I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and sup with him and he with me

We learn lastly, that converted sinners will always give evidence of their conversion.  We are told that Zaccheus stood and said unto the Lord,’ take half of my goods, I give unto the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation I will repay fourfold’.  There was unmistaken proof that Zaccheus had a new nature.  When a wealthy Christian begins to distribute his riches, and as extortioner begins to make restitution, we may well believe that old things have passed away, and all things become new.  There was decision in that speech. Freely pardoned and raised from death to life Zaccheus felt he was ready to show whose he was and whom he served.

He desires to give proof he was a believer, and walk in the steps as Zaccheus, who will announce the sins which formerly beset him.  A believer should live as a believer and confess they know Christ

Let us turn from the passage, remembering the last verse; the Son of Man came into the world to seek and save that which was lost.  It is as Savior more than a Judge, that Christ desires to beknown. let us show we know Him as such;  let us take care our soul is saved. Once converted and saved, we shall say, what shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits.  Once saved, we shall not complain hat self-denial like that of Zaccheus, is a real requirement.

 

Praise God for His Glorious Gospel and the Lord Jesus for His saving power.

 

Nehemiah 8 ,v.1 to 4,  8 to 12

 

This morning I want to turn with you to the reading from the Book of Nehemiah, in the Old Testament

    

Nehemiah was a Jew taken into exile by the Babylonians, and after they had been defeated by the Persians, he became a cup bearer to the King, and later became civil governor of Jerusalem.  

 

The people of Israel had been taken into captivity, and after 70 years were returning to Jerusalem, their spiritual homeland and capital then in ruins, to rebuild their lives and homes. 

 

The walls of the city had been destroyed and needed to be rebuilt been created.  Nehemiah realized, that a nation needs more than material works and wealth, there was a need for a firm spiritual and moral foundation as well as wealth and material things.

 

Ezra, the priest was present and preached the Scriptures to them.   In what is perhaps a new passage of Scripture for you, we have a glorious story of a people who gathered without coercion, devoting themselves to standing for something like five/six hours.

 

This indicates the tremendous desire of these people for truth. No complaining there if the service went over the hour! Some times when I first visit a Church I ask the Vicar/Minister for guidance, as to how long I am  expected to preach, and often told well after ten minutes people will begin to shuffle their feet.  (Not so bad in the Free Churches.)

Notice also, that the place where they met was by the Water Gate, the seventh gate, a prominent number to the Jews, a number meaning perfection.  There were a series of gates, sheep, fish, east, etc. this gate was the symbol of the Word of God -- the water of the Word. There could have been no more appropriate place for them to assemble.

This teaching had such a profound effect upon the people, that we are told they wept as they listened. They did so because they realized how their lives had gone astray, and they had wrong thoughts and ways.  When God’s people get away from loving, and reading, and obeying the Word of God, they lose the blessing of God upon their lives. The cause of their problems lay in their own thoughts and attitudes. These people saw the holiness of God, contrasted against the evil of man.

What a marvelously clear statement of how a church service ought to be conducted! The primary business of Christians is to understand the Word of God, so as to think God's thoughts after him -- to learn to think like God. It is not only important to know what the Scripture says, it is even more important to know what it means!

It is refreshing to see there are many Churches in the United States of America, where the main service contains just music and a Bible reading based on a Chapter of Scripture.

We so desperately need to tell in simple terms how he loves us, wants us to be saved, and for that purpose he sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world, to show us by word and example how that becomes possible when we obey all that he tells us in that holy book we call the Bible.

God’s purpose for the Church is to preach the gospel message contained in the Bible, which we acknowledge is the authoritative Word of God, to an unbelieving world, and to lead people to salvation. This is what makes us unique and special, if we fail to do so, there can be no purpose in there being a Church, and we just become an irrelevancy.

 

In order to help us, do this according to his wishes, God created spiritual boundaries, and we should not wander beyond what the Bible sets out for us.

 

It is because preachers have extended their remit beyond God’s boundaries, and gone off message, that the Church is falling apart in the West; people now are confused as to what the Church believes.  God wants to preach his Word, not express our opinions or think we have a better idea

 

The purpose of coming to Church, should be to join with other Christians in singing praise to God, listening to His Word, having it fearless and boldly preached, so there is spiritual nourishment for the week ahead, and to join in  prayer for the needs of the world and ourselves.

There are Church members, who live knowingly and deliberately against God’s teaching, yet hypocritically carry on doing so. How God must weep when sees people singing hymns of praise in Church, listening to the Bible, (sometimes even preaching it) and then behaving totally in contradiction to what he has laid down.

When the Bible is faithfully preached as it is written, it points out the way are going astray, how far we have wandered from the pureness of Christ in thought word and deeds. How we all sin, most often by mistake or carelessness, and God provided a way of forgiveness in letting Jesus die a cruel death on the Cross, so that all who accept Jesus death wll be forgiven.

The whole Bible is about God’s offer of salvation through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus.

In the Old Testament Jesus is predicted. 

    In the Gospel Jesus is revealed. 

        In Acts Jesus is preached.

            In the Epistles Jesus is explained.

                In Revelation Jesus is anticipated.  

 

 The great tragedy of our day, is how few churches seem to understand this power of Scripture. Across the country, there are churches in which there is little life. The services are dull and dreary, because the Word of God is not central. Whenever there has been a revival in the Church, at the forefront were men like Charles and John Wesley or Evan Roberts in the 1904 Welsh revival, men who were boldly preaching the Bible.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones, one of the greatest preachers of modern times once stated, ‘the primary task of the Church and Christian Ministers is the preaching of the Word of God.  The decadent times in the history of the Church, have always been when such preaching has declined.’

The Church was founded on the teaching of the Apostles, and such was authoritative because it came from our Lord Himself, who claimed he was the only way to God. We should not be afraid to state this, for the Bible states ‘we do not have a spirit of timidity, we have the power of God’.

What should occupy our minds, is to consider if the Church is still preaching the message of the Apostles, and is it fit for the purpose Christ and His Apostles built it?  That is a hard question to answer; in places yes, especially the Pentecostal Churches; but in the main denominational Churches, only to a limited extent.

The Church of England  has gone further than could have been imagined or believed.

In a statement on his official website, the senior churchman said he now “sincerely” believes that same-sex sexual intimacy is permissible in “stable, committed and faithful relationships”.

This is at odds with the Church of England’s current teaching, based on the Bible, that sexual intimacy is permissible only within man-woman marriage.

The Bible states, ‘do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’. All our minds have to become transformed and adjusted to receive, and obey, what God expects from us.

It is fair to say Britain is in moral decline. It is like a car parked on a hill when someone releases the brake and it careers downward.  There is so much evil in society, even listening to news broadcasts creates fear. Murder was for so long a rare and major crime, now it is a daily occurrence hardly worthy of more than a passing paragraph in a newspaper. Fraud, theft, corruption stems from top of society to the bottom. 

Of all that is happening today, the most frightening thing is the lack of a sense of sin in society, a total lack of moral values -- but they do not feel they are doing anything wrong.. That is what the Word of God is given to correct. It awakens afresh an awareness of what is causing the wrong. 

All the time honoured beliefs of morality and ethics have been abandoned so that nothing is considered immoral or improper by society. What is most alarming is that no one in authority seems to be concerned

 

We have allowed secularists, atheists and activists to influence society and take over the country, in the process they are trying to silence us and forcing us not only to accept, but approve all they call for.

 

The Church, which is meant to be the conscience of the nation, has in the mainline denominations, conversely accepted, adopted and embraced behaviour specifically condemned by Scripture. The Church is expected to preach the gospel and abandon sin.  Now there has been a call to abandon the gospel and preach sin.

Scripture reveals that as individuals, we have turned our backs on God's ways, and ignored his teaching. We have failed the young people who see an institution created by God for the purpose of providing spiritual and moral guidance, failing to point out what are clearly called sins in the Bible, and either incapable or unwilling to offer better. Children are now denied these foundations and are growing up without knowing the country’s religious faith and heritage.

It is so easy to say that is just being old fashioned and dismiss. Old fashioned we may be, but we didn’t have 1in 2 divorce rate—such anti-social behavior and juvenile delinquency- the highest abortion rate in Europe-= the highest number of teenage pregnancies in Europe-and the lowest Church attendance, we knew what being a Christian meant.

A lot of people are now trying to discredit the Bible.  Can we then be sure the Bible is true?

The Bible comes to us from God, written over a period of thousands of years, consisting of 66 books, written by a wide variety of authors, each with different characters and occupations, living at different times over the years, most of them not knowing others yet what they wrote was never in contradiction, and was all as God wanted. The most sophisticated computer could not have composed such perfect harmony; the only explanation is the Holy Spirit was the guide and one dictating.

 

Martin Luther stated ‘the true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.’  This is the message the Church should now be preaching, but instead too many are more concerned with following an equality agenda which is obsessing the country. Luther’s stance was that any issue which tended to overshadow the gospel must be ignored and abandoned.  He recalled the Church to follow he gospel.

 

Most of the men who wrote the Bible were simple fishermen, shepherds and the like, without a degree amongst them, and were moved by the Spirit of God. If they went before a selection committee for Church ministry, I doubt they would have been chosen.

 

That may seem hard or even cynical, but it is not meant to be, I say it seriously and being realistic. The teaching of the Apostles would be too fundamental for selectors to accept, for Christian orthodoxy has now been replaced by equality and diversity consideration.  I can say with confidence, preferment in the Church of England is dependent upon accepting not the Bible’s moral and ethical teaching, more on the calls of society’s activists.

 

Men and women have given their lives to take the Bible to the utmost parts of the earth and to live in primitive conditions.  Most could have earned an enormous amount more money with comfortable lives, but chose to serve the Lord. They were mostly well educated and learned people with brilliant minds, who God will richly reward.

 

It would be interesting to know how many church members have bibles in their homes yet never bother to read them.  I think the majority of Church people rarely read a bible in their own time and place.

It was once custom to have bible in pews and members could follow the readings for themselves as they were being read out, and follow as the sermon was preached. Most Churches had a Bible study class meeting , which has now a rare meeting.

 

If the churches of this land were faithful to the Bible preaching what it was saying, without amendments, do you think the nation would be in the condition that it is today?  Never has the Bible been more needed than now

 

Liberalism is tearing the Church apart by trying to supplant biblical authority for cultural expression and denying the infallibility of the Bible with trendy social issues replacing the Cross of Christ. The Church should be the moral conscience and voice of the nation, providing spiritual disinfectant on the evil of society.

    

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

 

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

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

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

 

I close with the words of John Wesley, who with his brother Charles led such a great revival in this country.

. ‘I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. Give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God

 

Praise God for His Holy Gospel.  May His Holy Name be Glorified