LUKE 12               Verses 13/21

 

Parable of the rich fool

Jesus was preaching to a group of people, when a man called from the crowed, asking Jesus to be on his side against his brother in a family dispute. In Jewish life an inheritance was a major issue, and it was the accepted practice that father would leave one part to the younger brother, and two parts to the elder.  We saw this played out in the  Parable of the Prodigal Son recently. In the time of Jesus, land was a precious possession and the subject of inheritance.  There was obviously  a dispute in which the younger brother felt a loser, and he wanted Jesus to settle in his favor.  Whilst Jesus was in charge of the whole universe, He did not want to get involved in matters which did not pertain to His Ministry, and expected people to sort their own issues out.   The young man was displaying a sense of greed, and the answer of Jesus was in fact a mild rebuke as Jesus referred to greed, pointing out that life was not a question of how rich or poor you were.

It was however a common practise for Jews to take personal issues to the Rabbis, but Jesus refused to get involved in money matters.  He took the opportunity to speak out about what His followers attitudes should be, regarding material things.  God wants the values of heaven and His priorities, to his world.

Jesus custom is to illustrate His message and make it clearly understood.  He told a parable about a man who thought only for himself.  The man had an excess of goods, but instead of giving to the poor, and there was much poverty, he was more concerned and intent on amassing all he could, even to the extent of building in order to be able to store more. God warned him he would die that night and all would be lost.  We came into this world with nothing, and will leave in the same condition.  Jesus told the man he was a fool to store up riches, but have no relationship with God.

Now, having looked at the story we need to consider how it relates to us, and what we can learn from it.  The man in the crowd was using this spiritual teaching of Jesus, to try and influence his business. There are of course, people still using religion and attending services with the intention of influencing their business. Being seen in Church and appearing holy, goes down well with locals and customers.  Such a practice is wrong and not worthy.

Some years ago there was a very senior Police Commander who attended a Methodist Church on a regular basis. It became noticed within the Force, and it was amazing how many policemen suddenly found they were Methodists

There  are an awful lot of people in these hectic days, suffering with anxiety and worry.  Inflation is striking almost worldwide, leaving people with bigger bills to pay, and it is becoming hard to meet the requirements.  There are families, for whom life has become very hard, and when cars are a vital part in a person’s life/business. It is exasperating for them to see the cost of petrol rising constantly, and then hear how oil companies have made billions of pounds in profit.  It is nothing less than evil, the way businesses are adding their own (unnecessary) costs on top of the food costs.

In other ways, greed has taken its place as people have many personal items. They see others, with more than they have, and by virtue of credit cards, go for what they cannot afford, forgetting it has to be paid for with real money.

Jesus told the man in the crowd to guard against greed and getting more, life is not measured by how much you own. Gone are the days when men and women had the necessities of life, and when wanting to add, saved up until they could comfortably buy.  We may have advanced widely, as a society with so many technological additions. But how much worry and health problems has it cost.  There is so much competition with other people, with ambition, and with covertness, things are not coming really that easy.

People have nice homes in good areas, where there are not the social problems poorer people have, often with a Church nearby to make it look ‘olde English ‘, but haven’t the gratitude to thank God for their good fortune.   

The message Jesus is passing, is to be content with the necessities of life, and attend to your spiritual responsibilities, praising and thanking God for His care of you.  Jesus wanted to help people avoid worry and anxiety, and He did not want people to live in poor conditions, and called them to pray to God, for Him to take care of them.

I appreciate the Church is not performing in the way God laid down, nor is it following the commands of Jesus to preach the gospel and make disciples. Consequently, the teachings of Jesus do not impact on Church members as He wanted.  Paul the Apostle. stated, ‘I have learned in whatever state I am in therewith, to be content’ Jesus spoke against worldliness, and the character of which Jesus speaks is very common today

We see in these verses, the wisdom of being rich towards God, providing for a time to come of treasure in heaven. Be rich in faith, in grace, and try to be helpful to others.

 

May God bless you.  Attend a Church on Sunday (if it is a bible based Church)

Praise God for His Holy Gospel and Glorify Him

 

Luke 11 v. 1-13

 

The Gospel reading for Sunday contains the giving by Jesus of the Lord’s Prayer.

 I am often in mind of a scene broadcast on the Christian Broadcasting Network in America when I say or hear this prayer.  It is of the first English settlers who landed at Virginia Beach in April 1607.planting the Cross and reciting the prayer. They were the forerunners who were joined by others to make that such a great and powerfully Christian nation

 We read that a disciple asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. This is a reasonable request for praying is hard for a lot of people.  I had a Vicar who was masterly at praying at any given time for any possible reason, but others find it hard to do so without a book of set prayers.

 Jesus gave His disciples and by extension us, a model prayer simple in its composition but profound in its teaching.  The prayer begins with us thinking about God and our relationship to Him, and then moves on to our own concerns.

 We have to remember that prayer is talking to God, who we are encouraged by Jesus to call Father, so we begin by recognizing God as ‘our’ Father who cares for and loves us just as an earthly father cares for his sons/daughters.  The Jews would not recognize such intimacy, and not until Jesus spoke to us had anyone ever done so. 

 We recognize His holiness and that He reigns in heaven, and approach Him in reverence.  We also acknowledge that in being holy, God is above and beyond us.  In Jewish thought, a name reflected the character of the person, so we recognize God’s holiness and seek to display it in our lives. We cannot see God, but He is present in heaven and all authority is His.  If we trust in Him, He is always ready to hear us in time of need.

 In saying ‘thy kingdom come, thy will be done’, we are praying that God’s rule be established more and more. We want God to be fully present in life, and not just an invisible hope. We want to see more and more people converted and obey His will, and that those who disobey and hate His commands will decrease.  We are praying that all God’s plans and purposes will be fulfilled.

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

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

 Finally, we plead with God to so order our lives that we do not face temptation beyond our ability to resist.  God will never lead us into temptation, but we face this every day of our lives and will do so as long as we live on this earth. At this point we also want Him to protect us from evil which abounds so much all around us, and so order our lives that we may not be faced with anything we cannot bear.

 The words of this prayer have passed over our lips many times.  How many who recite it, sometimes automatically, really desire is petitions to be granted.  Do we really see God as our Father and truly care for His will and name, and wish for the kingdom to come.

 This prayer is read at almost every funeral service and said by people who have little if any religious faith and do not appreciate its wonder or meaning.  The prayer is factually for believers who are entitled to call God ‘Father’, for Jesus stated no one can come to the father except through me.

                       

.Luke 8 verses 26-39

 

This is a story many people find hard to believe or understand. It is a story about demons which we do not speak of, but for the people living in the days of Jesus, it was a very real issue. They were certainly real to the man in the story (as they were to Mary Madelene whom Jesus cleansed on another occasion) for they enrage the person and deprive the senses.

 Jesus and The Apostles had just sailed up the Lake crossing to Gentile territory, hoping to have an easier time, and avoid the pressures they had faced to come to the place of the Gerasene's. This incident took place at Gerasene, a small town near the Sea of Galilee, where it was thought to be the place which was the home, and a Jewish area. This is the only visit recorded of Jesus visiting this area. It was a region of tombs and chambers, hewed into the cliffs which arose from the Lake. A steep hill descended sharply to the edge of the waters.

 Jesus appeared, and was approached by a naked man who had a possession of demons. The man had seen better days, wore clothes and lived in a home, but was now living in tombs among dead people. His case was one of violent insanity and was too dangerous to live with, so had to live in those tombs. He was regarded as a public nuisance, and His fellowmen would not go near him, for they were fearful of his strength. When he was bound with iron chains, he was so strong he pulled them apart. On seeing Jesus he rushed down to confront Jesus who took pity upon him.

 Jesus asked the man his name, and was told it was ‘legion’ which was a Roman name for a regiment of six thousand soldiers, so signifying the man had a lot of demons. Despite his fearsome nature, Jesus approached him and called out the demons, which were cast into a herd of pigs, causing them to rush away over a precipice into a lake where they drowned.

 The people from all around the area heard of the healing by Jesus and marvelled at the cure, but they asked Jesus to leave as they were in the grip of fear. Jesus left the town by boat, and the man wanted to leave with him, but Jesus told him to go and tell people what God had done for him.

 The owner of the pigs was angry, and the people had more concern for the pigs than the man’s health, plus the fact their routine was disturbed Jesus was in fact condemned for sending the demons into the pigs, but belief often comes from a visible demonstration. If this happened to day, a crowd of protesters would see it as another opportunity to cause mayhem.

 The story has focused on two men, Jesus and the man legion. Jesus had disturbed the tranquility, so had to be pushed away. Things have not changed over the years, people do not want His presence or influence over their lives, unless of course it was of some practical help, or to affect the way they live.

 The Church often makes people aware of their way of life, and that makes them feel guilty which they don’t want to feel, so don’t want any interference, unless of course Jesus is needed for help if there is some suffering in their lives.

 Think of how the leaders of the Church, told congregations not to attend meetings of the evangelical preacher Franklin Graham, because he believed marriage was only between a man and a woman, which the leaders of the Church! thought was hate speech. Leaders of the LGBT movement put so much pressure on the owners of the places where he was to speak, that they cancelled the use of the buildings. Or how bishops of the Church when Billy Graham first came in the 1960s discouraged people to attend. Consequently he was so well liked, he had to extend his stay by three weeks, as people flocked in the thousands to listen to him.

 The man went to tell of the miraculous way of his recovery by Jesus, and there is a responsibility of all Christians to do the same when they have been helped by God. But be prepared not to be listened to. I have told how my wife faced a health condition on one occasion, and within three days, after a lady in Birmingham had asked her fellow pastors to join in praying for her, she was healed, yet even some clergymen politely smiled benevolently at me when I attributed the healing to that praying

 There are many people in this country (and others) who are possessed of evil spirits, as we read and hear daily news reports where human beings are treated in the most callous way by other humans. Consider the offence of murder, once such a rare crime that it was national news for months, whereas now it is so common a crime, that it sometimes merits just a small paragraph in a newspaper.

 People cannot control themselves, they may not run naked and wild, but scenes in our inner cities seem pretty wild, especially when filled with alcohol, which leaves them beyond control. The Bible states the world is under the influence of the evil one, and you only need to look at television to see how true that is.

 Consider the number of young children, even just babies, beaten to death in one case where a child had 200 injuries from its mother, and boy- friend. How could you explain that away, or people flying planes into a high building in new York. Pure evil.

 Society would dearly like to control you. We have legislation for almost everything, parents being told how their children must be dressed to avoid upsetting other children, made to be taught explicit sexual activity, with the parents being refused permission to have their child excused. If the government had its way, lives would be strictly monitored.

 The Bible states, if you follow the ways of the world, you may come to loathe yourselves as you will live your transgression and sins, as people are controlled by drugs, promiscuity , pornography and alcoholism. They know they are behaving wrongly, but are beyond self- control. Men can get to the moon, but can’t control the world

 Jesus looked at that man and took pity, seeing what he could be, Behind many a smile there is a graveyard of pain, anxiety and heartache. He was not a hard case for Jesus to deal with, but it can be hard for people to concede they need Him.

 People to-day, even Church attenders, think things are fine with Jesus until he wants them to change things. They would rather sit on the sidelines and cheer, but when He alters things they have got used to. He is going too far.

 This man saw Jesus, and saw love and compassion in a way he had never found before. If those people who come to Church for infant baptism, turned to Jesus as they have promised, and ran with the same urgency as they run to places of liquid refreshment after the service, what a difference it would make for Church attendance.

 Jesus cured the man and can do the same for every man and woman. Cases like this rarely occur, but here is plenty of cases where people are filled with devilish actions. Christians have to believe when Jesus died on the Cross He took away our past sins, and evil was defeated. Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven, and sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. When the Holy Spirit enters peoples’ lives it effects change, they have a sense of respect, because they realize the undeserved love and grace of God.

 The man healed by Jesus wanted to stay with Him, but Jesus refused and sent him home. Sometimes when we get what we ask for it can be a mixed blessing. Our duty is to be where Jesus has set us to be for Him. We may not see the need for what position in life is good for us, or see the need of submitting our wills to Christ. What we want to do may not always be the best for us, so we have to be careful of what we choose for. Jesus wanted the man to tell what God had done for him.

 In evangelical Churches, it is common for people to make public their testimonies of how they came to know Christ. For some people it is a chance to be dramatic, but for a lot of people it is a gradual growing in grace, when the exact moment of full commitment is not noticed. I do not condemn how people make a testimony, but I do feel more convinced by the more reserved manner, as for some people it can be less sincere.

 It reminds me of two people who marry. For some it is like a Damascus Road experience they see a person of the opposite sex, and are immediately struck in love and rush to marry, soon to find they were tired of each other and divorced.

  For other people they meet, even casually, and like the person of the other sex; they start in friendly meetings and grow so deeply fond of each other, but could not tell when the exact moment was when they truly fell in love, as just opposed to attraction. They live together in true love for the rest of life.

 Whichever way you commit oneself to follow Jesus, be confident God welcomes you and grants you salvation.

 

May God bless His Word to us and make us worthy to meet Jesus

 

GALATIANS 5, v16/25

In all Paul’s Letters, he adopts the pattern of setting out doctrine in the first part, before going on to illustrate practical application.

He has set out in Galatians, the danger of listening to false teachers who tried to impose the need for new Christians, first to accept the restrictions of Jewish Law and practice. Now, in this last half of the Letter, he is warning that freedom, if not properly applied, can turn into license. Christian freedom given to us in Christ, and demands self-control. This passage is full of the mention of the Holy Spirit,

This passage is full of the Holy Spirit, seven times by name, and presented as the One who can tell you what to do, so that you won’t be doing the wrong things, and following our natural desires which are just the opposite. We can read the Bible and other religious writings, and know all the theory, but find it hard to put into practice.

In this passage Paul is calling on us to obey the Holy Spirit’s guidance, so that we will not offend God by following less than proper actions. When we follow our own inclinations, we often engage in such actions as eagerness for our own pleasure, impurity of some kind by word or deed, jealousy, envy, hatred or pride.

There are two sides to all our natures, and often life is a struggle as to which one prevails. In the Christian life, two forces between flesh and the Spirit compete. In the flesh, what we are by nature and fallen condition, but when under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we become the kind of person of which Jesus would approve. In the flesh, what we are by birth; and in the Spirit when we are born anew.

This is where baptism needs to be understood sensibly and theologically. In the baptism service, in some denominations it is declared ‘that this child has been born anew (or again)’. It is both nonsensical and irresponsible to say a new born child, or a child of most ages, knows what being born again means in the spiritual sense. Before a person can claim to be born again, there has to be repentance from sin, and a confession of faith.

Christians will often face an internal struggle intensely, as their own nature dearly wishes to follow a course of life which their spiritual conscience tells them is wrong, and the Holy Spirit will not let them feel comfortable with it. He will convict us by reminding us why Jesus died on the Cross.

The story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is well known. The doctor, who was a respected London surgeon, had discovered a drug which caused him to change his nature and so do shameful things. When he came out from under its influence, he was ashamed of himself, but the drug was too strong to resist and in mental torment he killed himself.

By nature and inheritance, we all have a conflict within us, which at times causes us to do things we know within we should not be doing, and it is only with the power of the Holy Spirit we can fight and resist, for we cannot fight on our own. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to help and give us the ability and the Bible states, ‘if anyone does not have the Spirit of Jesus Christ he does not belong to Christ’. The Holy Spirit provides all the resources, and Paul is saying, be like Christ.

When we are led by the Holy Spirit our lives will reveal love, joy, pace, patience, kindness, goodness faithfulness and self-control. These are the fruits of the Spirit and fruit depends on the health of the tree. Spiritual fruit means character and producing a quality of life. If we follow Christ we shall produce abundant fruit.

A Christian should always be aware that he or she is a public figure in that when people know you are a Christian, they will watch you and any fall from grace will be noticed and commented upon. As Paul viewed things, Jesus Christ was the most important part of one’s life and the Christian should devote oneself to act in such a way as to be worthy of Him. This is largely the theme of this Chapter of Paul’s Letter to the Galatians.

The non-Christian may face a moral conflict and never feel guilty, for they are doing what seems normal behavior, but the Christian will feel an internal conflict quite strongly, for the Holy Spirit will not allow a Christian to feel at ease with improper behavior.

The Church is often reluctant to speak frankly on parts of the Bible as many within, both lay and clergy do not subscribe fully to what is written, and often fall down on more than one sin.

It is still a fact that most of us who attend Church strive to live in the way we are called to do so, and to a great degree succeed. When we do fall, we know Christ is waiting to pick us up, having given His life on the Cross to put us right with God.

The works of the flesh are spelled out in verses 19/21 starting with sexual immorality. When Paul wrote this, he was referring to behavior which preachers of today find the most sensitive of subjects. If they preached it as it was meant when written, they would lose many of their congregations, for all sexual relationships outside of marriage were being condemned.

The greater part of the population is living in ‘partnership,’ and, or, indulging in sexual conduct. The psychotic devotees of political correctness now object to the terms, husband/wife. When I am asked about my partner, I reply firmly that I do not have a partner, but I do have a wife and am proud to be a husband.

The press and television have fanned up the flames, giving the impression that free sex is not to be ashamed of. and is quite acceptable and an essential part of life. Almost every relationship portrayed on television, involves an immediate sexual encounter. This had led young, and very young people, to feel odd if not taking part, and led the United Kingdom to have the largest teenage pregnancy rate (and abortions) in Europe, in spite of the legal fact that under age sex is contrary to law. Judges have made rulings which encourage free sexual expression.

The list goes on to mention impure thoughts, eagerness for lustful pleasure, hatred, malice, jealousy anger, rage drunkenness, wrong doctrine.

Paul adds that anyone who belongs to Christ will have nailed such evil desires to his cross and crucified them there, but we must accept there are plenty of people within the Church who have not done so. There are far too many calling for sexual behavior, which is totally contrary to Scripture, to be seen as acceptable. One year, we had the incredible statement of senior clergy, inviting couples to come and get married in Church and bring their children to be baptized at the same time, a sort of two for one offer. Even society found that mad

We are frequebtkyts asked to do something, and upset if they cannot have their own way. This is a complete affront to Christian teaching and should be condemned when revealed.

Paul then turns to speak of the fruits of the Spirit, which come when the Holy Spirit controls our lives. When we are Christian we must produce care, which is the opposite of selfishness and having a caring nature;-- joy and making people feel cheerful;-- peace, not looking to make trouble; --patience, being long suffering and having endurance;-- kindness, always willing to be helpful and giving of oneself; --gentleness, a sensitive feeling to people;-- faithfulness, having dependability and reliability;-- and self -control, not being ready to respond aggressively.

For all those people who mock and ridicule Christians and the Bible, a time of reality will one day come when they will wish they had taken our way of life.

The Bible states ‘heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad and its gate is wide enough for all the multitude who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow and only a few ever find it.



Make sure you choose the right road.



Praise God for His Holy Gospel

 

 M A T T H E W   15. V 10-20

 The highest Scribes and Pharisees came down to ask Jesus why His disciples did not wash their hands, according to the tradition by esteemed Rabbis?   This  would mean hands and feet being washed before performing any duties.  The Pharisees made it  a ceremony of purity and to avoid any uncleanness, and it involved all believers.

 Jesus made a distinction between the Old Testament which was a command of God, and the Pharisaic tradition of human pronouncements. The term given to God, is a technical term for a formal vow in order to help needy parents who would have committed a serious transgression according to the teachers

 The Pharisees were deemed to be hypocrites for two reasons.  Their actions were merely external  and do not come from the heart; and their teachings are not from God, and are just human tradition.

Jesus called the people and said, you honor me with your lips, but your hearts are far from me.  In vain you worship me, teaching as if doctrines are the

commandments of men.  Jesus said, it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles the person, but what comes out of the mouth that defiles the person.

 

The disciples went to Jesus, and asked Him if He knew the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying, but Jesus answered every plant that my Father planted will be rooted up.  Let them alone they  are blind guides, and if the blind leads the blind, they will all end up in the pit.

 

The disciples were surprised at the strong language of Jesus. The Pharisees had probably been accepted at the hands of many people, to be regarded as the best of men  They were upset at being called hypocrites, and charged with transgressing a commandment .

 

The plain meaning of the Lord’s words, was false doctrine of the Pharisees was a plant to which no mercy should be shown, for it was a plant His Father had not planted,  if it contradicts the Word of God destroy it. His disciples had to learn that it was to resist all false teaching, be forsaken and was to be left alone and be forsaken by all teachers.  Soon all false doctrine will be completely overthrown and put to shame.  (how relevant to Charges now)   There are lessons of wisdom in the saying of Jesus, which serve to show light on the duty of every professing Christian. In al ages,

 

Peter asked Jesus to explain this parable to them. Jesus replied, are you still without understanding? Do you not see whatever goes into the mouth, passes into the stomach and is expelled.  But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and fulfils a person. Out of the mouth also comes evil thoughts, murder, slander, theft immorality and adultery.  These are what defiles a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile anyone.

 

This teaches, hypocrites generally attracts attention to outward matters in religion.  The action of the Pharisees is a case in point.  They criticise the Lord and His disciples, not for any unfaithful way, it was just they had acted against the tradition of the elders.

 

We see the action of the Pharisees played out in our day. There are many professing Christians who give their attention according to what they think necessary.  Trivialities are made to look important.  I often wonder if some people come just to make trouble. I was assisting at one Church when a man and wife each Sunday would find something to complain about.  I asked the Minister of the Church to tell them not to attend, but quite a number of clergy were then real gentle-men, whose life had been peaceful and reluctant to engage with such people, and troublemakers always pick easy targets to pick on.

 

We learn the great danger of trying to add or take away, anything from the Word of God. The closing words of the Bible read I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book. If anyone adds to what is  here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book

If anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy Godwill remove that person’s share in the life of and in the holy city as described in this book. He who is witness to all these things says, Yes I am coming soon. Amen come Lord Jesus.

 

The Lord Jesus answers the Pharisees by asking why they also transgress the command of God by traditions,  he exposes their hypocrisy by their traditions.  He speaks the great truth never to be forgotten, there is always a tendency in traditions to make the Word of God have no effect.  We still see it in Churches when false doctrine replaces the Word of God just to seek favor with  society. Men think God;s law is too strict and narrow, and make something to suit themselves. 

 The Church of Rome attaches monastic  vows; vows of celibacy, feasts and fasts.  It is  to credit that Pope Leo has prepared a new  set of procedures to make the Catholic Church make more contact with people, and shows a sincere approach, which will glorify both God and Church. There will be some resistance inevitably, but true Christians should remember to pray .

 learn lastly, that worship which God desires is worship of the heart. Jesus quotes Isaiah, This people draweth near me with their  lips,but their hearts are far from me.

 

The heart The heart should be principle between husband and wife and between parent and child,  The heart should be the principle which we attend in all relations to God and our souls. This is essential to a Christian, that God wants us to pray before Him.

 

God’s truth is in peril.  True followers of Jesus should be speakers of truth.  It is our duty to reject all false doctrine and ban its teaching, and ignore those who contraict the Words of God.  We do not use weapons, but just respect peace, preaching, and prayer.  Respecting the heart of man, we should have  a clean heart.

 What an awful picture we have of human nature, drawn to by one who was man,  Seeds of evil our Lord has exposed by lying within and ready to start an active life,

Let it be a settled resolution that in all the state of our believers hearts. We have a deep heart fight in the sight of God

Finally .let it be a settled resolution to keep our hearts in diligence all the days of our lives.

 

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

---

 

 

Colossians Chapter 1

                                                                  

In the Epistle from Colossians.  False teachers had infiltrated the Church just as we experience today, and when there is false teaching there is inevitably division and ill feeling.  We do not know what the trouble was in Colossae, but it was serious enough for Paul to write and admonish them.

Paul describes Christ as the first born of all creation; pre-eminent over all creation; the One who holds all things together; and the head of the Church. All these statements are to emphasize the deity of Christ and His having Supremacy over all in heaven and earth.

It is in Jesus’ position as head of the Church which I am concentrating on this morning.   Jesus is the one that builds His church, so all His servants need to be careful to follow all He directed. Whilst all His followers should respond to Him, there is a special duty placed on all holding Office within the Church to lead by example.

The last words of Jesus before His ascension were to His Apostles:  ‘Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  AND teaching them to observe all that I have commanded.   Here in the words of our Lord is the purpose for which He founded the Church.

The church began on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles, and the first Church was founded on the teaching of the Apostles who took the gospel around the ancient world, and that church was a model from which we might do well to follow as the Bible states the people were devoted to such teaching.

The Apostles taught the truth about Jesus Christ. They taught about 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 Christ was to be worked out in the life of the believer. They are not teaching something that they have made up in their own minds, but only things which have been revealed to them by Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Jesus had already made it clear to them that their teaching was to be consistent with His.

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. In order to justify that let us reflect.

Jesus gave strict commands on spiritual, moral, ethical and social matters.  Paul warned that there would be those who would not wish to here sound doctrine and would seek false teachers who would say what they wanted to hear and there are plenty of them in the Church today. Never forget, the church does not belong to men (or women) it is Christ’s church and he builds it through the teaching of the men who were His Apostles.

When we hear their teaching on a regular basis, not only does our faith grow, but also our ability to defend and help others to understand, especially those most closest and dearest to us who are not yet followers of our Lord.  We may not remember all we hear, but will be inspired by the power of what has been preached.  We will learn to be guided by the Scriptures and will come to know more about God and His Son and how we should live according to His commands.

Charles Wesley taught that the value of a person’s life was to be measured by their faith, so we need to get our way of life in order to justify our faith.

I am sure that many Church members do not realize the danger our faith and Church face.  There are forces out to annihilate Christianity from the public arena and silence biblical quotations on moral and ethical issues.

Paul taught it would never be an easy task for us, that opposition would be met, but said we do not have a spirit of timidity, be strong. We should show no fear or favour and never ever be ashamed of our faith. But that is exactly what is happening in some of our Churches, especially in the Church of England.  We are bound to preach what people need to hear rather than what some might prefer to be taught.

If we are to be the witnesses for Jesus, we must first be sure we have experienced His presence, and secondly tell positively what Jesus stated and commanded. It is not enough to say we know about Him, even the devil could say that, we must have accepted Him as Savior and believed in all He did and commanded. We cannot amend or put on an application which He obviously would not have approved.  Being a witness is something that falls to all Christians to be and it doesn’t mean theological knowledge required, or being intrusive, we can be a most effective witness by just letting it be known we attend Church, which tends to show we are followers of Christ. If the Church is to survive in any meaningful way it is down to the ordinary Church members as there is now no one on the national scene with any notable charisma.

The responsibility for teaching falls principally on the clergy, and the Bible states a preacher is given a solemn task to preach in the name of God and Jesus Christ, and will one day have to answer as to how faithfully we carried out that privilege.

We have to tell our faith is not something someone made up. There is testimony from people alive at the time of Jesus’ life on earth, and not only from His followers but from literary men of the time, and it has been recorded. 

The Bible has many prophecies in the Old Testament made many years earlier which most have come true.  There are so many interlinked stories none of which have been contradicted, and not even the most sophisticated computer could excel. 

Our Gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.  This, which was an early Christian confession, give us the heart of the gospel and show that the resurrection is an integral part of the gospel. The reality can be verified by the Scriptures and historical evidence as the empty tomb and the eye witnesses

Only Christianity has a Cross at the center of its faith. Only Jesus suffered an horrific death on the Cross, a death made for criminals who were made to parade through the streets with a crown on his head beaten 39 times with a leather belt fitted with metal studs to cut the skin, stripped of clothes and nailed through His hands and feet on the cross, and all for the sake of paying the penalty for the sins you and I commit.

He could have refused to go there, but went willingly so we could be forgiven and put back in to a relationship with God and made us fit for heaven, where we will live on day with Him.  God said this is what man has shown and done to my Son; this is what I have done, and showed by raising Him to life again.

Our Gospel is that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.  This, which was an early Christian confession, give us the heart of the gospel and show that the resurrection is an integral part of the gospel. The reality can be verified by the Scriptures and historical evidence as the empty tomb and the eye witnesses

Only Christianity has a Cross at the center of its faith. Only Jesus suffered an horrific death on the Cross, a death made for criminals who were made to parade through the streets with a crown on his head beaten 39 times with a leather belt fitted with metal studs to cut the skin, stripped of clothes and nailed through His hands and feet on the cross, and all for the sake of paying the penalty for the sins you and I commit.

He could have refused to go there, but went willingly so we could be forgiven and put back in to a relationship with God and made us fit for heaven, where we will live on day with Him.  God said this is what man has shown and done to my Son; this is what I have done, and showed by raising Him to life again.

 

Let me 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 very end He came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book! O give me that  book! At any price, give me the Book of God!  I have it: here is knowledge enough for me.

 We thank God for His Holy Gospel, 

 

LUKE 10 V 1 /20

This Chapter is a story of Jesus sending out some of His followers on an evangelistic mission, ahead of His visiting the towns He intended to visit.

Jesus sent out seventy two disciples in two’s, into Gentile territory where He Himself was planning to go. Two people working together can be most useful as they can complement each other, and this is in fact a practice from the Old Testament.

     Jesus calls for prayer for those He is sending out. Like to-day there was much to do, and few to do it.  The Bible states the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective, and whilst a lot of people are not able to perform much physical work because of age and infirmity, they can pray for those physically able.

     The Bible tells how Moses and Aaron were physically restricted at one time so engaged in prayer, and when they did so the Israelites were successful.

     Jesus warned the men He was sending forth of the dangers they faced, saying they were like lambs going amongst wolves, meaning wolves eat lambs Jesus never called on anyone to act under false pretenses, but rather pointed out the possible cost.  He knew they faced danger, and so many in Christian ministries do today.  Churches in Nigeria, Pakistan, Indonesia, and even Canada, suffer attacks, and in numerous Eastern hemisphere nations are imprisoned, arrested and charged with offences, and murders too take place.  Not a lot of people want to hear of these brave men and women who face such ordeals in the service of teaching about Jesus.  They are often brilliant minded people, fully able to earn lucrative salaries in other occupations, but commit themselves willingly to serve the Lord.

     Jesus further stressed the need of devotion to their mission. This message is applicable to the Church at large, and whilst primarily to Ministers, applies to all Christians.  Jesus wanted them to concentrate on the purpose for which He was sending them, that is to preach the gospel.

     In modern times it has become fashionable to engage in profound theological debate, sometime questioning the veracity of Bible teaching, which is unlikely to win one soul for Christ.  All that is needed is simple and plain statements clearly and convincingly made, by people who truly believe in what they are teaching.  Simple gospel truths, leaving the Holy Spirit to complete the work.

     There next follows three things for the disciples to avoid. They are to travel light, must not be cluttered up with material natters.  It appears there is now a temptation for preachers to get involved with political and social issues, a craze to talk about climate change, or government schemes, especially by bishops who criticize without offering any alternative. These have no place in pulpits, especially as they tend to divide Christian worship.  The issues of the world should not transcend spiritual matters.

     The disciples are not to be over concerned for comfort, but place their trust in God to provide. We are all entitled to enjoy the luxuries of life, but not to become predominant. Since their business was urgent, they were mot to waste times in greetings, but concentrate on the task they were sent on.

     In eastern countries, the custom was to have long conversations on greeting someone, resulting in lost opportunity for what they were sent out for. This did not mean they were to be discourteous, nor seek attention, but that they should not linger when there was so much to be accomplished.

     Thirdly, the preacher should not seek personal gain from his Ministry, or other benefit. At that time it was ruled if a prophet stayed in one place without working for three days, he was a false prophet.  The laborer was worthy of his hire, but cannot be seeker of gain. It has to be faced, there are those in Christian ministry today more interested in enhancing their c.v. and promoting themselves, than promoting the gospel.

     I remember a wedding shown on television, where the Vicar after performing the ceremony, saying to the congregation, ‘let’s dance’, and then she led in what more resembled rather wild body shaking than dancing, with some of the congregation  standing on the pews to do so.  Whether intended or not, it enabled the Vicar to start on a television career, gathering her a collection of fans,- or the alternative. (N.b. The service is called, the Solemnization of Matrimony’)

     Jesus stated stay faithful, even in the face of rejection, warning His workers they would be rejected, something most Ministers have experienced. Since Jesus was Himself rejected, we should not be surprised. It has become more a badge of honor to be criticized or rejected, but experience has shown me the people who do complain are usually bullies who shy away when confronted and challenged. I remember one Vicar saying in frustrated tones to me after having had a hard time,’ well at least they can’t crucify me’

     Jesus makes clear in verse 16, what it means when His messages are rejected. He said, ‘he who rejects me, rejects the One who sent me’. He is warning those who do so, will be in great trouble. A person will be judged by what they had a chance to know. It is a terrible thing to reject God’s invitation, for it can lead to eternal condemnation.  God will not force Himself on anyone, We all have the freedom to respond or reject Him, and judgement will one day be meted out accordingly.  This is why coming to Church is a serious business, for every time we hear God’s Word we face the choice to heed or ignore.

     Jesus told His disciples to wipe the dust off their feet if they faced rejection, a symbolic action to signify the place is standing before God.  This becomes hard when those rejecting God’s Word are those closest to us personally. We long for them to accept Jesus as their Savior, and shed tears at the thought of their eternal destiny.

     The Bible clearly states, as indeed Jesus clearly expresses here, that we have the chance and should take it before it is too late. We should therefore do all we can to make sure they hear the message, but we cannot believe for them.

     When the seventy two returned, Jesus told them to stay humble. Some were so excited with triumphs in winning people for Jesus. He warned them against pride and realized things fall away constantly.  When Billy Graham, conducted his Crusades in the years he was in England, many people attended and offered themselves to Christ, inspired by  glorious singing by massed choirs, and hearing the greatest and most successful preacher in Christian history. But when they returned to their local parishes, they often found indifference from Vicars who probably disliked Billy, and they showed little interest. People were so disillusioned they fell away,

     The Bible sees a world in open defiance against God, and those who stand for God will be mocked and harassed.  The Bible calls for a different society, one which responds to the cry of a loving Savior who wants people to turn to Him in repentance and faith.

The world is divided between those who choose the Kingdom of God and the light of Christ, and the other world of darkness led by evil, which will seek to destroy all that is good and holy. We each have to decide which side we are on.

     Some years past, one of the finest liners ever built, the Queen Mary, was taken out of active service, and was taken to Long Beach in California as a tourist attraction. She was as luxuriously made as could be, but during the 1939 war was converted into a troopship. She is now a museum. 

     Today, it seems that the Church is following a similar course; it sees itself in peacetime conditions, when in fact it is under sustained attack on all sides.  We expect the Christian life to be painless and easy, whereas the Bible teaches us that we are called upon to expect wartime conditions. The prospect is that the Church will become a museum as attendances are falling, and writers are already forecasting its demise within ten years.

     Jesus always made it clear that following Him would never be easy.  Indeed, He taught it would be very hard.  Jesus warned that we need to count the cost, before committing oneself as it meant carrying a cross and placing Him first in all considerations, above all else.

     We are in fact engaged in a war, and called upon to be soldiers of Christ.  Regrettably there are many within the Church, both lay and ordained, who wish to avoid all militaristic references and terms. We have the word soldier removed, and Onward Christian soldiers, one of the greatest hymns written, has now become in some Churches as  the ridiculous Onward Christian pilgrims, so vandalising such a beautiful hymn. Anyone so weak-minded, should avoid the hymn altogether if cannot accept the writer’s words.

     The fact is that the Bible often uses the term soldiers, and we sing Soldiers of Christ arise, and Stand up, stand up for Jesus ye soldiers of the Cross, the Apostle Paul used the term as an analogy, but it all seems to be an irrelevance to those who eulogise the word ‘love.’  We have to face reality, there is so much unlovely things and people, in this world. Turn to your Bible, you will see it speaks of God’s wrath, and you have to go into many Chapters before we start talking about love. We are engaged in a bitter war, with the world being a battlefield with aggressive activists, not a playground. 

     Our opponents do not believe Jesus is the only way to God; the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross; the definition of marriage; God’s Order of Creation, to mention just a sample of doctrine, which they challenge at every opportunity, and have campaigners within the Church aiding them.

     Jesus called for decisiveness and radical self-discipline and commitment.  This is in contrast to the readiness on some Christians part, to accept all that is hurled against them. 

In the previous chapter, Jesus had sent out His Apostles with specific instructions.  Here Jesus sends out 72, widening the net to indicate He is sending out His followers to all parts of the earth.  We can see what He expects from us. 

     All Christians should try and spread the gospel, and often this can be done in an easy manner by bringing your local Church to people’s notice. For many people, as we know to our own experiences, God is an irrelevance until they have a personal problem, there is no such human being who is a true atheist.

     We are called to be steadfast in our faith, and be assured God has given us all an individual gift that we can use for His purpose, it just takes time to realise what that gift is. The Bible spells out clearly there are so many gifts we can use in serving Him. One lady in my Church took  on the task of arranging the flowers which are placed in position each week, and her work was cherished by members who got so much pleasure and comfort as the meditated prior to and during the service. (probably a relief during some sermons) There are other similar tasks, think about yourself, may make Church more important to you personally and inspire others

.

We thank God for His Holy Gospel and pray He guide us in our service                                                                                         

    

LUKE  15  v 1-10

I am turning to the gospel of Luke, in Chapter 15. This is a very well-known passage which contains a message for people of all ages.

First, there is the shepherd who loses one of his sheep, so he leaves the flock  of the other ninety nine whilst he searches for the lost one. He finds, and is so delighted he carries the sheep with joy, back to his friends and neighbors, finding the one who went astray

Secondly, there is the woman who loses one of ten coins from her head-dress, so sweeps the home until she finds the coin, and after finding the lost, calls in her friends to rejoice with her. Although not worth a lot moneywise, it was equal to a day’s wage. It was not difficult to lose a coin but difficult to find. The house would be small with an earth floor covered with reeds and rushes, and there would be a small round window to give little light.

Trying to find a coin in such conditions was hard, and despite s weeping the floor it looked totally lost. It was a matter of desperation to the woman, and she could not give in. These people needed food and were living on the edge, and without finding the coin there would be no food.  But there was also a romantic reason

In Palestine, the mask of a married woman, was a head-dress of ten silver coins linked together to form a chain. For years a girl would save up to collect the coins for her head-dress, which was like the equivalent of our wedding ring. When she had it, it was a treasure and could not be taken away. This may be the reason for which she was so disturbed over, and longed to find. She searched so hard, as a woman today would for a lost ring. She did in the end find it and clutched it in her hand, full of joy and finding it.    God said Jesus is like that, filled with joy when one sinner returns to him, and angels in heaven rejoice.

Jesus came down to earth to give His life on a Cross, to pay the price for forgiveness for all who return to Him. He did so to be the ‘good shepherd’. Always searching for the lost. Jesus always showed concern, He never just wrote a person off.  Parables were the way Jesus wanted to teach people how to lead their life in a Christian manner.   Here, Jesus was giving a lesson in forgiveness.

An American story, is of their great President Lincoln, who was asked after the Southerners were defeated in the Civil War, if he would claim vengeance, but Lincoln replied, I will treat them as if they had never been away.  God treats us like that.  If you repent after offending God or Jesus, remember God will forgive you. 

We see the testimony shown by our Lord towards his enemies.  The Jewish leaders criticised Him as mixing with sinners.  Not everyone is so charitable as Jesus, but if there has not been any severe harm caused, life is too short to bear grudges.

This chapter contains two parables told by Jesus, and in each parable there is a story of something lost, but then found. In to-day’s world, which moves so fast, in which knowledge advances in almost every year.  In fact, it moves so fast, many people cannot keep pace. Just as in the passage, people are lost. They want all the good things that life now produces in the technological sphere, but are not able to afford, and they wander disgruntled. Much pleasure in life will be lost if you have no purpose  or plan for which to strive for.  If you carefully decide on you’re the career, plan your future.

In our present way, we wish we had thought and acted in in the past, like our recent manner. Many people I am sure, look back on life and how they acted, and think if I could only have acted as I feel able to now, how better life would be. I readily admit I think of my early ministry years, and think how I did things, and wish I had time to make good. I think of the offers I had but never took.. Like lot of people, we realize the way we have learned and improved. Christ is willing to understand, and will graciously pardon us freely, and offer eternal life. Do not hold back in asking to be forgiven, and saved.

Difficult times come when students come to the time of going to University, and that inevitably means living away from home and family. Most young people here, look forward to what they think life will be, free to do what they like, which is a disastrous attitude.  Things are not all that wonderful in a strange city, for temptations are everywhere, and young people cannot resist the lure of alcohol, and the more deadly drugs which are so prevalent in the cities of our country.  

When the age of 19/20 is reached, girls are more ready to have a steady boyfriend, and some boys  take advantage of this, and girls are likely to face a difficult future as the boys run off and leave them. I have felt very sorry for the situation girls are left in. but the hardest word to use in any language is ‘No’.  Don’t be afraid to use it.

Billy Graham, was an American evangelist and the greatest preacher in Christian history, preaching regularly across the world ,to congregations of 80 thousands or more, once to 250,000. He spoke to a young persons’ service and advised that young people should not engage in sexual activity in order to get a quick marriage. If you are a Christian boy or girl, God will find a suitable partner for you. Many scoffed, but I liked Billy and took him seriously, and I had the most wonderful girl any man could have, and we met at a Church club and started to see each other, and were together for many years until God took her back.

 One of my Church ladies described her as one of God’s special daughters, for she was loved by all who knew her.  I wish everyone of you young people hearing this sermon will be blessed by God as I was.

I beseech you, don’t act in haste in any circumstances, think carefully of how you will be best dealing with the consequences.    Find a Church, one where the Pastor preaches from the Bible, not all the preachers do so in Churches. Remember Jesus died, giving his life on a Cross in a most cruel death, and he did so, in order that you and I will be forgiven our sins. God said there is no one who is truly righteous, and he sent Jesus to die for us, so that his death would pay the penalty for sin. God is a God of justice, and like the judges in civil Courts has to give a penalty for wrongdoing. In those cases, the offender has to pay himself, but when we sin God is so upset, only Jesus could pay our penalty.  So if Jesus gave his life for us, we should give him our presence at worship in Church. 

I wish you all every ,blessing, and to any young people, hope you enjoy your time together, and pray that you will as you go through your lives, follow Jesus, and have his presence in your life as I did in mine     May God bless you and may your lives be blessed with love and happiness.

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This chapter is well-known to Bible Readers. In these verses we see the response of The Scribes and Pharisees who mocked scornfully at Jesus for receiving sinners and publicans, even eating with them. Their remarks were used by Jesus to show He received such people  in order to pardon them.

The Jews would not understand a preacher mixing with sinners.  The very saying was meant for reproach, but was adopted by Jesus as a true description of His mission, and it led to Him telling parables,

The description by the Pharisees were literally true, but Jesus does care for sinners, he receives to prepare them for salvation. For this reason He came into this world, not just for the righteous, but sinners for repentance. He is at the hand of God, and will be to all eternity. He is really the sinners friend.

If we have committed sin, is there guilt or fear of God’s anger?  Sometimes as we recount our past lives, er may regret and feel ashamed. Christ will receive us gracefully and pardon us freely, and still grant eternal life.

We note in the verses, the remarkable figures which Jesus describes His own love to sinners, We read that in reply to the mocking remark of His enemies. He spoke parables of the lost sheep, the lost piece of silver, and a third parable which is not with this passage. They each show Christ’s willingness to save sinners

The love of Christ is an active working love,  Just as the woman would not stand still until her lost money was found, and the shepherd would not rest, until he found the lost sheep, they both are meant to   show the same truth, so our Lord did not stand still in heaven having pity on sinners.  He left the glory which He had with the Father, and humbled Himself to be made in the likeness of of man.  He came down into the world to seek and save that which was lost. And never rested until He made atonement for our transgressions, brought into

Everlasting righteousness, provided eternal redemption, and opened a door of life to all who are willing to be saved.

The love of Christ is a self-denying love.  The shepherd brought the lost sheep home on his shoulders rather than leave it in the wilderness. The woman lighted a candle and swept the house, searching carefully until she found the lost money.  So did Christ not spare Himself, when undertook to save sinners.  He went to the Cross, was despised and beaten, and laid won His life for His friends.

The love of Christ  is deep and mighty. It is a pleasing thing to stop people from going to hell,  He is far more ready to save sinners than they are to be sought.

Lastly, we see the encouragement which Jesus holds out to repentance.  Oy shall be shown in heaven when a sinner repents.  If a person is too ashamed to repent, they should cast shame aside.  What shall it profit us to know Christ os love if we don’t use it.

 

  We thank God for His Holy Gospel and pray He be Glorified