THE SECOND LETTER OF PAUL TO TMOTHY CHAPTER 3 – 4 V1-4

 

I was talking with a Minister colleague about the future of the Church in this country, and we both felt it was not a hopeful one. The congregations are generally, small, and consist of older people who are not being replaced.  This must be a matter of much concern to those still engaged in full time ministry.

Churches were in villages, places where the Church was once the center of life.  People living in such places have nice homes, some in idyllic surroundings, with good jobs, and every kind of luxury, with none of the anti-social behavior suffered by town and city dwellers.  One would think they had much to be thankful for, but most are just self-concerned, and take it all for granted and the Church does not enter their line of thought, except of course when a baptism or fancy wedding scene is wanted, or a personal problem arises. In fact, God becomes their servant rather than the proper way round.

Some years ago, I was appointed to suburban Church, witch my predecessor had let it slide down. I, with kind parish helpers, circulated notices that the Church would soon be given consideration to  closing down.  The following Sunday saw a rise in the congregation.

Can you imagine the outcry, if villagers were told that their lovely quintessential scene would be deprived of its Church?

Turn with me now, to Paul’s 2nd Letter to Timothy in Chapters ¾.  Paul is in a Roman prison, and this is the last Letter he will write.  He has addressed it to Timothy, a young man whom he wants to continue the ministry Paul is ending, and is giving advice in the earnest plea, that Timothy will persist in preaching the true gospel. For not only does Timothy face much opposition from society, he also faces false teachers within the Church, and we know all about that.

In the first five verses of Chapter 3 he talks of godlessness, describing the very conditions we find today; lovers of selves and money, unholy, children having no respect and disobedient. This is what happens when a nation turns its back on God. We live in an age of relativism in, which there are no absolutes, no basic morals, a case of if it feels right it is. They become lovers of themselves and there is a moral collapse as the pursuit of money becomes so important. .  Have you noticed that much of what is offered for entertainment, are programmes in which people try to win vast sums of money?

Generally speaking, it is reported that we are the most godless nation after Japan. It is like a car parked on a hill and someone takes the handbrake off.

Then Paul contrasts all that with the way Timothy has been brought up with a love of Scripture, something children of several generations have been deprived of in the present ages.  The Ten Commandments have become Ten Suggestions, or pick any four from ten.  We have raised a generation, who are unaware of even the most basic beliefs.

We are in a cultural war, and we are losing badly. Immorality is rampant;  same sex marriages- children born  of unmarried parents- abortion on request-sexual attacks on women- women abused-young teenagers running wild with knives-Bishops wanting to change God’s definition of marriage-divorce by demand-Bishops advising people not to attend the meetings of a world

 famous evangelist  from America- the list goes on.  

Added to this are the LGBT lobby who have created a successful campaign, 

which even some Churches have given support to them.

Why is it that the Church is losing?  It is simply because we do nothing and all opposition doing something.  There is apathy in the Church, older people have no inclination to take things seriously as time is running on. and some genuinely think they are too old to help. That is wrong.   Moses became too old to fight but when the Israelites were in battle, he and Aaron prayed for their army and when they did so their prayers were answered.  How badly the Church needs all its members to pray for its recovery.  Our children are denied religious teaching of Christianity, not knowing the true meaning of Easter and Christmas. They know too much about sex at a young age because they are taught it in schools,

A lady in my parish collected her grandchild from school, and the child was crying, so the lady asked if she had been bullied, and had difficulty in finding out the reason for crying; eventually the child said, the teacher said my daddy is going to become a mummy.  This is transitioning at a child’s age. Such is cruel madness to tell children something that just cannot happen.

Turn now if you can, to Paul’s 2nd Letter to Timothy in Chapter 3.  This Letter is Paul at his natural best. The Letter is as relevant now as when written. He tells Timothy who is starting his new post, that things will be difficult because people only love themselves. Nothing is sacred.  They will be proud, mocking God, and children will be disobedient,  Paul lists unpleasant facts which you can read, and then he speaks of the persecution he has suffered, and warns Timothy Christians will suffer some persecution too, with evil impostors roaming around.

Paul then speaks of the teaching Timothy has had of the Scriptures by his mother and grandmother, once a common practice in the home until television pushed it away. Timothy had also teaching from Paul and Peter who together  virtually wrote the New Testament.

Foreseeing into the future, Paul spoke of people not wanting sound doctrine, but wanting preachers who would tell what they wanted to hear. (Imagine Paul saw the 20^th and 21^st centuries) But he told that should be ignored, and keep to the Bible.

v16, Paul makes a doctrinal statement that ALL Scripture comes from God.  It may have been written by men, but these men were inspired by God to give us the message that God wished us to have.  We are therefore enabled to live according to God’s teaching, and be kept from going the wrong way in life.

The important word is all.  Once you start discounting parts, you challenge the whole credibility and authority of the Bible itself.

The Bible is essentially a book of salvation, and there has never been any doubt that the only way to be saved is through Jesus Christ.  He is the focus and climax of the Bible from start to finish.       The whole Bible focuses on the coming of Christ.

In the Old Testament Jesus is predicted, in the Gospels He is revealed, in the Acts He is preached, in the Epistles He is explained, and in Revelation Jesus in anticipated.

I don’t think even Church members give the Bible the attention one would expect.  I know there are many whose sole connection with it is in the Sunday service. But even then, is mainly a case of listening to it being read.  In evangelical Churches it has been the practice of having Bibles in the pews, or at least available, so that members can follow the readings and I always found it helped to follow the sermon, (when the sermon is Bible based that is.)  I went to take a service at one Church where there wasn’t even a Bible to read the lessons from and someone had to go out and borrow one.

(Contrast the United States. In the Churches the pastor announces the reading of the Bible, and All stand up. They all have their own Bibles which they hold up to read, and quite a number of the congregation make notes as the Bible is preached.)

Today the Church is plagued by disputes over issues and the image it gives is that it does not have any clear or authoritative belief,

There can be no doubt that all the problems facing the Church are due to a departure from Scripture, to an attitude of let us make Scripture relevant to modern thinking.  We all have to decide do we accept the Bible as the Word of God, the sole authority in matters of faith and practice, or not.  You cannot have a pick/n mix way,  We are called on in this passage to turn to the Bible for guidance in all spiritual matters, and use it to correct wrong thinking; rebuke those who abuse; and encourage the depressed.

There is nothing more important than for us to be well grounded in what we believe about the Bible. It’s more than just a statement of faith. What we believe about the Bible is fundamental and foundational to everything else we are trying to do as a church.

In Chapter 4, Paul having told Timothy of the importance of Scripture then tells him to go out and ‘preach the Word’.   That Word, is that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for the forgiveness of our sins; that after three days He rose from the dead and later ascended to heaven to sit at God’s right hand; that one day He will return and bring in His Kingdom, and all will face the judgement.

We are here to preach and proclaim the Gospel, as it is written without any additions or submissions.  The Bible ends in Revelation, with a warning to those who try to alter anything written.

At the same time, Paul is warning all preachers of the serious responsibility to be faithful to Scripture as one day they will be called upon to give answer.

Today there is a tendency for the Church to become worldly and to compromise on doctrine.  The Church has been given exemption from the same sex marriage act, yet bishops and senior clergy were campaigning to be allowed to conduct such false ceremonies which directly contradict Scripture.  What Paul wrote all those years ago, can be clearly seen coming true today, people turning away from truth to suit their own desires.  Once you depart from the Word of God you are in a spiritual wilderness.

We live in a world of itching ears.  One clergyman told me we have to make people feel happy; that doctrine is boring and makes people feel guilty. But preachers are not here to tell people what they want to hear so much as what they need to hear.

In the gospel passage, Jesus said ‘I will build my Church and the gate of hell shall not prevail against it’.  It seems at time as there are those within the Church who want to open the gates.

There is a basic question we should all ponder.  Why do we come to Church?  There are many answers, but the real purpose should be to worship God with reverence and awe; to learn about God and how He would want us to live. In order to do this, we need to know our Bibles and be prepared to accept what is taught there.  I know this will not be acceptable to some people within the Church, for it may condemn the way they are conducting their lives. 

The Bible has to be the supreme authority of the Church. I heard a Vicar state in her sermon that we should not take the Bible literally, and there are other Ministers who will say the same.  You should question them as to why not.

We have been saturated by a world that is committed to falsehood. That is why, as Paul sets forth here, we must increasingly proclaim the truth as it is in Jesus. The apostle reminds us that the most effective thing is, preach the word, announce the truth, tell of reality, make it clear, spread the word. and declare that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

You and I are called to advance that work. Like Timothy we are a tiny minority amidst an overwhelming majority committed to unbelief.  We face hostility on every side. Do not let anybody tell you that your life as a Christian does not count. It counts tremendously. Glory in what God has called you to do, and be faithful to his command: Preach the Gospel

 

Let us Praise God for His Holy Gospel, Met His Name be Glorified.

 

LUK E 14   v 7-14

Jesus was at  the house of a member of the Jewish Council. When he noticed that all who came to dinner were trying to sit near the head of the table, he gave them advice. If you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t always head for the best seat. For if someone  more respected than you shows up, the host shall bring  someone and will ask you to get up, and say let this man sits here instead, and you will be embarrassed and you will have to find a better place and take whatever is left at the foot of the table.

Do this instead, start at the foot, and when the host sees you he will say, friend I have a better place than this, and you will feel honored in front of all the guests. For whoever tries to honor himself shall be humbled, and he who humbles himself shall be honored

In this passage, humility is stated to be a valuable gift.  This is a lesson which our Lord takes in two ways.  Firstly, he advises those invited to a wedding, to sit in the lowest seat.  Secondly, He backs this up with advice, by telling a principle which he offers and uses, to ‘whosoever exalted himself shall be abased, and he who humbles himself shall be exalted.

Humility is a highly valued grace. We all know how our sinfulness and weakness, and rely on Jesus to be at the beginning of saving faith,  It is a grace which has always been a distinguishable characteristic of our nature.  The great Saints of every age, Abraham, Moses, Job. Daniel. David and Paul were very humble men. Above all, it is a grace which every Christian should reach.  All have not money to give away; all do not have the time or opportunity for working directly. for Christ.

All did not have the gifts of speech or knowledge in order too good in the world. But all converted, labor to know the doctrine they profess by humility..  All should be humble.

The key for humility is knowledge,  The number who know their own hearts, who know God and His  majesty and holiness. Who know Christ and the price at which he was redeemed, will never be a proud man/woman.  Themselves, like Jacob.

Who said, I am vile, or Paul who said he was the greatest sinner.  In lowliness of mind, they will esteem everyone to better than oneself.   These verses speak of caring of the poor, the maimed and the lame.      We have to take limitation.  We can show hospitality to our families, and friends.

Jesus did not mean to encourage excess to the poor, that would conflict with other Scriptures. Indeed, care is needed when deciding what action to take. There are fraudulent claims made when it is known people may be generous, and some will plead a need when it clearly is not. 

Whilst Jesus would not have us neglecting the poor  or not helping those in distress, neither would Christians fail to give help when truly needed.

Lastly, we learn the importance of looking forward in a striking manner when Jesus speaks on resurrection.  There is a resurrection after the first death. which should not be forgotten; just living in the flesh is not all.  The visible world around is not the only world.  All is not over when the last breath is drawn; and men/women go to the  grave.  The trumpet will sound, and the dead shall be raised to improbable.   Those who have confessed Jesus as Savior, and  accept He was raised from death, will be resurrected for heaven and those who have forsaken Christ and His Church will beL resurrected for damnation,  This is a foundational truth of Christian .religion.

Let us live like men and women who believe n the resurrection, and a life foe the life to come ad have a desire to be ready for the new world.  We shall feel there remains something better for us beyond the grave. So living we shall calmly take all we have to bear in this world, the trials ,disappointments,  ingratitude’s, We shall be rectified one day when the Judge of the earth will do good. Having faith in Christ and believing in Him, we have nothing to fear,  Our sins will not appear against us, the demands of God’s law will be satisfied, We shall stand firm on the great day and no one shall lay anything against us.  Like the Apostle Paul we may rejoice.

 

Praise God for His Holy Gospel and may He ever be Glorified

 

L U K E  22 V 24-30

This passage opens ,with  Jesus finding His Apostles arguing as to who is the greatest. This, was a deciding factor before a Jewish Feast seating places, Jesus told them sharply that the standard of the world, were mot the standard of His Kingdom,  A king in the world was considered by the power he exercised, but Jesus said it is not the king but the servant who gets the best in the Kingdom.

The business world tends to agree with Jesus, as it is often seen signs on a road with the words ‘service station’ They will agree to do all that is necessary to attend to a car however dirty the job is in order to get the fee,  We also see trouble, in the Church, regarding precedence of people’s places.  The world needs and recognizes good services.

It is only the man who consents to serve more than anyone else ,who will be appreciated.  Some workers will leave their workplace as soon as possible, no matter what needs finishing, leaving other workers to stay on until all is done.  Usually the manager or an executive who stays.  It is a law of life, that service leads to greatness, and the higher a man rises the greater servant he is.

Our life is either getting or giving, but if we concentrate on getting, we lose the friendship of man and the reward of God, for no one ever liked a man who always looks after himself.

Jesus finished his warning with the Apostles with a promise. The Apostles who stood by Him in all situations, would in the end reign with Him. God will not be in anyone’s debt.  Those who shared in the bearing of the Cross, will in the end share in the wearing of a crown  This shows how firmly pride and self-esteem can be at the hearts of good people.

The strife was rebuked by Jesus, the action of the Apostles was unseemly.  This last meeting with Jesus was just about who was greatest, showed a lack of respect.

The sin is an old one, ambition coupled with self-esteem, and lies deep in some hearts, often when least expected.  Many people consider themselves humble, and cannot bear to see an equal get more honored and favored than themselves.

There is a call to live on watch against such action, if one is professing to be a follower of Christ. We have to be content on the rule given to the Philippians, ‘in lowliness of mind, let each esteem of others be better than ourselves’ Jesus said of John the Baptist, as a bright instance of the spirit at which we should all aim.  John said of Jesus, He must increase as I must decrease.

We read of the account which Jesus gave of true Christian greatness. He told the Apostles that the worldly standard of greatness was the exercise of authority.

We see the gracious commendation of the Apostles.  Jesus said they who have continued with me in my temptations.

We know the weakness of the Lord’s Apostles during the period of His Ministry.  He knew that in a few hours they were all going to forsake Him.  But He dwelled on their god points, being faithful despite all the faults.

If we are true believers let us know that He looks at our graces, more than our faults, that He pities our weakness, and that He will not add with us according to our sin. Never had servants has such a compassionate and kinder Master as Christ.

Lastly, see what a glorious promise our Lord holds out to faithful disciples, Whatever others do, let us cleave to Him with a faithful heart,  Happy are they who can truthfully say, Lord Thou knowest that I love Thee.

Jesus said to the Apostles, I point unto you a Kingdom my Father appointed to me`

These are the last few words of Jesus,  In a few hours His Ministry would be over, He ends with good things.

We leave this passage with the cheering thought, that the ways which Christ will give to His believing people will be out of proportion to anything people have done fr Him,  Their least desires to do good will be rewarded, their efforts ti glorify Him will be recorded in His book of remembrance.  

John 10 v1/21

John 10 v1/21

There is no more loved picture of Jesus than that of him as a shepherd. A shepherd is deeply woven into the imagery of the Bible.

No part of Scripture is better known than the 23rd Psalm. Many Christians have read it in times of pressure and of danger, but I have found that people with little connection with the Church, know and ask for the Psalm for a funeral service. Of the many funeral services I have taken, it has either been read or sung at almost all.

The Lord is indeed our Shepherd. He leads us in paths of righteousness; he makes us lie down in green pastures; he leads us beside still waters; he takes us through places of danger and darkness. What a comforting thing it is to know we have such a Shepherd.

The main part of Judea is a large plateau of 35 miles long, of rough stony ground, and the most familiar picture is of a shepherd with his sheep. Life for him would be hard, for sheep always grazed in the presence of a shepherd, who would guard them from wolves and sheep stealers.  On either side, the ground dipped steeply, which meant that any animal could fall to the ground below.

In the Old Testament, God is depicted as the shepherd, and Israel as his sheep.  The Psalmist wrote, ‘we are his people and the sheep of his pasture’.  The picture carries on into the New Testament, where Jesus says, ‘I am the good shepherd.’  He had pity upon the people because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

In Britain sheep are animals kept for meat, but in Palestine they were kept for wool, and were with the shepherd for years and often had names.  The shepherd would go ahead and the sheep would follow him, they would know his voice and only follow him.

In the evening shepherds would bring their flocks to a central sheepfold guarded by a gatekeeper. There would be a patch of ground with stone walls around and a sturdy door, no overhead cover, and entrance was only through the door.  If anyone tried to get in they could only do so by climbing over the wall and were listed as thieves or robbers. Although the flocks had all been put  together, each flock knew its own shepherd's voice, and each would follow its own shepherd and no other.Jesus applied all this to himself. The Old Testament prophets Micah and Isaiah had foretold the coming of Jesus as one who would care for his people.  They told of his birth, where and how, and all he would do. Jesus could claim he came in the expected but unique way.

When Jesus said, ‘I am the door’, he was saying in effect not only I care for my sheep, but I am the only way into the fold.’ , and Jesus was indicating He was the only way to God, and later in the gospel would again say,  ‘no one comes to the Father except through me’.  I know this is totally unacceptable to an increasing number of people these days, but this is what the Bible states, so we should be prepared to accept Jesus’ words. 

The whole purpose of His life was to lead people to God, and made that possible by giving His life on the Cross to do so.  The only way into any enclosure is through a door, and Jesus is the only way to heaven.

But other sheep were out on the hills, and when they did not return at night, they were rounded up and placed in a sheepfold there.  There was no door, just an opening through which the sheep went in and came out.  The shepherd would lay across the opening, and he was in the literal sense the door, and no access to the sheep except through him.

Jesus told this passage to counter the influence of the Jewish Church leaders, the Scribes and Pharisees. He said false teachers were like thieves and robbers, and the false teacher is like the one who climbs over the wall of the sheepfold to get where he is not suitable. There is only one way into God and the Christian life. Jesus is the door.

Whilst the Jewish leaders traced their line back to Aaron, ordination is no proof of the person being fit for Ministry and so be leaders of others.

Jesus condemns so-called Christian Ministers as much as condemned the Jewish leaders. True Christian teachers are those who hear and know the voice of Jesus.

A false teacher enters Ministry for worldly motives and status, anxious about their c.v.. no earnest desire to teach salvation as taught by Jesus. God will surely rate those who are extending improper teaching, and distorting the Holy Scriptures to make personal styles of living acceptable.

Men and women may be set apart in the Christian Church to lead, but may not be true shepherds. Being true means having entered Ministry desiring to serve Jesus, having of course already accepted Jesus as Lord oneself, and being ready in all power to preach faithful doctrine as laid out by both God and Jesus, labouring to bring men and women to Christ.

Our only access to God is through Jesus Christ, and our only salvation. He would say unequivocally, no one comes to the Father except through me. In these crazy modern days, some say it is unacceptable to say that, but I see no credible reason to challenge our Lord.  He came to tell us and show us what God was like, and the way to him. It was an introduction which by ourselves we would never have obtained.

Jesus also said he the Good Shepherd. Just as those Jewish shepherds knew the names of their sheep, so Jesus knows us by name.  If you study the Bible, you will see that every time Jesus spoke to anyone, he called them by name. So he knows you as Lynn, Melissa, Leanna, Olive, Tom, James, Harry or whatever. God knows you, has followed you through life and has a plan for you.

Jesus said listen to my voice. In the Bible we find him constantly teaching, and if people listened to his voice, things would be much better. We need to follow that teaching not only on Sunday in Church, but in the rest of the week at home, office, shop, factory.

Jesus said, ‘I know my sheep, and I am with them every step of the way’, and if you have accepted Jesus as Lord, he will remain with you to guard and guide you.  The brash person says he/she doesn’t want to be propped up, I am quite adequately can stand on my own two feet. Yet the same person will seek insurance for life.  People look forward to maturity of policies at 65 or so.  The Bible is offering maturity for eternity, with the joy of living for Jesus now.

How many people who have been burgled say, I was just going to get insurance cover. We all need security.  How many were just going to start going to Church, read their bibles and pray, and now face eternity outside of heaven.

The modern understanding of life is to live to the full, have a fantastic time, the love me culture.  Being a Christian is good for you spiritually and research in America proved older people whose life was  faithfully lived in Christian living, were more fit and well.

People, especially the young, face so many temptations these days and get all tied up.  If someone breaks into your house and ties you up, you may not fight the burglar as he will be more powerful and ruthless than you.  In theory, you send for the police, it probably won’t do much good these days, they will be fully engaged investigating hate speech, but in theory should be the answer.  (it would have been at one time)When you accept Christ, he takes the cords, you can never be loose otherwise.

Such is the picture of a Christian which the Bible gives. Eat, drink and be merry, may well be the popular way, but it is a false theory which can only lead to disaster.

Jesus said,’ follow me and you will find peace and contentment whatever the circumstances’.  The ups and downs, the hills and valleys of life will be met, but not disturb you. A Christian can live in all situations and be the same.

The Bible states he came to give life in all abundance.  Before Jesus, no one loved God, they just feared him, and if Jesus had not come no one would have been able to love God. God is love and loves the whole world.

There would have been no forgiveness if no Jesus. He healed the sick, raised the dead and gave sight to the blind.  Jesus is God in human form and gives life a purpose and meaning.

Jesus said, ‘follow me and you will find pasture and contentment whatever the circumstances.  We can trust the words of Jesus.

We find a message to Christians in this story, but unfortunately we Will find it ignored.

The passage before us was spoken with a direct aim at the teachers of the Jewish Church. There is a vivid picture of a false teacher.  Our Lord says he enters the sheepfold by climbing in.  The door was something far more than an outward calling.

The Jewish teacher could probably trace their orders back many years to Aaron, but ordination does not always mean a man (or woman) is good enough to lead people in the Church, and may be equivalent to a thief in the story. The true shepherd is one who has accepted Christ, and wishes to lead others to Christ teaching sound doctrine.  The false teacher is the one with little or no desire to exalt Jesus, but has other reason to seek ordination.

The Jewish teachers of our Lord’s time were even being condemned. They rejected Christ, and taught nothing about him being the Messiah. 

We have a similar situations to-day, for there are many in the Church who do not accept the full authority of the Bible. Who do not accept the Virgin Birth story as described in Scripture. They haven’t entered by the door. Christianity would be better known more, if served better. When the blind lead the blind, both fall over.

     We have a picture of true Christians, when our Lord describes them as sheep who have heard the shepherd’s voice, and will follow him, but will not follow the voice of a stranger.

True believers have a spiritual instinct, which will enable them to distinguish between true or false teachers. If the teaching is of Christ it will be recognised.

Be careful of the misguidance which is so prevalent. The liberal section of the Church are anxious to keep  people away from evangelical preachers, for fear they may expose the deficiencies in false teaching.  This was forcefully displayed last year, when even Church leaders were telling people not to attend a worldwide  renowned preacher’s meetings from America merely because that preacher did not subscribe to acceptance of teaching contrary to Scripture.

We have lastly a most clear picture of our Lord himself. He spoke one of his golden sayings when he said,’ I am the door; if anyone enters by me he (she) will be saved, and will go on and find pasture.

Jesus taught that the answer as to how we can get near/ By his sacrifice on the Cross, he opened a way through the barrier. He suffered and found a way by his shed blood, and can now save us and bring us close to God.

Let us enter by the door open to   sinners, and be saved. A day will come when it will be shut for ever, and no one further will be allowed in.

Jesus used a well know Jewish phrase. He said through him we can go out and come in.  To go out and come in was the Jewish way of saying our life is absolutely safe and sound. The only safe way in was through a door, and the only way secure way to God is by Jesus.

Jesus used a well know Jewish phrase. He said through him we can go out and come in.  To go out and come in, was the Jewish way of saying our life is absolutely safe and sound. The only safe way in was through a door, and the only way secure way to God is by Jesus.

 Remember Jesus died for your sins so that God will grant you forgiveness

 We give Praise to God for His Holy Gospel.  We Glorify His Holy Name.

 

 

 

This morning I want to turn to Paul’s Letter to the Romans, in Chapter 10.   

Paul was specially and uniquely called by God to be an Apostle to the Gentiles, but he never forgot his own Jewish people.  This Letter was directed to the Jews who were carrying a mistaken belief, but its teaching is equally applicable to us, as all Paul’s Letters are.

Paul’s greatest desire was to make people Christians, a noble cause and one we could wish all preachers to-day to adopt.  He was concerned the Jews were being misled to follow the wrong way to salvation, which can only be achieved by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord.

 The Jews believed that all that was necessary for salvation was to keep the Ten Commandments, but no one can keep the Commandments for it is like a chain, if you break one link it all falls apart, and the Bible states if you break one you break the lot, and we have all, without exception broken at least one.  Therefore one cannot be saved by the Commandments.

 The word ‘saved’ does cause an emotional response with a lot of people, as it conjures up an image of being approached by a Charismatic Christian asking are you saved brother (sister).

 I read of a man sitting in a theatre when someone came up and asked if the vacant seat next to him was saved, and he wittingly answered, ‘no, but I am’, at which the person moved away quickly.

 God sent Jesus to supplant the Law, and make it possible for all people to be saved if they accepted Christ as having died on the Cross to obtain forgiveness for the sins they committed.

 Coming to the heart of this passage, verse 9 states, ‘if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved’.

 Confession that Jesus is Lord, and singing the hymn, is not an intellectual title or a casual statement, it means much more.  You have to believe fully in your heart this is so, and have no doubt that God raised Him physically from the dead; that is the heart of the Christian message.  So when you do believe and are prepared to confess with your mouth, God accepts you as righteous.

The Bible states, ‘by grace you have been saved through faith, it is not your own doing, it is the gift of God and not by your own works.’ 

 Something in us always wants to add to God’s free grace. It’s humbling to admit that we can do nothing to earn our deliverance from sin. Imagine what heaven would be like if we had to earn our way there. People would be trying to outbid each other and probably boasting how important they had been in the world.

When I was being inducted to a parish the Rural Dean who was a real traditional English gentleman, introduced me to a man who wanted  me to know how important he was. Heaven would be just like that if you had to earn your way there. But it won’t be like that, when Jesus died on the cross, he paid the full price for your salvation. God alone gets the glory in your salvation. Jesus did all the work when he died on the cross.

 I have been told countless times all one has to do is to be good, be kind and honest, and you will go to heaven; no need to go to Church, sing hymns and read the Bible.  They will learn to regret this belief.

  There was a series on television in which a young police constable is partnered on duty by an attractive young police woman who is fond of him, but he does not respond. His Sergeant tells him he should make a decision and respond, as one day he will regret not doing so; and then says  The two saddest words in the English language are, if only..  There are so many people who will one day appear before the Lord and say, ‘if only’.

  esus himself warned that on the Day of Judgment many will claim to have been His followers, but He will say to them, ‘depart from me. I never knew you.’ Millions have not the slightest idea of what it really meant to be a Christian.

     People have been attending church for years, listening to the Bible being read, singing praise to the Lord, and have been very religious, yet have never come to the time when they have acknowledged Jesus as Lord, yet the Bible calls on us to do so.

We have admit to the fundamental fact that we live in an evil world and we all become tainted and lost, but by the grace of God He gives us an opportunity to come to Christ and be saved. The majority of people do not consider they need saving as they think their lives are already safe.  The thought they are sinners is mortally wounding, as one Vicar discovered when he put a notice outside his church saying this Church is here for sinners; half his congregation were absent the next week.  Sin is not just murder, theft and immorality; it includes pride, jealousy, envy, anger and hatred

Verse 11 states that all who believe in Jesus will not be put to shame, but there are too many Christians who are ashamed to admit they follow Jesus.

  Verse12 reminds us that God has no favourites, and will accept all who call on Jesus.

A question often asked is what about those who have never heard of Jesus. If someone is in such a remote place where the Bible has not been taught, they will be judged by how they responded to their conscience, for everyone has a sense of what is right and what is wrong.  However, if it is a case of just not bothering to listen or find out, then the responsibility will be on them.

  Behind the message, of course, is the messenger.   The message has to be communicated and the way that God chooses is through the preaching of the Word and the praying of Christians, the yearning of their hearts over those who are not yet saved.

 People are touched by God by various means, perhaps through a poster, a friend, an occurrence in one’s life, but the principal way is through the preaching of the Bible.

This I believe is where we are failing badly, right across the Church.  The Bible calls on us to preach the Word; in other words the Scriptures, with sound doctrine, not adding, subtracting or amending what God caused His writers to state in the Bible. Yet at this very pulpit I have twice heard it said by ordained Ministers that you shouldn’t take the bible literally. This in complete negation of ordination vows.

 We in the Churches must make a greater effort to concentrate on the fundamentals of the faith.  There is too much a willingness to amend Bible teaching to be popular, or ally with society’s standards and beliefs; avoid being called narrow minded or bigoted, and take every opportunity of doing so.

On Easter Sunday one year a service was held in one of our great Cathedrals, offering a wonderful opportunity of getting the message out, but instead there was a sermon which completely wasted the chance by an address on climate change, which seems to obsess a lot of people.

Regularly Church leaders are eager to write to the press on a variety of matters social and political.  A Bishop wrote asking for everybody to fast one day of the week in prayer for climate change; this at a time when the Church attendances are falling.

 As people have a cause to believe in with an eternal future at issue, one might have thought that would have been a prime issue for him to concentrate his mind on.

   There is however a marked reluctance to speak out on moral and ethical matters when the Church should be giving a lead to the country.   

   The Bible states that it is God who adds to the number of people attending a Church.  In the book of Acts, He did so because the people were devoted to the teaching of the Apostles.  Therefore, we should be sure that all preaching and teaching will be that given by the Apostles and left for our learning in the New Testament.   

The glory of Christianity is that it has a message that is grounded in history. It is objective truth, not just something that someone has made up.  . It is not some feeling that you are following that you hope will work out; it is the story of historic events. One of these events is the coming of Jesus as a baby in the manger of Bethlehem, the coming of the wise men from the east and the uproar and unrest that it caused in the kingdom of Judea, beginning with Herod the king himself. That is all part of history. Then there was the  all historic events -- objective truth. That is our message.

There is an urgent need for such message to be preached without fear or favor, but I have been at Churches barely mentioning the basic facts of our faith.  We have to be as forthright and determined to preach our faith as we see the preachers of Islam doing so in respect of their faith.  You will never hear a Muslim cleric challenging anything in their Holy book.

In the absence of any person at national level with the charisma to inspire, each local Church has to be its own evangelist and I pray that the teaching you hear here will be that passed down from the Apostles..

Praise God for His Holy Gospel

 

 

Luke12 v 49-56

 

I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning.

The sayings of Jesus in this passage, explain things in the Church, as well as those outside the Church. Jesus came to bring salvation, but his coming also brought division. Some people were ready to follow him, but many did not follow him. The same situation exists now, as I expect it has through the ages. This means we have fewer people attending our Churches..

Jesus lived a humble life for thirty three years, before dying an agony filled death. We should strive to recognize, he saved many from going to hell. His zeal is an example for all his people. This verse, shows how hopeless it is to find peace and harmony when the gospel is not preached as it is meant to be. Jesus came to save people, and call them to God, and he came in peace, but knew he would cause division. This I expect has been happening through the ages, and is something happening in our Churches in its present age, and we see the effects it has made clearly.

In Jewish thought, fire meant judgement, and expected God to judge in nations a less favorable way than to them, his special people As a Jew, he could not imagine himself, being Judge by God. Jesus was portraying an image, and he came not with a fanfare, Jesus was thought to be struggling. The Cross lay before him, and he would give his life as a ransom for many.

The Jews get rain from the Mediterranean sea, and when the clouds were forming, it was then known bad weather was coming. Jesus told them they were hypocrites, as they could read the signs of the weather, but couldn’t see he was telling them the Kingdom of God was coming.

Jesus spoke of the baptism he had to face, one of suffering and agony, wounds with a Cross to be carried. He said he would have to go on until it was finished, he never contemplated giving up. He was ready to do the things to attain redemption for his people. He would open the door to reveal God’s glory to a lost world. His sacrifices, would provide a fountain for sin and uncleanness. Let us all be aware, that all his sufferings were on our behalf, and he endured such pain willingly. He could have escaped them, to let us his followers, react accordingly, and avoid giving up to care for ourselves.

He described his baptism of fire to face, which was a heavy burden to carry and he would go on suffering until it happened. He was foreseeing his way to the Cross. God’s wrath would be placed on hm in the place of mankind, and he would be put to death, but he would earnestly follow the plan, God had made for him. The crowd had no spiritual feeling for him, and such was their hypocrisy, they didn’t really appreciate the fire and baptism enforces.

Fire was seen as a sign of judgement, but also a sign of purification. The Old Testament prophet Malachi, in prophesying the coming of Jesus, stated, he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal. Fire was used to refine silver and metal, and remove all uncleanness so that the metal was bright and pure.

Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No I have come to divide people against each other. From now on, families will be split apart, three, in favor of me, and two against, or two in favor and three against. Father will be divided against son, and son against father. Mother against daughter, and daughter against mother, and mother-in-law against daughter=in -law. and daughter-in law against mother-in-law.

How true this has been proved, quite widely. Young people going to Church or bible studies, and fathers especially, objecting furiously, fearing the boy will become interested in religion. Mothers not liking daughters going to Church in case they lose some control of them. I have witnessed this happening in real life. But the most serious disputes have been, when men have objected to their wives attending Church.

This can be very sad. I had a lady who joined my Church, who had a captive personality. She had not been to Church on a regular basis, but once she came among us, was really touched by the Bible stories. She was popular on the school run, so brought quite a few young mothers with their children. Her enthusiasm led to her forming a Bible study class in her home, one night each week. Her husband worked on an oil rig, and was away from home for periods of weeks. One night he telephoned her when her class was met, and heard voices and demanded to know who she was with. When she explained it was a church meeting, he told her to pack the church in right away, he gave her a choice, either to leave he church or leave him, and he would take custody of the two children. She was very sad, and asked me to understand, she feared for her children and would have to leave. There was no justification for him to do that, his wife had a mixed group of older men and women, and there was no suggestion or probability of her doing any wrong.

Such, I regret to say is a common attitude with a lot of men, and shows bigotry, stupidity, and sheer wickedness. I rest assured he will find it was a bad move, and that heavenly forces are more powerful than him.

We do witness unpleasantness, when a Protestant meets a Roman Catholic of the opposite sex and want to marry. I served in Merseyside where the two faiths are strongly at odds. But with care and faith, things can be sorted out. I had a Church of England young man come to see me about marrying a Catholic from another city, and wondered if I would allow her priest to give the final blessing. The priest came, and we met in perfect harmony. We agreed to do all the wedding service together, sharing the making of vows and giving the blessing together. Both families, whilst surprised at our move, were delighted and it made the families rejoiced together

It is utterly ridiculous for Christians to reject each other, especially at priestly level, and things can go even more happily and blessed when we show willingness. A time will come when there will be no division, and we shall all be of one mind. This will be when Jesus returns and crushes all division.

 

 Give praise to God for His Holy Gospel

 

JOHN 6 v52/70

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

Jesus had fed the five thousand by the Sea of Galilee, and to avoid facing the crowd that had gathered moved to Capernaum, where the crowd traced him. He knew they were following him for food he could give, no other cause.
He told them. ‘I am the bread of life, and whoever eats my body and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day.’ The very idea of eating flesh and drinking blood would be revolting.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

You may have a precious book, which you never got down to reading it, just having left it in a bookcase. Eventually you do read it, it thrills, entertains and inspires you, and you are left wondering why you turned away from it from the start.
But people are still finding Christianity is a problem and staying away from Church, and what increases their resistance, is the demand he makes on our lives; we are bound to accept him as the ultimate authority and accept moral standards of purity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 Praise God for His Holy Gospel

 

Ten Commandments.  (Exodus 20)
The Collect for this Sunday service prays to ask God to sanctify and govern our bodies in the way of your commandments.

 

       It is largely forgotten in our predominantly secular society. that the law of this                   nation, and that of our American cousins, were built on the Commandments to guide       us on our duty to God and society. Field Marshal Montgomery once said, ‘God spoke       these words and I agree with Him.’

Shortly after God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt, God called Moses to the top of Mount Sinai and gave him these Commandments, which God intended should be the spiritual and moral absolutes for His people. They give us rules for basic behavior, and guidance to holiness. We live in a society which desperately needs to be reminded of right and wrong, but at present right and wrong is what is according to one’s own standards rather than God’s standard.

A number of years ago, workmen were demolishing a church building, and had instructions to preserve anything of value. One of the men found a tablet bearing the Commandments, and asked if that should be kept. The foreman said they shouldn’t as they don’t count anymore. He was in fact reflecting society’s attitude, that we don’t have to be told how to behave, which is why we are in such an awful state in this country, where all traditional values have been cast aside.

In the United States, when that great nation was founded, the Christian faith was in the hearts of the religiously minded men who framed the Constitution, and created that noble phrase, ‘in God we trust’, which politicians in this country do not have the courage to use.

.The permissive society in Western nations, does not like authority and is besotted with a human rights mindset. Police have given up enforcing many of our laws, and are encouraged to do so, unless of course it is some suspected obscure act of discrimination that can be detected. This is contrary to the moral attitude observed.

I   It is pathetic sentimentalism, to claim as some do, that the State cannot commit murder, or that it is unchristian, for God gave the Commandments that people could live peaceably. The Bible states, whoever strikes a man that he dies, shall be put to death.   Nor should it be claimed that is just an Old Testament statement, for Jesus stated He had come to fulfil the law, not destroy it.

In Jewish homes, children are taught the Commandments at an early age and learn on their ten fingers. I wonder how many children are taught in the homes of our nation (you could probably count the number on five fingers), yet as Abraham Lincoln once said ‘ the strength of a nation lies in the home’. 

Moral deterioration is, as great a threat as political crisis, for a stable democracy needs a Christian moral code, but this is not given in most homes, and schools no longer teach Christianity (unless it is a private school). They are given much education on sex, with particular emphasis on alternative lifestyles, which is why we have such high moral lassitude. Consequently, our children are growing up without realizing spiritual or moral truths.

When God told Adam and Eve what they should not do, He was testing their obedience, but Adam and Eve wanted to do their own thing, and the human race ever after has copied them. God said, ‘you shall not,’ He didn’t say have a think about it, He was positive in His command. His laws bring security and peace as we follow our duty to Him, to parents, society, property and marriage. We are called to   follow all; they are not like a test paper where you respond to any four from ten.

God is a God of reason and mercy. The Commandments are given to make us worthy and happier, and to create a stable society. In the United States, the politicians generally, do not have reservation about declaring their Christian faith. 

Indeed, after one Senator was severely injured, on his return to the Senate he openly stated his faith had been a large factor in his recovery, and all present applauded.  Sadly, our politicians in the United Kingdom take care to hide faith (if they have any) and instead legislate to protect those who adopt different antichristian ways of life. As one government Minister stated, we  don’t do God’.

For far too long, the liberal establishment have influenced society and guided it into a moral abyss. It is time for the Church to stop prevaricating, and trying to meet society half way. The Church is the only institution which can offer hope. Politicians have shown how they look after themselves first, and without much moral example, and even royalty has shown a lack of moral action. It is a matter of great regret, that too many of Church leaders need to learn the morality of the Bible, and keep to it, rather than campaigning against it.

Turning to the Commandments from the Book of Exodus Chapter 20.
1, You shall have no other Gods before me.

God is the one true God of heaven and earth and is exclusive God who will not recognize any other god.

2. You shall not make any graven image

The gods of Egypt and Canaan were sometimes considered as having some part of creation and wooden images were carved out.

3, You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

This means you should not use the name of God in any oaths or to use His name in any act which is dishonest or irreverent.

4. Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy,

The Lord worked for six days and rested on the seventh.

This was so to be we have six days for our own work and on the Sabbath give time to attend worship and rest from work.

5. Honor  your father and mother.

There is a call to respect your parents and care for them in times of illness and in old age.

6. You shall not murder.

The deliberate killing of another person by any means.

7 You shall not commit adultery.

Unfaithful behavior by a man or woman who is married and has a sexual relationship with  another person of the opposite sex.

8. You shall not steal.

Simply means taking, with intention to keep, any goods or property that belong to another person without their consent.

9. You shall not bear false witness.

Telling lies or making a false statement in order to deceive someone.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

Longing to possess goods or property belonging to someone else.  This includes a desire to achieve a person belonging to someone else.

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