JOHN 14

I have chosen this passage of Scripture for Sunday service. It is one of the best known passages in the New Testament, even to non- Church people, and contains words which are so relevant to Christian living and belief.

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

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

It is the end of a close relationship of three years and time to say goodbye, and He was teaching and giving guidance, and that same teaching is passed down for the benefit of all Christians throughout the ages.

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

Jesus said, ‘do not let your hearts be troubled’. The heart is the seat of all our emotions, and when that is upset, it affects thoughts and actions and causes personal disturbance. Jesus wanted to reassure them, He was not forsaking them. He told them they were to believe in Him, as well as God. Most people believe in God, but have less thought for Jesus. He was putting Himself alongside God, and wanted them to trust Him and maintain a personal relationship.

He said there were many rooms in His Father’s house, meaning heaven, and He was going to prepare a place for them. This meant there was the prospect of living for ever with Him there.When Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for them, this was referring to the fact H e was going to the Cross, to die for the forgiveness of sins for all people, and by that death He was making it possible for them to go there.

If you want to go to stay at a hotel in some foreign country, you invariably go to a travel agent who arranges everything for you, and when you arrive at the hotel, they have a reservation waiting. You cannot just turn up because you think you are entitled to stay there, without some preparation. When Jesus said they knew the place where He was going, Thomas asked Him how they could know, when they didn’t know the way. This brought forth from Jesus that profound immortal statement, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life’

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

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

Jesus said He was the truth. This fulfils the teaching of the Old Testament and reveals the true God. A person is to teach moral truth, that person must have an impeccable reputation and have no hidden misdoings. Only Jesus can claim moral perfection, which is why He can say ‘I am the truth’.

Thirdly Jesus says ‘I am the life’, meaning the opposite of death. He is the source of life and gives life to His own. Just as death means separation ,God gave Jesus life, and He Having life, can confer eternal life to all who believe in Him.

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

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

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

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

The Bible is all about commitment. We are reminded of the superficiality of commitment in our own time. Less than 10% of people think God worthy of one hour per week to visit a Church. Yet if you were to ask people their religion, the vast majority would reply C of E (meaning Church of England)and seriously consider they were Christians. They would be mortally offended if you suggested otherwise. Very few people seem bothered to think of Jesus, or do anything about it. Jesus speaks firmly and rather profoundly, when He says not all who think they are to enter the Kingdom of heaven will in fact do so.

It is easy to say I am a Christian, 95% of the population today believe, as long as you are honest, kind and helpful to others and do no harm, you are a fully-fledged Christian. People of other faiths and none, have all those qualities, but would object to be called Christians.

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

The Church in general, in its desire to be nice and friendly to all, with a craving to please society in general, has not always given sound teaching on this; there is no blank promise. and if we do not follow Him our end will not be in the rooms of His Father’s house.

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

I cannot understand how we can share in multi-faith worship and maintain Biblical integrity. Whilst I believe we should respect other faiths and try to live amicably with them, in view of the unique teaching of our Lord that He alone is the way to God, we cannot justify sharing in multi faith services when our beliefs are so different, and it is matter of recognising the unique authority of Jesus. Only Christianity maintains that Jesus Christ as divine, and salvation was earned by Jesus on the Cross. Jesus is quite unequivocal.

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

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

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

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

We are accused of being narrow minded and improper, for bringing up our children as believers, and if we should commit the ultimate crime of suggesting our faith influences how and what we teach them, and object to them being asked if they thinking they are of the right gender, we are of course a multiple of phobias.

We are allowed to visit the sick and care for the poor, as long as don’t mention praying for them.

We are told by activists, that we must allow people to make their own decision, but what they mean in effect is, as long as that fits in within what activists decide. This is the new definition of the word ‘tolerance’.

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

The temptation for us, as Christians, is to say what makes us popular. Too many preachers have forgotten about being authentic; about being true to the Gospel we have been entrusted with by our Lord; to be true to our values, and to proclaim them without fear.

The Bible tells us we must contend for the faith once given to Christians. The faith once given means the faith that which was given by the Apostles, who had been taught by Jesus, and which was blessed by God when the Church was first established.

Let this be the faith we adopt and believe, and not that now being re-interpreted to suit modern culture. Our faith is not something someone made up, it is historical and spiritual fact.

 

Give thanks to God for His Holy Gospel, Praise the Lord Jesus Christ

John 10 v1/10

 

PLEASE NOTE

DUE TO OUTER INTERFERENCE WORDS HAVE BEEN ADDED WHICH HAVE NO REFERENCE TO THIS WRITING



THE NEXT SERMONS IS BASED ON JOHN 10 v 1-10,notChapter 20

 John 10 v1/10

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 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, Olive,  Melissa, Lyn, Leanna, 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 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. . 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 L U K E  24 v 13-35          

                                                 

When this passage begins, it is Easter Sunday and two followers of Jesus were walking along a road when they were joined by Jesus.  They did not know who He was, but they got into conversation, telling Jesus of events that had happened.  Eventually they rrealize who He was, but Jesus suddenly disappeared.  The two men made their way to Jerusalem and heard the Lord had arisen and they were able to tell of their experience.

The disciples were met behind locked doors for fear of being attacked when Jesus came in amongst them.  The eleven men there were those who had shamelessly denied and fled from Him, denying they knew Him, yet Jesus was prepared to forgive them.  This shows us that no one is too bad to be forgiven and offered salvation.

Jesus showed them His hands and feet, to convince them of His real presence, and we know from John’s gospel that Thomas was not present, and would not believe without proof.  There are many people who just cannot accept that Jesus was physically resurrected, even some holding high office in the Church.  Here we have testimony from men who lived with Jesus, and gave us statements that Jesus was real, objective and physical, and we must be prepared to believe them over some academic sitting in a study somewhere, looking for some objection and probably the chance to make a (dubious) name for himself. 

Those disciples were hard men, not likely to be deluded or kidded by an impostor.  The Apostles Creed states ‘I believe in the resurrection of the body’ not ‘I believe in  the resurrection of Jesus’. No one should recite the Creed if they cannot accept the physical resurrection.

An Anglican priest has no justification for doubting this.  All ordained clergy swear to accept the Articles of the Church of England, one of which states’ Christ did surely rise again from the dead and took again his body with flesh bones and all things appertaining to the perfection of man‘s nature’.  We are bound to honor this for the Bible expects us to believe in the solid, tangible resurrection. If we are going to be faithful to Jesus we must be prepared to believe He conquered death and as Lord of heaven and earth is One who can give life to the dead.  It was long part of the plan of God that all that took place should have done We are told that Jesus ate fish with them and instructed them in the Scriptures.  He promises to send the Holy Spirit, but they are to stay in Jerusalem until they are filled with power.  He then ascended back to His Father in heaven.  The fact that Jesus entered through locked doors indicates that His body must have been of a different kind to His earthly body.  Paul in his Letter to the Corinthian Church, explained this when he drew the analogy of a seed being planted to grow into a plant, and likens it to our one day being changed to a spiritual body.  Paul went in to great detail to try and make this understood that our new bodies will be totally different to our old one.

   An awesome duty has been placed on the Church to continue the mission Jesus gave to those first Apostles that they were to take the gospel to all people.  Jesus wanted us to tell that forgiveness is real and available to those who will accept Him as Savior.  Most people of course will never confess to being a sinner, they are confident in the misplaced belief that as long as they help others, and are honest and kind they have a ready made passport to heaven.  The Church has too often not lived up to our Lord’s expectations.  The doctrine of heaven and hell, is widely rejected as being positively unacceptable, with claims actually being made that all will be in heaven when they die.  It is accepted that cruel dictators, may not, but it cannot be told what will happen to them or where they will end up.  The purpose of the Church is to proclaim the teachings of Jesus Christ, this is given in all four gospels, and if the Church does not rest on Scripture it has no function in life, and any such Church should be avoided.

 

Give thanks to God for his Glorious Gospel. Praise Jesus Christ

 

 

W H Y D I D G O D C R E A T E A W O M A N ?

(Genesis 2 v 18)

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.

( That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one)

The last act of God in creation was making the woman. . "The last and best, of a God’ s gifts to men. , and most normal and reasonable men will readily agree The woman is not in any way inferior, and was not to be taken as a servant .Matthew Henry once stated, she was taken from the man’s side to be equal to him; Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, describes woman as being created from Adam's rib, to be equal with him, protected under his arm, and loved near his heart, not from foot rather than to be ruled over or trampled. He emphasizes a complementary partnership, focusing on mutual affection, protection, and shared dignity in marriage.

A man alone n is, by nature, a social creature; God created us to need companionship. and a man alone cannot by himself complete God’s purpose. This is why God created Eve as a “help meet”: to complete Adam, to provide society for him, and to enable him to produce children. Eve was exactly what Adam needed—a helper suitable for him. God made man and then made woman, with a totally different body and nature, so they could marry and have children, and for to love one another. Women are generally more caring, and by their personalities easier to talk with, She is now the husband’s priority above all others. A reason for a woman

Marriage was the first institution God created, before Church or anything else, From time immemorial, in every nation in the world, in every way of life and belief, the normal way of life was the joining of a man and woman, in a sacred service of matrimony before God, a once for all union, which would raise a family, and this has been the practice through the ages. A reason for a woman

Marriage is a divine institution ordained by God, a foundation for stable living .We live time of immorality, where there are no absolutes, you just do what you feel is right. This is the reason there are so many failed marriage, is because God’s Biblical pattern, where the secrets for a happy marriage is not followed.

A marriage is one of the biggest decisions of a person’s life, a sacred ceremony Some people see it as an urge to seize a chance that appeals. A man or woman must find out the ways and beliefs when they meet, before it is e too late to correct, True, divorce has become too easy through governments having little if any, religious affection. They appear together at Church to get married, I and pledge their faithfulness to each other, and there is the giving of a ring(s). The ring has no break, no ending, signifying unending love. The ring is made of gold, precious and for longevity. This is what God intended. They make vows to be true to each other, pledging to stay together until death, not as the modern way of until we get fed up with each other.

Billy Graham held a service for young people, and called on them not to engage in sexual activity with an intent for having marriage, It is so necessary to know your partner, and really love them and not be content with a false affection

People as usual scoffed, but I liked Billy and knew he was sincere. I had chosen the girl I was going to marry, and whilst I have met many women in my life’s work, I never met anyone to equate her. When she died, I received a condolence card which stated, God must have loved you Eric, He gave you one of His special daughters. I have no doubt He did, she was so kind and loved to help people who were handicapped. Congregations adored her. A reason for a woman

Jesus confirmed marriage in the New Testament, and His first miracle was at a wedding.

I have conducted many funerals, and the ones that touched me most were those of a married man or married woman, knowing what that loss would mean. I found that men got more distressed than most women, who of course were also distressed, and I was conscious that it would happen to me one day. and it has.. A massive loss even with a loving family cannot fill the breach..

I have been watching a series on television about life in a small town in America, and the actors are so realistic, that one can feel they are part of the story, and three of the men have lost their wives, so are portrayed as being devastated, and depict What being widowed is really like; all saying like real men. I can’t imagine life without her. This is why God made a woman.

How God blessed men, when He gave us women to fulfil our lives and give such unrealized support. Generally, women are easier to talk with; there are of course exceptions. Aways there to support and strengthen. Another reason for a woman

God has made clear for those who belong to Jesus Christ, and who can truly say they believed that Jesus Christ died for the forgiveness of their sins, when He gave His life on the Cross, and believe He was resurrected from His death. God by His free gift of grace, will grant salvation and we have eternal life in heaven. Luke in his Gospel speaks of being able to meet our loved ones who have gone before us.

At every funeral, there is generally a belief the deceased was such a good person, despite the fact they had not been active followers of Jesus. There cannot be any pretence, God knows the truth of all people and what the truly believe,

Marriage is a gift of God, and needs to be respected. There needs to be time spent getting to know the everyday ways of the other, the irritations there may be. All who are Christians can ask God to guide them, and He would lead them to the right man or woman. The husband and the wife will have a happier and stronger marriage if both are Christians, because it was the way God planned for us, Christian couples find it easier to share all in their lives, leading to peace and fullness in the home, which God intended. He made two people, man and woman, the perfect answer, someone who could complement man in every way, physically and mentally in a way other men could not, and men throughout the ages have appreciated and recognised this. God wanted to supply what was lacking in man’s life, and together they could have children and create the ideal family. He made men and women to have a natural attraction, opposites attracting. God planned the human heart to love, marry and have children. Most men if honest, would concede how their wife had been of sp much help. yet another reason for a woman

So we have two people, equal yet different, no question of superiority or inferiority. They were not meant to be identical, men are generally stronger physically, more aggressive, with a greater propensity for leadership, women softer and sensitive and caring, specially equipped to be mothers. In all ways of life, men and women can however perform the same tasks, but God did give special gifts to each.

In the film ‘my fair lady’, Rex Harrison playing a professor of phonetics asks, ‘why can’t a woman be like a man, and gets he answer, ‘because she wasn’t created to be’. God has laid down total disapproval of divorce, which for many years was not a practice the majority of people sought, they were more respectful of their vows, and tried to be reconciled

The Bible does in the New Testament, allow divorce, if one partner in a marriage is unfaithful and commits adultery, leaving the innocent party to be free of blame. To obtain a divorce, it was necessary to show some worthy cause to justify. How different now, that the government have made it so easy, that man or woman can obtain a divorce without reason, or even seeking the other partner’s agreement.

For centuries down the ages, marriage was expected to be the natural course of men/women and people expected and prepared for getting married. it was only in the latter part of the last century, that people began to change their way. We have now reached the stage, where the whole of God's original plan for men and women has been widely abandoned. just as in the days of Malachi described in the Old Testament, there is a spiritual decline with people forsaking God, and an alarming breakdown in family life.

God intended men and women should have children, which means having a father and mother. Children need both for a balanced upbringing, and to receive the benefit of both characters in their lives. Family meant husband, wife and children. This is the ideal, which cannot be attained by two people of the same sex.. You need a woman

Research after research, has resulted in being agreed that a home without a father and mother, leads to a child’s failure to rise to its ability. Children have fallen into Crime, and other misdeeds when devoid of the two parents. Many children have grown up in a lot of sadness, when their parents fall out and/or parting.. Grown- ups should act accordingly, and think of the children they created, and the responsibility they owe them. A further need of a woman

To disagree with same sex marriage is not homophobic or bigotry, such opposition is not biased against sexual orientation, but Ministers of the Church are vowed to speak in the name of Jesus, and on respect for tradition and biblical teaching. The Marriage Service’s themes of love, hope, faithfulness,, sacrifice and trust are at the heart of the Christian gospel.

A Minister is in the Church to represent Christ and speak for Jesus. We are called to preach the gospel that Jesus commanded and ordered His Apostles to teach, not the wishes of society. Has commitment and integrity been abandoned altogether in some Churches?.

I worked in a big city, with a lot of different districts, and I once remarked to a Jewish Rabbi, that I had never known a Jewish boy (or girl) get into trouble for anti-social or violent behavior I asked what he attributed this to, and he said ‘the Jewish Mama, she keeps control of her family.’ I am sure that is true, but there are many Christian mamas too, perhaps not as many as hitherto. Why we need women

All my working life has been in public life in every class of society, and have been horrified at the treatment of man to woman. If the football team lost, or meal was not liked there was trouble. Women attending Church services warned to stop or the husband would leave with the children. Money spent on alcohol, wife struggling to buy food. In addition, there are so many homes where the man has found another interest, and leaves his wife and children, which is heartless.

All of such things mentioned. relate to actual happenings There were 2.2 million cases of domestic abuse caused to women from the age of 16 upward in En gland and Wales in one year. This is something that is totally unacceptable, and government should enforce punishments. Any woman walking in public places after darkness, is placing herself in peril

There are many people who would eagerly wish to live a peaceful life, but have just been unable or unfortunate to meet the right person. If two married people are unwilling or perhaps one partner is, there can be no justification to engage in physical aggression, but seek peaceful ways of healing through marital agencies, Church Minister or friends.

God created a wonderful world and created two people to share their lives, but too many people are making an evil environment. I with many other Church Ministers. can only pray for those who are victims in both genders, and hope there will be couples who will resolve their problems. Think carefully if children are to be considered, it is tragic that their young lives will be ruined by selfish parents. For those little ones who do get upset to see their Mom and Dad not being in harmony.

A prayer for those seeking to heal a broken marriag"Heavenly Father, we come to You with heavy hearts, seeking Your divine intervention. Please soften the hearts, removing all bitterness, anger, and resentment. Replace a desire to be 'right' with a desire to understand and love each other again. Where there is distance, bring closeness; where there is brokenness, bring healing. Restore the love and trust we once shared, according to Your will. May God bless all

  J O H N   20  v19-end

The Gospel passage for this Sunday comes from John’s gospel in Chapter 20, and is the story of Jesus appearance to His Apostles in the Upper Room on the evening of the first Easter Sunday. 

The Apostles were in the Upper Room, terrified in fear for their lives.  This was because rumours had been spread around Jerusalem that they must have stolen the body of Jesus, and they feared the authorities might take action against them.  The doors were firmly shut, yet Jesus appeared in the room to their amazement, but also joy.   This suggests that His body was a supernatural body, and so if we are to be like Him in heaven, our future bodies will also be supernatural.   Jesus was giving a demonstration in confirmation He was alive.   This was no animation of a corpse; it was Jesus in a new form of being which could pass through doors.

You can imagine the reaction of the Apostles who must have thought they were hallucinating, for most people do at some time have visions, especially if you are longing for someone whom you never expected to see.  The Apostles were delighted to see the Lord however.

Jesus greeted them with the traditional Jewish greeting Shalom, words which mean not only ‘peace be with you’, but every kind of blessing.  He then showed them His hands and side, to prove that it was the same Jesus they had known when they were with Him, but by showing His wounds it verified that this was the Jesus who had been on the Cross and was now an alive person,

The Apostle Thomas was not present, but would not believe when he was told they had seen the Lord, and refused util he could examine the body of the Lord.  When Jesus returned the next week, he was challenged to touch on the body of Jesus, but he declined and answered  my Lord and my God.  Jesus was not impressed, and praised those whobelieved by faith not by seeing proof.

We have to sympathize with Thomas who just a natural fellow responding as most people would not accept a dead man was alive.

Then Jesus gave them command saying, just as God had sent Him He was now sending them out to preach the gospel in His name.  This is essentially and fundamentally what the Church should and must be doing, preaching the gospel that He left us and abandoning all the modern fancy ideas aimed at pleasing society.  We don’t go out saying the Bible says…,but, I’ve got a better idea, we go in His name saying what  He said. 

Jesus then when parting He again said ‘peace be with you’ as a form of good-bye, and then breathed on them.  At His baptism, the Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus, and He now tells the Apostles as God had given Him the Holy Spirit, He (Jesus) was giving them the power of the Holy Spirit to go out and tell the world about His offer of eternal  salvation for all who accepted and believed in Him.  If anyone did not, they were condemned eternally.

Jesus has passed on this mission to the Church all down the ages, to go out and speak for His message, so that when people hear that message from us, they are indirectly hearing the words of our Lord.

Jesus also said He was giving them the Holy Spirit in which they could forgive people’s sins, or if necessary to refuse to do so.  It is from this passage that the Churches of Catholic persuasion, Roman or Anglican, claim authority to pronounce absolution.  This is contrary to Scripture, which teaches that only God can give forgiveness, and there is nothing in the Bible that I can find which supports priestly absolution.

Every Christian can seek forgiveness from God directly, but if we are considering wanting to make a confession of sins, and seeking assurance, then for good order and discipline, one could reasonably state a priest is the person to approach rather than just any member of the Church.  I have known instances, where people have met for study groups and during the meeting been invited and encouraged to speak out on personal troubles, which is quite seriously unwise as there is no moral demands on friends to keep confidentiality.  There is no doubt that by talking out a worrying matter, it can ease one’s mind, but a priest (or ordained minister) is the one who should be approached, bound as he is not to reveal any confidence. 

What Jesus is meaning, is that when the Apostles were convinced a person had truly repented o their sins and accepted Jesus as Savior, they could be assured God had forgiven them; but if as on a later occasion when Peter was not assured of a person’s sincerity, they could not be given assurance of forgiveness.

The Church has to a large degree lost its purpose for being; we are here to preach the gospel, but there is a greater desire in many places to be more busy in social activities as well as political.  Bishops were very active in advising how to vote in the Brexit referendum, and some are now participating with advice how to vote in elections.  If they were as active in advising how to fill the Churches, which are emptying at an alarming rate, they would be fulfilling their proper day job.

God wants us to be out into the world doing what Jesus did. At His baptism, God sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove on to Jesus so that He could go in the name of God and make disciples.  Now Jesus is sending us out in the power of the Holy Spirit to be His hands and feet and voice.

This chapter will not be fully explained in some Churches today, as there will be a problem, namely that there are clergy who do not believe in the physical resurrection. A man who had challenged the resurrection was some years ago, being consecrated into his Office as a Bishop in York Minster. Later the same night a bolt of lightning struck and blew out the rose window of the Cathedral.  When this was suggested to be God venting His anger, that was mocked and ridiculed by the liberal establishment, yet there was no such experience in any other part of the city. People will say about a passage you can’t expect me to believe that, it is now 2026.  Yet they will believe many things even harder to understand.

A team of meteorologists, studied weather maps of the whole county area at the time of the incident, and those experts unanimously declared the only answer can be, it was an act of God.

If I press 13 buttons on my mobile phone I will within seconds speak to my son in China, the words flying across thousands of miles across millions of other messages being transmitted.  Explain that.  You drink white milk taken from a black cow, which eats green grass without working it out. Why do people limit the power of God?  But they do.

 You hold meetings in your Churches, a function of the PCC is to promote mission in the parish.  Without a fixed spiritual leader this is a difficult task, but we hope it will soon be resolved and the function can be exercised.  One essential for every Church I have always believed, is to emulate business.  Firms spend millions on advertising their product; we are in the Lord’s business, and have what no other business can offer, yet we fail to circulate any message. 

I published my Church magazine for 17 years, and so have had an interest in Church magazines. I find articles about past events, articles of much interest to members, but little or nothing for the outsider; never a gospel message   We hold Church fetes to which locals attend, and what a great effort is made to make cakes and collect items all for sale, and work hard in the process.  Yet how much effort is made to get people inside the main building; in most events little, if any, effort is made in advertising our Sunday Services.   Compare with the publicity political parties use, and little of it is true. We are to be equally vibrant with our unique message, which makes an offer no other party or institution can.

We have just come out of Easter, and most Churches had large attendances, responding to glorious hymns and preaching about Jesus, This proves people do still have a need and desire to worship if they are offered such similar services,  Obviously we can’t offer Carols, but Our hymn books are filled with delightful spiritual hymns and music of Charles Wesley.

When you receive Communion this Sunday, you are part of a tradition which has been passed down from that Upper Room.  Many people have tried, and are now trying harder than  ever to take Christianity out of public life, but while empires have come and gone, the Christian Church has survived, and millions and millions of people have found their lives enriched by their faith, and the words of Jesus are still relevant, ‘the gates of hell will not prevail against it’.    There may be resistance in this and other Western nations, but in Africa, China and beyond there is massive turning to the Lord Jesus; devoted Christians face opposition in countries where Christianity is not the main faith, and yet are leading others to hear of Jesus.

The Church in England has adopted the false doctrine of accepting same sex marriage, and cannot therefore expect God’s blessing, but there are still many Churches who have rejected that doctrine. 

When Jesus was first seen after His resurrection by Mary Magdelene, He told her to go and tell His Apostles.  Such a challenge is laid on all Churches and Christians, go and tell you have found Jesus.

If you are looking for a Church to attend, choose where the Bible is at the heart of the service; where you can find salvation which leads to a future life with Jesus in heaven.

I hope you all enjoyed your Easter days, and pray that you will continue to worship and serve the Lord Jesus

.Praise the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God for His Holy Gospel