Matthew 13 v, 24-53

 

In to-day’s gospel reading, there are  parables included in this passage.  When Jesus was teaching He always took scenes from life which people could understand, and then He applied this to convey a message.  Jesus is teaching about God’s Kingdom, of which he is the King.  The parables contain a spiritual meaning to explain the truth.

When looking at a Bible passage it is helpful to consider three questions. What does it say; what does it mean; how does it relate to me?  I will take each of the parables to show what they are stating, and then apply the meaning.

The first parable is a continuation is really a continuation of the parable of the Sower, which you heard last week.  I imagine it will cause some preachers more than a little difficulty in facing its teaching.

The farmer has sown wheat seeds but an enemy came and sowed weeds amongst the wheat seed.   The weed was called darnel, a bitter poisonous weed which could cause serious consequences. When sown it so closely resembled wheat that it could not be recognised and it was only when it began to grow that it became identified and by that time the roots were intertwined so that to pull them up would disturb the good seed. Therefore it was not practicable to separate one without damaging the other, so the separation had to wait until harvest when the reapers would gather and pick the bad seed out and use it as fuel to burn on the fire. That is the story.

The meaning is that the farmer is our Lord; the good seed are those who gladly acknowledge Him as their Lord and Saviour. The weeds are those who are not followers of Jesus. There is no in between, you are inevitably either on the Lord’s side or if not, on the side of the evil one.

The field is the world; the harvest is at the end of the age; and the reapers are the angels, who will gather Christ’s people make and separation the.

What then is the explanation that affects us?
We are reminded there is always the presence of hostile powers in the world seeking to destroy goodness.
This parable is not a discourse on farming, but rather the theme is that of separation and judgement. Jesus used imagery to deal with the reality of emphasising what can be for ever lost. Some people think that Jesus was just trying to frighten us which raises the question is there something to be frightened of?

If you travel on major roads you will see signs warning of speed cameras, which infer a penalty if you drive over the limit.  There are also signs telling of the number of accidents and fatalities due to careless driving. Yes they are trying to frighten us, but they are also reminding us how close death can be and any sensible person will heed the warnings.

Jesus is here warning of the consequences of what faces us if we reject Him, and showing His love and care for us through the death He suffered at the Cross that we may be forgiven for all our wrongdoings..

Jesus always made it clear that this life is a preparation for eternity and we face a choice now. He taught there were two roads in life, a broad one leading to destruction which many take, a narrow one leading to eternal life. There are two masters, Jesus and the devil; two destinies, heaven and hell.

To suggest hell is for many people, including clergy an anathema. There will be preachers this morning putting a completely different interpretation on this parable. But if we are keeping to the Bible’s word there is no room for personal opinion or sensitivity.

Verse 42 clearly states, referring to the evil ones, ‘they will be cast into the fiery furnace.’ Jesus used this term elsewhere also to signify hell

People have various views of what happens so that when we die, we simply cease to exist; or a loving God would never send anyone to hell, everyone eventually ends up in heaven. It is true God will not send anyone to hell; people just make the choice for themselves by rejecting Jesus Christ.
In all the world there is only one source of authoritative information about the afterlife, and that is the Bible. Outside of the Bible, everything else is only speculation and wishful thinking. If we want to know what God has to say on this important topic, it is to the Bible we must go.

Turning first to consider the reality of heaven, on the night before He was crucified, Jesus told His disciples He was going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house where there were many mansions; the Bible states heaven is–God’s dwelling place where Christ is today and where Christians go when they die.

People don’t believe in it like we used to. They are all too busy making a living to worry about what happens after we die. To the unbeliever such words seem either sentimental or simply incredible. But to the one who accepts God’s Word at face value, they are nothing less than the sober truth

We don’t talk about it nowadays because it isn’t popular to suggest that unbelievers are tormented for all eternity for their sins. Yet the Bible teaches the eternal punishment of the wicked in many passages.
Those who fail to repent now and turn to Jesus will find it will be too late for remorse, too late to give your heart to Jesus.

Since some people scoff at the notion of an after, life .Let  us pause for a moment and ask why the Bible reveals heaven and hell to us. What do we gain by knowing about these things and why are they important to the Christian faith?

1. To right the wrongs of this life.  So many crimes go unpunished while the perpetrators are set free to hurt others. Hell must exist, if for no other reason than to balance the scales of justice.

2. To Reward those who serve the Lord.

Heaven must exist so that those who served Jesus faithfully may enter their eternal reward.

3. To fulfil the promises God made to his people.
4. Redeem the suffering of this life.  The Bible states that “our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

We constantly hear of people whose suffering seems to be overwhelming. It may be cancer or some other disease, it may be a broken marriage or a child in trouble, it may be financial disaster or trouble at work or at school. God’s people endure many hardships in this life. Most of the time, we can’t fully understand why God allows certain things to happen to us.

But we have this promise. When the books are opened and the scales are balanced, we will discover that the things we went through in this life are nothing compared with the glories of heaven.   It has been said, for the unbeliever, this life is the only heaven they will ever know. For the believer, this life is the only hell we will ever know.

Each person must make an intelligent and informed decision about heaven and hell. If what I have said is true, then you must do whatever it takes to make sure you go to heaven and you must make sure at all costs that you do not go to hell.

Sometimes we are ready to think a person is a wonderful Christian when in fact they may well not be, and on the other hand wrongly condemn someone. Judgement must wait for the harvest, when we will be judged not anyone aspect of our life,but as our whole life.

It is often thought that the fact a person attended a Church and was accepted as a Christian would automatically be at the Messianic banquet, but the Bible makes it clear that is not necessary so. Many Church people these days live lives which do not measure up to what the Bible expects. Indeed, there are preachers who are living and supporting ways which are so totally against the teaching of Scripture. Judgement however is in the hands, and at the mercy of God, who alone knows the secrets of all our hearts.

Let us go back one more time to the words of Jesus Christ. When Thomas asked him the way to heaven, Jesus gave this answer: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. Those words are clear; it is not enough to have a casual approach to Christ, there has to be a firm commitment to believe and act according to His teaching.

The way to heaven is as narrow as the Cross. Only those who trust Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord will enter the gates of heaven.

It is said that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. By the same token, the road to heaven is paved with the blood of Christ. Let us all be assured we are on the right road. 

 

In verses  31/43 there are five parables all relating to the activity of the Kingdom of God

  The mustard seed was then the smallest of all seeds, but could grow to 10 feet high. It has branches that spread out in which birds could perch on.

     Jesus was meaning when we claim that if you believe in Jesus and by his death on the cross you will have life in heaven with him, to the unbeliever that may not mean much, but it was the message taken by the Apostles in the small country of Israel 2000 years ago and has for centuries spread across the world.

Yeast is a symbol of growth, and as yeast spreads through a lump of dough, so the kingdom spreads through a believers life by th Holy Spirit.

The next story is of hidden treasure. In the Bible days there were no banks so people often buried treasurable items in the ground for safety.  Here a man is tending to a field when he comes across hidden treasure during the course of his daily work.  He realises the value so he went to the owner of the land and bought the field, having  sold all he owned to do so.

   

 The story of the pearl is of a merchant in the jewellery business, who knows there is a pearl of great beauty and value. One day he found it and he too sold his possessions to have it.

 

People can find Jesus in their everyday life, often by accident. By a message a on a Church noticeboard, in conversation with a Christian, or some other chance event.. Other people will search for a Bible teaching Church, a much harder way, but will persist, and there find the treasure they were looking for.   In doing so, they find a new inspiration for life and realize the value of the treasure of a changed life. The parables are telling the same truth that the kingdom is of such value we should strive to gain it.

Lastly is the story of the net.  A net was dragged across the water and collected different kinds of fish.  Those with scales on were classified as bad and had to be separated from the rest.  So, the Church of God can contain people who are unworthy as well as the true believer, and we cannot discriminate.  The Church is for the whole world, and God wants all to be saved.  But the Bible teaches a time will come when Jesus will, separate the sheep from the goats, the good from the bad.

 

Give thanks to God for His Glorious Gospel and Praise the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

R O M A N S    9  v 1-5

 

In. these verses, Paul endeavours to explain to fellow Jews that God sent Jesus Christ into the world to save people from sin, and  to help the Jews from rejecting Jesus. Paul was so  sincere in his teaching that he would have given his life to save them.

Moses had gone to Mount Sinani to receive the Law of God, and whilst he did so, the Jews created a golden calf  to worship. The wrath of God was poured upon them.  Moses pleaded wit God to let him (Moses) bear the wrath.

God had been good to Isreal as His special people, adopted them, gave them the glory of God giving them the Commandments, and two covenants. A covenant is a relationship entered into by two people and allows mutual profit.  He did so with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  The first covenant was with Noah as the rainbow showed in the heavens after the floods,  A further covenant was made with Jesus Christ

It s a truth that God never left men alone;  He made men and did ot abandon them

Israel could never complain about the attention given by God, He gave them the Temple and were destined for good things, but did not play  its part .There was a line of Patriarchs, with a great heritage, and above all He gave the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul devoted his life to teach the Jews and suffered at the dreadful way they pursued him  The tragedy is he strove in vain, all destroyed. 

The law of God was not broken, Paul was not broken, only the heart of God was broken.

 

Give thanks to God for His glorious gospel and Praise the Lord Jesus Christ.

J O H N  14  v 1/6       

Jesus was speaking to His disciples shortly before going to the Cross, teaching and giving guidance, and that same teaching is passed down for the benefit of all Christians throughout the ages.

 Jesus is here telling His Apostles 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.  So Jesus tried to comfort them and tells them. ‘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.    He was putting Himself alongside God and wanted them to trust Him

  He said there were many rooms in His Father’s house, meaning there was room for all in heaven, and He was going to prepare a place for them.  This meant there was the prospect of living for ever with Him in heaven being given to the Apostles, and by extension to those who are prepared to give teir life to Jesus, who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior. through faith, and who one day will see Him face to face.

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.

There is a grossly mistaken notion, that as long as one is honest and a nice person, one is assured of heaven.  That is not what the Bible teaches.  Many people who are atheists are honest and nice people.  There has to be a commitment to Jesus. 

Jesus was very clear in His teaching that it certainly was not so. In parable after parable, He spoke of two roads, of sheep and goats, of tares and wheat, of heaven and hell. The Church has not always      given sound teaching on this, and some misguidedly preach that Jesus was giving a blank promise for everyone, when He is clearly addressing His followers, and if we do not follow Him, our end will not be in the rooms of His Father’s house.  The sad thing is that Church funeral liturgy perpetuates such belief, and is so therefore totally misguiding,  

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, then we are leading them astray.

It is like telling a blind person standing on the footwalk of a major road, it is safe for him to cross when ready.  Others say, if you just follow your conscience you’ll be fine, but consciences become dulled and hardened.  Taking the lead from politicians, people can look you in the eye and lie without any qualm of conscience.

 In this passage before us, He is talking to His followers, people who have made a personal commitment to accept Him as Saviour.  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 that less than 2% of people think God worthy of one hour per week to visit a Church.  Yet if you were to ask people their religion, the vast majority would reply C of E and seriously consider they were Christians.  They would be mortally offended, if you suggested otherwise. Very few people seem bothered to think of Jesus, even less to do anything about it.

 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, no one can come to he Father except through me.’  

Jesus spent His entire ministry telling that we are separated from God through sin, and only He could obtain forgiveness for us, so we have to make a choice whether to follow Him or face the consequences.  Jesus is quite unequivocal.   This is not generally liked as it is seen as being too restrictive, too bigoted and intolerant, and to be judgmental is not liked.

What exactly does Jesus mean when he says, ‘we can only come to the Father through Him alone’.  Often we go on a journey to a strange place, and without any idea how to get there. We have two alternatives, either to let a satellite navigation guide us, or hope to find someone where we are going to take us, or we would never get to where we hope to go; this is what Jesus does for us. 

I once had to go to another city from my own before aids were devised, and on arrival had no idea where the address was situated. I stopped and asked a man if he could guide me to where I was aiming for, and he replied, ‘no, but I am going there I could show you. He got in my car, took me to the placeI was looking for .  This is what Jesus was saying.  He says you can’t get to heaven 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. The common belief these days is that all religions lead to God, which Christians cannot accept.  No other faith had a man who died on a Cross to grant universal forgiveness, no other faith had a man who rose from the dead.  Our faith is not something someone has made up, it is God given.

Jesus said He was the truth.  If 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’.

Jesus said ‘I am the life’, meaning the opposite of death.  He is the source of life and gives life to His own.  Just as death mean separation from God, so life means being in communion with Jesus.

He claims exclusive way to God, and since we are totally dependent upon Him for the understanding of truth and for eternal life, it naturally follows that no one can come to the Father other than by and through Him.

     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; but in view of the unique teaching of our Lord (here set out in verse 6 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.  Jesus warns us that there must be a clear acceptance of His teaching and total obedience to it.

.What must be our principal concern, is that there were in the early Church preachers who were preaching false doctrine and advocating a gospel which fitted within their personal desires.  They taught that the grace of God would forgive any sin; just act as you wish God will forgive you. This was rejection of God’s word. 

This is why it is so relevant for us today, for we have to face an identical situation.  There are godless men, (and women) who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny the clear teaching of Jesus Christ. 

One of the biggest problems the Church faces is apathy, it is so easy in the times we live in to opt out, saying, ‘there is no point in fighting them’, it is the way of the world.  Can you imagine what would have happened if Winston Churchill had have said in 1940, ‘we must give in, the Germans are too strong.     

    The silence of the Church is an affront to God; it is expected to be the voice for the nation in moral matters.  Every so often someone pops up calling for a back to basics campaign, but no one knows what the basics are.

I find it hard to understand the ethics of holding meetings for LGBT people on Methodist premises, whilst at the same time prohibiting alcohol to be kept on the premises, as a gift for a prize at Church fairs. I have no personal interest as I am neither gay nor a drinker.

 Jesus saw the world as a decaying and dark place and needing a curative effect.  Jesus said the world is in darkness, and needs Christians to shine in the darkness.  The world in its creative state is a wonderful world, but in reality is also a place of evil and suffering.  

In God’s plan the people who have been touched by the gospel, have a role in influencing the world, to be as salt and light.  Salt to be a cleansing influence; and light, to shine in dark surroundings, in which we live and work; we are the moral disinfectant..  We must stand firm by the Cross.    If salt is mixed with impurities it loses its effect and becomes rotten like matter around it.  Jesus is the light of the world, and we should reflect that light in our lives. We have to stand up for Biblical ideals.

Let us remember there are Christians being persecuted in non Christian lands with violence, arson, and yes even murder.  Hundreds have been killed in the last few months in Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia and Nigeria; whole villages ransacked, yet they valiantly fight on for their Lord and Savior.  How pathetic if we let some vociferous secularists silence us. 

Over the past weeks, millions upon millions of men have crossed the world spending their money to watch two teams  kick a football about.  Many would be affronted if asked to visit their local parish Church .Just imagine a world where Jesus was present, a cleaner, safer and moral way of life.

,Rather than contend for the gospel, we can deny our Lord by denying we are Christians to avoid being mocked, or to avoid embarrassment. How many are prepared even admit they attend Church.  

The country is in spiritual death throes and in need of intensive care.  This is why we must contend for the faith.  How God must weep when He sees the Church singing His praise, pretending to be holy, whilst countenancing and failing to speak out on moral issues and totally ignoring His written Word.

     We need to be contending for the faith, especially to any non believers in our families, and challenging those who mock.  .

    You and I are called to contend for the truth.  Do not let anyone tell you that you do not count.  You count tremendously, so glory in what God has called you to do and be faithful to His command.   Our Lord’s last great commission was to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations; let us not fail Him.

Let this be the faith we adopt and believe and not that now being re-interpreted to suit modern culture.

     May God bless His Word to us and enable us to give our          service to Him

 2^nd Letter of Paul to Timothy Chapter 3

Paul was writing to Timothy who he expects to take over ministry now that Paul is nearing the end of his life.  Turn to the 2^nd Letter of Paul to Timothy Chapter 3 

 

As we look at these words together  I hope we may all realise how far removed Paul’s view of the Church is from that of society to-day.  Most people seem to think of the Church as an anachronism, a relic from the past, a crutch for the weak minded, totally irrelevant to the modern world.  Whether we realise it or not, the Church isa under attack.  The world hates us, .and there are many who would like to see the Church marginalised right out of the public arena.  If you have any doubts about that, read some of the comments appearing under articles about the Church when published on newspaper websites.  They are venomous.

 

When I was ordained most people respected the Church and its Ministers.  They knew the principal characters of the Bible and stories of Jesus.  Now there is  rank ignorance.  Even people within the Church are not  fully Bible literate.  This is somewhat due to lack of proper teaching within the Church.

There is a basic question that we should all ask ourselves from time to time: Why do we go to church? Do we go to church for Christian fellowship? Do we go because we like the music?   To meet friends?
The primary reason we gather at church on Sunday is to learn about God and to grow closer to Him. Everything else is secondary. Knowing Christ, becoming like Christ, is what we are here for.

Since the day of Pentecost, when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit in the upper room, the church has been used of the Lord to change individuals, families and whole societies. The true church has always stood for righteousness, holy living and godliness. The church has always been an instrument for change in the world. Because of the church, people’s lives have been changed, families and communities have been strengthened and the message of Jesus Christ has been given feet in the world.

This means that the church has a special importance in God’s plan. The church is not optional. Jesus established the church. He did not merely establish individual Christian living, he established corporate faith..

The New Testament assumes that people who are believers are connected to a local church where they live out that faith. Individual and independent Christianity is no where to be found on the pages of Scripture. So the church is not man’s invention, but God’s. Because Christ instituted the church, we should know what it is and how we should function in it.

Many images are used to describe God’s people in the Scriptures. One of the most powerful images is that of the church as family. It is powerful because it focuses on the essential ingredient of relationships.. We are brought together into this covenant community where our bond is the relationship we share both to God and to one another. We are committed to one another because we are family. As brothers and sisters in Christ, based on our common spiritual life.

God puts us together with a variety of people. He puts us with people we like and people we like less.  The church is not an optional part of life. For believers the church is a fundamental and foundational way of life.

There is a basic question that we should all ask ourselves from time to time: Why do we go to church? Do we go to church for Christian fellowship? Do we go because we like to sing hymns? Or out of sense of tradition. The primary reason for going to church on Sunday is to worship God and to grow closer to Him; to hear about Christ, so that we may live as He wants us to, becoming like Him.     This is achieved through hearing the Word of God,

       Paul is writing to Timothy who he has appointed to take over the ministry Paul is ending and begins this chapter with a command to Timothy.   Paul is issuing a forceful directive to Timothy, and by extension to all Christians and especially to all Ministers, with the simple message ‘Preach the word’.  Paul has earlier emphasised to Timothy the importance of Scripture, and he now tells him to go out and preach it. 

The word preach means to proclaim    We are to spread God’s word, not theories, or one’s own opinion, not a political analysis, not criticism of America or Israel, just the word of the living God.  Thus saith the Lord  It has to be remembered that for most congregations the Sunday sermon is as much of the Bible as they get and it should not be wasted with small talk about irrelevant subjects.

     .  A church which rejects the teaching of the bible loses its authority.  People have a right to expect men speaking as Ministers of the Church to do so, based on the word of God and not expressing personal opinions or preferences. Not giving personal views of morality or political rhetoric.  God has given what has to be taught and if preachers feel uneasy with that and unable to proclaim it, they should stand down   

    Paul  has stated that the Scriptures call upon preachers at times to reprove, rebuke and exhort. In other words, by correcting wrong thinking, pointing out what is wrong in behaviour and attitudes, and encouraging those depressed. 

       When  Paul tells Timothy, to ‘preach in season and out of season’, he means Timothy should use every opportunity to tell the gospel story. The world’s greatest need is to hear about Jesus Christ. All Christians, not simply all ministers, are commanded in Scripture to share their faith    

      There is no more important task than proclaiming the Word of God.  Churches do great work in caring for the needy and through social programming, but nothing however represents the means by which the Lord builds His Church than through His Word.  The Bible reveals wherever Church shows significant growth it is because the gospel was being forcefully preached.  Paul wrote in Romans, ‘I am eager to preach the gospel. I am not ashamed; it is the power of God unto salvation.’ 

     Many people are ashamed, or at least embarrassed, of identifying themselves as Christians.  Sometimes, because they are afraid of being isolated or harassed, others, for fear of being ridiculed, or for being challenged. 

     How many indeed could explain what the gospel is?  How many could say it is all about the person and life of Jesus Christ, what He did on the Cross, and how He conquered death?  How many are prepared to stand up and say Jesus Christ is the only way we can get to heaven. The majority of society would say all religions lead to God, but this contradicts what Jesus, Paul and Peter have told.     We try hard to think of ways for Church growth. The Bible tells us we have all the power we need within its pages.

     We put a lot of energy into fairs, fetes and garden parties, but treat them as just that without trying to reach out to the people at the same time. 

     We have parish magazines and newsletters which mostly tell what HAS happened, and contains articles about gardening or other hobbies, pieces about where people have been, or of memories.  There needs to be stimulating, provocative writing on a biblical theme.   

      Most of all we need to look at our services.  I have been to services and rather than come out inspired I am demoralised, and say to myself what was all that about. Too often services are done as if it is because something has to be done, rather than create an exciting experience.

      Often we find the sermon is a homily to fill in up to ten minutes when it should be the focal point of the service to motivate and teach and inspire.

     It is possible to attract people to Church if we are prepared to make the effort and offer a service with vibrant content.

     On a cold dark winter’s night last year, and again in May this year, (as we will in September).we were able to bring more than 80 people to Putnoe Church for a praise service and people went away feeling renewed and encouraged having sung and heard a gospel message 

          When Billy Graham or either of the last two Popes came to this country, crowds of people flocked to hear these men. That was because they offered people something worthwhile through inspired preaching and joyful praise, and people were ready to respond.

     In verses 3 and 4, we are reminded why persistence in proclaiming the Word of God is so important.  Surely, Paul is accurately describing our present context.    ‘For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers who will say what their itching ears want to hear.’    

     Sound doctrine aims to correct our faulty beliefs about God, and it aims to shape our character to be like Christ. If such is so vital to the life of a church, what is it that produces sound doctrine?
     Faithfulness to God's Word produces sound doctrine and produces mature Christians. Mature Christians fulfill the ministry God has called us to.  

     Sound doctrine calls us out of our comfort zone. challenges our sinful desires and behaviours.

  calls us to shift our focus away from ourselves,    

      and calls us to focus on God.

      I am afraid that "the time " Paul predicted has arrived. And, because we are living in the dangerous times Paul predicted, we, more than ever, need to heed his counsel to Timothy.
     This refers to a time when people will reject  Christian standards, morality and values and will substitute others. Such is the time in which we live.

     Paul says, men and women will turn away because truth requires the admission of human weakness, which people do not like to admit; the restraint of passions, which they do not like to do; and submission to the authority of God and other authorities under him, which they dislike and reject.

     They turn away from the truth, and will not even give it a hearing. It is not that they will listen to the truth and then decide whether it is right or wrong; they do not even want to hear it. They do not want to hear anything which will restrict their indulgences, and they resist, sometimes fiercely, every attempt to introduce the truth into any kind of social or governmental situation.

     Then they will look for those who will teach them what they want to hear; those who share their preferences, and are prepared to re-interpret Scripture to meet the desires.

     There is a disease, widespread in our day, called "itching ear disease," which Paul mentions here. This is an ear that wants to hear a particular line of things, an ear that wants to be entertained, that is always looking for something new, an ear that wants constant affirmation and does not want to hear anything negative or contradictory. People who have this disease look for teachers who will scratch that itch; and the result, the apostle says, is that they "wander into myths."

     What do these teachers, which such people accumulate in great numbers, teach? They cannot teach the truth because the truth is unacceptable, so they teach attractive lies, fantasies for the most part, speculative philosophies that emerge from the minds of men which have no basis in fact or history. There are many of these myths abroad today.

     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. You and I are called to advance that work. Do not let anybody tell you that your life as a Christian does not count. It counts tremendously.    

     There is spiritual drift in the Western Churches. You will find at the highest level of Church office, biblical morality being denied and opposed.  There are those who would rather pay attention to the Equality and Diversity Act than Holy Scripture, despite the fact that some biblical Christians fought hard to have the Church excluded from some of the provisions of that oppressive Act. 

     There is too ready a desire to preach political correctness rather than biblical correctness

    We are facing sustained attack from secularists who are trying desperately to remove any semblance of religion from the public life of the country. Humanism is now the belief of millions. 

     What happens when you hear the Word Of God faithfully preached?  How do you respond?        

     We all have the opportunity today to respond positively to the Word of God.. Listen for the Word of God. Prepare your heart to receive it positively.

     The seed is always the same. The sower would drape a bag of seed over his shoulder, and as he walked up and down the furrows, he would take handfuls of seed and scatter it. This seed would fall, typically, on soil of four conditions.
     The soil can be said to represent a type of person, but more specifically, the soil represents the human "heart".
It is too often that a sermon or Scripture reading does not penetrate our heart. Sometimes that is the preacher's fault, but not always.
     Here is a little test. Starting tomorrow, ask the first person from church that you talk to what today's sermon was about. You won't remember every detail, but see if you can recall the thrust of the sermon. If you can't, the reality is that either I'm a very poor communicator or even worse, the Word of God did not penetrate your heart. The initial trouble is a heart unprepared for the Word of God.(1956)

 Come to church then, prepared to feast on sound doctrine, ready to accept, receive and proclaim the Word of God. This combined with the work of God's Spirit, will not only transform you, but it will transform others as you seek to become one who faithfully preaches the Word of God. Amen,

 

 

 

 Teaching about Salt and Light   Matthew 5 .  v14_16 (NLT version)

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

Jesus lays before us two qualities, salt and light.Jesus quoted these two phrases to show Christians how to live worthy of him, and bring glory to God and his Church. He is trying to show how the world has wandered away from goodness, but Christians must aim for perfection. We must be an example in society, and not let ourselves deteriorate. To be a beacon of light in a dark world.

Jesus said, you are the ‘salt of the earth’  and created an expression which is now used to describe someone worthy of admiration.  The Romans used to say there was nothing more useful than salt. It was also very valuable.

Salt represents purity, and was offered to their gods.

Christians were meant to be seen as good and pure people.  We are in a world where there were once standards of honesty, good conduct and good speech recognized. It was common for men to say, ‘not in front of the ladies’ when someone was saying (or doing) something of a doubtful nature, but also to recognize a respect for all ladies, but now it is not only deemed acceptable, even encouraged to be inappropriate; women at times excel men in such. A Christian cannot allow him or herself to lower moral standards, but keep themselves above reproach.

Salt was also used as a preservative in times before refrigerators were made, to keep food items fresh and free from decay.  Salt stops corruption. In like manner, Christians must have an antiseptic voice in the world, be a cleansing factor   

Salt was used to add flavor, and Christians  should give to life what salt gives to the food.  It is, most regrettably, that sadly Church members are not living up to those standards mentioned.

In the early Christian days, it was thought that Christians took the pleasure out of life.  Robert Louis Stevenson once remarked after attending Church, ‘I have been to church this morning and am not depressed’.  I can recall going home and saying, I have been to church this morning, and I am really thoroughly depressed.’ 

Jesus said if salt lost its saltiness, it should be cast away. Coming to Church was once an accustomed Sunday practice, and usually was found to be uplifting and pleasant. The Bible makes the point that when anything becomes of no use, it invites disaster, therefore as Christians we should strive not to cause disasters.  We in the Church were meant to be the salt of the earth, bringing purity and a radiance, and all that is worthy.

In verse 14, Jesus said we are to be the light of the world; he is calling on us to be the like him. In other words, if we are in a controversial situation with two or more options, we should consider what would Jesus do?  We must shine like a reflection of Jesus, to cast away darkness.

A light gives warning of dangers ahead, and Christians may be able to give warnings of trouble if they see someone not a Christian heading for what they may later regret.

There are two kinds of light mentioned, one of a city on a hill where the light beams out over an area from a city full of light, as opposed to a country area of less light.  Christians are to stand out in a darkened world, with the light of Christ shining noticeably. No instances of hiding your faith, no secret Christianity, we should be proud to be noticed as followers of Jesus Christ.

We should be recognized, in the way we are courteous people of whatever status of society. I found it irritating in hotels when some people, who I would imagine would call themselves Christians, even if never attending a Church, and would treat the waiters male and female as if they were in some lower class of society than themselves. We all have an occupation in which we help others, and whatever level we may be at, as Christians we should treat others with respect, and not be supercilious.

A light is a guide, and when you find yourself in a dark place or a darkened road, you realize how necessary light is to make a clear and safe way. Christians should show the safe and proper way to live.

We are called finally to do good deeds, and to do so not to just impress, or as an act of boldness to attract attention to ourselves, rather as an act of kindness which will be recognized as such and bring glory to our heavenly Father.

Martin Luther interpreted the phrase ‘good deeds’ to mean distinctly the Christian work of teaching the Bible correctly, and stressing faith, showing how to preserve it. 

Having looked at the meaning of those words of Jesus at his sermon on the mount, let us now turn to consider how they relate to us in the current time.

 I have heard it said, as probably you have, that someone was a perfect Christian because of how they live. Such is often true, I have met lovely men, and women especially, who are quick to respond when a fellow Church member, or just another local friend, was in need through some form of submission.

 I have witnessed ladies in Church anxious to help the less able, and such people do impress and inspire and they reflect credit on themselves and their Church. These ladies show the way the light of Christ shines through them. I know this to be true for I married one, and I saw how much she was loved by people for her kindness. (She was more popular than her husband, even though I was supposed to be the Vicar))

Christians can show response to Jesus’ call in several ways; help a struggling fellow worker who is finding things hard; preventing arguments which too often lead to aggression.  We should not be lazy workers, steal from employers, respect honesty, be meek in personal activity, but bold in righteous pursuits.

In modern society, some Christians are letting themselves be persuaded there are no absolutes in behavior as long as one’s conscience is clear, but fewer people seem to have a conscience nowadays.  We should challenge such ideas, without being aggressive in opposing, yet we must face the fact that activists have no tolerance for people with opposing views.

I remember an  Archbishop  was quoted in the press as saying he felt he had not been able to get more people to Church. There will be many who agree with him, but figures are not a reliable picture.

The Archbishop speaks sincerely, but I am sure he would be more well received if he remembered we live in a different age from that of our predecessors, with different opinions, so it would be helpful if he  had stopped apologizing for past people, who in their own way gave many generous gifts to society.  It would have been helpful if he stopped calling for statues and statements to be removed, to placate the oddities of society. He could support any evangelical preacher, even if they came from the United States. And be more evangelical himself, and less pliable to current society fashion.

Christians should not support any action, or be intimidated into sin.  We  live in an evil and vicious world, if anyone doubts that, make sure you read a daily newspaper.  At all levels of society, from royalty, through government Ministers, business and trades, there is immorality, corruption, lying..

 

The Church is supposed to be the moral voice of the nation, be an antiseptic to society.  Bishops are given places in  Parliament to hold the government to account, yet we have legislation which gravely contradicts the Scriptures, without any protest from the Bishops.  Indeed, some of the bishops openly  give support to those who oppose the Bible teaching on marriage, as it may offend those who disagree.

We in the Church are engaged in the Lord’s business of preaching the gospel. I have watched two documentaries on supermarkets, Waitrose and Aldi. Both are reputable businesses, but with two different styles.  One is upmarket with frills on, catering for those who like the atmosphere, and some like the impression it gives if they shop there.  The other is  winning customers across the board, aimed at lower wage earners who have no frills, very basic, and very popular as they reduce costs.  Could you visualize either changing their beliefs to avoid being different?  But this is what the Church is doing, toning down its voice to avoid being different.  Preachers are frightened to be too fundamental, lest they be called bigots by people who are themselves bigots.

This country has followed too fully adopting the American ‘woke’ style, verbally and practically.  We follow anything the Americans do, except follow the many devout Christian churches, pastored by men who really preach the bible.

I have stated many times, what any person or two persons do, is a personal matter for them alone, but he Church should never surrender the Bible   .We are (meant to be) salt of the earth, and to remain so. We are (meant to be) lights shining in a dark world, and meant to continue to shine.  I think if Jesus was personally here today, He would be saying those statements.

The problems of society are great, and people have become overwhelmed by resources which try to exercise control over them by dedicated activists pushing their own agenda.

 

The Church needs dedicated activists to preach the Christian gospel for Jesus Christ, but there are those holding high Office within the Church who do not seem to want to speak out. There is no strong confidence in the power of the gospel.

Salt and light have two functions , protection from decay and illumination from darkness.  Jesus is calling his people to exercise a double influence on a secular society. It is much easier to stop evil spreading, than to promote truth and goodness.  When the truth is suppressed, standards fall apart and corruption follows.  We are placed in society to penetrate the world.

To be the salt of the earth, we Christians should be more courageous and outspoken to condemn evil.  Martin Luther made much of rubbing salt into the wounds and denouncing what was wrong. Some Church people would prefer to rub sugar, rather than salt to avoid confrontation. We should stand boldly for all that is good and truthful.  God created the State and family as the social structures, to restrain evil and promote goodness.

We have to be different to society, not the same. If we are to make any influence in the world people will be attracted by a message and will listen. If we try to fit in with their ways we will become useless and be discarded

The e Church should not be like a town nestling in a valley with the light hidden, but shining brightly on a hill to light all around. Not concealing the truth of the gospel, and willing for Christianity to be clearly visible.

There is an important difference between Christians and non-Christians. Some Christians are undesignable from non-Christians. One is light,   the other is darkness, serving neither God nor ourselves.  The sermon on the mount assumes and calls for us to be different, but the Church has a tendency to conform to the prevailing culture of society instead of the Christian counter culture.

Jesus came to fulfil the predictions of the prophets, who had long foretold of a Savior one day appearing.  He came to fulfil ceremonial law by becoming the great sacrifice for sin, to which all the Mosaic sayings had pointed.

He came to fulfil the moral law, by yielding to it a perfect  obedience, which we could never have given, and by paying the penalty for our breach of it with his atoning blood, which we could never have paid.  He magnified the law and made it honorable, as foretold by Isaiah.  This shows as I have previously stated, we should not cast out the Old Testament as relic of Jewish history, when it has so much to offer to our generation.

 

We thank God for his Holy Word.   Praise the Lord Jeus Christ.

 

 

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