Luke 16 v19/31
May the Lord bless His Word to us this morning, and may His Holy Name be praised.
The gospel reading for today is 16th Chapter of Luke. This story is known as the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. There are three points to note from the passage, namely that this life is not all there is; there are two destinies when we leave this earth, heaven or hell; and thirdly that we make a decision in this life which will determine which one is for us.
This will not be popular for many preachers in all denominations, for there are an increasing number of clergy who do not accept the doctrine of heaven or hell. Such should not apply to Methodist preachers, for it was well proclaimed by John and Charles Wesley, apart from the facts that it is taught throughout the Bible and Jesus spoke about hell more than anyone, for whenever He spoke of heaven He spoke of the alterative.
I once attended a clergy meeting at a Church where there was a famous mural, and whilst I was looking at it a young Vicar asked me what I thought of the painting. I said I couldn’t understand it. He told me it was supposed to be the devil chasing men to hell, and he added, ‘but we don’t preach that these days do we?’ When I said ‘well I do’, he gave me one of those looks you give someone when you are not sure if they are completely with things.
In our story there are two men, one rich having all the trappings of luxury in his life, and the other a poor beggar covered with sores who has nothing, and even dogs licked his sores. He longed to sit by the rich man’s table so that he could gather up the crumbs which would fall from the table for his food. In those days they did not use knives and forks, instead they just picked at the food with their fingers and some would fall to the floor. The rich man had no pity on Lazarus, and as he used to beg at the city
gate the rich man would have seen him, but did nothing to help.
They both died and the rich man went to hell where he was in torment, whilst Lazarus went to Paradise in heaven. He called on Abraham to have pity on him and send Lazarus with some comfort because he was in such agony. But Abraham said, "Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from here to us. Abraham because of his faithfulness to God was honoured and is recognised as the father of believers.. We are all sons or daughters of Abraham in that respect, and therefore go where Abraham is.
This tells us that Jesus was our Lord intending to draw a deliberate and vivid contrast between the rich man and the poor, and that man must love God and use money, instead of using God and loving money., The Pharisees were lovers of money, which they put first, and the modern equivalent is that of men (and now women) putting the interests of their careers before serving God.
People like to speculate where heaven and hell are, sufficient it be to know heaven is where Jesus is, and hell is anyplace where Jesus will never be.
Of course there are many people who mock us for being Church members and being religious, but will one day realise the mistake they made, but there will be no going back, no second chance, the Bible is unequivocal that we make the decision here as to where our resting place will be.
I have been watching a series on television where a young policeman is partnered on his duties with an attractive young policewoman who is fond of him, but he does not respond. His Sergeant tells him he should make a decision to go with the woman or he will one day regret not making such a decision. Then he adds, the two saddest words in the English language are ‘if only’ One day such a lot of people will say ‘if only’.
It is common to hear it said that a loving God would never send anyone to hell, and of course He would not; but by the decision we make here, we make the choice ourselves. I have heard it said so many times by people who misunderstand verses in John’s gospel, and think we are all guaranteed a place in heaven irrespective of how we lived here. No need to go to Church, read a Bible or say prayers, Jesus they say promised He would prepare a place for us, without realising Jesus was talking only to His followers not those who have no time to give to Him.
There was a limerick I read which referred to words on a gravestone. It was. Remember, Friend, as you pass by,
As you are now, so once was I.
As I am now, soon you shall be
Prepare for Death, and follow me.
Someone added the words: To follow you I’m not content, until I know which way you went.
The passage suggests we will be fully aware of our condition at whatever place, for the rich man asked that pity be given to his five brothers. The rich man is told by Abraham, ‘if they do not hear Moses and the prophets neither will they be convinced if some one should rise from the dead.’
We can see an analogy in modern life where people start looking for God to help them when in trouble, when for the rest of the time he is an irrelevance to them. When someone asks you ‘where was God’, when some particular incident occurs, tell them ‘He was where he always is, when you were not interested.’
The rich man was in hell because he refused to listen to Moses and the prophets of the Old Testament. His whole life was all about his own comforts without any concern for others, and that is why he is where he is. Lazarus, on the other hand, is in heaven because he believed Moses and the prophets and trusted in God.
This then is the explanation of the parable which is the only one which describes he feelings of the unconverted after death. What lessons are there to be learned form it?
Firstly a person’s worldly condition is no test of their state in the sight of God. The wealth or position does not earn God’s particular favour. The poor man lived by faith whilst the rich man was a selfish thoughtless man.
Secondly, death is what happens to all of us, which many people do not seem to realise; they think they can go on enjoying themselves forever.
Thirdly God cares specially for the souls of believers in the hour of death. Jesus tells us when Lazarus died he was carried by angels into Abraham’s bosom. We know little or nothing about the feelings of the dead. When our last hour come it shall be like going into an unknown country, but we know that all who fall asleep in Christ Jesus will be in good keeping.
Fourthly, the reality of there being an eternity of hell, and the certainty of the punishment for the wicked. Jesus gives us a fearful picture in one of the most awful passages in the Bible.
Lastly, the unconverted, those who have not called Jesus into their lives, will find out too late the real value of being a true Christian and the folly of ignoring Jesus.
The Bible tells us all that we need to be saved for heaven, simple faith in the Scriptures is the first thing needful to salvation.
Saturday, 24 September 2016
Monday, 19 September 2016
I wonder if there is anyone in this congregation can stand up and say, ‘I have no worries in my life?’ If there is, would you like to stand up so we can all admire you?
There must be very few Christians or non- Christians who have not experienced some worry, some anxiety.
We need hardly ask whether worry harms,it causes us to lose sleep Takes the joy out of living Causes our hair to fall out or turn grey Even leads to an early grave.
There are so many fears in modern life.Young people facing life away from home for the first time The fear of marriage breakdown
Of serious illness Fear of losing someone dear.Others are "weary and burdened" by the stress and strains of this life or by sadness or by sickness. These are all perils faced by people every single day.
As Christians we need to ask, ‘what is life all about’? So many people, especially the young, have no meaningful purpose. They have a hard outlook of, ‘live life to excess, get what you can out of it by any means whatever’.
The Bible says life has no meaning apart from God, but for many God is unreal.
The Bible says that God is separated from us by sin. Sin is not just immorality; it is an attitude of rebellion and independence, saying ‘I go my own way’. The Prodigal Son went his own way to be free and independent, but failed to find any true purpose in life, and found he was cut off from the only person who really loved him. Yet this is a common situation.
God is willing to pour His grace upon all.
You can’t however come to God except through Jesus Christ. Not by Mohammed, Buddha, or anyone else. Jesus came, sent from God with the sole purpose of bringing us into a living relationship with Himself.
Christ came to seek and to save the lost, the fearful and the lonely, the worried and the broken hearted. To all who are worried, afraid or anxious, Jesus says, ‘Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light’
It is said that these are the most wonderful words spoken by our Lord, the very heart of Christianity. They speak of the failure of men and women to solve the problems of the world.
Come===, just as you are; He is waiting. Jesus has said, ‘Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me’. But the door handle is only on the inside, and it has to be opened from within, you are the one who can turn it, in faith.
In the East to receive an invitation to eat with someone was considered to be a most generous, honoured and favoured act, and the greatest act of friendship is to dine with someone Jesus is ready to be faithful to His Word; we come at His invitation in a spirit of simple trust. Jesus was brought up in the East, and is offering to dine with anyone who invites Him.
The invitation was given in a chapter where John the Baptist had expressed doubt about Jesus. The task of telling of God’s love, mercy and compassion had been given to Jesus, but many had rejected Him as they are doing so now.
So who can come? All those who are weary and heavy laden with care. This is a selective invitation. There has to be recognised a need and be prepared to admit it. The problem may not be despair, it may be something quite different. All who are weighed down, to all these Jesus speaks.
The Bible says, ‘there is no distinction since all have fallen short of the glory of God’. It doesn’t matter what the past has been, if you repent and turn to Christ, God is ready to blot out your sins and give you a clean sheet.
We have all broken God’s laws but if we are prepared to admit this, then Christ’s invitation is for us.
What happens if you come? Jesus said, ‘I will give you rest’. These are words spoken by someone who fulfils His promises. So many people make promises they either cannot, or have no intention, of fulfilling. All the changes in the world will make no difference. On the other hand, if heart and mind are at rest, that is a priceless feeling. It is constant peace that Jesus is offering. He says, ‘I can set you free for I am the Way, the truth, and the life. He is able to do all He promises, and is faithful and willing to do what He promises. Rest is what we all find pleasant, but so many are restless and weary. Comfort offered equips and strengthens us to live on as Christians.
Jesus said I leave you with peace of mind and heart, and the peace I give you is not fragile like the peace the world gives.
The Bible tells of men who went to Him blind, sick and poor. Jesus gave them sight and riches beyond measure, releasing them from restlessness enabling them to face the future.
Jesus said, ‘take my yoke upon you and learn from me’. A yoke was a wooden frame used to put over a pair of animals to enable a load to be shared. So Jesus is saying ‘let me help you carry your burden. Instead of going your own way turn around and come with me’.
The moment you come to Him is the time a lasting and new relationship begins. But it is not just mouthing words. It is truly believing that Jesus died on that Cross for your personal sins, and because of that alone, you can be forgiven totally by God and earn your place in heaven.
It means putting Him as a priority. If we give preference to some other activity we are putting God in second place, and in the Commandments He tells us He is a jealous God and will not be relegated.
Jesus will welcome all, pardon any failures, cleanse your heart and relieve your anxieties and cares, because of the promise He made in John’s gospel, that whoever comes to Him will never be turned away.
The Bible tells us that the love of Christ goes far beyond human understanding, to break every barrier down. Only pride, fear or doubt can hold us back
You see it is not just being religious or even coming to Church that brings peace and rest, or indeed makes you a full Christian. A person can be baptised, confirmed and be regular at Church and not be a true Christian. Many Church people are really unpleasant, arrogant and very un-Christian. Coming to Church should be a delight, like sons and daughters coming to meet their (heavenly) Father in complete harmony, as children go their earthly parents’ home, giving support to each other.
It may be someone’s life is in a mess. It may be God seems far away. It may be after long time searching there is still a reluctance to commit. It makes no difference, if we are humble enough to admit our need.
The words of the hymns this morning have so much meaning, telling of God’s faithfulness, and 10,000 blessings beside. Of the friend we have in Jesus who will all our sins and grief He bears; no need to be discouraged in our trials and troubles; in His arms He will shield you and give you peace without needless pain. We are invited to take it to Him in prayer.
A question often asked is, ‘does God answer prayer’. One Minister said dependent on the prayer the answer was yes, no, maybe or you got to be kidding.
Being serious the true answer is yes, even if God says no to your prayer, because just like an earthly father who will refuse a child’s request on account of it not being good for him/her, so God our heavenly Father acts to protect His children.
There are some qualifications, you must have accepted Jesus as your Saviour; be free of un-repented sin, for instance living a life which in total contradiction to God’s teaching in the Bible, which increasingly many Church people are doing, and as Jesus stressed have faith
Jesus said, ‘and whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son’.
I believe the burden most borne for which we seek Jesus’ aid is regarding sickness, of ourselves and those dear to us.
The gospels record 41 separate healing miracles in the life of Christ. People with various maladies were brought to Jesus from Galilee and Syria and he healed them all. Some were blind, others deaf, some were demonized, some paralyzed, and still others were sick with various diseases. He healed them all. There is no record of Jesus ever failing to heal anyone who was brought to him.
In the last few years a whole host of studies has validated the fact that when people of faith pray for the sick, the sick get better. And in recent years there has been a reemphasis on the importance of praying for the sick. In some churches this has become a major ministry involving healing services, as indeed in my Church for a number of years.
There is a need to be careful. I have seen some excesses in the practises of some charismatic services, and I have known people suggest we throw away all medications. The healing by the use of medicine can be used in combination with prayer, for we pray for God to help mankind to discover was to find cures.
Some illnesses stem directly from our sinful actions and attitudes, such as excessive smoking and drinking. Until those things are confronted and confessed, it is pointless to pray for healing.
It is an undeniable fact that not everyone we pray for is healed. This is a mystery here that cannot be fully explained in this life, but perhaps one day we will understand the reason.
Let us then in all circumstances when weary or heavy laden, come to Jesus.
Believe His promise, take Jesus at His word, come, just as you are.
There must be very few Christians or non- Christians who have not experienced some worry, some anxiety.
We need hardly ask whether worry harms,it causes us to lose sleep Takes the joy out of living Causes our hair to fall out or turn grey Even leads to an early grave.
There are so many fears in modern life.Young people facing life away from home for the first time The fear of marriage breakdown
Of serious illness Fear of losing someone dear.Others are "weary and burdened" by the stress and strains of this life or by sadness or by sickness. These are all perils faced by people every single day.
As Christians we need to ask, ‘what is life all about’? So many people, especially the young, have no meaningful purpose. They have a hard outlook of, ‘live life to excess, get what you can out of it by any means whatever’.
The Bible says life has no meaning apart from God, but for many God is unreal.
The Bible says that God is separated from us by sin. Sin is not just immorality; it is an attitude of rebellion and independence, saying ‘I go my own way’. The Prodigal Son went his own way to be free and independent, but failed to find any true purpose in life, and found he was cut off from the only person who really loved him. Yet this is a common situation.
God is willing to pour His grace upon all.
You can’t however come to God except through Jesus Christ. Not by Mohammed, Buddha, or anyone else. Jesus came, sent from God with the sole purpose of bringing us into a living relationship with Himself.
Christ came to seek and to save the lost, the fearful and the lonely, the worried and the broken hearted. To all who are worried, afraid or anxious, Jesus says, ‘Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light’
It is said that these are the most wonderful words spoken by our Lord, the very heart of Christianity. They speak of the failure of men and women to solve the problems of the world.
Come===, just as you are; He is waiting. Jesus has said, ‘Here I am. I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me’. But the door handle is only on the inside, and it has to be opened from within, you are the one who can turn it, in faith.
In the East to receive an invitation to eat with someone was considered to be a most generous, honoured and favoured act, and the greatest act of friendship is to dine with someone Jesus is ready to be faithful to His Word; we come at His invitation in a spirit of simple trust. Jesus was brought up in the East, and is offering to dine with anyone who invites Him.
The invitation was given in a chapter where John the Baptist had expressed doubt about Jesus. The task of telling of God’s love, mercy and compassion had been given to Jesus, but many had rejected Him as they are doing so now.
So who can come? All those who are weary and heavy laden with care. This is a selective invitation. There has to be recognised a need and be prepared to admit it. The problem may not be despair, it may be something quite different. All who are weighed down, to all these Jesus speaks.
The Bible says, ‘there is no distinction since all have fallen short of the glory of God’. It doesn’t matter what the past has been, if you repent and turn to Christ, God is ready to blot out your sins and give you a clean sheet.
We have all broken God’s laws but if we are prepared to admit this, then Christ’s invitation is for us.
What happens if you come? Jesus said, ‘I will give you rest’. These are words spoken by someone who fulfils His promises. So many people make promises they either cannot, or have no intention, of fulfilling. All the changes in the world will make no difference. On the other hand, if heart and mind are at rest, that is a priceless feeling. It is constant peace that Jesus is offering. He says, ‘I can set you free for I am the Way, the truth, and the life. He is able to do all He promises, and is faithful and willing to do what He promises. Rest is what we all find pleasant, but so many are restless and weary. Comfort offered equips and strengthens us to live on as Christians.
Jesus said I leave you with peace of mind and heart, and the peace I give you is not fragile like the peace the world gives.
The Bible tells of men who went to Him blind, sick and poor. Jesus gave them sight and riches beyond measure, releasing them from restlessness enabling them to face the future.
Jesus said, ‘take my yoke upon you and learn from me’. A yoke was a wooden frame used to put over a pair of animals to enable a load to be shared. So Jesus is saying ‘let me help you carry your burden. Instead of going your own way turn around and come with me’.
The moment you come to Him is the time a lasting and new relationship begins. But it is not just mouthing words. It is truly believing that Jesus died on that Cross for your personal sins, and because of that alone, you can be forgiven totally by God and earn your place in heaven.
It means putting Him as a priority. If we give preference to some other activity we are putting God in second place, and in the Commandments He tells us He is a jealous God and will not be relegated.
Jesus will welcome all, pardon any failures, cleanse your heart and relieve your anxieties and cares, because of the promise He made in John’s gospel, that whoever comes to Him will never be turned away.
The Bible tells us that the love of Christ goes far beyond human understanding, to break every barrier down. Only pride, fear or doubt can hold us back
You see it is not just being religious or even coming to Church that brings peace and rest, or indeed makes you a full Christian. A person can be baptised, confirmed and be regular at Church and not be a true Christian. Many Church people are really unpleasant, arrogant and very un-Christian. Coming to Church should be a delight, like sons and daughters coming to meet their (heavenly) Father in complete harmony, as children go their earthly parents’ home, giving support to each other.
It may be someone’s life is in a mess. It may be God seems far away. It may be after long time searching there is still a reluctance to commit. It makes no difference, if we are humble enough to admit our need.
The words of the hymns this morning have so much meaning, telling of God’s faithfulness, and 10,000 blessings beside. Of the friend we have in Jesus who will all our sins and grief He bears; no need to be discouraged in our trials and troubles; in His arms He will shield you and give you peace without needless pain. We are invited to take it to Him in prayer.
A question often asked is, ‘does God answer prayer’. One Minister said dependent on the prayer the answer was yes, no, maybe or you got to be kidding.
Being serious the true answer is yes, even if God says no to your prayer, because just like an earthly father who will refuse a child’s request on account of it not being good for him/her, so God our heavenly Father acts to protect His children.
There are some qualifications, you must have accepted Jesus as your Saviour; be free of un-repented sin, for instance living a life which in total contradiction to God’s teaching in the Bible, which increasingly many Church people are doing, and as Jesus stressed have faith
Jesus said, ‘and whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son’.
I believe the burden most borne for which we seek Jesus’ aid is regarding sickness, of ourselves and those dear to us.
The gospels record 41 separate healing miracles in the life of Christ. People with various maladies were brought to Jesus from Galilee and Syria and he healed them all. Some were blind, others deaf, some were demonized, some paralyzed, and still others were sick with various diseases. He healed them all. There is no record of Jesus ever failing to heal anyone who was brought to him.
In the last few years a whole host of studies has validated the fact that when people of faith pray for the sick, the sick get better. And in recent years there has been a reemphasis on the importance of praying for the sick. In some churches this has become a major ministry involving healing services, as indeed in my Church for a number of years.
There is a need to be careful. I have seen some excesses in the practises of some charismatic services, and I have known people suggest we throw away all medications. The healing by the use of medicine can be used in combination with prayer, for we pray for God to help mankind to discover was to find cures.
Some illnesses stem directly from our sinful actions and attitudes, such as excessive smoking and drinking. Until those things are confronted and confessed, it is pointless to pray for healing.
It is an undeniable fact that not everyone we pray for is healed. This is a mystery here that cannot be fully explained in this life, but perhaps one day we will understand the reason.
Let us then in all circumstances when weary or heavy laden, come to Jesus.
Believe His promise, take Jesus at His word, come, just as you are.
Monday, 12 September 2016
Quote from speech in the House of Commons
‘Hands off the Church of England, it is he only thing that stands between us and Christianity’.
This was supposed to be a jocular remark, made no doubt with an input of cynicism, but it contains quite an amount of truth. When you consider the attitudes and response to same sex ‘so called marriages’, and general re-interpretation of Scripture, there is nothing to be jocular about; rather sadness, frustration and a touch of disgust.
I read there is to be a meeting of all the bishops in Oxford at which discussions will be held and the question of allowing the Church to perform blessings for same sex unions. It is suggested there will be varying views, which shows how much the Church has departed from the original Articles of the Church of England, and more importantly the way in which it is allowing the liberal lobby to change the Church’s approach to Scripture where we are more ready to adopt culture’s agenda rather than God’s. Many of us with a defined Catholic or Evangelical belief will reasonably ask, why discuss the issue; the Articles of our Church clearly define what we must believe?
When the Church decided to consecrate women as bishops it was stated there would be no great effect on the Church. Within a very short time and with the first female appointment came the call to address God as Mother. If same sex blessings are to be authorised, it will be accepted as a first step to call it ‘marriage’, and there will be wailing of unfairness and discrimination if not followed up.
There are no possible reasons to justify having same sex blessings in Church. How can we possibly bless what is distinctly against God's will as expressed in the Bible? If such blessings are authorised there will inevitably be a section of the Church which will want to break away, and I cannot see how anyone who respects and is faithful to Scripture can remain in what will be an Apostate institution. Unfortunately it cannot be expected to find any denomination willing to stand up against society's culture,and the remorseless pressure of the liberal lobby within the Church; there are those in the Methodist Church straining to do the same despite a poll among members was overwhelming against doing so. The leaders of the denomination meekly decided to delay a decision until next year.
The Episcopal Church in the United States accepted what they called same sex marriages and consequently a large number of Anglicans decided that they could no longer belong to such a Church that had reconfigured the Apostolic teaching and left.
The new Anglican Church in North America now has 28 dioceses, one thousand congregations and over 100,000 members. There will undoubtedly and justifiably a similar breakaway here in England.
The Church of England has already offended the Roman and Orthodox Churches by appointing women bishops, now it appears ready to offend the wider Anglican Communion.
When Justin Welby was made Archbishop of Canterbury there was much surprise, but also joy and hope that now a product of the country’s most evangelical Church was appointed we could move forward with an authentic and traditional programme. Such joy and optimism was soon shattered as he wavered, dodged, and prevaricated going both ways at the same time. I read that only recently he was reported in the press to have advised. ‘don’t evangelise unless you are asked to, and have promised to attend a ‘gay wedding ceremony’.
It will be noted that there has not been an unequivocal statement that the Church will only recognise marriage as between a man and a woman. It will also be noted that neither the Archbishops nor Bishops have taken positive action against those clergy who have ignored the Church’s ban on such ‘so called marriages’. This reveals just how much integrity there is within the Church.
Credit and admiration should be given to Bishop Inwood, who acted during retirement as stand in for a diocesan bishop, refused to grant a Licence to officiate to a clergyman in a chaplaincy who defied the ban. The case went to a civilian employment tribunal, where despite an activist bishop opposing him, Bishop Inwood’s action was upheld.
‘Hands off the Church of England, it is he only thing that stands between us and Christianity’.
This was supposed to be a jocular remark, made no doubt with an input of cynicism, but it contains quite an amount of truth. When you consider the attitudes and response to same sex ‘so called marriages’, and general re-interpretation of Scripture, there is nothing to be jocular about; rather sadness, frustration and a touch of disgust.
I read there is to be a meeting of all the bishops in Oxford at which discussions will be held and the question of allowing the Church to perform blessings for same sex unions. It is suggested there will be varying views, which shows how much the Church has departed from the original Articles of the Church of England, and more importantly the way in which it is allowing the liberal lobby to change the Church’s approach to Scripture where we are more ready to adopt culture’s agenda rather than God’s. Many of us with a defined Catholic or Evangelical belief will reasonably ask, why discuss the issue; the Articles of our Church clearly define what we must believe?
When the Church decided to consecrate women as bishops it was stated there would be no great effect on the Church. Within a very short time and with the first female appointment came the call to address God as Mother. If same sex blessings are to be authorised, it will be accepted as a first step to call it ‘marriage’, and there will be wailing of unfairness and discrimination if not followed up.
There are no possible reasons to justify having same sex blessings in Church. How can we possibly bless what is distinctly against God's will as expressed in the Bible? If such blessings are authorised there will inevitably be a section of the Church which will want to break away, and I cannot see how anyone who respects and is faithful to Scripture can remain in what will be an Apostate institution. Unfortunately it cannot be expected to find any denomination willing to stand up against society's culture,and the remorseless pressure of the liberal lobby within the Church; there are those in the Methodist Church straining to do the same despite a poll among members was overwhelming against doing so. The leaders of the denomination meekly decided to delay a decision until next year.
The Episcopal Church in the United States accepted what they called same sex marriages and consequently a large number of Anglicans decided that they could no longer belong to such a Church that had reconfigured the Apostolic teaching and left.
The new Anglican Church in North America now has 28 dioceses, one thousand congregations and over 100,000 members. There will undoubtedly and justifiably a similar breakaway here in England.
The Church of England has already offended the Roman and Orthodox Churches by appointing women bishops, now it appears ready to offend the wider Anglican Communion.
When Justin Welby was made Archbishop of Canterbury there was much surprise, but also joy and hope that now a product of the country’s most evangelical Church was appointed we could move forward with an authentic and traditional programme. Such joy and optimism was soon shattered as he wavered, dodged, and prevaricated going both ways at the same time. I read that only recently he was reported in the press to have advised. ‘don’t evangelise unless you are asked to, and have promised to attend a ‘gay wedding ceremony’.
It will be noted that there has not been an unequivocal statement that the Church will only recognise marriage as between a man and a woman. It will also be noted that neither the Archbishops nor Bishops have taken positive action against those clergy who have ignored the Church’s ban on such ‘so called marriages’. This reveals just how much integrity there is within the Church.
Credit and admiration should be given to Bishop Inwood, who acted during retirement as stand in for a diocesan bishop, refused to grant a Licence to officiate to a clergyman in a chaplaincy who defied the ban. The case went to a civilian employment tribunal, where despite an activist bishop opposing him, Bishop Inwood’s action was upheld.
Sunday, 4 September 2016
Acts 2 verses 36/47 Luke 14 v 25/33
Today is the first Sunday in the Methodist Church calendar and members will be returning from holidays, some with hope and anticipation for the coming year, whilst others will have regrets at the empty seats where friends no longer sit, either because they have gone to be with the Lord, or just fallen away as so many have done. As each year passes we find those empty seats are not getting filled, which should make us all feel concerned for the future of the Church, and indeed Christianity. There are politicians anxious to faze our faith right out of the public sector, and even restrict what messages we give. Now that we have a woman, who is a true Christian, things can only get better.
The Bible asks, ‘when the foundations are being destroyed, what shall the righteous do?’ We have witnessed the destruction of many of the traditional moral and spiritual foundations where there are now no absolutes, all is relative and everybody does their own thing. But what should be our major concern is that the foundations of the Church are being destroyed; even here there does not appear to be any absolutes, as preachers and theologians interpret the Bible to meet their own preferences. This in turn means it depends on which Church one attends, and which preacher is there; which is why the Churches are having difficulty in attracting people as we send out confused messages.
The Bible states ALL scripture is inspired by God, and does not require any subtractions, additions or amendments. This means there should be no cause for confusion if the preaching is based on the Bible, as it is written. Any one who challenges the Bible challenges God, which is an unwise thing to do.
What then should the righteous do? Whilst we live in very different times and culture, we could learn much from the passage you have just heard read, which is our Epistle today.
We have the story of how the Church began on the day of Pentecost. Just Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem stood before the assembled crowds as Peter gave his sermon He spoke of a corrupt generation who had rejected God and lived their lives as if God did not exist, and so they were under God’s judgement and needed to be saved. Such a situation is a reality for us. God is still rejected, and this is the reason Church congregations are so small.
Peter’s words had an immediate effect so that 3,000 responded as they were ‘cut to the heart’; in other words they were deeply convicted. They began to realize that life was not what it appeared to be, and that behind all the normal events of everyday life was the power of God. This is always what happens when the Spirit of God is at work. He makes us aware of the fact that Jesus is Lord.
The early church was a good model of what the church should be. As we compare ourselves today to that early church, we need to ask ourselves if we are an accurate representation of the kind of church that God would have us be.
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles, who in turn had been taught by our Lord Himself. So what they heard would have been Jesus’ earthly teaching plus what He taught in His 40 days of resurrection appearances. The wonderful thing is God has graciously made possible for us to have that same teaching; He has left us with copies of those Bible classes, it is called the New Testament.
We are told they devoted themselves; they didn’t need persuasion or coercion, they were eager to learn. They were filled with awe, and their praise and worship was so inspiring others who saw and heard joined. I wonder how many of our congregations could say they were filled with awe and felt inspired by the worship.
There is a very significant sentence at the end of the passage; and the Lord added to their number day by day. Every day, there would be new converts to the faith. That should not really be surprising. The apostles were getting the gospel of Jesus Christ out to the people around them by their teaching. In addition, unbelievers were seeing the grace of God being displayed in the lives of the believers and were impressed with what was happening and were attracted.
From that little band of men, the Christian gospel spread across the world.
This tells us that it is God who builds up a Church, for He alone can move a person’s heart to repentance and faith. Jesus said on one occasion, ‘No man can come unto me except my Father draw him’. God is drawing people to himself all over the world.
Why is it that the Lord is not adding to our Churches now? He is in the Eastern Churches where the Bible is faithfully taught, but in Western nations we are not teaching, and certainly not practising, the teaching of the Apostles. If we choose to teach and preach in a manner to align ourselves with society’s culture and ways rather than with what God has lain down, we cannot expect God to bless our ministry.
The main denominational Churches need to re-commit to strict Bible teaching, for the people who will seek spiritual need will seek those Churches which provide it. Churches are here to offer what no other body or institution can offer.
A Danish philosopher once stated, whereas Jesus came and turned water into wine, the modern Church has managed to do something altogether more difficult, to change wine into water. Many will agree with him as we have watered down the gospel of our Lord so
people are confused as to what they exactly should believe.
A lady once told me she heard a man say he had attended Church for years yet had only just become a Christian, what did he mean? Like most people, she thought if you were neither an atheist nor a member of another faith, you were a Christian, with a passport to heaven; nowhere in the Bible is that taught or implied.
Jesus said the heart of the Christian faith is eternal life and that we may know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Jesus always taught there were two destinies when this life was over, heaven or hell.
The Bible teaches that God wants all people to be saved, that is to be with Jesus in heaven, but this means each person must make a personal decision to accept that Jesus died on the Cross so that they may be forgiven for all their wrongdoing (sin) and they let His teaching determine the way they live their lives. The alternative is eternity without Christ, which is hell.
I was watching a play on television where a young policeman is partnered by a very attractive young policewoman who is fond of him, but he does not respond. The Sergeant tells the man he should make a decision him as some day he will regret not doing so. He then says, the two saddest words in the English language are, ‘if only’. One day many people will regret not making a decision for Christ and will say, if only.
This is where the Church fails badly in that it does not make the Bible’s teaching clear to people, so that they are completely unaware of what they need to believe. It is therefore the duty of the Church to fully explain the doctrine of salvation.
The Bible goes on to state, a time would come when people would not want to hear sound doctrine, by which is meant the teaching given by the Apostles, but would find teachers who were willing to say what they wanted to hear. Sadly, such false teachers abound who are prepared to defy God, and in so doing lead people astray.
Commitment is the missing ingredient which Jesus speaks about in the gospel reading. He uses opens with words which frighten at first sight. Jesus said we must ‘hate’ those nearest and dearest to us. Our Lord did not mean we should literally hate our parents and wives, etc, for this would have contradicted the fifth commandment, and Jesus regularly spoke of the need to love one another; nor fall out with our friends as an essential part of being a Christian. He was just trying to emphasise the point He was making, and in that time and sense He was meaning ‘choose’. God said he loved Jacob and hated Esau, indicating He ‘chose’ Jacob.
Jesus did mean that if the claims of our friends and family clashed with His, then He should prevail. For instance, its is well established that in many families husband/wife disagree, or parents do not want their children, to get involved with the local Church, and this can be unpleasant. This can be painful and a heavy cross to bear, but thousands of Christians will bless God for the decision they took for their faith.
We are told secondly that those who are thinking of following Christ should count the cost of doing so. It is not easy being a real Christian for you will be mocked, scorned, and made to look like a kind of freak It has to be accepted that if you wish to follow Christ, you have to make a serious decision; it is not a social club you are entering. I think it fair to say that women are able to cope better than men with this, for other women may not share your faith but are ready to accept you, perhaps even with a little admiration. Many men think religion is a woman’s business. I have known men who pleaded with me not to visit them in hospital.
It can be so easy to be a nominal Christian. In fact there is a false Christianity around today. There are people who put on a Christian front. They act like Christians, they read the Book, and sing the hymns, but they have no reality of Christ in their lives. That kind of Christianity is worthless. If we want to be men and women of God, we are to follow the teaching God has provided for us. This clearly set out in the Bible and readily available for all to follow. There can be no justification in preaching or listening to Scripture and then act contrary to what is written there.
Why did our Lord seem to be discouraging to people following Him? He knew what harm it could cause for someone to confess being a follower and then fall away. Jesus was seeking quality not quantity, He knew a lot of people followed Him for what He could do for them so He tells them it will men taking up your Cross daily. In all this Jesus is looking for commitment.
I have spoken about the Church sending out confused messages, not giving full authority to Bible, and not being fully committed. Have you ever known of a Muslim cleric who challenged the Koran? Compare with Islam where young men are so committed they are ready to give their lives, and many do. Christianity does not support such action, and desires to win people by love not hate, but the Bible does call on us to surrender the living of our lives in the service of Christ.
The once great Methodist Church was built on strong Biblical foundation. The greatest revival of Christianity in this country came during the ministry of John/Charles Wesley If they were alive today they would have much to say at the way the Church has failed to proclaim the message they left, that salvation was through Christ alone, the value of a person’s life was measured by their faith; by the manner in which they lived their lives, and the doctrine of heaven and hell.
They left a great legacy; let us pray the Church does not ultimately betray them by abandoning what they left.
.
Today is the first Sunday in the Methodist Church calendar and members will be returning from holidays, some with hope and anticipation for the coming year, whilst others will have regrets at the empty seats where friends no longer sit, either because they have gone to be with the Lord, or just fallen away as so many have done. As each year passes we find those empty seats are not getting filled, which should make us all feel concerned for the future of the Church, and indeed Christianity. There are politicians anxious to faze our faith right out of the public sector, and even restrict what messages we give. Now that we have a woman, who is a true Christian, things can only get better.
The Bible asks, ‘when the foundations are being destroyed, what shall the righteous do?’ We have witnessed the destruction of many of the traditional moral and spiritual foundations where there are now no absolutes, all is relative and everybody does their own thing. But what should be our major concern is that the foundations of the Church are being destroyed; even here there does not appear to be any absolutes, as preachers and theologians interpret the Bible to meet their own preferences. This in turn means it depends on which Church one attends, and which preacher is there; which is why the Churches are having difficulty in attracting people as we send out confused messages.
The Bible states ALL scripture is inspired by God, and does not require any subtractions, additions or amendments. This means there should be no cause for confusion if the preaching is based on the Bible, as it is written. Any one who challenges the Bible challenges God, which is an unwise thing to do.
What then should the righteous do? Whilst we live in very different times and culture, we could learn much from the passage you have just heard read, which is our Epistle today.
We have the story of how the Church began on the day of Pentecost. Just Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem stood before the assembled crowds as Peter gave his sermon He spoke of a corrupt generation who had rejected God and lived their lives as if God did not exist, and so they were under God’s judgement and needed to be saved. Such a situation is a reality for us. God is still rejected, and this is the reason Church congregations are so small.
Peter’s words had an immediate effect so that 3,000 responded as they were ‘cut to the heart’; in other words they were deeply convicted. They began to realize that life was not what it appeared to be, and that behind all the normal events of everyday life was the power of God. This is always what happens when the Spirit of God is at work. He makes us aware of the fact that Jesus is Lord.
The early church was a good model of what the church should be. As we compare ourselves today to that early church, we need to ask ourselves if we are an accurate representation of the kind of church that God would have us be.
They devoted themselves to the teaching of the Apostles, who in turn had been taught by our Lord Himself. So what they heard would have been Jesus’ earthly teaching plus what He taught in His 40 days of resurrection appearances. The wonderful thing is God has graciously made possible for us to have that same teaching; He has left us with copies of those Bible classes, it is called the New Testament.
We are told they devoted themselves; they didn’t need persuasion or coercion, they were eager to learn. They were filled with awe, and their praise and worship was so inspiring others who saw and heard joined. I wonder how many of our congregations could say they were filled with awe and felt inspired by the worship.
There is a very significant sentence at the end of the passage; and the Lord added to their number day by day. Every day, there would be new converts to the faith. That should not really be surprising. The apostles were getting the gospel of Jesus Christ out to the people around them by their teaching. In addition, unbelievers were seeing the grace of God being displayed in the lives of the believers and were impressed with what was happening and were attracted.
From that little band of men, the Christian gospel spread across the world.
This tells us that it is God who builds up a Church, for He alone can move a person’s heart to repentance and faith. Jesus said on one occasion, ‘No man can come unto me except my Father draw him’. God is drawing people to himself all over the world.
Why is it that the Lord is not adding to our Churches now? He is in the Eastern Churches where the Bible is faithfully taught, but in Western nations we are not teaching, and certainly not practising, the teaching of the Apostles. If we choose to teach and preach in a manner to align ourselves with society’s culture and ways rather than with what God has lain down, we cannot expect God to bless our ministry.
The main denominational Churches need to re-commit to strict Bible teaching, for the people who will seek spiritual need will seek those Churches which provide it. Churches are here to offer what no other body or institution can offer.
A Danish philosopher once stated, whereas Jesus came and turned water into wine, the modern Church has managed to do something altogether more difficult, to change wine into water. Many will agree with him as we have watered down the gospel of our Lord so
people are confused as to what they exactly should believe.
A lady once told me she heard a man say he had attended Church for years yet had only just become a Christian, what did he mean? Like most people, she thought if you were neither an atheist nor a member of another faith, you were a Christian, with a passport to heaven; nowhere in the Bible is that taught or implied.
Jesus said the heart of the Christian faith is eternal life and that we may know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He sent. Jesus always taught there were two destinies when this life was over, heaven or hell.
The Bible teaches that God wants all people to be saved, that is to be with Jesus in heaven, but this means each person must make a personal decision to accept that Jesus died on the Cross so that they may be forgiven for all their wrongdoing (sin) and they let His teaching determine the way they live their lives. The alternative is eternity without Christ, which is hell.
I was watching a play on television where a young policeman is partnered by a very attractive young policewoman who is fond of him, but he does not respond. The Sergeant tells the man he should make a decision him as some day he will regret not doing so. He then says, the two saddest words in the English language are, ‘if only’. One day many people will regret not making a decision for Christ and will say, if only.
This is where the Church fails badly in that it does not make the Bible’s teaching clear to people, so that they are completely unaware of what they need to believe. It is therefore the duty of the Church to fully explain the doctrine of salvation.
The Bible goes on to state, a time would come when people would not want to hear sound doctrine, by which is meant the teaching given by the Apostles, but would find teachers who were willing to say what they wanted to hear. Sadly, such false teachers abound who are prepared to defy God, and in so doing lead people astray.
Commitment is the missing ingredient which Jesus speaks about in the gospel reading. He uses opens with words which frighten at first sight. Jesus said we must ‘hate’ those nearest and dearest to us. Our Lord did not mean we should literally hate our parents and wives, etc, for this would have contradicted the fifth commandment, and Jesus regularly spoke of the need to love one another; nor fall out with our friends as an essential part of being a Christian. He was just trying to emphasise the point He was making, and in that time and sense He was meaning ‘choose’. God said he loved Jacob and hated Esau, indicating He ‘chose’ Jacob.
Jesus did mean that if the claims of our friends and family clashed with His, then He should prevail. For instance, its is well established that in many families husband/wife disagree, or parents do not want their children, to get involved with the local Church, and this can be unpleasant. This can be painful and a heavy cross to bear, but thousands of Christians will bless God for the decision they took for their faith.
We are told secondly that those who are thinking of following Christ should count the cost of doing so. It is not easy being a real Christian for you will be mocked, scorned, and made to look like a kind of freak It has to be accepted that if you wish to follow Christ, you have to make a serious decision; it is not a social club you are entering. I think it fair to say that women are able to cope better than men with this, for other women may not share your faith but are ready to accept you, perhaps even with a little admiration. Many men think religion is a woman’s business. I have known men who pleaded with me not to visit them in hospital.
It can be so easy to be a nominal Christian. In fact there is a false Christianity around today. There are people who put on a Christian front. They act like Christians, they read the Book, and sing the hymns, but they have no reality of Christ in their lives. That kind of Christianity is worthless. If we want to be men and women of God, we are to follow the teaching God has provided for us. This clearly set out in the Bible and readily available for all to follow. There can be no justification in preaching or listening to Scripture and then act contrary to what is written there.
Why did our Lord seem to be discouraging to people following Him? He knew what harm it could cause for someone to confess being a follower and then fall away. Jesus was seeking quality not quantity, He knew a lot of people followed Him for what He could do for them so He tells them it will men taking up your Cross daily. In all this Jesus is looking for commitment.
I have spoken about the Church sending out confused messages, not giving full authority to Bible, and not being fully committed. Have you ever known of a Muslim cleric who challenged the Koran? Compare with Islam where young men are so committed they are ready to give their lives, and many do. Christianity does not support such action, and desires to win people by love not hate, but the Bible does call on us to surrender the living of our lives in the service of Christ.
The once great Methodist Church was built on strong Biblical foundation. The greatest revival of Christianity in this country came during the ministry of John/Charles Wesley If they were alive today they would have much to say at the way the Church has failed to proclaim the message they left, that salvation was through Christ alone, the value of a person’s life was measured by their faith; by the manner in which they lived their lives, and the doctrine of heaven and hell.
They left a great legacy; let us pray the Church does not ultimately betray them by abandoning what they left.
.
Sunday, 28 August 2016
Ten Commandments.
It is largely forgotten in our predominantly secular society that the law of this nation, and that of our American cousins, were built on the Commandments. They guide us on our duty to God and society. Field Marshal Montgomery once said, ‘God spoke these words and I agree with Him.’ (and I agree with him).
Shortly after God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt God called Moses to the top of Mount Sinai and gave him these Commandments, which God intended should be the spiritual and moral absolutes for His people. They give us rules for basic behaviour, and guidance to holiness. We live in a society which desperately needs to be reminded of right and wrong, but at present right and wrong is what is according to one’s own standards rather than God’s standard.
A number of years ago workmen were demolishing a church building and had instructions to preserve anything of value. One of the men found a tablet bearing the Commandments and asked if that should be kept. The foreman said they shouldn’t as they don’t count anymore. He was in fact reflecting society’s attitude that we don’t have to be told how to behave, which is why we are in such an awful state in this country, where all tradition al values have been cast aside.
I find it both sad and tragic that in America a largely out of control Civil Liberties Union is persuading liberal judges to ban the display of the Commandments in public places. When that great nation was founded the Christian faith was in the hearts of the religiously minded men who framed the Constitution and created that noble phrase, ‘in God we trust’, which politicians in this country do not have the courage to use. The Commandments are in the Supreme Court building and in Capitol Hill, why not in State buildings.
Ours is a permissive society which does not like authority and is besotted with a human rights mindset. Police have given up enforcing many of our laws and are encouraged to do so, unless of course it is some suspected obscure act of discrimination that can be detected.
When a young person leaves home for college a responsible parent will give guidance as to all the temptations they might face and warn them to avoid. This is what our heavenly Father is doing for us when He laid out the Commandments. Very few can name the ten, so without cheating try yourself to name them. Many people like to treat them like questions on an examination paper, try any four out of ten. But you cannot do that, they are like a chain which when you break a link the whole chain is broken. Break one and you have broken the lot.
People nowadays want relative morality with no absolutes so they enjoy things they were not meant to. No stealing, but the odd product from work doesn’t count; or believing it is acceptable to take the odd thing from one of the big shops which make so much money; and be quite ready to cheat the benefit system out of thousands of pounds. No killing, but kill a person’s reputation without foundation based on hearsay. No adultery, but the odd affair won’t hurt if not found out.
I am bemused when people start using the term ‘old fashioned’ in a scornful manner. I see not a lot to be proud of in our ‘new fashioned’ society. Highest numbers of abortions, (an alternative way of murder) highest number of teenage pregnancies, highest rate of alcoholism; highest rate of unsociable behaviour—of all European countries. The only thing we are lowest at is Church attendance.
Since the abolition of capital punishment (which is justified in the Bible) murder has become just another crime. Some fashion. A person can commit murder and serve a nominal prison sentence. When capital punishment was abandoned it was said that a life sentence would be mandatory and mean life, but like many political promises was made without intention of it being so. (I cannot understand why so little thought is given to feeling of the relatives of those whose loved ones have been needlessly killed.)
In Jewish homes children are taught the Commandments at an early age and learn on their ten fingers. I wonder how many children are taught in the homes of our nation (you could probably count the number on five fingers), yet as Abraham Lincoln once said ‘ the strength of a nation lies in the home’.
Moral deterioration is as great a threat as political crisis, for a stable democracy needs a Christian moral code, but this is not given in most homes, and schools no longer teach Christianity (unless it is a private school). They are given much education on sex with particular emphasis on alternative lifestyles, which is why we have such high moral lassitude. Consequently our children are growing up without realising spiritual or moral truths.
When God told Adam and Eve what they should not do He was testing their obedience, but Adam and Eve wanted to do their own thing, and the human race ever after has copied them. God said, ‘you shall not,’ He didn’t say have a think about it, He was positive in His command. His laws bring security and peace as we follow our duty to Him, to parents, society property and marriage. God is a God of reason and mercy. The Commandments are given to make us worthy and happier.
For too long the liberal establishment have influenced society and guided it into a moral abyss. It is time for the Church to stop prevaricating and trying to meet society half way. The Church is the only institution which can offer hope. Politicians have shown how they look after themselves first, and without much moral example, and even royalty has shown a lack of moral action.
.
God spoke these words, and we should all be ready to agree with Him.
Tuesday, 16 August 2016
John 12
John;s gospel in Chapter 12,verses 20-33. Turn with me to this passage which John alone tells.
Jesus had entered Jerusalem for the Passover festival having just raised Lazarus from the dead, and was receiving an enthusiastic welcome from crowds of people gathered for the festival. This was the major festival held annually to remember how God saved Israel. But there were some who did not welcome Jesus, and indeed were plotting His death.
At such a time as this many Gentiles would go to the city and although not Jews would join in the celebrations. Some Greeks were amongst the crowds who had heard of Jesus and were determined to meet Him. They were from a settlement in the North of Galilee and went to Philip who came from near their area and said to him, ‘Sir, we want to see Jesus’.
Having heard the stories of what Jesus had done they realised something was missing from their lives and wanted to receive from Him that something So when they said they wanted to see Jesus, they were in fact seeking a meeting with Him.
In many small evangelical churches in the United States, they have these words inscribed on the pulpit to remind the preacher that people have come to hear about Jesus Christ. . I had the joy of preaching recently at a small Methodist Church which had the same words inscribed on the pulpit. It is a call to the preacher that he must only preach Jesus Christ and not engage in philosophy, politics, or be submissive to political correctness. These words were the theme of the preacher when I was ordained at Chester Cathedral, one of the godliest men you could possibly meet
When Jesus was told of their request He was pleased and responded immediately. He had not gone to Jerusalem to enter for the same purpose as the crowds had in mind, events were building up and were leading to the time of our Lord’s road to the Cross. So when He heard a group of people were genuinely seeking Him, He said, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.
The Jews would not have understood what Jesus meant. For them the Son of Man conveyed an image of someone who would lead to world conquest and so attain glory, but Jesus meant it was time for Him to make the supreme sacrifice for the world by dying on the Cross so bringing glory to Him and to God
He went on to say "Truly, truly, I say to you." Whenever Jesus used those words, it meant that He was going to say something important. Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone." He was pointing out that when a seed died ir brought forth fruit, and death brings life through people.
As Christians were martyred for the faith, so the Church grew, and He was here meaning that He was like the grain of wheat and unless He went to the cross, His whole purpose in coming to earth will have been in vain. He knew what He had to face, and that He is going to be glorified through the sacrifice the cross, because by that cruel death the way to forgiveness for all believers was made possible. If He had not made the sacrifice on the Cross, you and I and everybody else, could not have forgiveness. His death meant eternal life for all who believed in Him.
When He met those Greeks it was as the first sign that the gospel was to go to all the world, and part of God’s plan to bring salvation to the Gentiles, the symbol of the great harvest for which He came.
If He had not died we probably would not know any more about Him for He would have just been another figure of history, of no greater significance than any other great religious leader. Because of the cross, He was able to do something He could never have done otherwise.
Jesus said the one loves their life will lose it. He was referring to those who live solely for themselves and out to get as much as they can without thought for others. Billy Graham received offers which would have made him a very rich man, but made clear his greatest desire was to preach the gospel for which he only took the salary of an ordinary Baptist Minister.
Christians generally are called to put service of the Lord first, and indeed there are many men and women who could have followed brilliant careers for rich rewards, but chose to go on mission fields far away from their homeland.
We see the humanity of Jesus displayed when He expressed his fear at the thought of the Cross, but was ready to give obedience to God and suffer much pain which would ultimately lead to triumph. God spoke to Jesus in His hour of torment, just as He did at His baptism and when on the Mount of Transfiguration. God is always ready to give strength when we seek it for the tasks we face in His name and cause
At the cross, Jesus underwent the judgement we deserve and paid our debt to God. His death gives us hope of everlasting life with Him one day. He wants to give you that hope in your life today. He alone can give you that new life that can never fade, and you can find that new life by meeting Jesus.
People in these high pressure days are so often weary and depressed and looking for that spiritual something. People are looking for something beyond themselves, looking for a way that gets the most out of life, yet carrying a load of guilt, fear and worry. Jesus said, ‘come unto me all you are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest’
A day is coming when we will all see Jesus. The Bible says everyone will assemble before Him as He sits on the judgement throne. Some will go one way with the goats, some the other way with the sheep. We will have either joy in the after life with Jesus, or eternity with the lost. The criterion is how we respond whilst we are here on earth. The bible says ‘now is the time of God’s favour, now is the time of salvation’. It will be too late after we have died, and no amount of intercession will then save us.
May we ever be like the Greeks in our passage today and want to see Jesus and seek Him with all our hearts.
John;s gospel in Chapter 12,verses 20-33. Turn with me to this passage which John alone tells.
Jesus had entered Jerusalem for the Passover festival having just raised Lazarus from the dead, and was receiving an enthusiastic welcome from crowds of people gathered for the festival. This was the major festival held annually to remember how God saved Israel. But there were some who did not welcome Jesus, and indeed were plotting His death.
At such a time as this many Gentiles would go to the city and although not Jews would join in the celebrations. Some Greeks were amongst the crowds who had heard of Jesus and were determined to meet Him. They were from a settlement in the North of Galilee and went to Philip who came from near their area and said to him, ‘Sir, we want to see Jesus’.
Having heard the stories of what Jesus had done they realised something was missing from their lives and wanted to receive from Him that something So when they said they wanted to see Jesus, they were in fact seeking a meeting with Him.
In many small evangelical churches in the United States, they have these words inscribed on the pulpit to remind the preacher that people have come to hear about Jesus Christ. . I had the joy of preaching recently at a small Methodist Church which had the same words inscribed on the pulpit. It is a call to the preacher that he must only preach Jesus Christ and not engage in philosophy, politics, or be submissive to political correctness. These words were the theme of the preacher when I was ordained at Chester Cathedral, one of the godliest men you could possibly meet
When Jesus was told of their request He was pleased and responded immediately. He had not gone to Jerusalem to enter for the same purpose as the crowds had in mind, events were building up and were leading to the time of our Lord’s road to the Cross. So when He heard a group of people were genuinely seeking Him, He said, "The hour has come for the Son of man to be glorified.
The Jews would not have understood what Jesus meant. For them the Son of Man conveyed an image of someone who would lead to world conquest and so attain glory, but Jesus meant it was time for Him to make the supreme sacrifice for the world by dying on the Cross so bringing glory to Him and to God
He went on to say "Truly, truly, I say to you." Whenever Jesus used those words, it meant that He was going to say something important. Jesus said, "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone." He was pointing out that when a seed died ir brought forth fruit, and death brings life through people.
As Christians were martyred for the faith, so the Church grew, and He was here meaning that He was like the grain of wheat and unless He went to the cross, His whole purpose in coming to earth will have been in vain. He knew what He had to face, and that He is going to be glorified through the sacrifice the cross, because by that cruel death the way to forgiveness for all believers was made possible. If He had not made the sacrifice on the Cross, you and I and everybody else, could not have forgiveness. His death meant eternal life for all who believed in Him.
When He met those Greeks it was as the first sign that the gospel was to go to all the world, and part of God’s plan to bring salvation to the Gentiles, the symbol of the great harvest for which He came.
If He had not died we probably would not know any more about Him for He would have just been another figure of history, of no greater significance than any other great religious leader. Because of the cross, He was able to do something He could never have done otherwise.
Jesus said the one loves their life will lose it. He was referring to those who live solely for themselves and out to get as much as they can without thought for others. Billy Graham received offers which would have made him a very rich man, but made clear his greatest desire was to preach the gospel for which he only took the salary of an ordinary Baptist Minister.
Christians generally are called to put service of the Lord first, and indeed there are many men and women who could have followed brilliant careers for rich rewards, but chose to go on mission fields far away from their homeland.
We see the humanity of Jesus displayed when He expressed his fear at the thought of the Cross, but was ready to give obedience to God and suffer much pain which would ultimately lead to triumph. God spoke to Jesus in His hour of torment, just as He did at His baptism and when on the Mount of Transfiguration. God is always ready to give strength when we seek it for the tasks we face in His name and cause
At the cross, Jesus underwent the judgement we deserve and paid our debt to God. His death gives us hope of everlasting life with Him one day. He wants to give you that hope in your life today. He alone can give you that new life that can never fade, and you can find that new life by meeting Jesus.
People in these high pressure days are so often weary and depressed and looking for that spiritual something. People are looking for something beyond themselves, looking for a way that gets the most out of life, yet carrying a load of guilt, fear and worry. Jesus said, ‘come unto me all you are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest’
A day is coming when we will all see Jesus. The Bible says everyone will assemble before Him as He sits on the judgement throne. Some will go one way with the goats, some the other way with the sheep. We will have either joy in the after life with Jesus, or eternity with the lost. The criterion is how we respond whilst we are here on earth. The bible says ‘now is the time of God’s favour, now is the time of salvation’. It will be too late after we have died, and no amount of intercession will then save us.
May we ever be like the Greeks in our passage today and want to see Jesus and seek Him with all our hearts.
Wednesday, 3 August 2016
In a few weeks time we come to the first Sunday in the Methodist Church calendar when members will be returning from holidays, some with hope and anticipation for the coming year, whilst others will have regrets at the empty seats where friends no longer sit, either because they have gone to be with the Lord, or just fallen away as so many have done.
One subject which should be on all our hearts is the future of the Church. It is reported that 100,000 members have been lost over the past ten years, which should be a matter of concern for us all. Irrespective of denomination, there is a falling away to dwindling congregations, predominantly now filled by people of older years and female.
It is estimated that only 2% of the population attend Church on a regular basis, yet this was not always so. We hear it said there are so many other distractions, yet these do not distract from other necessities of life. It is also claimed that the pressure of modern life restricts, but Muslim people face similar pressures yet manage to attend their services of worship.
This morning I want to speak on why the Bible is so important in the life of the Church, and the need to call people back to it. The
most essential purpose of the Church is to call people of this nation
back to the Bible, and all of us in the Church should dedicate ourselves to do this. I believe the state we find ourselves in is due the departure from the Word of God.
We often hear it claimed that all religions are the same and all lead to God. This is unequivocally discredited by the Bible. Jesus said,‘no one comes to the Father except through me.’ If we say that all religions are the same, we are challenging Jesus and so lose our right to call ourselves Christian.
Islam, for example, worships Allah and maintains God has no Son, denying the divinity of Christ. Whilst Islam has a stronger moral and ethical belief than many Christians have, and we respect their beliefs, we cannot equate equality.
If we have any concern for the future of Christianity in this country, we need to change direction from the present way we are going.
The purpose of the Church is to preach the gospel message contained in the Bible, which we acknowledge is the authoritative Word of God, and provide spiritual teaching from the Book. This is what makes us unique and special, if we fail to do so, there can be no purpose in there being a Church, we just become an irrelevancy. People need to be reminded of the part this Book played in the history of our nation. The true greatness was laid down by men in government who believed this to be the Word of the living God, as compared to government under David Cameron which seemed determined to overrule God, consistently departing from God’s truth.
Never has society exerted its own will against God as now. Trouble will always abound when God is rejected. The Bible states the way that God punishes people is by abandoning them to themselves, and says you have turned your back on me, so get on with things.
We are often told God is a God love, and He certainly is, but He is also a God of wrath, and you have to go far into this book before you get to His love. He is a merciful and patient God, but has limits and no nation or person can act with total disregard of His will. Judgement will come, but people don’t like to talk or think of it.
Turning then to the Bible passage, which was from Paul’s 2nd Letter to Timothy, we find a Letter which might well have been written to us today.
Paul is in prison and nearing the end of his life and wants the gospel to be continued to be taken out into the world. He is writing to Timothy who he has chosen to continue his ministry and these are the last words spoken or written by Paul.
In v 3 Paul refers to the evil in the world. We too live in an evil world where there does not seem to be any limit to which people are prepared to go to cheat, lie, and be corrupt, even to the highest level of public service. Added to this is the widespread breakdown of family life, crime (despite the massaging of figures) and crudeness of life, lack of honour and integrity, moral and social problems.
The Bible states, ALL Scripture was written under the direct inspiration of God and we are to accept it as written without being selective in any way. The Bible stands approved and needs no additions, deletions or corrections. It teaches us right from wrong as we live our lives, and to pass judgement on it is to pass judgement on God.
Some people may see the Bible as an old book full of Jewish history and folk tales, but the early Christians saw it as a life giving source which God inspired to be written by 40 men of different characters and occupations, and without possible corroboration, over a period of 400 years, and with only one message. Prophecies given were fulfilled many years later. The Bible is full of unity and diversity which has changed the lives of millions of people over the years.
We do not follow cleverly invented myths, and our faith is not something someone has made up. We are to avoid any tendency to accommodate the teaching of the Bible to suit modern culture. We must present the Bible as the Word of God, not men. Tell that God spoke about Himself, men, life. What He wants from a fallen world, how He expects us to live our lives.
Paul tells Timothy to go and ‘preach the Word, by which he means the whole Christian message in simple terms, that Jesus is Lord and that salvation is only obtained through Him. Paul warns Timothy not to give in to the prevailing fashions of the day, but to keep steadfast in the faith and speak boldly without anger or fear of causing offence.
The Bible states, that every preacher has the responsibility to preach the same message. Paul also emphasises we carry out our preaching in the presence of God and Jesus Christ, and whilst we have a tremendous privilege in being able to speak in God’s name, we bear an awesome responsibility, for we will be judged as to how faithfully we do so, and will have to account before the Lord one day. When we appear before the Lord He will not be interested in how wealthy or important we were in life. He will look at how we lived up to and kept His stated teaching.
In our preaching we are called upon to convince those who doubt; rebuke those who fall into sin by failing to live lives according to that laid down by God, so doing things out of line with God’s will; to encourage all troubled by fear. We can only do that if we truly believe and accept in the heart what God has spoken. We are not to give personal opinions, just tell what the book states.
The Bible states people will not endure sound doctrine. By this we mean that we are all under the judgement of God and salvation can only be obtained by accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour, who was sent by God, born of a woman by the Holy Spirit. By His ultimate death on the Cross to pay the penalty and atone for our sins, all who believe it was for us He suffered and gave His life, can be forgiven and accepted by God.
Some people will not want to hear that we are called to live our lives worthily according to the Bible’s teaching; they take the attitude that ideas have now been changed by society, and all the old morals and social ethics can be laid aside as long as you just accept the theory; this is not God’s idea however. The Bible was not just written for yesteryear.
How God must weep when he sees men and women singing His praise and hearing His Word on Sunday and living in direct contrast the rest of the week.
A preacher has to teach what people need to hear rather than what they want to hear, and do so without fear or favour, and as long as we do strictly according to the Bible, if we do offend anyone it must be asked why they are so offended. We are not to act like a spiritual dispensary offering soothing words, but to tell what God has commissioned us to say.
The Bible states we should not be ashamed of the gospel, but if people within the Church fail to accept the Bible, or live in a way contrary to its teaching, then it must be reasonably assumed they do not believe and are ashamed of it.
It often appears that those in high Office of the Churches, on whom the public mistakenly grant superior Christian knowledge, and whose duty it is therefore to give guidance, keep silent on those controversies of life which give most offence, and are afraid to speak out on moral and ethical issues for fear of upsetting politicians or damaging their career prospects. The Church should represent the conscience of society and face up to such issues.
What hope then is there for the future of Christianity? This depends on how the Church at large, ordained and lay responds; our services in many cases need to be upgraded. Like much of our national life, we our constricted by political correctness and are frightened that if we are too faithful to the Bible we will upset some minority faction, so we modify our words.
Commissions in trying to attract new members, introduce novelty services. We have tried different ways using clowns, animals, Messy Church, café Church, and other diversions, which whilst useful, they only survive as a one off, and fail to achieve regular attendances.
The intent of coming to Church should be to join with other Christians in singing praise to God, listening to His Word, having it fearless and boldly preached so there is spiritual nourishment for the week ahead, and to join in prayer for the needs of the world and ourselves. Ideally, the Methodist form of service allows for these necessities, with its freedom to present a coherent and meaningful form of worship. I have to admit having a different preacher each week is not always helpful as each could take a different approach to Scripture.
We have to accept that if you state you believe in the full authority of the Bible you will find many will oppose you, and even those close to you will challenge you, perhaps within your own family. You will be called narrow minded, bigoted or of having some kind of phobia. How disheartening to hear from pulpits that we must not take the Bible too literally; or that there will be atheists in heaven.
The time may come when those of us who stand firmly on the Bible will be frozen out, and attempts will be made to silence us.
The Bible is all about salvation and there is spiritual blindness in
refusing salvation, and it is a grave sin to keep others from believing. If a person wishes to go to hell that is a matter for them, but they have no mandate to take others with them.
All Christians at this perilous time need to think of what we can offer to God. To paraphrase a famous saying, ‘think not what God can do for me, but what can I do for God’.
Come to Church prepared to feast on sound teaching’ do not let anyone tell you that your life as a Christian does not count, it counts tremendously. Glory in what God has called you to do
The greatest revival in the history of this country took place under the ministry of Charles and John Wesley. The once great Methodist Church was built on a strong Biblical foundation. If they were alive today they would have much to say at the way the Church has failed to proclaim the message they left, that salvation was through Christ alone, the value of a person’s life was measured by their faith; by the manner in which they lived their lives, and the doctrine of heaven and hell.
Their legacy has been passed down through the ages to the Church they founded. This should not be betrayed. Charles was one who wrote as he thought and he saw the importance of conversion and a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. He became vividly convinced of the message of salvation, and saw clearer than ever before how faith in Jesus Christ could change a person’s life. This was the message he would take to as many people as he could, particularly to the poorer classes. He preached that the value of a person’s life was to be measured by their faith.
I want to close this morning with the words of John Wesley. ‘I want to know one thing; the way to heaven, how to land on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; He hath written it down in a book. Give me that book, at any price give me that book’
One subject which should be on all our hearts is the future of the Church. It is reported that 100,000 members have been lost over the past ten years, which should be a matter of concern for us all. Irrespective of denomination, there is a falling away to dwindling congregations, predominantly now filled by people of older years and female.
It is estimated that only 2% of the population attend Church on a regular basis, yet this was not always so. We hear it said there are so many other distractions, yet these do not distract from other necessities of life. It is also claimed that the pressure of modern life restricts, but Muslim people face similar pressures yet manage to attend their services of worship.
This morning I want to speak on why the Bible is so important in the life of the Church, and the need to call people back to it. The
most essential purpose of the Church is to call people of this nation
back to the Bible, and all of us in the Church should dedicate ourselves to do this. I believe the state we find ourselves in is due the departure from the Word of God.
We often hear it claimed that all religions are the same and all lead to God. This is unequivocally discredited by the Bible. Jesus said,‘no one comes to the Father except through me.’ If we say that all religions are the same, we are challenging Jesus and so lose our right to call ourselves Christian.
Islam, for example, worships Allah and maintains God has no Son, denying the divinity of Christ. Whilst Islam has a stronger moral and ethical belief than many Christians have, and we respect their beliefs, we cannot equate equality.
If we have any concern for the future of Christianity in this country, we need to change direction from the present way we are going.
The purpose of the Church is to preach the gospel message contained in the Bible, which we acknowledge is the authoritative Word of God, and provide spiritual teaching from the Book. This is what makes us unique and special, if we fail to do so, there can be no purpose in there being a Church, we just become an irrelevancy. People need to be reminded of the part this Book played in the history of our nation. The true greatness was laid down by men in government who believed this to be the Word of the living God, as compared to government under David Cameron which seemed determined to overrule God, consistently departing from God’s truth.
Never has society exerted its own will against God as now. Trouble will always abound when God is rejected. The Bible states the way that God punishes people is by abandoning them to themselves, and says you have turned your back on me, so get on with things.
We are often told God is a God love, and He certainly is, but He is also a God of wrath, and you have to go far into this book before you get to His love. He is a merciful and patient God, but has limits and no nation or person can act with total disregard of His will. Judgement will come, but people don’t like to talk or think of it.
Turning then to the Bible passage, which was from Paul’s 2nd Letter to Timothy, we find a Letter which might well have been written to us today.
Paul is in prison and nearing the end of his life and wants the gospel to be continued to be taken out into the world. He is writing to Timothy who he has chosen to continue his ministry and these are the last words spoken or written by Paul.
In v 3 Paul refers to the evil in the world. We too live in an evil world where there does not seem to be any limit to which people are prepared to go to cheat, lie, and be corrupt, even to the highest level of public service. Added to this is the widespread breakdown of family life, crime (despite the massaging of figures) and crudeness of life, lack of honour and integrity, moral and social problems.
The Bible states, ALL Scripture was written under the direct inspiration of God and we are to accept it as written without being selective in any way. The Bible stands approved and needs no additions, deletions or corrections. It teaches us right from wrong as we live our lives, and to pass judgement on it is to pass judgement on God.
Some people may see the Bible as an old book full of Jewish history and folk tales, but the early Christians saw it as a life giving source which God inspired to be written by 40 men of different characters and occupations, and without possible corroboration, over a period of 400 years, and with only one message. Prophecies given were fulfilled many years later. The Bible is full of unity and diversity which has changed the lives of millions of people over the years.
We do not follow cleverly invented myths, and our faith is not something someone has made up. We are to avoid any tendency to accommodate the teaching of the Bible to suit modern culture. We must present the Bible as the Word of God, not men. Tell that God spoke about Himself, men, life. What He wants from a fallen world, how He expects us to live our lives.
Paul tells Timothy to go and ‘preach the Word, by which he means the whole Christian message in simple terms, that Jesus is Lord and that salvation is only obtained through Him. Paul warns Timothy not to give in to the prevailing fashions of the day, but to keep steadfast in the faith and speak boldly without anger or fear of causing offence.
The Bible states, that every preacher has the responsibility to preach the same message. Paul also emphasises we carry out our preaching in the presence of God and Jesus Christ, and whilst we have a tremendous privilege in being able to speak in God’s name, we bear an awesome responsibility, for we will be judged as to how faithfully we do so, and will have to account before the Lord one day. When we appear before the Lord He will not be interested in how wealthy or important we were in life. He will look at how we lived up to and kept His stated teaching.
In our preaching we are called upon to convince those who doubt; rebuke those who fall into sin by failing to live lives according to that laid down by God, so doing things out of line with God’s will; to encourage all troubled by fear. We can only do that if we truly believe and accept in the heart what God has spoken. We are not to give personal opinions, just tell what the book states.
The Bible states people will not endure sound doctrine. By this we mean that we are all under the judgement of God and salvation can only be obtained by accepting Jesus Christ as Saviour, who was sent by God, born of a woman by the Holy Spirit. By His ultimate death on the Cross to pay the penalty and atone for our sins, all who believe it was for us He suffered and gave His life, can be forgiven and accepted by God.
Some people will not want to hear that we are called to live our lives worthily according to the Bible’s teaching; they take the attitude that ideas have now been changed by society, and all the old morals and social ethics can be laid aside as long as you just accept the theory; this is not God’s idea however. The Bible was not just written for yesteryear.
How God must weep when he sees men and women singing His praise and hearing His Word on Sunday and living in direct contrast the rest of the week.
A preacher has to teach what people need to hear rather than what they want to hear, and do so without fear or favour, and as long as we do strictly according to the Bible, if we do offend anyone it must be asked why they are so offended. We are not to act like a spiritual dispensary offering soothing words, but to tell what God has commissioned us to say.
The Bible states we should not be ashamed of the gospel, but if people within the Church fail to accept the Bible, or live in a way contrary to its teaching, then it must be reasonably assumed they do not believe and are ashamed of it.
It often appears that those in high Office of the Churches, on whom the public mistakenly grant superior Christian knowledge, and whose duty it is therefore to give guidance, keep silent on those controversies of life which give most offence, and are afraid to speak out on moral and ethical issues for fear of upsetting politicians or damaging their career prospects. The Church should represent the conscience of society and face up to such issues.
What hope then is there for the future of Christianity? This depends on how the Church at large, ordained and lay responds; our services in many cases need to be upgraded. Like much of our national life, we our constricted by political correctness and are frightened that if we are too faithful to the Bible we will upset some minority faction, so we modify our words.
Commissions in trying to attract new members, introduce novelty services. We have tried different ways using clowns, animals, Messy Church, café Church, and other diversions, which whilst useful, they only survive as a one off, and fail to achieve regular attendances.
The intent of coming to Church should be to join with other Christians in singing praise to God, listening to His Word, having it fearless and boldly preached so there is spiritual nourishment for the week ahead, and to join in prayer for the needs of the world and ourselves. Ideally, the Methodist form of service allows for these necessities, with its freedom to present a coherent and meaningful form of worship. I have to admit having a different preacher each week is not always helpful as each could take a different approach to Scripture.
We have to accept that if you state you believe in the full authority of the Bible you will find many will oppose you, and even those close to you will challenge you, perhaps within your own family. You will be called narrow minded, bigoted or of having some kind of phobia. How disheartening to hear from pulpits that we must not take the Bible too literally; or that there will be atheists in heaven.
The time may come when those of us who stand firmly on the Bible will be frozen out, and attempts will be made to silence us.
The Bible is all about salvation and there is spiritual blindness in
refusing salvation, and it is a grave sin to keep others from believing. If a person wishes to go to hell that is a matter for them, but they have no mandate to take others with them.
All Christians at this perilous time need to think of what we can offer to God. To paraphrase a famous saying, ‘think not what God can do for me, but what can I do for God’.
Come to Church prepared to feast on sound teaching’ do not let anyone tell you that your life as a Christian does not count, it counts tremendously. Glory in what God has called you to do
The greatest revival in the history of this country took place under the ministry of Charles and John Wesley. The once great Methodist Church was built on a strong Biblical foundation. If they were alive today they would have much to say at the way the Church has failed to proclaim the message they left, that salvation was through Christ alone, the value of a person’s life was measured by their faith; by the manner in which they lived their lives, and the doctrine of heaven and hell.
Their legacy has been passed down through the ages to the Church they founded. This should not be betrayed. Charles was one who wrote as he thought and he saw the importance of conversion and a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. He became vividly convinced of the message of salvation, and saw clearer than ever before how faith in Jesus Christ could change a person’s life. This was the message he would take to as many people as he could, particularly to the poorer classes. He preached that the value of a person’s life was to be measured by their faith.
I want to close this morning with the words of John Wesley. ‘I want to know one thing; the way to heaven, how to land on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; He hath written it down in a book. Give me that book, at any price give me that book’
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)