The minority . ( Matthew 7 v 13 - 14 )

Driving is becoming more challenging,everyone is in a hurry,I have been really trying to not break the speed limit,it is harder than you think.When your driving along and you look  behind in the mirror,and you see a long line of traffic behind, you feel like you are doing the wrong thing,put it another way,you feel that you are as it were out of step.And you are made to feel ever more so when someone flashes their lights ,telling you to get a move on.But you are doing whats right,why do they not see this?,but they don't.but you keep trying to keep the speed limit.Because many people choose to ignore the speed limit,does not make it right . Let us consider the fact that many people are not Christians, in some countries Christian are made to feel they are criminals,they end up in prison,where some are even tortured .Because they can treat Christians like this does not make it right. I remember a missionary telling us of two young Christian lads ,the only two in that school, who said in spite of the fact that they where only two ,they said they were many,and that did not make them wrong                                                                                                                                                                                                      The majority are not always right.

Adultery ( Psalm 19 v 14 )

'Adultery' is OK,so read the words in a national news paper,the writer went on to write,' Yes ,you can indulge in extra marital relations.The writer went on to explain that she was writing of mental adultery,and went on to say it had a wonderful playful aspect to it.Our Saviour said far from being a  wonderful playful thing,it was a sinful thing,equal to actually doing it physically.He said,'that anyone who looks  at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart  ' ( Matthew 5 v 28)                                                                                                                                                                                                                         A  prayer                                                                                                                                 Dear lord you  say blessed are the  pure                                                                                                    in heart,Please forgive my sinful  thoughts,                                                                                               grant me a pure heart, in Jesus name .Amen.

No escape.. ( 1 Corinthians 4 v 5 )

A Christian brother I know served as an officer in local government, he told someone that he was the only one who didn't take bribes,sadly that included Christians.We hear of countries where taking bribes is common place,but after hearing this, one wonders how prevalent it is in our country. I remember when I  was about to retire and one of my clients give me an envelope with a sum of money in it, it was a gift from him in relation to my retirement. I thanked him very much,said I was so grateful,but I  was sorry that I could not accept it because we were not allowed to. I hope I did not hurt that dear mans feelings,but I know I couldn't accept it.  If I had my conscience would have troubled me,and who wants to live with a guilty conscience?,it appears to me that some Christians are,the word of  God tells,that our sins will find us out ( Numbers 32 v 23 ).People who have committed crimes years ago are now being found out,because of  DNA testing..Recently  a Nazi prison guard  from a murder camp was put on trial in Germany, for the crimes he committed, he is a very old man, I suppose he had hoped that he had escaped  punishment for his crimes. Now of course many people do appear to escape the punishment for their crimes,as to earthly judgement, but they will not escape Gods judgement.  We are told clearly in Hebrews  9 v 27, that it is appointed unto men once to die, and after that the judgement.

You are a somebody ( John 3 v 16 )

Raymond Brown writes,' Jesus taught that, in Gods sight,every single person is of infinite value'.In a world of vast numbers of people,it is vital to remember this,the individual is never lost to God,in Gods sight everyone is important,in Matthew 5 v 45, we read that God the Father, causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous.Yes everyone is important in His eyes,no one is just a number, a face in the crowd, a nameless nobody. When we read that God so so loved the world,( John 3 v 16 ),it means just that,whoever you are,He loves you. To all those gathered around the cross,those who hated Him,those who mocked Him,those who crucified Him,he loved,he died for the ungodly ( Romans 5 v 6 ) Jesus says to all of us,you are not a nobody, you are a somebody,and somebody I love.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ''The Son of God , who loved me                                                                                                                and gave Himself for me.                                                                                                                               ( Galatians 2 v 20 )

Like a novel. ( Philippians 1 v 27 - 28 )

I know a man who attends a certain church, where being saved ,and sin is never mentioned, by the minister. His reasoning being, people need to hear about the love of God,and yet the greatest and well known verse in the Bible is John 3 v 16 ,which reads for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not PERISH but have everlasting life.The question is why did God do such a wonderful thing?..The reason because of sin and its consequences,people will go to Hell,mankind needs to be saved,and without sin b dealt with ,we will go to hell.We are told in Matthew 1 v 21 That He ( Jesus )will save His people from  their sins. Raymond Brown, formerly Principal of Spurgeon's College wrote the following. ''Unhappily ,our generation is increasingly less sensitive to sin; 'guilt' belongs to a redundant vocabulary.One of Umberto Eco's fictional characters gives expression to contemporary scepticism; If belief is necessary, let it be in a religion that doesn't make you feel guilty... Like a novel, not like a theology;'

Do you really love Him? ( Matthew 22 v 37 - 38 )

Selwyn Hughes wrote,  ''We must never elevate anyone - husband, wife or child- to the position where they become 'God' to us......no one must take the place of God in our lives- no one''Families are important but they are not as important as God,we more than likely love those who are nearest and dearest to us,but we must love God more.We may love many things but we must love God more,because they can become gods, but if we love them first and foremost,then they become an idol,we become idolaters,we worship them.You may have thought idolatry involved bowing down to an idol of stone or worshipping and icon ,not so it covers anything that we consider first in our lives ,other than God. Consider that word anything,and then ask yourself the question,have I relegated God,to a lower division,oh yes we may sing lustily worship hymns, pray read the Bible and still love other things ,other people more than God.                                                                                                                                                 Is God playing second fiddle in                                                                                                                our lives?

Not knowing. ( Isaiah 55 v 8 - 9 )

Raymond Brown writing on Moses said,''Nothing mattered more to him than knowing, obeying and pleasing God.Moses knew that the things we wish for ourselves are always best for us.There are  times when only God knows the difference between what we merely want and what we genuinely need.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      A prayer by Austin Farrier.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        O God, save me from myself, this self which throws the                                                                          thick shadow of its own purposes and desires in every                                                                            direction in which I try to look, so that I  cannot see what                                                                        it is that you, my Lord and God are showing to me. Teach                                                                      me to stand out of my own light, and let your daylight                                                                           shine.  Amen.

Wages . ( Romans 6 v 23 )

Yesterday we looked at what sin is,a failure, and a coming short, and that we all without exception sin,we are fond of saying no one is perfect.Never a truer word said, we are flawed human beings,this is not the way God made us,there was a time in which we had not sinned,but then in spite of being warned we did sin,and that brought awful,terrible,devastating, consequences upon all humanity.God cannot over look sin,it is not possible,but God put in temporary measures,to deal with it,sacrifice had to be made,animals had to be slain.the guilt of sin was laid upon those animals,and so forgiveness was granted.This as I said was never meant to be permanent,God had a greater plan that would be permanent,and that's were Jesus comes in. In Matthew 1 v 21 we read ''He will save His people from their sins''.Forget about Santa,presents,food ,etc,and focus for one moment on that little child's purpose in coming,when he grew up He would pay the price for sin ,on a cross,  dealing with  sin ,once and for all who would put their faith in Him,the result is there is hope for us failures.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       For God so loved the world that He                                                                                                           gave His only begotten son, that                                                                                                               whosoever believes in Him would not                                                                                                       perish but have everlasting life.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (John 3 v 16 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

What is sin? ( Romans 3 v 20 - 23 )

It is W Barclay who points out  the meaning of the word sin,the first meaning is failure,the second is coming short. It may not be a nice thing to say, but in Gods eyes we are all failures,now what does that mean?,it simply means we have failed to keep Gods law,coming short is saying that we have no matter how much we have tried,we have come short of Gods perfect standard.In Romans 3 v 23 we read that  all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.The standard we are supposed to attain to, is to perfectly keep Gods law,not just outwardly but also inwardly, CP Matthew 5 v 21-22 / 27-28. The law of God is summed up in the following words,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Love the Lord your God with all your hearts                                                                                            and with all your soul and with all your mind.                                                                                         This is the first and greatest commandment.                                                                                             The second is like it,' Love your neighbour as                                                                                           yourself.                                                                                                                                                                      (  Matthew 22 v  37 - 39 )                                                                                                                                                                                 

Security ( Psalm 91 )

I was watching an old movie,the people were in danger, then it showed a woman reading to a child words from Psalm 91,so maybe you feel threatened ,maybe you are in danger,these are the words that were read.                                                                                                                                                                                              ''You will not fear the terror by night                                                                                                          nor the arrow that flies by day,                                                                                                                  nor the pestilence that stalks in the                                                                                                            darkness,nor the plague that destroys                     ,                                                                                   at midday                                                                                                                                                    A thousand may fall at your side ten                                                                                                        thousand at your right hand ,but it will                                                                                                      come near you.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ( v 5 - 7  )

God has a way ( Psalm 51 )

So often the people of Israel forsook God,in dramatic ways,taking up the religions of the nations that surrounded them., in spite of all He had done for them. The result God withdrew his presence from them,and let them suffer as a result of their backsliding.they sinned greatly, and so God punished them greatly .Raymond Brown points out that they exchanged, the devil's blessings, that are disguised curses.Consider what it means to forsake God ,read the history of Israel.see how they suffered.Foreign nations would invade them,slaughtering the young and elderly, showing very little if any mercy.Yet God loves His children ,in the worst of times He declared, ''I have loved thee with an everlasting love'' (Jeremiah 31 v 3 )God has a loving purpose  as RB writes ,''Despite their appalling loveless, disobedient, and senseless disloyalty,God has His own way,of bringing ,unfaithful children, to the place of  repentance,forgiveness and hope''.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 For a brief moment I abandoned you                                                                                                        but with deep compassion I will bring                                                                                                      you back.                                                                                                                                                    In a surge of anger I hid my face from                                                                                                      for a moment, but with everlasting                                                                                                            kindness, I will have compassion on                                                                                                          you, says the Lord your Redeemer.                                                                                                                      ( Isaiah 54 v 7 - 8 )

Saint Anthony. ( Hebrews 4 v 14 - 16 )

 Coming back to me finding the lost wallet,the lady said she had been praying to ST Anthony  as regards the lost wallet.So did Anthony answer her prayer?,well first of all as regards this so called saint,the Bible teaches that all Christians are saints,  as  Vine writes,'it is used of believers ,it designates all such and is not merely to persons of exceptional holiness'. The term saint means holy one,so it is in 2 Thessalonians 1 v 10 we read of His holy people,were it describes those who have believed.It is a term that is used throughout the whole of the Bible in relation to all Gods  children. As regards praying to so called saints, or to Mary,we have to take seriously what the word of God has to say. In John 14 v 6 we are told that the only way to God is Jesus,and in 1 Timothy 2 v 5 ,we read , that there is one God, there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus. Our Saviour is also our great high priest,( Hebrews 2 v 17 / 8 v 1.) there are many references in Hebrews as regards the priesthood of Jesus.One of the reasons the book of Hebrews was written was to make it clear that earthly priesthoods are finished, so we do not need them , be it Mary.saints ,priests when we pray, we only need Jesus.

Lost and found ( Luke 15 v 11 f f )

I was out doing my usual morning walk when I spied a wallet lying on the ground,I picked it up and looked inside,there was money , debit cards and a driving licence,with a name an address on it.So when I arrived  home I got into  my car,and went to the address ,a lady came to the door,and was ever so grateful.She said she was very religious and had been praying to Saint Anthony all night, and so I returned home. Two things in all this, the lost and found wallet reminds me of why Jesus came,it is seek and to save that which is lost ( Luke 19 v 10 ),not wallets but people,and not just certain people,all people.The word of God says ,'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'. ( Romans 10 v 13 ) No one likes being lost,and it very serious, it means we are without God,without hope, for time and eternity.                                                                                                                                                                      I once was lost but now am found.

The secret things ( 1 Corinthians 13 v 12 )

                                                                                                                                                                                                                      The secret things belong unto the Lord                                                                                                      our God, but the things revealed belong                                                                                                    to us                                                                                                                                                                         (Deuteronomy 29 v 29 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In the book of Daniel 12 v 4 we read of a time when ,'many will go here and there to increase knowledge'.Man has a thirst for knowledge ,we want to know more and more.But the scripture above  tells us that only God knows all things,there will be things we not understand,we will always only know in part.. Raymond Brown writes ',Spiritual maturity does not guarantee an encyclopedic knowledge of the divine will.There are times when , in His inscrutable wisdom, God intentionally keeps us in the dark'.There are many people unfortunately who  refuse to accept what Jesus said as to when He would return,He said''It is not for you to know'' ( Acts 1 v 6- 7 )There are many mysteries relating to Gods sovereignty,which are hidden from us,likewise  as regards suffering,we do not have the answer. A lady who had suffered a great deal said the following,''Someday I will understand''.then shall we know, records Paul.Let us take our text to heart ,let us remember,the secret things belong unto the Lord our God.

Will we pass the test?. ( 1 Peter 1 v 6 - 7 )

In Deuteronomy 8 v 2 ff Moses declares to Israel,''Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years,to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart , whether or not you would keep His commands.Why was Job tested? to see whither he would fail the test or pass the test,the devil said unto God that Job was faithful because God had blessed him,but  said Satan ,''stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face''.So God permitted Satan to move against Job until he had lost everything,and so it came to pass,but Job withstood the test,but it was not easy when one considers,what he lost ,10 children, all his possessions,and his health.The question is how would he cope with these testing events?, would he remain faithful ?, the answer is ,he did,even though he never really understood the reason why he had suffered so much.Not knowing is often the biggest test we can experience in life, but that is where faith comes in,that is where trust comes in,even though at times,Job spoke his mind he declared ,''Though he slay me,yet will I hope in Him'' ( Job 13 v 15 )

Teachable ( Deuteronomy 8 v 3 )

Some things I remember from my early school days,how my teacher defined our roles,she taught, we learn,sometimes people mix it up.As a Christian I sometimes forget that God is our teacher.When Mary sat at the feet of Jesus He was teaching her,and when he spoke to Martha he was teaching her important lessons.He teaches us many that are not taught in school or university, that is if we are teachable.When God rescued Israel from the bondage of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness,he taught them lessons,we read how He allowed hunger,oh yes he did supply them with food called manna.His reason in allowing them to hunger,was to teach them,''that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ( Deuteronomy 8 v 3 ) The question for all of us to ask, in all of life's circumstances,what is God teaching us?.

James Bond. ( 1 John 2 v 15 - 17 )

A man I know was having a bit of refreshment after he had taken the service at a local church,he was talking to some elderly people,and they mentioned,in a complimentary way as regards his dress sense.But what caused my friend to be amused was the remark by one elderly lady, who said he was like James Bond, I can assure you my friend is far from being James Bond.He found himself saying to himself that lady needs to go to Spec Savers, and that wallpaper  covers a lot of cracks.The Bible says that man looks on the outward appearance,the rich and wealthy  are often portrayed in their fabulous homes,with their fabulous cars ,giving the world a picture that they have made it and,are to be admired.But mankind no matter how they are dressed up,are far from perfect, the Bible speaks of the pride of life ,( 1 John 2 v 16 ).In the end the  James Bonds will loose their teeth ,their hair ,and possible end up in an old persons home. and then into the grave As a Christian we must not be fooled by worldly ideas , what really counts is that we know Christ as our Saviour,and  that we love God,and others more than ourselves.

Is God tapping you on the shoulder? ( Luke 18 v 1 )

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writing from a Nazi prison to a friend wrote,''When all's said and done,it is true that it needs trouble to drive us to prayer, though every time I feel it is something to be ashamed of''.We see this so clearly in the book of Judges, this book has a repetitious theme to it,the people turn from God ,and he deals with them,and its then they cry unto God for deliverance. It is a sad fact that even Christians don't always pray or if they do it is a brief encounter with God. So it may be  that the difficulties you are experiencing ,is God tapping you on the shoulder, reminding you to pray.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Don't forget to pray

Do you want to grow? ( 1 Peter 2 v 2 )

The first sermon I preached when I came to England was from Micah 6 v 8, that was forty years ago,I preached it with a view of becoming a minister, and so it came about. There will always be scriptures that we associate with an event in our life's history,one of things Israel were commanded to do was to remember Gods word. In Deuteronomy 11 v 18 -20 we read,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds;                                                                                  tie them as Symbols on your hands and bind them                                                                                    on your foreheads. Teach them to your children                                                                                        talking about when you sit at home and when you                                                                                    walk along the road,when you lie down and when                                                                                    get up.                                                                                                                  I preached a sermon recently I ended it by stressing three points as regards the word of God ,they were   ,                                          Feed on the word of God.                                                                                                                          Understand the word of God                                                                                                                      Obey the word of God.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Do these three things and you will                                                                                                                     grow spiritually.

All are welcome ( John 6 v 37 )

Following on as regards Dr Barnardo,,early on in the work he was doing,a child called Carrot came and asked to be allowed to stay in the shelter he ran. Unfortunately  there was no room, he gave the boy sixpence to get something to eat,assured him that when a place opened up he would let him stay. Little Carrot went away,found somewhere to sleep, in an empty sugar barrel.It was very cold next morning he was found dead, due to exhaustion,exposure and lack of food.When Dr. Barnardo heard this he vowed to never turn another child away. He had a large notice painted above the door of the house. It said; NO DESTITUTE CHILD IS EVER REFUSED ADMITTANCE.These words remind us  of what our Saviour said,''Anyone who comes to Me I will never drive away'' ( John 6 v 37 ). Consider the word anyone,without exception, be you a child,poor, rich,an addict, a criminal ,anyone,the wonderful news is Christ came to save sinners,go to Him confessing your sin and He will forgive you.

Gods way. ( Proverbs 3 v 6 )

Most  people have heard of Barnardo's orphanages which was started by Dr. Thomas Barnardo, who was born in Dublin,where he became a Christian.As a young lad he in Dublin he would go out night after night witnessing and helping the poor and needy.Later he travelled to  London to train to be a doctor.,with the intention of going to China to be a missionary.,but that never happened,God had other plans,and He found himself working among the poor and destitute in the east end of London.      many dear Christian ,have been surprised where they have ended up, Gods plans are often different than our plans. Don't box yourselves into a corner where God never meant you  to be, He has ways of changing the direction we should go.We read in Proverbs 19 v 21.  ''Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              He leadeth me, O blessed thought,                                                                                                            O words with heavenly comfort fraught,                                                                                                  Whate'er I do , wherever I be,                                                                                                                    Still tis God's hand  that leadeth me

Futu8re glory. ( 2 Timothy 4 v 6 - 8 )

As I write this it is windy and raining outside,well I suppose it wouldn't be inside,earlier I went for my usual daily walk, I brought with me my umbrella and felt a bit tired as I completed my walk.It was not to severe the weather, but the words of a lovely old came to mind, 'The sands of times are sinking',and the last verse which reads.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      I've wrestled on towards heaven,                                                                                                              'Gainst storm, and wind, and tide;                                                                                                              Now like a weary trav'ller                                                                                                                          That leaneth on His guide;                                                                                                                        Amid the shades of  evening,                                                                                                                    While sinks life's lingering sand,                                                                                                              I hail the glory dawning                                                                                                                            In Immanuel's land.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          W Barclay on the hope of salvation writes ,''It is the confidence of safety in the world to come. It is the hope of safety amidst the perils of  earth, and rescue from the judgment of God                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ' Future Glory.'

Einstein. ( 1 Corinthians 1 v 26 - 31 )

Recently a letter by Einstein ,called the'God letter', sold for millions of dollars, in the letter he wrote that the Bible was an expression of human weakness,filled with myths.It appears that from an early age he abandoned religion saying  that he had been deceived into believing a lie.Einstein as you know was one of the 20th centuries greatest physicist,although he was a bad speller.So the great physicist has spoken, which is sad, but there is nothing new under the sun,for we read ,''For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing''(1 Cor 1 v 18 ) The great philosophers of  Greece with all their earthly wisdom ,saw the gospel as foolishness. W Barclay wrote ,'' The Greeks were intoxicated with fine words; and to them  the Christian preacher with his blunt message seemed a crude and uncultured figure, to be laughed at and ridiculed rather than be listened to and respected''. To them the Christian message was foolishness,but to us who are being saved it is the power of God, and the wisdom of God (1 Cor 1 v 24 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Jesus is way, the truth, and the life.                                                                                                                       ( John 14 v 6 )

Do it. ( John 2 v 5 )

I remember being given a reprimand because I had not carried out a certain task, I was told ,' do it'. In James 1 v 22  we read,'' Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. It is W. Barclay who writes, ''.Dr .Johnson was one of the great talkers of  all time; John Wesley was one the great men of action of all time. They knew each other,and Johnson had only one complaint about Wesley;''John Wesley's conversation is good, but he is never at leisure. He is always obliged to go at a certain hour. This is very disagreeable to a man who loves to fold his legs and have his talk out,as I do'' But the fact remains that Wesley, the man of action, wrote his name across England in a way in which Johnson the man of talk, never did.'' Jesus our Saviour said , ''Not everyone who says to Me ,' Lord, Lord', will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven''( Matthew 7 v 21 )

Feeling superior. ( 1 Timothy 1 v 15 )

One of the most detested bureaucrats in the Third Reich, Erich Koch was the Reich commissioner in Ukraine delivered a speech notorious even by the standards of  Nazi rhetoric it went,''We are a master race. We must remember that the lowliest German worker is racially and biologically a thousand times more valuable than the population here''.Such is the pride of man ,it has always been,where I come from the Catholic was looked down upon by the Protestant population. We could name many other examples in history of nations who looked down on others ,in Bible times ,the Roman Empire had millions of slaves,they were considered ,as inferior had no rights. Nations who ruled over other nations, felt that they were superior ,and often treated them with contempt,pride wherever its found is a just another sign of man kinds sinful nature.It is not only seen politically, but socially, and sad to say in religion,many who owned slaves,and many who practised apartheid,professed to be Christians. Pride blinds us to many things,that's one the reason people refuse to believe they are sinners and that they need a saviour.All man kind stand on one level we are  sinners,and all men need desperately a saviour,a man hanging on a cross called Jesus,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            O, the old rugged cross, so despised by the world                                                                                    has a wondrous attraction for me;                                                                                                              For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above                                                                                        to bear it to dark Calvary.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               In the old rugged cross, stained by blood so divine,                                                                                 a wondrous beauty I see;                                                                                                                           For twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died                                                                                   to pardon and sanctify me.                                                                                                                                (  George Bennard )

Holiness. ( 1 Peter 2 v 4 - 5 )

Someone has said that religion must never be divorced from morality; genuine belief must go hand in hand with consistent behaviour. The road of faith is called the road of holiness, we can judge how we are doing by looking at the ten commandments,or the moral teaching of the epistles , and our Lords teaching on the sermon on the mount. Holiness like good works are an evidence  of our salvation,that we truly are Christian, if they are missing ,then we are missing the importance of  the challenge as to what it means to be a Christian. Holiness must manifest ,in the workplace,in our homes,in our habits ,in our thought life,in fact in all things. Our worship must be in the beauty of   holiness,people admire much that is unholy,but that which holy, is beautiful..Our walk must please God in its holiness,Enoch must have been a very holy person,we are not talking about an holier than I attitude,that's  being a Pharisee. Holiness is saying no to all things that do not conform to a Holy God.When we speak of holiness ,many people see it as an unloving over serious thing,where in reality a truly holy person is a very loving person. A holy person will be an obedient person,for disobedience is a sin, and a holy person will be a Christlike person.Our bodies are seen as temples of the Holy Spirit ( 1 Corinthians 6 v 19 )                                                                                                                                                                                                              Holiness, without which no man shall                                                                                                       see the Lord.                                                                                                                                                     ( Hebrews 12 v 14 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              More holiness give me,more striving within;                                                                                            More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin;                                                                                      More faith in my Saviour,more sense of His care                                                                                      More joy in His service,more purpose in prayer.                                                                                                       ( Philipp    Bliss  )                                                                                                                                                                 

A curse. ( Romans 8 v 28 )

Raymond Brown wrote the following, ''There are times when Christian people find themselves opposed and oppressed  by those who are intent on damaging them in one way or another. In His sovereignty, the Lord is still able to turn curses into blessings, and He continues to do such thing because He loves us. In the late nineteenth century,Tom Barnardo's work among the homeless boys of  London's east end was brought to the brink of ruin by a smear - campaign. A62 page booklet was published which brought slanderous accusations against Barnardo and the subsequent troubles( stretching over three years) caused him intense personal distress . He was finally exonerated, however, and the newspaper coverage of the case brought the needs of London's orphans to the attention of people all over the country. Money came flooding in to support him in his work. Yes, but for the publicity ,his essential ministry among destitute children would hardly be known beyond London. Because God loved Barnardo and the work he was doing he turned the curse into a blessing. God goes on doing that.''                                                                                                                                                                                  Genesis 50 v 20                                                                                                                    ''You plotted evil against me, but  God turned it into good''

Sovereign God. ( Isaiah 40 )

Is God sovereign? I believe He is,but of course ,but those in public office and society in general do not believe in a sovereign God.In media parliament ,God never gets a mention..R. C. Sproul writes of ,''A profound sense of the absence of  God,''he further writes,''The God of Christianity is in exile.Nobody thinks of naming a newly incorporated village or city '' Providence ''.Of course in a so called secular society,a political correct society,where historical writers,no longer put ,'AD or BC ''.instead put in a  meaningless  phrase ,'common era'., God is no longer in the equation.  As a Christian I believe we need to hold fast to the truth that God is sovereign,and as a preacher to proclaim it often. We are reminded of Gods greatness when we consider the truth that God is sovereign,we are looking beyond,time,mans plans,disasters,pain,earthly power,to where power really exists.  There is much we cannot explain, as to a sovereign God,but that makes no difference,because we are called to a position of faith, that He is God but also a sovereign God,who is working out his purpose and will  ,in this world and in the lives of every dear Christian.

Worship ( John 20 v 28 )

I read these words recently,' Jesus worshipped with Gods people'', what do think of those words?,did Jesus ever worship? I do not think the writer realised what he wrote.The fact is Jesus never worshipped, never. A friend of mine was at a seminar ,and the lecturer asked him a question,'when did Jesus realise He was God?.'My friend replied ,when did you become a heretic?.My friends answer was ,Jesus always knew He was God,that there was not a point in His life that He did not know He was God. So when He attended the synagogue, or visited the temple He never worshipped, being God  He never worshipped He received worship. cp John 9 v 38/ Hebrews 1 v 6.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Jesus is God, The glorious bands                                                                                                              Of  golden angels sing.                                                                                                                              Songs of adoring praise to Him,                                                                                                                Their maker and their king,                                                                                                                        He was true God in Bethlehem's crib,                                                                                                        On Calvary's cross true God;                                                                                                                    He who in heaven eternal reigned,                                                                                                            In time on earth abode.                                                                                                                                  ( F.W.Faber )

Christmas cards ( Hebrews 11 v 35 - 38 )

I have just posted 4 Christmas cards to three countries, one to Bangladesh one to Vietnam,and two  to China..Three of these cards are going to Christians who are suffering for their faith,let us remember that in many countries Christians have a hard time . In Egypt  and in Pakistan young girls are abducted and forced into marriage with Muslim men,and then forced to sign a statement ,that they have converted to Islam,some of these girls are as young as fourteen. I have never been persecuted for being a Christian,but my heart  goes out to these dear people . Do pray for our Christian family that they may be faithful in spite of all they are suffering.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Remember those who are in prison,as                                                                                                       though you were in prison with them;                                                                                                       those who are being tortured, as though                                                                                                     you yourselves were being tortured.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            ( Hebrews 13 v 3 )                                                                                                     

The power of sin. ( Luke 8 v 26 - 39 )

Raymond Brown writes,' The terrible thing about sin - its awful power to go reproducing itself, not only in our own lives, but in the lives of other people'.There is no human way of combating sin ,we stop in one area and it breaks out in another area.There is no place on earth were sin is not present, and that's inevitable, for mankind is a carrier of this plague,and devastation lies in its trail.Some children inherit their parents illnesses ,not all, but all children are infected by the seed of sin from their father.Yes it is a terrible thing about sin ,and its reproducing power,nothing   can stop this. be not surprised at this, it is self evident,so many would challenge what I am writing,they speak of the nobility of the human spirit,they speak of the noble savage.  There is really no such thing as the noble  savage,but there are savages,and they are not all in the jungle.Everyday we read of people being knifed, wars still rage within this world.. Is there an answer?,yes the answer is Jesus,who can do, two wonderful things, the first thing He can do,is forgive us our sin when  we ask Him to be our Saviour,the second thing is,He breaks the power of sin, in our lives.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          Amazing grace ,how sweet the sound,                                                                                                      That saved a wretch like me.                                                                                                                       I once was lost, but now am found;                                                                                                           Was blind but now I see.                                                                                                                                 ( John Newton )

Forbidden ( Deuteronomy 18 v 8 - 14 )

As Israel was about to enter the promise land they were warned not to engage in the religious practise's of the people who lived there ( Deuteronomy 18 v 8 - 14 )these practise were,'divination,sorcery, omens, witchcraft, casting of spells,spirit' ism,consulting the dead. These things were wrong then, and they are wrong now,they are not of  God,they are of the kingdom of darkness,and can only lead us more and more into darkness.They must be seen for what they are ,evil,opposed to God and His kingdom,a Christian should never be involved in these practise's.But unfortunately ,as Raymond Brown says writing of Israel,'One of the most dangerous  expressions of the people's waywardness and ignorance was to seek God's help by the wrong means' CP 2 Kings 17 v 16 - 17.There is only way to God, for the sinner it is through Christ as a Saviour,( John 14 v 6 ) and for the Christian ,Christ as their mediator.( 1 Timothy 2 v 5 )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Stop looking at the stars,look to                                                                                                                  the Saviour,stop trying to                                                                                                                          contact the dead,and look to Jesus.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Just one sin ( Romans 3 v 23 )

In a local newspaper there is a list of people who were fined for breaking the speed limit,I do try not to break the speed limit, but there are times I fail. Even though I don't want to break the speed limit I do, would I be right in thinking  that all drivers have broken the speed limit?.When people get caught  speeding ,some will feel hard done by,because they where only driving one mile over the limit,the fact is, they  have broken the law,and the must suffer the consequences. The word of God tells us in James 2 v 10 ,'For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point   is guilty of breaking all of it'.Yes the breaking of Gods law in just one commandment, is a  sin and  has dire consequences for us.all, protesting your innocence does not change the fact that  in Gods eye you are a sinner,.and what does sinners need ? they need a Saviour,and Jesus is the only Saviour

Anger ( James 1 v 19 - 20 )

When I arrived home I was very angry,I was so upset,at the way someone spoke to me  publicly,I thought of the things I would say to that person.We are told in Ephesians 4 v 26 - 27.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      In your anger do not sin; Do not let                                                                                                          the sun go down while you are still                                                                                                            angry,and do not give the devil a                                                                                                              foothold.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   I believe that these words are telling us to not harbour anger ,like Cain did ( Genesis 4 ) with disastrous effect  . We should deal with it as soon as possible,because if we don't  our enemy will take advantage.I prayed about it committed to God and went to bed, the next morning my anger had subsided ,it goes without saying I am glad I did not act in a wrong way.