The mind of God. ( Isaiah 55 v 8 - 9 )

It was Oliver Cromwell who said,'Seek to know what the mind of God is in all that chain of Providence',I think that it is important,and sometimes we can,the prophets could because it was revealed to them by God.They had special revelation,because they were special,in that they were prophets,but how often people ,sincere people, have declared what they felt, was the mind of God,and have got it wrong. I have often heard of people who have declared to certain individuals,a word from God,as regards their circumstances,and they most definitely, got it wrong.What can we say as regards the mind of God in the circumstances that the world is facing with the coronavirus ?.In a lot of peoples minds it is just another natural happening, but as a child of God,I believe that God is sovereign.  Romans 11 v  33- 34 ,reads, 'Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out. Who has known the mind of the Lord?' Only to those to whom He reveals it.

Why not look up. ( Isaiah 45 v 22 )

We have been considering Psalm 121 ,a prayer,to God,do you pray? , well the writer of the Psalm did,he lifted up his eyes in faith to God who is the creator of all things. I believe when I get to heaven I will be amazed how God preserved me from many dangers, I also believed God hears and answers prayer,and as one who is not only my Creator but my Saviour,in the person of Jesus,and if you do not know Him,I urge you to trust Him. Consider as we look out on this world,we have many   reasons to despair,as we look in at self  ,how fragile we are, how weak we are,yes how sinful we are,why not look up,to the only one who can save us,keep us and bring us to Glory,through His Son Jesus Christ.

Why? ( Psalm 121 )

Continuing looking at Psalm 121, as you read this short Psalm you begin to understand why the writer asked that question,'where does my help come from', he is  afraid of the dangers in life ,what were they?. Verse three commences by saying 'He will not let your foot slip',what does that mean? Well life is full of many dangers ,it is so easy to fall morally,so easy to fall spiritually, The next thing that he speaks of the natural forces of nature v 6,we are becoming more aware of the dangers of nature,the sun can do us a lot of good but it also can do us a lot of harm.the next dangers, v 7, reads about all evil ,and the preserving  of his soul , Spurgeon writes 'It includes everything and excludes nothing'.Lastly in v 8 , he mentions his going out and his coming in. So that's a brief summary of  why he asked the question,' where does my help come from?',and the answer is God the maker of heaven and earth.

Help ( Acts 17 v 28 )

We consider yesterday the opening words of Psalm 121  I lift up my eyes to the mountains, where does my help come from? what is your answer?here is the answer the writer of this Psalm gives,'My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.' Look out on the world today, it is a world that has not only forgotten God, but denies His position as  creator,and yet our very lives depends on Him,for in Him we live and move and have our being.Have you asked yourself, what is the life force,where does it come from,?,the answer is God,can you think of any other answer.If God withdrew His power from this world everything would cease to be,everything.He is not only the maker of heaven and earth,he sustains it,as the little song says ,'He has the whole world in His hands' '.

Help . ( Psalm 121 )

A favourite Psalm of many is 121,it just has 8 verses, it begins, 'I will lift up my  eyes to the mountains,where does my help come from? I wonder how you would answer that question?you may not have a clue.A great ocean liner was built in the city where I was born,it was an example of mankind's progress,and we are all familiar with what someone said about it,''even God could not sink her''.We all know now what happened to the supposedly unsinkable ship,it sunk with the loss of many lives. Hitler beguiled a nation with his words,and boasted that the Third Reich would last a thousand years, he had raised up a massive military machine. It did seem that he was unstoppable ,yet we know what came of that forecast. The world is in a turmoil  , where is our help going to come from?.science? surely they have all the answers?,remember the Titanic.

It is all about Jesus. ( Acts 16 v 31 )

I heard a preacher quoting a well known saying,'Time is a great leveller',the question is, what does it mean?.It appears to means, that we all , in spite of our social status,wealth,power, nationality,will end up equally dead. Yet in another way I would say that death will not mean the same for all of us, God's word makes it very clear,that there will be a great separation, ( Matthew 25 v 31 ff / Revelation 20 v 11 ff). Those who have trusted Jesus and those who have not, in reading Matthew 25 it may appear that your good works save you, they don't, Ephesians 2 v 9,clearly tells us that we are not saved by our works, works are a vital evidence that we are Christians, Ephesians 2 v 10, we are saved unto good works, not by them James 2 v 20. It is the work of Christ that saves us, His righteousness ,His death,and his resurrection,it is all about Jesus. Those who try to add to this will find themselves separated, from God,just like those who deny God,and reject Christ.

A higher power (Psalm 91)

We find in the Psalms so much to instruct us encourage us and to bless us,so I would encourage you to read them. My mind turned Psalm 91 written possible by Moses.I pick out two verses to think upon v 3 / v 6, in these two verses we have the word pestilence used,it indicates that it was written on the occasion of some wasting disease afflicting Israel. Consider the times the Psalm was written,a time when no medical cure was to be found,consider the times we live in,as we are discovering, that there is no cure for the coronavirus ,yes there is nothing new under the sun. So many people are fearful,understandably so. Who knows that many may be praying ,it is said that their no atheists in foxholes,meaning that in times of stress or fear, people will in hope and look to a higher power.Well as a Christian I believe in higher power ,God, why not call upon Him.

There is plenty ( Matthew 6 v 25 - 34 )

I received information that in parts of Africa and in other parts of the world,plagues of locust are devouring peoples crops,there was a moving picture of a lady waving a cloth at then to chase them away,a futile exercise,but it highlights how she felt.The result of this plague will be that many will grow hungry and many will starve to death. My son spoke to a friend in South Africa ,he has not  been able to buy a loaf of bread for four days,he has four children.Now I contrast this with the country I live in ,and how people are reacting to the coronavirus  ,panic, the supermarkets cannot keep up with the demands of people  wanting to buy groceries. This in spite of the fact that they are continually being assured that there is no supply shortage .We need not be surprised at how people are acting,Jesus said to us Christians, ''So do not worry, saying,what shall we eat ?,or what shall we drink?,or what shall we wear? For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ''but He did not stop there ,He went on to say,''But seek first his Kingdom  and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well''

The prayer ( Psalm 121 )

One of the most popular songs song by Andrea  Bocelli is ,'The prayer', Here are some of the words,  'I pray you'll be our eyes,and watch us where we go,and help us to be wise,in times when we don't know. When we lose our way,lead us to a place,guide us by your grace,to a place where we'll be safe.I pray we'll find your light,we'll hold in our hearts.When stars go out each night,When shadows fill our day,lead us to a place,guide us by your grace,give us faith so we'll be safe.. Amen.

The wisdom and power of God ( 1 Corinthians 1 v 18 - 25 )

I have just looked at a list of Philosophers ,in an national newspaper ,that gives a short ,a very short  , summary of what they believed in, from Aristotle who taught that the only way to achieve a truly happy life, was by forsaking instant gratification in favour of the careful cultivation of virtues.the list ended on a happy note ( I joke ) with what Soren  Kierkegaard believed. He taught ,that all human beings live with despair until they die,whether they know it or not. I will not leave you with that note,it was the Apostle Paul who would have been familiar with Greek Philosophy inspired by Gods Holy Spirit wrote,how that for all their so called wisdom they did not know God.He went on to write how that the wisdom of God ,went beyond any human ability to conceive, it was in a Christ who was crucified.To the wise and the religious of this world,it was foolishness,but in reality it is a manifestation of the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

In His hands . (Psalm 31 v 15 )

As a result of reading the words from Psalm 91, we read Daniels words,'I scarce need tell the reader that from that moment, I resolved that I would stay in the town, and casting myself entirely upon the goodness and protection of the Almighty,would not seek any other shelter whatever; and that, as my times were in His hands, He was able to keep me in a time of infection as in a time of health; and if He did not think to deliver me, still I was in His hands, and it is right that He should do with me as  should seem good to Him'

A higher power. ( Psalm 91 )

In a little book by Daniel Defoe called ,'A visitation of the plague',when many especially the rich were fleeing from the city of London because of the Great Plague of 1665.Daniel considered his plight, what should he do,should he flee?.Well, were can we flee from the caronverus?,the problem is ,it is everywhere,well, he prayed,a simple prayer,he cried to the Lord,''Lord direct me,I know not what to do;'He had his Bible before him,and he turned the page and his eyes fell on Psalm 91,and he read,'I  will say of the Lord,He is my refuge and fortress; my God, in Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence......Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; nor the pestilence  that walketh in darkness nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not nigh thee.......Because thou hast made the Lord,which is my refuge,even the most High, thy habitation;there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling''. I will continue this next time.

I come. ( Matthew 11 v 28 )

'Jesus its me again,on my knees again,asking you please again,reach out your hand again'.these are the words of a modern Christian song.It expresses a continual coming to Jesus,a continual need for His blessing,a continual weakness.Many old hymns express these feelings ,like that  wonderful hymn,'Just  as I 'was written by Charlotte Elliott, a lady, who suffered from ill health,and despaired of what she felt, her uselessness.It was often played at Billy Graham evangelistic campaigns,and in many ways it was an appropriate song,suited to the seeking sinner.But it also is appropriate for the child of God,here are some of the words,one can use them as a prayer, like the psalms.'Just as I am , without one plea, But that Thou blood was shed for me,And that Thou bidd'st me come to Thee ,O Lamb of God I come,Just as I am ,though tossed about, with many a conflict , many a doubt, Fightings and fears within ,without,O lamb of God I come.Just as I am,Thou wilt receive. Wilt welcome,pardon, cleanse, relieve. O lamb of God I come. Just as I am ,Thy love unknown , has broken every barrier down; Now to be Thine, yea ,Thine alone, O Lamb of God ,I come.

Those evil people ( Romans 3 v 10 - 23 / 6 v 23 )

From early on in my Christian life ,the doctrine of the sovereignty of God has been precious to me, to know that He is in control,what about evil?. Evil is a fact of life,the history of humanity,is full of so much evil,wars,murders,stealing etc,that's a fact, unjust things are happening all the time.But God is not evil,no, the Lord is good,kind, holy,just,loving, and that's a fact,oh yes He uses evil,yes He uses people even evil people,and they are responsible for their evil actions,and will not escape His justice.  When we think of evil we think of people who do terrible things, Hitler, Stalin,and we loose sight of the fact, that we all are part of a sinful world,and that only God is holy.only God is truly good. Summing up our human condition God's word tells us, that there is no one righteous,not even one,there is no one who understands,there is no one who seeks God.There is no one who does good ,not even one, mouths are full of cursing and bitterness, feet are swift to shed blood, no fear of God   before their eyes, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Whatever you may think about those word, they are true. we are all part of this evil world, one way or the other, and the only hope for us evil people is Jesus,we need Him as our Saviour.

NOW. (Acts 16 v 31 )

The thought just struck me ,the coronavirus started by one person,and from that one person it has spread all over the world.It is in Romans 5 v 12 we read, 'sin entered the world by one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people,because all sinned'. The coronavirus  brings with it death, for some,hopefully a cure will be found, I wonder why this has happened?,what is Gods purpose in all this.As one looks back on history plagues of one kind or another have affected humanity.Will it affect you or me if it has,my prayers and thoughts are with you. If you are not a Christian then I urge you to turn to to Jesus,now, not  later, but now.I am not scare mongering ,but I know because of sin we are all going to die,and because we are sinners,a judgement awaits all without exception,whose sins have not been forgiven. The only way to escape that is through faith in Jesus,no one else can save,if you are a Muslim you need more than a prophet you need a Saviour.

Trust ( Proverbs 3 v 5 )

I once said to the congregation of the church I attend ,that one of the most important verses in the Bible for me is Proverbs 3 v 5 , which reads,'Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding'.It means in times of trial, times when you don't understand ,why certain things have happened,the why looms large,when your young wife dies and you are left with 4 children,and your life verse Romans 8 v 28,  reads,'And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God'. And it didn't stop there,what do you do,?,well there are ways we can react,you can lean upon your own understand,or you can trust in the Lord.Leaning upon your own understanding will not help,it can only lead you away from God,which will not do you any good,or you can trust in Him, and that will do you a lot of good,believe me  I speak from experience.

Out of step. ( Revelation 7 v 9 - 17 )

I was saddened when I heard what the minister in my church said to a member of the church,who is a Christian, that her loved one who had died was in the ground,and would be resurrected when Christ comes back.This is because he has become a disciple of a person called Wright, who does not believe Christians will ever go to heaven. I did read this persons view's on this subject,and was dismayed at the spirit in which it was written.I also disagree with their view's,consider the fact that all of Christendom,believes that  when a child of God dies they go to heaven,and most important of all , scripture teaches it. It reminds me of the parents of a young soldier ,they went to see him at his passing out parade,they noticed that their boy was not in step with the rest of the soldiers,and they were heard to say,''look at all those soldiers they are out of step''.I can assure you that it is not us who believe that Christians go to heaven,who are out of step.

Truth is on you side. ( Isaiah 53 v 7 )

The late Selwyn Hughes ,wrote about a minister, who was accused of something of which he was innocent. He explained the facts, but his explanation was not accepted and he was removed from the pulpit of that church. Selwyn asked him why he hadn't done more to protest his innocence. With assurance he said;'Truth is on my side...the months will speak against the hours.' Within six months he was exonerated and went back to his pulpit. Selwyn  commented ,'Now that's security, that's trust'. The nature of life will mean that there are times when unfair things will happen to us,we are  treated badly,and there is nothing we can do about it.Consider our dear Saviour and all he suffered unjustly,this is what the apostle writes about him,'He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled insults at him,he did not retaliate; he  entrusted himself to him who judges justly' ( 1 Peter  2 v 22- 23 )

Indispensable ( 2 Timothy 4 v 16 - 18 )

R. C. Sproul said that cemeteries are full of indispensable people,it is an important lesson to learn, that we can all be replaced. It is the nature of life,no matter how gifted we are, we can be replaced,and will be replaced. That does not mean that we are of no value ,no ,of course,we are of value,and that goes for the good we do,the gifts we have. The challenge that God would bring to us is this, don't put those so called indispensable people,in place of Me. I have had friends and I relied on them  so much , but God took them out of my life,why?,could it be that I was relying on them to much.The word of God exhorts us to , 'Fix our eyes on Jesus'. ( Hebrews 12 v 2 )The meaning of the word indispensable means something or someone you cannot do without, the only person you and I cannot do without is Jesus.

No panic ( Mark 4 v 35 - 41 )

I am  sure by now we have all heard of the coronavirus ,and hopefully we are following the advice given,like washing hands etc. It is interesting how people have reacted to this threat to our lives,or being shut in our homes for 14 days.In our recent shopping day, my wife notice,there was panic buying of pasta,and toilet rolls.I am sure many people are panicking about going holidays, what if  the holiday ship they are on becomes their prison ship.Well I mentioned  this to a friend on an email, his answer was,'' no panic here''. It is right that we take every precaution,but let us not panic, I have a little plaque with these words on it, 'Be still and know that I am God'. ( Psalm 46 v 10 )

Worry. ( Matthew 6 v 25 - 34 )

We are now in what many Christian's call the season of lent,the Archbishop of Canterbury recommends a book by a certain author ,that links lent up with the days of creation. Lent is a season on which many Christians choose do give up some particular thing, during the season of lent, I think its a good  idea. Our Pastor asked us to suggest things we could give up,people suggested things,but there was an unexpected suggestion from a person called Judith,now I know Judith well,she is a simple soul,but her suggestion hit a cord with us all,it was, to give up worrying. If  only that were possible,our lives would be enriched so much. Our Lord who knows us ,said not to worry ,because we have a heavenly Father who knows what we need,and so will care for us. Do read the above scripture.

Words of comfort ( John 10 v 11 )

I was watching an old movie, a young girl was dying, the one who was caring for her,got out a Bible and started to read the 23 Psalm,and this touched my heart,and a tear came into my eyes. So I am going to leave this Psalm with you,  'The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; ,  he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a  table before me in the presence of mine enemies; thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for every.

He changed ( 2 Timothy 4 v 9 - 10 )

Last time I stressed the importance of discernment,and  I mentioned a certain preacher who denied the deity of Christ.It is a puzzle to me what he said in his spiritual autobiography as not believing Christ was God. Consider the following  comments he made on  Philippians 2 v 5, which  reads,' He was by nature in the very form of God',''Here two words are most , carefully chosen to show the essential and unchangeable godhead of Jesus Christ''.......'' that Jesus was  essentially, unalterably, and unchangeable God'',  Jesus remained in essence,His  unchangeable being divine''As a Christian I would say amen to what he wrote,but it appears that for whatever reason he changed in his beliefs as regards Christs divinity. It is a warning to us all ,to hold fast to Gods truth which does not change, truth is not something we throw off like a change of clothes, may God grant us grace to hold fast to the truth in God's word.

Discernment . ( Matthew 16 v 5 - 12 )

I recommended a book to a person , and I give him this advice, always be discerning,be it a book or a sermon,always be discerning.There was a popular writer, I have used his books to help me in my studies,he is no longer alive.I heard him many years ago speaking on television, and enjoyed what he had to say.He appeared sound in doctrine, and I would quote him in my sermons,for what he had to say was worthwhile. A while ago I purchased his spiritual autobiography, and to my surprise I discovered that he denied the divinity of Christ.That is not clear in his writings,consider what he wrote in one of his books,''Jesus was not simply one of us;he was God among us'' So be discerning, at all times.

Dying. ( 1 Thessalonians 4 v 13 - 18 )

Someone wrote the following,''I  have always felt that our funeral service there is something very like the worship of death,whereas if we were logical it would be a time of rejoicing that our loved one had passed from death to life''.I feel that these word have a truth to them ,as regards those who have died, yes if they are Christians they are with the Lord,and because of that we can and should rejoice. Yes those who are left sorrow not as those without hope, but they sorrow non the less, and they need comforted. As for those who are not Christian it is important that they are comforted, but also reminded that they need Christ, for without Christ there is no hope.

The children. ( Matthew 19 v 14 )

As I look back on my life I give thanks for the different Sunday school teachers who taught me about God and the way of salvation.  When I was very young I attended a children's meeting,I heard a man speaking about sin ,and that had a profound effect upon me, The times they are a changing, so few children go to Sunday school, or to children's meetings, but they still need to hear about Christ, more than ever. Children like adults need Christ,the times they may be changing, but children will grow to be adults who will become involved,in all sorts of wrong and sinful things.A child who comes to Christ can be saved from so much evil,so let us pray for the children.

Give thanks. ( Romans 16 )

Often many people are overlooked,when was the last time you hear of a road sweeper on the honours list?,of the parent who looks after a child who is  disabled.When I worked with the mentally ill, I admired those parents who had the life time job of caring for them. I sometimes offer up a prayer for the people pushing a wheelchair with a chronic ill person in it,what about the cleaners in the hospitals, those who man, the tills in our supermarkets,I am sure it is true that we take so many people for granted in life.I think of the debt I owe the teacher who who taught me to read and write.We all need each other, life would be the poorer if so many on herald people had not helped us.

God will. ( Matthew 6 v 33 )

Sometimes we forget to pray about certain things like protection when we travel,or whatever,it is wonderful to know that God does not forget us. Not only does He not forget His children He will not forsake them,not only that, He will help them,not only that He will protect them,not only that He will love them, not only that He will guide them,not only that He will provide for them,not only that He will show mercy to them,not only that He will strengthen them, and not only that ,He will perfect that which concerneth them, not only that He will work  out all things for their good.

Don't forget. ( Psalm 34 v 4 - 6 )

Yesterday we mentioned how people appear to be always in a hurry,a little word to if you are a Christian, don't neglect prayer,I leave a few words from an old gospel song with you.' Ere you left your room this morning ,did you think to pray?,In the name of Christ our Saviour,did you sue for loving favour,as a shield today. Oh ,how praying helps the weary,prayer will change the night today,so in sorrow and in gladness, 'don't forget to pray'.

Rushing on . ( James 4 v 13 - 16 )

Owing to work on a new road lay out in our town, delays in traffic was  inevitable, I was taking a friend to the  train station,and found myself  in a traffic jam. As I came to go right on a roundabout, a car suddenly overtook me  ,it was a very near miss,but thankfully it was a miss.A few thoughts on on this ,first the person who nearly caused an accident ,was in a hurry, and so put himself and me in danger. It appears we live in a age when people are in such a hurry,no time to stop and stare,no time to stop and consider there eternal destiny,they are rushing on ,and sadly the only destination they will reach is a lost eternity.

Hell on earth ( Psalm 22 )

We finished last time by saying that we in our natural state are living under a cloud of God's  wrath,,in the here and now,that will also follow us ,even after death,in hell,from which there will be no escape,.So God did something very ,very, wonderful ,He sent his son , Jesus,who would die on the cross experiencing the wrath of God in our stead, in Galatians 3 v 13 we read, 'Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us'.Bruce Milne  wrote the following,''For Christ to be a complete and sufficient Saviour He must save us from every effect of our sins......then he must, of necessity, in some way and at some point, bear the pains and terrors of hell.Only thus are we delivered from them.. Thus the cross was precisely ,as Calvin argues, 'hell on earth'.So let me finish now by declaring,'that God so loved the world that he gave is only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish , but have everlasting life .  ( John 3 v 16 )