Ebenezer, ( 1 Samuel 7 v12 )

1n 1 Samuel 7 we read how Israel had turned away from God and began to follow false  god's,the Philistines were in the ascendancy.So the prophet Samuel urged them to forsake those so called gods ,and return to the Lord and He would help them defeat their enemies. So Israel did just that,they confessed their sins, they say that',confession is good for the soul'.It is not only good for the soul, it is vital if we are to have a relationship with God,and to receive his blessing.Now things began to happen,the Philistines who had previously defeated Israel ,were coming against them,and Israel was afraid.So they turned to the man of God Samuel to pray for them, and Samuel did two things ,he sacrificed an animal,and prayed for God to deliver Israel,and he did just that,and the Philistines were defeated.Then Samuel set up a stone and named it Ebenezer, meaning ''Thus far the Lord has helped us''. As we come to the end of this year, let us cast our minds back to all  our yesterdays,and consider how our great God has helped us in so many ways,He is not only the God of yesterday,He is also the  God of the present and the future,He will not fail us,for we are precious to Him and He loves us dearly.Dear old John Newton wrote the following.

                                                       'His love in time past

                                                       Forbids me to think

                                                       He'll leave me at last

                                                       In  trouble to sink;

                                                      Each sweet Ebenezer

                                                      I have in review

                                                      Confirms His good pleasure

                                                      To help me quite through.'

Why? ( John 10 17 - 18 )

 Napoleon is greatly admired, during his reign he warred against 5 countries  ,millions of soldiers died fighting these wars,possible millions of civilians died also. He never expressed any regrets at the lost of so many people. The Duke of Wellington said as he surveyed the carnage after the battle of Waterloo,''Next to a battle lost,the saddest thing is a battle won..'' From the slaying of Abel by Cain, humanity has been at war continually with each other, one writer said that the worlds history has been like a slaughter house.Why this intense desire to kill each other?,well their is a saying that declares as regards such violence,as being ,'the nature of the beast'. The word of God  declares that mankind has a sinful nature ,in Romans 3 v11-18 ,the writer declares different aspects as regarding that fallen nature, v 18 tells us that,'that our feet are swift to shed blood'. Life history bears this out, we read it every day in our newspapers,on TV, and it is seen as entertainment in movies.Here is something mind blowing for into this world of gratuitous violence ,a babe was born,his name was Jesus, the Son of God,no one forced Him to come, but He came,why?.

                                                           'Out of the ivory palaces,

                                                           Into a world of woe,

                                                            only His great eternal love

                                                            Made my Saviour go.'

                                                            Words  Henry Barraclough.

                                                            

Give me your heart ( Revelation 3 v20 )

In Proverbs 23 v 26 we read,' My son,give me your heart', spoken by a father ,warning his son as regards getting involved  with an immoral woman.Enid B.Mellor  points out what the father is asking,that his son would give him his full,undivided attention.There is most definitely that to it,we can get so easily distracted,the result is we don't listen,and of course there are times we don't want to listen, especially if we are young.Not realising that we would avoid a lot of dangers and hurts .if only we had listened,if only,I remember a man who used to preach in my church,we called him the pig farmer,telling us that he was convicted by those words,'give me your heart', the result was he became a Christian.There are so many things and voices tugging at our heart.Charles Bridges writes,'Many are the claimants for the heart,Heaven and hell contend for it. The world with its riches, honours, and pleasures; and science with  its more plausible charms- cries - Give me your heart'.Christ stands at the door of our hearts saying let me in,let me in,'give me your heart'. I made decisions as regards Jesus to come into my life when I was young,but unfortunately I give my heart to other things,but it wasn't until I grew older,in all my need,I give Christ my heart.

                                                                'We all have a choice'

Father you are faithful. (Hebrews 13 v5 )

 At one of the lowest points in Israel's history, when the nation had been devastated by the Babylonians, most of those who survived where taken into captivity( Psalm 137).Jeremiah  ministered for 40 years,it began under King Josiah, after his death the nation turned away from God.Jeremiah  in vain challenged the people as regards their sinful ways,pleading with them to repent and turn to God. Along with the challenge came a warning of coming judgement,and sadly, so it came to pass. So when it happened Jeremiah stood among the midst  of the ruins of Jerusalem,and declared ,'Because of the Lords great love  we are not consumed',there was still a remnant left,in 70 years they would return from exile,and the nation would recover.So Jeremiah tells us it was because of God's great love they where not  consumed,for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, Great is your faithfulness. ( Lamentations 3 v 22-23)I  would like to highlight God's faithfulness,He is a faithful God, He says I will never leave you nor forsake you, Hubert Dapliyan wrote a song called,'Father you are faithful'. I will leave you with some of the words from that song.

                                           'Flowers wither,leaves drop,trees trample,roots spoil.

                                           Fountains dry, rivers thirst,but your love remains faithful.

                                           The sun sets,the moon rests,the day ends,the time flies,

                                           Seasons change,blue skies fade,but your love remains the same.'

                                                                 'Father you are faithful

                                                                  Father you are faithful

                                                                  Father you are faithful

                                                                   Father you are faithful'

                                              

The story is not over yet.( 2 Thessalonians 1 v 5 - 10 )

 So Christmas day has passed it is now just a memory, and while that is true, the reality of  what we were celebrating goes on , The toddler would grow and develop into a man and would face the grim reality of an awful death on a cross,and bear the terrible punishment for our sins,so that all who trust  in Him would not be punished. That was the reality He would face,everyday he lived  was a step nearer that event,He knew what He was  going to experience, nothing would take Him by surprise,He knew the reason  why He had come. Most of Israel did not see it that way, although they had the scriptures that clearly showed that the Messiah would die ,read Psalm 22 / Isaiah 52v 11- 15 and chap 53,it is as plain as knows on ones face. But the story is not over this may have been the worlds last Christmas,for Christ is coming again,the OT mentions continually the ,'Day of the Lord', Joel 2 v28 -32, David Prior sees in this' a world heading for an apocalyptic day of reckoning'.Isaiah 65 v 17 speaks of a new heaven and a new earth,which Peter writes of  in 2 Peter 3 v 13,and John writes of in Revelation 21 v 1.Of course Jesus spoke clearly of His coming back again,likewise the apostles,yes the reality of His second coming will happen,the story is not finished yet, it will happen, as a Christian let us  live in light of  that great coming event,if  you are a not a Christian trust Jesus to be be your Saviour before it is to late.

The greatest gift. ( 2 Corinthians 9 v 15)

Abraham Lincoln said,' I can see how it might possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist,but I cannot conceive how a man can look up into heaven and say there is no God'.Unfortunately there are none so blind who do not want to see,creation is God's voice, but the voice of God is drowned out. Humanity has eyes but they do not see,they have ears but they do not hear,writing of his unsaved state John Newton wrote ,'I once was blind'.There are two aspects of revelation,one is general and the other special . ' General revelation ,'is God's clear display of His glory in creation . and it is the  apostle Paul who points that because of this the unsaved are without excuse,'(Romans 1 v 20,)The second  is Special revelation it points to the Spirit of God moving in the hearts of mankind,and opening our understanding,as to whom Jesus is, a Saviour ,suddenly the scales drop from our eyes,and we who were once blind, can now see. It is a miracle of grace,amazing grace,salvation is of the Lord, without the Lord's gracious intervention none of us would be saved.Consider what the apostle Paul  wrote,'We were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us,God,who is rich in mercy.made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. Then he adds,'it is by grace you have been saved and this is not from yourselves,it is the gift of God.'  (Ephesians 2 v 3 - 8) When you remember all the gifts you have ever received,lovely and precious though they were, they pale into insignificance to Gods gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ His dear Son. (John 3 v16)

                                             'Stop for a moment and consider Calvary '

 

 

Be a star. ( Acts 1 v 8)

 There is a lady I know,whose name means ,'star',and it reminded me of the star of Bethlehem,that guided the wise men to Jesus.I wonder what  you would think if  I said , that we Christians should all be stars ,leading people to Christ. You may reply I'm not qualified to lead people to Christ ,better to leave it to the professionals, who knows what they are doing. Yes I know that we are not all gifted in the same way,that's the way it should be .Every Christian has the Holy Spirit ,that means He will help us in our weakness , and we have a wonderful promise,( Psalm 32 v8)  'I  will instruct you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you'. In the  last verse in Matthews gospel we have these assuring words spoken by our Saviour, ''I am with you always'.Then we have the precious word of God, that word we are told is alive and active. Sharper than any two edge sword,it penetrates even to dividing  soul and spirit,joints and marrow,it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4 v 12) Then last but not least we have prayer, when we pray we are acknowledging our dependence on God. Many people in the entertainment industry wants to be stars,well we are dealing with something more important than entertainment,far more important.So the question is, do we want to be a star,and lead people to Jesus?

                                                            'Go on, be a Star'

                                                                                                                              

Everyone has troubles ( Psalm 91 )

 Alan Whicker  was an international reporter for the BBC , and I remember him visiting a home in America ,the person who lived there  was very wealthy,she was also a  Christian.A number of people gathered in her home,and they listened to a lady singing that lovely song,' His eye is on the sparrow'. The first verse reads ,'Why should I feel discouraged,why should the shadows come,Why should my heart be lonely,And long for heaven and home'. Alan gave the impression that it was strange that song was sung ,in a home of wealth and plenty.So many people covet wealth as if that it is the answer to all their problems, but its not,far from it,no one can escape life's problems .Money  brings its own problems ,insecurity as the Bible speaks of the uncertain of riches,read the book of Ecclesiastes,written by the man who had humanly speaking  everything,and in the end he lost the plot and brought disaster upon himself and the nation he ruled.(1 kings 11 v 9ff.Yes the rich have their problems as do the poor,if you have Christ you are rich,and no one can rob you of that blessing,the apostle wrote.

                                          For I am convinced that neither death nor life, 

                                          neither angels nor demons,neither  the present

                                          nor the future , nor any powers,neither height

                                          nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be

                                          able to separate us from the love of God that is 

                                          in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                                                                  (Romans 8 v 38 - 39 )

                                  

                           

What we do not know ( 1 John 3 v 2 )

Last time we mentioned how Paul had a wonderful experience when he had  a vision of heaven,and yet he is not willing to reveal what heaven was like.Now we know somethings about heaven,but there is much we don't know, he speaks of those unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter(2 Corinthians 12 v 4) .Those tourist who apparently visited heaven ,let it all out,well that speaks for itself,it helps the sale of their books. I will share with you  what R.V.G.Tasker has to say on this subject,'The New Testament is deliberately reticent about the details of the after- life;and it becomes Christians to refrain from idle and curious speculation on the subject.The things that are necessary for our salvation God has  made plain,what has not been made plain is not necessary.'We could say the same as regards our Saviours early life,  we do not know what He looked like,it is not necessary,but what is necessary is made known to us.The fact is there are so many things we don't know ,it is  Paul who declare,' we only know in part'. (1 Corinthians 13 v 12)  Hodge says the following ,' It is enough that we know that in that world the saints shall be made perfectly holy and perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God for ever'.

                                                 'The secret things belong to the Lord our God'

                                                                  Deuteronomy 29 v29

No boasting ( Matthew 23 v 11- 12)

I was visiting friends and one asked the question,'How's Peter?',I knew who Peter was, I say was ,because he had died a number of years ago so I told my friends. As an after thought I said,'Peter is fine',I said this  because I know he was a lovely Christian,and he is now in heaven,and he sure is fine,yes more than fine. It was the apostle who had a wonderful experience,we read about it in 2 Corinthians 12 ,one writer puts it like this,' Paul was seized by Christ and swept in ecstasy to the heights of heaven'. Now Paul does not tell us much about his experience of heaven,he didn't want to exploit it,he was concerned that people would think he was bragging,and he would be filled with pride, God who give him that experience knows how we can let pride take over, so He sent an affliction into his life to keep him humble,and gave him the grace to bear that affliction. I am very wary of people who tell us they have been to heaven,and unlike Paul  they exploit  it,like the so called faith healers,and none of them are very humble.If God blesses us with a wonderful gift,a wonderful experience, or a successful ministry it is not to feed our ego,

                                                 'Naught have I gotten,but what I received,

                                                 Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed

                                                  Boasting excluded, pride I abase,

                                                  I'm only a sinner saved by grace'.

                                                             Words J.M.Gray

Reality ( 1 Peter 5 v7 )

Chuck Swindoll in his commentary on Mark says 3 things about ,'Reality', No 1, 'Reality can be so irritating at times..  No 2, 'Reality ,'That's where we live'.  As a young lad I loved going to the cinema ,I remember thinking how wonderful if I could live in the cinema,and see all those wonderful movies. There are many people who want to escape from reality ,people that are being persecuted,people who are living in poverty. Why do people take drugs?,often to escape reality, the list can on and on,often people  cannot escape from their reality,they have to face it,it is not only irritating its a big challenge.There are some things in our reality that wont go away,we must realise some things have to be borne, that is a reality.Our dear Saviour knew what He had to face when He came into this world,the cross was always there,yes He struggled with it in the garden ,but He faced it with bravery, and courage, he didn't run away from it. Just let me say this there are realities that we would be wise to get away from,bear that in mind. But as I said some things have to be borne,you wonder how you are going to cope, Well dear old Chucks answer  for this last reality,'On our knees', that 's when we receive mercy and grace to help us in our time of need. ( Hebrews 4 v 16 ) 

                                                         'You say I can't go on,God says,

                                                         yes you can,for I will be with 

                                                         you'.

Why He came.( 1 Thessalonians 1 v 10 )

 It is that time of the year when as Christians we celebrate the birth of  Christ, the most important event in world history. A child is born,we hear those words sung. Yes a child but what a child !,  and He will be called, 'Wonderful,   Counsellor, Mighty God  ,Everlasting Father,Prince of Peace'. My, think about who Jesus was and indeed is,it should take one's breath away.He's not just a man  He is the God  Man,truly God and truly man. Angels worship Him,He made the universe ,and by His power it is sustained.( Hebrews 1 v 2-3. Those who continue to deny these truths will one day knell in His presence and acknowledge Him as Lord,on that day they will realise to late how wrong they had been.Yes that is whom He is,but we must not  stop there  ,no, there is more,the purpose of His coming, yes He came for a purpose,John Stott wrote the following.'We cheapen the gospel if we represent it as a deliverance only from unhappiness , fear, guilt,and other felt needs,instead   of as a rescue from the coming wrath'.( 1 Thessalonians 1 v10).That's why He came,miss that and you miss ,the reason for the season.      

Never forget.( 2 Corinthians 13 v 14 )

 I often wondered why Christina Rossetti depicted the nativity as taking place in the bleak midwinter ,for a long time it didn't make sense. Well she was an English poet and she felt that our winter with all its bleakness,was very descriptive of what many people in this world are going through. The oppressed, those experiencing conflict,the lonely,homeless ,sorrowing,the hungry,the persecuted,exploited,the nativity as she saw it,is telling us of God who loves and cares  . I will share something I read recently,about two people in a conversation.The first one says,'I believe that God hears our prayers,and cherishes them.I believe He answers by sending His Spirit,and peace and insight.I don't think He responds by turning away bullets and curing cancer.Though sometimes that does happen. The second person says ,' In other words the answer is no?. The first person replies,no, sometimes the answer is,'' This is life,in all its variety. Make your way through it with grace, and never forget ,I  love you''

                                                    ' Love came down at Christmas'

I want.( Acts 26 v 19 )

The Rolling Stones sung a song with the following words,

                                                        'You can't always get what you want

                                                        You can't  always get what you want

                                                         You can't always get  what you want '

                                                         

If you think about it ,that's true,I read of a famous person who was in love with a certain girl,she appeared so lovely,and he wanted her,but it didn't happen.Years later he saw this lovely girl,and he was glad he didn't get her. A child going round the supermarket with his mother wants a lot of things but the mother says no. As a Christian of many years I have discovered that God does not always give me what  I want, and I'm thankful for that,He is all wise,and all loving,and He has to protect me from myself.I know a couple and they wanted to be missionaries,they did everything they could to achieve that goal,but it didn't happen, they didn't get what they wanted,it boils down to this, is it our will  ,or God's will that matters?, and of course it is God's will that matters, every time.If we step out of the will of God then we are in trouble,we are disobedient,the will of God must be the priority in all our lives.

                                           'May our prayer every day be',not my will but yours,Father'

Are you satisfied?. ( Ecclesiastes 2 v 1 -11 )

 We continue to consider Proverbs 27 v 20,and the last part of it,'So the eyes of man are never satisfied',  our Saviour said to a woman at a well,'Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again'.(John 4 v 13) Charles Bridges said,'Man is always seeking for what he can never find,satisfaction in earthly things. All the affections of  fallen man are filled with unquenched thirst.The soul was originally created  to find a suitable and infinite gratification in the love of its Creator.And now that it is turned aside by the fall, it has an immortal depth, that craves to be filled.' It was the Rolling Stones who sang a  song,with the words,' I can't get no satisfaction , cause I try,and I try,and I try.'Adam and Eve were told that they could eat from any tree in the garden of Eden ,except one,but they were not satisfied with that.(Genesis. 2) King David had many wives and concubines yet he stole  another mans wife (2 Samuel 11)God provided manna to feed Israel,but they where not satisfied,( Numbers 11)  So we could go on, look around you,look into your heart, the more man gets the more they want. Augustine said,'Thou has made us for thyself; and our heart can have no rest,till it rests in Thee'.Jesus promised to meet that women's deepest need,all she had to do was to ask and she would receive.

                                                 ' O Christ , in Thee my soul hath found,

                                                  And found in Thee alone,

                                                  The peace, the joy I sought so long,

                                                   The bliss till now unknown.

                                                    Now none but Christ can satisfy'

There is hope.( Luke 2 v 11)

Let us consider Proverbs 27 v 20 ,'Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied'. The first part,'Hell and destruction are never full',  are very challenging words,for it is not just about dying,but what awaits those who do not know Christ , we will all die and there will be no end .of it until Christ returns. But what should concern every human being on planet earth is,what will await then  when they die?,if one does not know Christ,'Hell and destruction', awaits them, CP , Psalm 9 v17 'The wicked shall be turned into hell,and all the nations that forget God'. It is Charles Bridges who writes ,'To great devourers- hell and destruction- never full'.But the good news is this for those who trust Jesus, that awful fate, does not await them,consider the Christ event and the wonderful hope it brings to all mankind,'For  God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life'. ( John 3 v16)

                                                       'How silently,how silently

                                                       The wondrous gift is given

                                                        So God imparts to human hearts

                                                        The blessings of His heaven.

                                                         No ear may hear Him coming;

                                                         But in this world of sin,

                                                         Where meek souls will receive Him still

                                                         The dear Christ enters in.'       (Words P. Brooks)

Trust (John 7 v 7 )

I wonder if there was a time when you had no food in the house, and you had no money to buy any,?.I think of George Muller who started a children's work,and there were times that there was no food in the orphanage,and God provided.When you walk in the will of God He will provide,but it is not just about George Muller,for the God of George  Muller is your God, and my God .George  Muller was a man of Faith, just like those we read about in the Bible,surely it takes special faith  to see God working miraculously,no it takes childlike faith.Why should He help you more than any others,because you are His child,you are the apple of His eye.Our Saviour said,'Do not worry',( Matthew 6 v25 ). He said that ,because He knows how inclined we are to worry,so he wants to reassure us that our Father in heaven will look after us..Remember God is still the living God,and the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.( Hebrews 11 v 7)

                                                     'Trust and rest when all around you

                                                      Puts your faith to stringent test;

                                                      Let no fear or foe confound you,

                                                      Wait for God and trust and rest.

                                                      Trust and rest with heart abiding,

                                                      Like a birdling in its nest,

                                                     Underneath His feathers hiding,

                                                     Fold your wings and trust and rest.'

                                                      

Through Him not us. ( 2 Corinthians 4 v 7-18)

Jacob that ancient  patriarch of Israel was overwhelmed,one thing after another,his favourite son he believed had been killed by wild animals.Later a famine came ,he sent his sons  to get get grain from Egypt, and when they came back it was minus a son,who was being held captive.Jacob was told by his sons that  he would only be released if they returned with Jacobs youngest son Benjamin.It was all very overwhelming for Jacob,and in his despair he declares,''Everything is against me''.(Genesis 42 v36 ) It is so easy to feel like Jacob ,troubles pile up,and like Jacob you feel that everything is against you. Jacob was a man of God who had brought him through so much,yet here he was in deep despair. Let us remember  that all God's Children are very fragile,I know I am at times,and I'm sure you are.Let us remember that all of us are earthen- vessels and what  that means, for Jacob and for us,our weakness and reminds us that it is God's all- surpassing power that enables us to live the Christian life.(2 Corinthians 4 v 7)Paul in that passage v7-18)was experiencing tremendous trials and the only thing that could bring him through was God,and reminds us that we must rely on Him and in Him alone,So let us not loose heart,let us not give up,and let us fix our eyes on Jesus,and keep going on by the grace of God, to the end of our earthly pilgrimage,till we reach heaven and home.

                                                               

                                                       'We can do all things through Christ

                                                         so trust Him'

We do not know. ( Psalm 37 v 23 )

Proverbs 20 v24 reads,  'A man's steps are of the Lord, How then can a man understand his own way?' Charles Bridges has much to on this verse,which is very profitable..His opening statement declares,' God's uncontrollable power and sovereignty; man's absolute dependence and helplessness- let these be foundation principles'.We don't hear much about fortune tellers these days,yes crystal balls are not in vogue these days,likewise liver has really fallen out of fashion.But people still use astrology to see what the future holds for them,there may be other things people try to tell their future.All things would be condemned by God,as  futile ,pointless,but people still have a great appetite and desire to know whats round the bend.But the Christian looks to God and by faith they follow Him,for they know that the way of man is not in himself (Jeremiah 10 v23).Like Abraham who responded to God's call,he left all to go to that place that God had prepared for him,although he did not know where he was going (Hebrews 11 v 8).  What do we know?yes we do know a lot of things,but the word of God tells us,not to boast about tomorrow, for we do not know what a day will bring forth,(Proverb 27 v1).Charles Bridges wrote the following, ''Often do I look back amazed at the strangeness of my course,so contrary to my way. But it is enough  for me,that all is in Thine hands; that my steps are ordered by Thee''

From death unto life ( John 11 v 1 -45 )

 Christmas is a time for families,presents,food,drinking, but also loneliness ,sorrow as regards loved ones who have died,in the midst of it all many people are suffering in so many different ways ,and it will always be like this. One prays that the miracle of salvation will take place in many lives. Lets look beyond the sentimentality that engulfs Christmas and consider the most important thing, mankind's need ,a need that goes beyond the here and now, lets not be fooled  into thinking of mans so called inherited goodness. I am not saying we should not enjoy Christmas but our enjoyment goes beyond the tinsel it is based on reality, of  the Christ who came to save us,not in a season but in a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.  The unsaved are what we once were,dead in trespasses and sin,yes no matter how they appear ,they are  dead spiritually.I am reminded that one day our Saviour stood outside a tomb wherein lay a dead person, and He spoke with a voice that woke the dead.My prayer and hope is that in this dark world of sin ,the voice of Jesus will speak and the dead spiritually will arise in a newness of life .

Listening ( James 1 v 19 )

 I visited a friend recently , I thought we could share things together, but it turned out differently, the visit lasted just over two hours. Now we are all encouraged to be good listeners, it is important, well I really put it into practice during this visit.for during the visit I must have spoken about ten minutes,I just listened. He is a godly man,and he appeared to just want to talk. He shared much of his past experiences ,as regards  his family,the time before he became a Christian,how he became a Christian, and so it went on, and I just listened, I didn't mind,he is my friend. One of qualities to being a good counsellor is to be a good listener,I believe to know when to keep quite is important.In Proverbs 17 v 28 we read,' Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent,and discerning and if they hold their tongues'.There is a time for speaking and  there is a time for being quite,in times of provocation the less said the better. My friend needed me to listen. he needed to talk ,so I listened,but just a closing  thought we need to listen to what God is saying to us,that's very important.

What a day. ( 1 John 3 v 1- 2 )

A friend of mine has an elderly aunt in a residential home, her mind is slowly going,and she is at a point were she does not recognise her niece.One day when she visited her and it made her feel sad, but she felt the Lord saying to her,'that her aunt's soul was alright'. It was Horatio G. Spafford who experienced a tremendous loss in  his life that led him to write a wonderful hymn ,the first verse goes like this.

                                           'When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

                                           When sorrows like sea billows roll;

                                            Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

                                            It  is well , it is well with my soul.

Yes that old ladies mind was gone,her body worn out by age,but she has a soul that will soon depart and be with the Lord, what a glorious future she will have. The word of God tells us that we will have a new body a spiritual body (1Cor 15 v 44) No more suffering ,no more pain,no more death,and what a glorious future we will have,I can only imagine. We will see  our great King in his beauty,and we shall reign with  Him for ever,and just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man,( 1 Cor 15 v 49 even Jesus ,( 1 John 3 v 2 )

                                      '    What a day that will be,When my Jesus I shall see,

                                  When I look upon His face the one who saved by His grace,

                                  When He takes me by the hand,and leads me to the promise land,

                                             What a day,glorious day, that will be.

                                                            Words Jim Hill

                                       

Freedom. ( Luke 4 v 16-19 )

I have a home mini google,I asked for some information which it gave me,  and just for a joke I said,''Thank you'',and the answer I got back ,was,'' I'm honoured to serve''.Don't worry I know it's was  just a machine talking,I wonder how you feel as regards serving people?. Do you feel it is an honour?, One may think it is an honour to serve a king ,or a Queen,or someone important, but here's the thing ,in God's eyes everyone is important,sad it is that so many people serve the devil,well if you do I can assure you he will not  honour you,but instead he will destroy you,make no mistake about it,he is a hard taskmaster ,and those who are in his employment ,sad to say and there are so many doing his bidding. In 1 John 5 v 19,we read,'That the whole world is under the control of the evil one'.There was a moment in Americas history  a wonderful thing happened.it was during the civil war,and one of  reasons for that war,was slavery,'President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, It read,'That all persons held as slaves' ........''are, and henceforward shall be free.'' What a wonderful thing for those dear people who had been in bondage ,often serving wicked and abusive owners .They had no rights,no say in anything ,  children could be taken of them,so many wrong things,but now they were free.Then let me take you to that moment in history when Jesus died on a cross,that we can be free,from  Satan,and sins power,yes it is true.

                                                        Here that cry from the cross

                                                                    'FREEDOM'

Mercy. ( Luke 18 10 - 14 )

 C.H. Spurgeon wrote the following ,'When Dr .Carey was suffering  from a dangerous illness,the inquiry was made,'' If this sickness should prove fatal, what passage wold you select as the text for your funeral sermon?'' He replied,'' Oh, I feel that such a poor sinful creature is unworthy to have anything said about him; but if a funeral sermon must be preached let it be  from the words,' Have mercy  on me ,O  God , according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions.'' In the same spirit of  humility he directed in his will that the following inscription and nothing more should be cut on his gravestone;

                                           'Willian Carey Born August 17th, 1761

                                                                     DIED

                                           '' A wretch, poor, and helpless worm

                                                       On Thy kind arms I fall

God requires. (Micah 6 v 8 )

What do we need ever day in our Christian walk? we need the grace of  God,to live out what it means to be  Christlike. The first sermon I ever preached in England was Micah 6 v 8,it reads,'He has shown you O man, what is good,and what the Lord require of you;But to do justly,To love mercy,and to walk humbly with your God'.We can understand this if we take it in its context,that these qualities were lacking in the nation,oh yes they were religious like the Pharisees in New Testament. Religiosity , they had in plenty,but they lacked the moral qualities that God demanded of His people,the powerful and rich were oppressing the poor and the vulnerable The first thing mentioned relates to being just  in their business dealings (6 v 10-12 ),David Prior writes,'Business is a matter of justice,'. Then Micah stresses, 'To love mercy',Lenin and Stalin's reign could be summed up in one word,'Merciless',but God who is merciful ,challenges His people to not only show mercy but to love mercy.Our Saviour said ,'Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy'( Matthew 5 v 7 ). The next thing that follows ,is humility, summed up in the following words,'To walk humbly with your God'.  we are all prone to moments of pride,may God enable us by His grace to follow in the footsteps  of  Him who humbled Himself , left the eternal glories,  became a servant ,and became obedient unto death on a cross, yes by His grace we can.

5 Castles. (John 21 v'15 - 21)

 A man called Anton was being baptised, before  he did,he told of his history, and the events that  led  him to Christ. He was successful ,had a very good job,and he went on to describe the things in his life,he called them, his five castles.They were ,his career,finance,a wonderful pension,health,and last of all his family, but over a period of years,each of those castles collapsed but one ,the last one..It began to make him think,so he studied self help books, a couple of books he read,were written by Christian's,so he ended up buying a Bible,and read it continually,now as I said that one castle still stood ,his family,of course he loved his family.Then he read what Jesus said in Luke 14 v26,' If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children,brothers and sisters,yes ,even their own life,such a person cannot be my disciple'.This threw him ,as I said he loved his family,so he sought to understand what Jesus meant,he discovered that it meant,to love Jesus more,Michael Wilcock puts like this,''Love for parents..... is to be far surpassed by love of Him that it will seem in comparison like hatred'.He realised that he should love Him his creator more than anyone else,and so he rose to that last challenge and that last castle came tumbling down.

                                                   'Jesus says to us all,' Do

                                                    you love me more than

                                                    these?' (John 21 v15 )

                                                    

                                                   

Do what you can. ( Matthew 10 v42 )

 Often we are driven people,busy ,busy ,busy, and then we get frustrated, because we are held back,by different things,and we may even feel guilty,that we are not doing enough. It is F W, Faber who wrote the following,

                                                    'When obstacles and trials seem

                                                      Like prison walls to be,

                                                      I do the little I can do,

                                                      And leave the rest to Thee'

I like what our dear Saviour said about a lady who was  criticised for which she didn't do,''Leave her alone........She did what she could.''  (Mark 14 v 3 -9). It was John Milton who experienced blindness  felt discouraged,that his talents were wasted,from that experience he was inspired to write ,''They also serve, who only stand and wait''.

There is hope. ( Genesis 6 v 5 )

 It is amazing and sad the depths of our fallen human and how it manifests itself,one could give so many examples,no sooner had man fallen into sin ,that we  read of a murder taken place.( Genesis 4 v 8) I don't want to depress you about what followed that event,one has said since that day,'the world has become a slaughter house.'Well enough said, that wonderful man of God Jeremiah,was inspired to write the following words ,'The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it ?' (Jer 17 v9)Not only do we not understand our fallen nature, in our blindness we speak of mankind's inherent goodness,whereas the word of God stresses that our nature is sinful and manifests that reality in different degrees.You may say many people do good things,have nice personalities yes I agree, but they are still sinners.At a horizontal level people may manifest a good clean nice life ,but we must look up  to a holy God,who searches our hearts and knows every aspect of our lives,and declares that all have sinned and come short of His glory.( Romans 3 v23 ) We go to the doctor to deal with our physical problems, where do we to go to get help as regards our sinful nature? ,to Gods words.That word of God tells it, as it is,we may not want to hear that,and resent hearing that,that does not change anything,we have a fallen nature,that is capable of extreme evil. But all is not lost ,there is hope,for we read that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.

                                                  ' My faith looks up to Thee

                                                   Thou Lamb of Calvary,

                                                   Saviour divine;

                                                   Now hear me while I pray;

                                                   Take all my guilt away;

                                                   O let me from this day

                                                   Be wholly Thine.

                                                    Words Ray Palmer.

                                         

9

He pleased God . ( Romans 15 v 3 )

 I preached a sermon recently,and afterwards a lady spoke to me,and said how she appreciated what I had said ,and I thanked her.Often when one preaches a sermon we don't get much response,A friend of mine  preached a sermon and he said he didn't get any response,I think that discouraged him, I can understand that.Later on in the day I prayed to my loving heavenly Father,and I said, 'Father did that sermon please you?',I hope so.I'm often  challenged when I read about Enoch ,( Genesis 5 v 24 /Hebrews 11 v 5 )we read that he walked with God,and that by faith he didn't die for God translated him to heaven, and he left this testimony, that he pleased God. King David did something absolutely awful,(2 Samuel 11)and so we read ,'The thing David had done displeased the Lord'.I wonder do we ever ask the question,am I pleasing God in what I am doing,in what I am saying,and what I'm thinking. Is man's well done more important than God's well done ?, The word of God challenges us to do everything, to the glory of  God, ( 1 Corinthians 10 v 31)We can only go so far in pleasing people,yes its not wrong to please people,but it is more important to please God and glorify Him in all we do.

If it be His will ( 1 John 5 v 14 -15 )

My youngest son was given the assurance in writing by his employers that he would be given promotion, it was a position that he dearly wanted,then his employer said he wasn't going to get the job.So he felt that he should apply for that position in another company ,he had two interviews,and of course we were praying that he would get the job,but here is the important thing,if it was God's will.Yes that's the vital thing,I kept praying,and always stressed that point,if it was God's will then get him the job, and he has just phoned me and told me that he has got the job,and we give thanks to God for that.In Psalm 40 v 8, we read.'I desire to do your will',these words sum up the reason why our Saviour came,to do the will of God (Mark 14 v 36). So it is, we must always put His will first in our lives, we cannot go wrong if we do that,and here is something that is vital,  He will not always say yes to our requests,in His will He opens doors and He shuts door,in His will He heals and in His will He doesn't heal. God's will is good ,pleasing and perfect ( Romans 12 v 2 )  I remember a fellow student at college called Sheila,a lovely Christian girl, speaking at a meeting,it was a simple talk,and her talk was on a verse of a poem, by F B. Faber.

                                                        'I'll that He blesses is our good, 

                                                         And unblest good is ill;

                                                         And all is right that seems most wrong,

                                                         If it be His sweet will'   

Just want to add  Sheila a young women died of cancer,leaving a husband and a young family.

                                                         

Contentment ( Philippians 4 v 11 - 13)

 A friend was telling me that when he was young,he was in contact with a pastor in Mozambique,he asked my friend if he would come over and help him in God's work. He felt he should, so he arrived in Mozambique,met the pastor who took him to where he was serving God.and he showed him to his accommodation. It was one room with a bed in it and not much else,although he did have some guests  in that room,Cockroaches. In spite of this he said he felt a peaceful contentment,It reminds of the apostle when he was in prison,I'm sure the prison was not a very nice place,in fact it would have been very grim,and yet He wrote very challenging words,' I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances'( Philippians 4 v 11) Let us take note it was something he had learned through all the trials and difficulties he had gone through. It is Barnes who writes,'It is a lesson which we slowly learn , not to murmur at the allotments of Providence; not to be envious at the prosperity of others; not to repine when our comforts are removed'

                                                            'Ye saints that toil below,

                                                             Adore your heavenly King.

                                                             And,onward as ye go,

                                                             Some joyful  anthem sing;

                                                             Take what He gives,

                                                             And praise Him still,

                                                             Through good and ill,

                                                             Who ever lives.'  (Words Richard Baxter)