Gods written word. [Psalm 19 v 7-11 ]

Yesterday we considered Gods voice in creation, that it is not something just to be admired ,but it is something that is speaking to all mankind ,of a creator. Psalm 19 now moves on to Gods word ,and its effectiveness in the hearts and lives of those who hear and respond to it. In the church where I ministered ,in the pulpit ,was a little rug with these words on it, Preach the Word,for it is the word of God that is able to make us wise unto salvation [ 2 Timothy 3 v15 ],it is the word of God that guides us[ Psalm 119v 105 ], it is a powerful and effective weapon in contending against the devil[Ephesians 6 v 17 ]. The word of God can cut through our defenses,and touch our hearts [Hebrews 4 v12 ],it is light ,exposing those wrong things in our lives, and teaching us to walk aright, it equips us to serve God. [2 Timothy 3 v 16-17 ]. No wonder the Psalmist declares it is of more value than the most pure gold [Psalm v19 v10 ], to ignor it ,endangers us,to neglect it, impoverishes us, to respond to it ,enriches and blesses us, and most of all the word of God reveals Christ to us, who alone can save us [ John 14 v6 ] [Dear God thank for your word, helps us to hear its message and respond ,and obey it ,in Jesus name. Amen ]

Creation ,Gods voice. [Psalm 19 ]

Let us consider Psalm 19, written by dear David, it commences by pointing us to creation, / The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth His handywork[v1]/ Times have changed evolution is the god of the so called Christian countries, but the Psalmist holds not to such nonsense, so he confidently declares that as we look up we see Gods handywork. He tells us that Gods creation is preaching to all the earth,it is the great apostle who takes up that theme in Romans 1v18 -23, v20 ,reads,/ For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made,they can clearly see His invisible qualities- His eternal power and divine nature./ and then he adds this very telling statement,/ So they have no excuse for not knowing God/.Today God is speaking to His world, through His creation, but unfortunately,they are not listening, it is a reminder just how much sin has affected mankind. WE will finish with the words of a Russian hymn as a prayer[ O Lord my God when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hand hath made, I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul , my Saviour God to Thee. How great Thou art, how great Thou art . Amen ]

An awful big adventure [Psalm 23 v 4 ]

It is Peter Pan who declares to his arch enemy Hook,/To die would be an awful big adventure/. How should we view death?, should we ignor it, should we ,think about it?, is that not just being morbid to think on death?. I wonder if the person in the street thinks about death, I think children do, the adult population are to busy living ,and trying to stay alive, so they appear to ignor it. It is said that there are two certainies in life ,death and taxes, as regards the latter, it is really foolish to ignor paying your tax to the goverment, many have,to their cost. So is not also foolish not to giving consideration to death that other certainty?,is it not foolish to think it will not happen,because it will. As a Christian I believe death will be an awful big adventure,something more wonderful than my most wonderful thoughts. For the Christian death is not something we need fear, it was Jesus who declared , that He was the resurrection and the life,and those who put their faith in Him, though they die would live [ John 11v25 ]. [ Dear God help us not to ignor deaths reality, help men and women, to think upon their latter end, and trust Jesus your Son. Amen ]

By the rivers of Babylon. [ Psalm 137 ]

Who would have thought Psalm 137 would have made the hit parade, but it did, I was reminded of this when I listened to the song,/By the rivers of Babylon /,the music is very lively and attractive, the words are both a lament and a prayer. This Psalm is borne out of suffering, suffering that should never have happened, Israel had a history of forsaking God , it was a very bad habit that they never broke. Time after time they would forsake God, God bore with them, pleaded with them ,chastised them, but to no avail, it came to a head under king Zedekiah. The prophet Jeremiah kept pleading with the nation , to change there ways, but to no avail, so God acted in judgement against the nation,by sending the Babylonion army to invade the land, killing most of the population, and taken a remnant to Babylon, where they stayed for 70 years. As I said this need never have happened, if only, they had been faithful to God and His ways.[ Dear God help us to be faithful to You, help us not to get into the habit of going our own way, knowing that if we do ,you in mercy will deal with us, in Jesus name we ask this. Amen ]

The glory of God. [ John 12 v23 36 ]

As a Christian the most important challenge in my life is to glorify God,our Saviour declared,I have glorified Thee on the earth [John17 v4 ], in every aspect of His life He glorified God, and especially in His death on a cross. It is understandable that we want to be free from problems in life , and so we pray for there removal, but the reality is ,they may not be removed [2 Corinthians 12 v 8 ff],we may not recieve the healing we prayed for ,or that perfect family, or that perfect marriage. Our Saviour prayed as He was facing death on a cross, if it was possible that He may not have to go through with it, have we not all prayed such prayers?. This is often where we stop praying, and yes in the will of God it may happen, but Jesus did not stop praying ,for the removal of the cross, He went on to pray, /Yet, I want your will not mine/. In John 12 v28 ,our Saviour prayed ,/Father glorify your name/, Ezekiel Hopkins wrote the following on this, /Though life is naturally dear,and the cup which I am to drink, very bitter,and the wrath that I am to undergo, heavy and infinite, yet all these things are not so considerable to me as your glory, and therefore , though it will bring agonies, by death, by the cross, yet, Father, glorify your name/. [ Dear God help me to see that the most important thing in my life is your glory,help me never to loose sight of this, in Jesus name Amen ]

Jesus, the Christ, and son of God. [ John 20 v31 ]

The Gosple of John was written with a purpose in mind ,and it is chapter 20 v31, we read that purpose, / But these are written , that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ,the Son of God, and believing ye might have life through His name/. He underlines the importance of belief, John continually challenges us to believe,we live in an unbelieving world, who reject creation, live just for what they see, John says believe. Believe in what or who ?, Jesus the one the O T scriptures foretold would come,and not only is He the Christ, but the son of God,in other words He was trully God , we must not compromise when it comes to truth. The result of believing, that we may have life through Him, eternal life, a fullness of life here and now,and a life of eternal glory. [ Dear God ,grant that many today may believe in Jesus , the promised one ,Jesus the son of God, who came and died for sinners ,such as us,that all may be saved eternally, Amen ]

Our vision [ John 3v 16 ]

The gospel of John is the last gospel to be written, it is different from the other gospels,it omits ,the conception and birth of Christ,His baptism,His temptations, the casting out of demons,the transfiguration, the last supper,Christs struggle in prayer in Gethsemane,His ascension. John became the leader of the church in Ephesus ,a gentile city,the church was going beyond its Jewish roots,expanding into the whole world,and so John must have written with that in veiw.[John 3 v16 ]. Many dear Christians in the lands of Islam are persecuted because Christianity is seen as a western religion, but they are wrong,it is not western, or eastern, no it is for the whole world. Christianity is not restricted to any culture,or race, nor can any culture or race claim to be Christian. Christs kingdom is a spiritual kingdom,and everyone is equal,and accepted by God,as Christians our vision should always be for the world.[ Dear God help us to see beyond our narrow vision of what Your church is, grant us a vision that embraces all mankind ,in Jesus name Amen ]