Oppression.[ Ephesians 2 v1ff]

The 20th century was a sad time for many people,take Poland ,UK and France went to war when the Nazies invaded  poland,Russia was involved. Under the Nazies the nation experienced great oppression, many non Jews ,suffered greatly.But instead of getting their freedom when the Nazies were defeated, they exchanged one oppressor for another.Now of course Poland had no choice,but that cannot be said of many people.People do have a choice,but unfortunately they make wrong choices. The Bible history of Israel was of a nation who at times sought to clean up their act,
but they never let the Lord take over in their personal lives,or in the nations
life.The result was the latter state of the nation was worse than ever,and so all they did was to exchange one oppressor for another.If one has an addiction one may try to overcome it,but self effort, cannot deal with the empty void , addiction leaves.It was our Saviour who spoke to a thirsty
woman who was drawing water from a well,[ John 4] ,and told her clearly that the secret of satisfaction and freedom was receiving Jesus into her life[v14]Reform does not bring freedom from oppression,only Christ can, if the Son therefore makes you free,ye shall be free indeed[John 8 v 36]
                                            A  prayer.
Dear God in a world  oppressed by one thing or another,we ask that you may open their eyes and hearts,and accept Jesus who alone can set them truly free,Amen.

Death. [John 11 v25-26]

One of Charles Dickens greatest novel's,is ,/A tale of two cities/,it is a historical novel,and Dickens based his historical detail on Carlyle's great
work- The French Revolution.The French revolution was a bloody affair
with many dear people being executed.In a tale of two cities we have an unlikely hero ,an English man,Sydney Carton,who saves someone from being executed by taking his place,and as he faces the guillotine,Dickens has him uttering,words that is described as throwing a sacredness over all the proceeding's. As Sydney faces death he quotes those sacred words ,spoken by our Saviour,/I am the resurrection,and the life:he that believeth in me,though he were dead yet shall he live[John 11 v25].What hope does the scientists,philosopher's,the money people give to help us as we face death?,none whatsoever.I visited a man recently who has cancer
what hope has he?Christ,and only faith in Christ can gave us hope a sure and certain hope.The question I ask you,have you got this hope?,with that hope  Sydney Carton,could say /It is a far, far better thing that
I do,than I have ever done;it is a far , far better rest that I go to than I have ever known./
                                       A prayer.
Dear Lord we thank you when we face the valley of the shadow of death we need fear no evil if we know you as our Saviour. Amen.

Grace [ Ephesians 2 v8- 10]

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor ,he also was a lecturer in Berlin.
he opposed Nazi's.He made a broadcast which  he used to speak against  Hitler,but he was cut of before he finished it.He joined the resistance movement,and was involved in the plot to assassinate Hitler,he was arrested,and was executed shortly before the defeat of Germany.He
believed different things like a religionless Christianity,and that we see Christ as Lord of the religionless.I have heard Christians saying that as Christians we are not religious.He also  wrote a book called,/Cost of discipleship/,where he distinguished between,cheap and costly grace. One
has rightly pointed out that his concept of cheap grace was at odds with Luthers doctrine of Justifcation by faith.I believe Bonhoeffer was seeking to
counter the error, that because we are saved by grace alone, we can live whatever way we like. The fact of the matter , grace should not be turned into a work salvation,grace saves us,works should follow as an evidence of our salvation.It cost God everything to save us,it cost us nothing,yet love so
amazing, so divine demands my soul my life my all.
                                        A   prayer.
Dear God,we worship you the God of all grace,we acknowledge that we are
saved by your grace,and we ask for grace to follow our Saviour your son Jesus Amen.

One of the saddest verses in the Bible. [Matthew 23 v 37]

In Matthew 23 v37 , Jesus said,/O Jerusalem,Jerusalem, thou that killest the
prophets,and stonest them which are sent unto thee,how often would I have
gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under
her wings, but ye would not./ This is one of the saddest verses in the Bible,
it is God speaking testifying against those who were his people.W. Barclay,
writes,/This passage shows us four great truths.
                                [1] The patience of God.
                                [2] The appeal of Jesus.
                                 [3] The deliberation of the sin of man.
                                [4]The consequences of rejecting Christ .
God is patient,so very, very ,patient,and that is clearly seen in his relationship with Israel,and let me add with you and me.
The appeal of Jesus, W. Barclay ,/Here Jesus speaks as a lover,standing with outstretched hands of appeal,they had as we have the awful responsibility of accepting or refusing.
 As to the deliberation of sinful man,Jesus was speaking to Jerusalem,but it can be applied to all humanity.In my lifetime I have continually prayed for
Christians who are being persecuted,a evidence of mankind's fallen nature
and enmity towards Christ.
 The consequence for the Jews has been awful,judgement would fall,as W. Barclay wrote,/It is a fact of history-even in time-that the nation which
rejects God is doomed to disaster./ This of course applies to everyone not
just nations.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear God have mercy upon Israel even though they still reject your love in
Christ,but also have mercy upon this world,in Jesus name Amen.

Who can meet our deepest need?. [ Romans 5 v 6 - 8 ]

My wife and I were visiting her sister,and daughter,during the evening the daughter started asking questions about the Pope.I was doing my best to answer her ,but I found it hard as the young girl is not the easiest to communicate with,so in the end I said,it is not important about the Pope,or whatever,whats important is knowing Jesus personally as ones saviour. It is the nature of humanity to want to know,but sad to say ,not the knowledge of knowing the Christ of the Bible,with the result they go deeper and deeper,
into the quagmire of unbelief,and darkness.As a great Theologian said when he was asked to tell of some deep spiritual insight,he simply replied,Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so. As a child I trusted Jesus as
my Saviour,I did not know any deep spiritual truths,but I found in Jesus,even as a child the one who saved me and met my deepest need.I
wandered away from Him,and as a young man I attended a church service,I do not remember what was preached,but again I came in all my need,to the only one who can meet that need, Jesus.
                                     A  prayer.
Dear God we praise and thank you for Jesus who alone can meet the deepset need of the human heart ,Amen.

The mind. [ 2 Timothy 1 v7 ]

Recently I read of a lady who wanted to be blind,and in the end she succeeded,strange but true,why would anyone want to be blind?.A psychologist once told me it is was impossible to change a person who is
obsessive .When an obsession takes hold of a person,no amount of reasoning can change their mind set,I knew a man who was convinced he was Jesus, yet he spent hours reading his bible.Anorexia is a very serious condition,a condition in which a person refuses to eat,because of a fear of becoming fat, thankfully some people do break free from that condition. Today let us lift our thoughts and our prayers,for those who are mentally ill,
of course there are different degrees of mental illness. Let us remember it is not a sin to be mentally ill,no more than a physical illness.Although in some cases sickness be it mental or physical can be the result of our sinful behaviour.Young people need to be more aware of the dangers in taking drugs,it can most differently be a cause of mental illness,it is so sad mental illness,and especially sad when one see's a young person who because of drug taking,has become mentally ill,they are stuck with it for the rest of their lives.
                                       A  prayer.
Dear God have mercy on those who are suffering from mental illness,and for those who are caring for them,we ask that in your mercy,you would heal
for your word assures us that there is nothing impossible with You,in Jesus
name we ask this Amen.

Amazing [ 1 John 1 v 7 ]

My son was leading an Alpha course,which is a means of introducing people to the Christian,told of a young lady who was moved to tears, when
she was told that all of her sins would be forgiven,by trusting in Jesus. People often sing amazing grace,that saves a wretch like me, and yet not fully grasp how truly amazing it really is.Yet guilt lies heavy upon many peoples hearts,it may surprise us ,for we can only see the outward,the laughing apparently lovely person.Yet behind the front,lies a  heart full of guilt,caused by abusive practises,lying,,cheating,yes and many other things. The good news is there is a person who can forgive every sin,no matter how many,and no matter how gross,and that person is Jesus. This is truly amazing,but it is true,the death of Christ,on a cross was Gods answer to mankind's greatest dilemma, sin.The good news is this it works,when we by simple faith trust in Jesus,God whose holiness is offended by our sin,in mercy forgives us every sin we have or will commit.I leave a wonderful
verse from Isaiah 1 v18, with you,/ Come now, let us reason together says
the Lord. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow,though they are red like crimson,they shall be like wool/.
                                         A  prayer.
Dear God for your amazing love,in sending Jesus your son,to die on the cross for sin,we thank you.It is truly amazing that when we trust Him all our
sins can be forgiven .Amen .