The big ,big question. ( Mark 8 v 27 - 30 )

Islam, Jehovah witnesses, and Mormons,would say they believe in Jesus,but the sad thing is the Christ they speak of,  is not the Christ of the Bible. Islam have a Christ who is but a prophet .J W s have a Christ who is not God,the Mormons have a Christ who is a brother of Satan.. In 2 Corinthians 11,v 4, we read of those who believed in another  Jesus,and which leads on to a different    Gospel .  Let me say this about the Mormon religion it is the most bizzare religion I have ever come across. The question we have to answer is this, who is  this Jesus,?. The only true record we have of Jesus is the Bible,those three religious groups I mentioned, do not have the Christ of the Bible.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 What think you of Christ? is the test                                                                                                         To try both your state and your scheme,                                                                                                   You cannot be right in the rest                                                                                                                    Unless you think rightly of Him.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Some take Him a creature to be                                                                                                                A man or an angel at most                                                                                                                          Sure these have feelings like me                                                                                                                Nor know themselves wretched and lost                                                                                                    So guilty,so helpless am I,                                                                                                                          I durst not confide in His blood,                                                                                                                Nor on His protection rely                                                                                                                          Unless I am sure He is God.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          If asked what of  Jesus I think?                                                                                                                  Though still my bear thoughts are , but poor,                                                                                            I say, He's my meat and my drink,                                                                                                            My life  and my strength, and my store,                                                                                                    My shepherd, my husband,and  my friend                                                                                                My Saviour from sin and from thrall                                                                                                        My hope from beginning to end,                                                                                                                My portion, my Lord, and my all.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              ( John Newton )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Search me. ( John 8 v 1 - 11 )

W. Shedd wrote,'Man is accountable at the bar of God for his wicked heart as well as for his wicked actions'.There are people who would feel that all is well because they have never actually killed anyone,or committed adultery. But our Saviour brought it to another level for in Matthew 5 ,on murder, and adultery  Jesus teaching  stressed if we were angry with someone it was the equivalent of murdering them.  .Likewise as regards adultery ,Jesus taught,if we look on a woman in a lustful way we have committed adultery, J. Stott comments, ''we can commit murder with our words; we can commit adultery in our hearts.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Search me , O God, and know my heart,                                                                                                   test me and know my thoughts,                                                                                                                 See if there is any wicked way in me,                                                                                                       and lead me in the way everlasting.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Psalm 139 v 23 - 24.

Essentials ( Acts 1 v 11)

In his fine little book called,'What is an evangelical', D.M.LLoyd  Jones, writes, secondary truth not essential to unity.He goes on to say,'We call them non- essential because they are not essential to salvation'..What is essential to the Christian is the truth that Christ is coming again the different views as to the events leading up to it ,they are non- essential, I am not saying they are not important,they are,but they are non- essential,they should be held with a degree of humility ,and show a spirit of harmony ,and should not be be used in stirring up strife and division.Again let us remind ourselves that it is not for us to know the times or dates of the Lords coming.But it is for us to live in the light of Christs coming,and  continue to serve Him,until that moment when He either calls us up, to meet Him in the sky,or He calls in death, and takes us home to Glory.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Look I am coming soon.

We will not know ( Luke 12 v 40 )

 When the Lord restored me to himself ,54 years ago, it was in a good church, and I thank God for it,it was strong in Gospel  proclamation ,and one thing it was big on was prophecy,in relation to the Lords return. Now the three main view's concerning events leading up to our Lords second coming, I will mention what they are called, pre millennium ,  post millennial,a millennium.I have no problem with those who hold to any of these view's. Many fine Christians differ in their view's ,only time will tell which one is right. Unfortunately where Christ has broken down the wall that the Jews had erected, between Jew and Gentile,read Ephesians 2 v 14 - 22, Churches have erected prophetic walls,I had a dear Christian friends who was put out of the fellowship he attended, because He dared to differ with  their view's.Christ prayed that we may be one,the fact is, those things we hold dear as to the things surrounding the second coming of Christ should not  be something that we should fall out over.The wonderful thing is Christ is coming back again at a time of God's choosing, and it was not for us to know when. Jesus said in Acts 1 v 7 '' That it was not for you to know the times or dates, the Father has set by His own authority'' ) (so get on with  what I have you to do', my words.) Let us all see what is most important for us as Christians. I will continue on tomorrow on this subject.                                                             

Holy. ( John 3 v16 )

Let us consider the last but not least of the 3 quotations               ''God's love, discipline and purpose                                                                                                           are always holy''                                                                                                                                                                                                        Walter Riggans ,from whom these three quotes come says this.writing on the Laws given in the book of Numbers,'The Laws which it contains are not so much to be seen as automatic   formulae  for achieving man's holiness as safe-guards against taking  Gods holiness for granted,or letting  familiarity breed contempt''I am convinced that  humanity including Christians fail to appreciate   ,two things,(a ) Sin. ( b )   Holiness. I am convinced that one of the reasons I don get ministering in the church I attend is because I would mention Hell,the minister  alas, struggles to believe in Hell .Hell is God telling us something that is very important that God is Holy, in our sin we cannot enter His presence,and that our sins demands Him to punish our sin.All that have not had their sins forgiven, by trusting in Jesus.                                                                                                                                                                             God is Holy.                                                                                                                                               We are not.                                                                                                                                                  Big,Big problem                                                                                                                                        Jesus, the Big                                                                                                                                              Big answer.                                                                                   

Joshua 23 v 5 )

Now let us consider ,                     'God's purpose will always prevail.'                                                                                                                                                                                                                        First of all consider God has a purpose,for this Universe, world,and you and I,and nothing can stop or hinder His purpose being fulfilled ,or prevailing. Absolutely nothing, all will come to pass, the words he spoke to the prophets,have been fulfilled, and will be fulfilled.Take the life of David,God choose him to be king,many things stood in the way of that happening, but it did.Of course the greatest example of Gods promises, concerning the Messiah coming and dying for sinful mankind,prevailed ,against all  the odds,  The book of Isaiah is full of prophecies about the coming Messiah, and His sacrificial death.all came to pass.But what about us?,well if God has promised you something ,it will prevail,nothing can stop stop it,whatever God's purpose is it will prevail.

Discipline. ( Hebrews 12 v 5 - 13 )

I want to borrow three things I have read in a book on Numbers.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       God will always discipline                                                                                                                         God's purpose will always prevail.                                                                                                           God's love, discipline and purpose are always holy.                                                                                                                                                                                              There was a time when physical discipline was the norm,in school ,and in the home,things have changed,but what has not changed , discipline is still necessary .We think discipline is only for children,but it obvious  that many adults need discipline, no matter what age we are,or how long we have been a Christian ,our loving heavenly Father will always discipline us,using appropriate  means                                                                                                                                                                       '                                         ' My child , do not regard lightly the  discipline                                                                                         of the Lord. or lose heart when you are punished by Him,                                                                         for the Lord disciplines those whom  He loves,                                                                                        and chastises every child whom he accepts.'                                                                                                           Hebrews 12 v 5/b - 6 .