Mercy. ( Romans 5 v 1 - 11 )

Ancient Assyria became a world power ,they conquered many lands, they were not known for showing mercy.When they captured a ruler, their practice was to humiliate him, by pulling him with ropes attached by rings through lips and jaws. Mercy was absent toward  the people they conquered, they were considered their enemies.In Romans 5 v 10 reads , when we were God's  enemies, we  were reconciled to Him through the death of his Son , now that's mercy . .In Ephesians 2 v 1 ff,we are reminded of our former condition ,''Dead in transgressions in sin, followed the ways of the world, and the ruler of this world,gratifying the cravings of  our sinful nature, following its desires and thoughts,  ,objects of wrath..'' Then we read ,''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 ''                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Mercy there was great, and grace was free                                                                                               Pardon there was multiplied to me                                                                                                             There my burdened soul found liberty,                                                                                                                    At  Calvary.                                                                                                                                               ( Wm. R. Newell )                                                                                                                                   NOW THAT'S MERCY.

Christ the solid Rock. ( Daniel 2 v 24 - 45 )

Let me remind you again that the Bible continually speaks of God as a rock, I will give you some Bible references , Deuteronomy 32 v 4 /2 Samuel 2 v 2 /  Psalm 28 v 1 / 42 v 9/. Now I want to go forward to Matthew 16 v 13 ff ,here Jesus asks the  question ,''Who do people say the Son of Man is?'' the disciples reply,John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah,or one of the prophets''. Then He asks the disciples ,''Who do you say that I am?'',Peter replies ,'' You are the Christ the Son of the living God''.Our Saviour commends Peter, then He says, you are Peter, and on this Rock I will build my Church.'' Who is the church built on ?, Peter a  man, or Christ the Son of the living God,who is called a Rock,?. In 1 Corinthians  10 v 4, Romans 9 v  33 / 1 Peter 2 v 8.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                On Christ the solid Rock I stand,                                                                                                              All other ground is sinking sand.                                                                                                                        ( Edward Mote )

Thou blest Rock of Ages. ( Psalm 61 )

In so many places God is seen by his people as a rock,to go to ,in times of distress and weariness , in Psalm 61 we have King David declaring that no matter where he is, and no matter how he feels he will cry unto God,and then he makes a request,''Lead me to the rock that is higher than I '',v 2.  He needed a place that God will lead him to,a place of safety and security,and indeed salvation,only God can be the one who can guarantee this.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            O safe to the rock ,that is higher than I,                                                                                                    My soul in its conflicts and sorrows would fly,                                                                                        So sinful, so weary,Thine, Tine, Thine would I be,                                                                                  Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               In the calm of the noontide, in sorrow's lone hour,                                                                                   In times when the tempter casts o'er me his power,                                                                                   In the tempest of life, on its wide heaving sea,                                                                                         Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               How oft in the conflict, when pressed by the foe,                                                                                     I have fled to my refuge, and breathed out my woe,                                                                                 How often,when trials, like sea billows roll,                                                                                             Have I hidden in Thee, O Thou Rock of my soul.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Hiding in Thee, Hiding in Thee,                                                                                                               Thou blest Rock of Ages, I'm hiding in Thee.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 ( W. O. Cushing )                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

Standing in a storm. ( Matthew 7 v 24 - 27 )

Through out scripture God is referred to as a rock, what does that mean?,it simply means that God is the foundation on which we build our lives.,and also our faith.In Matthew 7 v 24 - 27, Jesus  told the story of two men who built houses,one built his house on sand,the other built his house on a rock. When the storms came the house on the sand collapsed ,but the house on the rock stood firm. Jesus said the man who built his house on the rock ,were like those who hear his words and keep them.The history of Israel shows a people that heard the word of God,but failed to keep it,and they brought upon themselves great harm.We must not only be hearers of  the Word of God if we are to stand, when we are battered by the storms of life,it is not enough to say it was nice sermon ,if we don't do what it says,we will not stand when the storm comes ,the words of  Mary are appropriate to all of us in John 2 v 5, ''Do whatever He (Jesus ) tells you.''.                                                                                                                                 Lets take    Sundays                                                                                                                                      affirmations into                                                                                                                                          Monday.                                                                                                                                                    (J.W.Olley )

True riches. ( Matthew 19 v 17 - 26 )

John W.Olley   writes the following,'' A feature of all societies is the myriad of people,groups, organisations who promise to give 'life' and provisions, including peace and security. Today's bomb-   ardment of claims is persuasively presented in a variety of media. With political or religious leaders, economic or lifestyle gurus, medical cures, 'get rich schemes' or diverse spiritual  options, promises abound of success, prosperity. health, long life; 'make your dreams come true'. The dominant picture is often of material prosperity as the way to happiness.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     By faith Moses,when he had grown up, refused                                                                                        to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.                                                                                          He chose to be mistreated  along with the people                                                                                      of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin                                                                                        for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake                                                                                    of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of                                                                                      Egypt, because he was looking forward to his reward.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         ( Hebrews 11 v 24 - 26 )

The false prophet, and the true prophet. ( 1 John 4 v 1 )

In 1 Kings 22, Ahab king of Israel , and Jehoshaphat king of Judah talked about going to war,Jehoshaphat give sound advice, lets ask God about it. So the king called in the prophets, four hundred of them,and he asks them to advise ,should they go to war?, they replied yes,for the Lord would give him victory. In spite  of this overwhelming answer,Jehoshaphat,was not satisfied, so  he asks,is there not a prophet of the Lord  here whom we can inquire of ?Ahab says there was a prophet called Micaiah ,but he never prophesies any good about me.At  the insistence of Jehoshaphat he is brought in,Ahab asked him should we go to war ,or shall I refrain?, Micaiah answers ,''attack and be victorious''.For some reason Ahab does not believe him, and challenges him to speak the truth, and the truth was Ahab would loose not only the battle but his life. Micaiah the prophet was right,even though  the word he give was rejected.There is a very simple lesson in all this, the false prophet will tell you what you want to hear,the true prophet will tell you what you need to hear.

Train the child . ( Isaiah 55 v 11 )

 Proverbs 22 v 6, tells us, 'Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. '.First of all we see our responsibility to train our children in the things of God,I look everyday and I see children going to school,to be taught,not in the things of God,but how few there are ,who are trained in the things of God. I was talking to a young man recently, he had never gone to  church,never been to Sunday school,he did not know anything about God.Believers must teach their children in the things of .They must teach them the Bible,teach them how to become a Christian, and how to be a Christian.,and the promise they will not turn from it,It may when they are older as Charles Bridges writes,'Cast the bread upon the waters of the covenant is found, not till 'a, though after many days''( Eccles 11 v1)  ,perhaps not till the godly parent has been laid in the grave. Yet the fruit ,though late,will not be less sure ( Hab 2 v 3 )