We are all the same. ( Romans 3 v 23 )

 William Carey served God in India, he translated the Bible into 6 Indian languages,and parts of other dialects, and languages.He did many other things, he was the founder of the English Baptist Missionary Society.One of the things he said was,''Expect great things from God,and attempt great things for God'   One of his characteristic was perseverance,he is thought to be the founder of modern missions.There was a time in his life when he became very seriously ill,it was thought he might die. He was asked if the sickness proved fatal,what Bible text would he select for his funeral service'.He replied ,'' Oh, I feel that such a poor  creature as me, is unworthy to have  anything said about him,he chose the following words and that nothing more  should be cut on his gravestone,'William Carey born August 17th died - . '' A wretched ,poor,and helpless worm. On Thy kind arms I  fall''.It was Isaiah the prophet  who cried out,''Woe to me'', I am ruined. For I am a man of unclean lips''  ( Isaiah 6 v 5 ) It was Peter the Apostle who fell on his knees before Jesus,and said,''I am a sinful man'',  ( Luke 5 v 8 ) and  it was the Apostle Paul who wrote,'Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,of whom I am the worst'. ( 1 Timothy 1 v 15). No matter who we are, be it  a missionary,prophet,or apostle,we all have one thing in common, we are all  sinners,and need  Jesus to be our Saviour.

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Heaven ( 2 ) ( John 14 v 6 )

 Forget about those modern day heavenly tourist,and let us remember we who are Christians,are people of  faith ( Hebrews 11 v 13 )., in 2 Corinthians 4 v 18, we read,' we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. In 5 v 17 we read,' we live by faith and not by sight',but one day, faith will give way to sight, when we are with the Lord.In the mean while ,we press on in faith, towards that heavenly country. The apostle Paul wrote, 'Therefore we do not lose heart,though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all (2 Cor  4 v  16 - 17 ) If  we are suffering,or if we are struggling, or if we are sorrowful,and feel like saying, is this Christian life worth it?.With the eye of faith fixed on Jesus , consider your heavenly inheritance,and the glory that lies ahead,for all who know Jesus,it will be no disappointment,someone said heaven is better than this,that's an understatement ,it will  be glorious ,more glorious than we can ever imagine.Consider what wont be there,the list is endless,all the bad things , the evil things, the hurtful things,the terrible things,the horrible things,the awful things,you name it,it will not be there.Then consider all the good things that will be there, John MacArthur writes ,we will have   perfect knowledge (1 Cor 13 v 12),we will live in perfect comfort,we will live in perfect love,and  undiluted joy,and most of all we will be with Jesus. Heaven is a real place,not something made up,the only thing that will stop you getting there ,is your sin,it must be repented of,and forgiven,this comes through trusting Jesus as your Saviour.

Heaven ( 1) ( 2 Corinthians 5 v 8 )

 I must confess I do not appreciate what is called heavenly tourism, I am talking about those who say they have been to heaven and back, and of course they will have books  published, recounting their experience. It was the apostle Paul who tells us how he was caught up into the  third heaven were he heard inexpressible things,things that no one is permitted to tell  ( 2 Corinthians 12  v  2 - 4) . his experience was real,it was not false..Now of course heaven is real.Heaven and is  were God dwells and rules from,the Lord's prayer starts,'Our Father in heaven',( Matthew 6 v 9 ).  The OT saints looked forward to heaven,CP ,Hebrews 11 v 13 - 16 ,  N T saints also look forward to going to heaven, and were encouraged to set their minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth ( Colossians 3 v 2 ).Is this escapism? ,no, its not,life on planet earth is something to be treasured, were we can serve our God and king,but for all of us life comes to an end, death is not a very nice thing,but it is a reality.For many in this world ,life is a struggle,so many people face injustice, persecution,the treasures on earth are temporary,but for all who trust in Jesus the glories of heaven awaits .We are told that Christ is bringing many sons and daughters to glory,( Hebrews 2 v 10),one of the last things He said to His disciples before he went back to heaven was '',I go to prepare a place for you'',(John 14 v 3 ),and in his  prayer in John 17 v 24 ,He prays,'Father ,I want those you have given me to be with me, where I am'. We will continue to look at this next time.

Decision time. ( Matthew 7 v 13 - 14 )

 In Matthew 7 v 13- 14,our  Saviour says, '' You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate.  The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to  life is very narrow and the road is difficult,and only a few ever find it'' Robert Frost wrote a poem called  '  The road less travelled', It highlights those times in life when a decision has to be taken. The poem ends with the lines ,'Two roads diverged in a wood and I took the one less travelled by,and that has made all the difference'. Consider what Jesus said,it faces us with a challenge,to make a decision,there was a moment in my life when I made that decision,it was on a road less traveled,but it has made all the difference to me ,and it was a difference for the better. Yes there have been difficulties, trials,and challenges,but in the end it will be worth it.Make a choice this day ,follow Jesus on that road less travelled,and you will never regret it.

There is more ( Psalm 23 )

In ancient times as one left the Mediterranean there were what was known as the Pillars of  Hercules, with the following inscription on it ,which read,''Non Plus Ultra'',which means,'Nothing Further Beyond''.When Columbus discovered the ,''New World'',Spain adopted as its motto,''Plus Ultra'',meaning,''Further Beyond'', or more beyond.  The grave looks so cold and forbidding , many in these days  believe that there is nothing beyond the grave,but there is,yes there is more beyond.For those who believe that when life ends ,that's it,will find out to their cost  ,for we are told in the Bible after death there is judgement, this judgement will be for sin.For those who are Christians they believe that is more beyond,not judgement ,because their sins have been forgiven by trusting Jesus as their Saviour, they enter into Heaven were their Saviour is,and enjoy unimaginable joy,and blessing.They  can say with the hymn writer,'Yes, I shall soon be landed on yonder shores of bliss.There, with my powers  expanded, I shall dwell where Jesus is'. 

Despairing saint. ( Isaiah 49 )

 We live in an uncertain world,the rich can loose their riches in a moment,the strong can become weak,those we love can be taken in a twinkling of an eye,all our plans can come to nothing.Yes we are fragile,a puff of wind can blow us over,need I go on. Even if you are a Christian, your world can fall around you,consider Job,in a moment he lost ten children,then he lost his wealth, and then he lost his health.Ask yourself ,how would you feel?,how would I feel?.In Isaiah 49 , we read that Israel was suffering ,and they cried out ( v 14),' The Lord has forsaken me,the Lord has forgotten me'',could it be that you feel like that? God's answer to Israel and to you was,'Can  a mother forget  the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?.  Though she may forget, I will not forget you.See I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;( 15 -16 ). Spurgeon  comments on these words,'Heaven and earth may well be astonished that rebels should obtain so great a nearness to the heart of infinite love as to be written on the palms of His hands. ''I have engraved you'' .See the fullness of this. I have''engraved your person, your image,your case,your circumstances,your sins,your temptations,your weaknesses,your wants,your works;I have''engraved you'',  everything about you,all that concerns you;I have put you altogether there. Will you ever say again that God has forsaken you when He has ''engraved you'' on His own palms'

Our endeavours. ( Ezra 8 v 21 - 23 )

 Hudson Taylor was founder of what became known as the,'China Inland Mission',but is now known  as the ,'Overseas Missionary Fellowship'.Hudson was a qualified doctor,this is an account of one incident that took place in China,'  During an evening prayer meeting a nurse brought a little child to him ,she thought she was dead,a woman suggested that he pray for the child,''Yes, pray, '' he shouted back,'' while I  work''.The child was blue and limp,his first efforts failed. Then he tried the kiss of life,after a few minutes the child's colour  changed  and she began to breathe,when she grew up she became a   CIM missionary .' Someone said that Hudson   prayed about things as if everything depended upon the praying...but he worked also, as if  everything depended on the working'.Make no mistake, prayer does not excuse us from serving  and working .but the two should go together.