Heroes. ( Philippians 2 v 5 - 11 )

 There is used to be song about me in the song charts (well not really),it was called, 'Billy don't be a Hero'. of course it was not about me. I wonder if you have a hero?, or if you have been a hero?. There are all kinds of heroes in life, you have your sporting heroes, great explorers, civil right heroes, military  heroes ,and so the list goes on. Often they get medals awarded for acts of bravery, or achievements ,then there are the unsung heroes, who  are not mentioned in dispatches. What does it take to be a hero, the first word that comes to mind is courage, not just on the battle field, once in the troubles ,in  N. Ireland,  my and mother and sister  stood against a crowd of people who wanted to get their hands on a dear  Catholic, they managed to get him away, I suppose that made them heroes. I consider my wife a hero ,and I am serious about that .well as I said, many things make a person a hero .Now who is my greatest hero?, the answer is very simple, Jesus ,in fact I would say he was the greatest hero, who ever lived.  Why do I say that ? ,well consider who he was ,and what he became, who was he?, as Christians we believe in one God, but that God is a triune being, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, this is a great mystery. Each are co equal, we are told that Christ was in very nature God, and equal with God.  Philippians 2 v 6.We will continue to look at this next time. 

Only God. ( Psalm 43 v 11 )

I knew a person who was having difficulties, there appeared no way out, at that time God give him a word from  Exodus 6 v 1 , which read ,'Now you see what I will do', this is what God said to his people .So he delivered Israel, likewise he delivered  that person, and he can deliver you or me in his will. I mentioned the words ,'in his will', God will not aid you or me if what we desire, is outside his will.( 1 John 5 v 14 ) Often we find ourselves   face to face with situations we cannot do anything  about ,we have tried everything, used up all our human resources ,but it was in vain  I read these words recently, 'Only God  can achieve results like this', whatever he was referring to, the fact  is without God we can achieve nothing ( John 15 v 5 ) . God has many lessons to teach us, one of them is dependence on him, so he brings us to a place ,when all things we have tried  failed, and we realise  our only help is in our God. There are people whose lives are so distorted humanly speaking, it is only God  that can make them change. There are situations that are beyond us ,we realise only God  can change everything, for the better.. And when he does, we can say,' the Lord has done this, and it is marvellous in our eyes ( Psalm 118 v23 )

Replaced (1) ( 2 Thessalonians 2 v 5 - 12 )

 Sin effects us , effects others, and it effects us and God, we should never make light of sin ,to do so is the height of folly. In our secular society the wrongs that people  commit are never spoken of as sin, even the worst of things, like child abuse or whatever. One writer asks the question ,'Whatever  happened to sin? When did it get deleted from our cultural lexicon? Why have we been told that it's  now one of those '' politically   incorrect terms? Today it's been replaced by  words like error , mistake, tragedy, addiction, sickness, misdeed , faux pas, failure, weakness, or fault. And on that last one, more often than not, it's someone else's fault'. Could it be that we have replaced sin with those words, because we want to replace God having  any jurisdiction over us. And  we further ingulf ourselves in the lie ,saying there is no God, but there is, don't be fooled by so called scientist, who come out with all their pathetic nonsense. Such as the world we live in, just happened, we sinners are good at accepting lies, from the father of lies ,the Devil. The media highlights atheists scientist, as those we should believe. We will continue this next time.

Hurting others. ( Hosea 6 v 1 - 3 )

He was the man who had everything materially, he had power, he had 700 wives and 300 concubines, and God's blessing was upon him, his name was Solomon. He was given wisdom ,great insight, and wonderful understanding from God. Unfortunately he lost his way in life and the repercussions of what he did ,would effect  the nation he ruled. The fact is, the wrongs we do, will ultimately affect someone, even though  we may not mean that to happen. We live in changing times, but the changes are not always for  the best, the moral standard  is not what  it used to be, or what it should be . The wrong things we do ,have a ripple effect ,like when you throw a pebble into water.  Writing as regards our great high Priest, Jesus, in Hebrews7 v 26  one translation  has these words in it, 'who never hurt anyone'. I wish I could say that about myself, but the  fact is I have hurt people. Why did Solomon not stop and think of the hurt that he was going to do. The answer I believe can be seen in the book of Ecclesiastes, it is all about Solomon, not about the nation, nor the one who had blessed him so abundantly ,who would that be?, the answer is simple ,God. Hear me ,it is never to late to draw back, never to late  to change, never to late to forsake our selfish ways, and it is never to late , to humbly turn to God, and ask Him to help us, and here is the good news ,he will, through the one  never hurt anyone, Jesus.

Who is this man? ( John 1 v 1 )

 Let us look once more, at the disciples and Jesus, caught up in a storm on a lake. ( Mk 4 v35 - 41 ) How did he react when the disciples woke  him from his sleep ?, he did not say anything to them at that moment in time, but he did speak to the storm , he said ,''Peace be still!''. and what happened?, suddenly there was a great calm, and then he spoke to his disciples, one translation puts it like this,'' Have you still no faith''?.in other words in spite of all they had witnessed, faith deserted them, and fear had taken over. We are told that , 'the just shall live by faith'.( Galatians 3 v 11 ) it is ongoing, we are to face everyday by faith with all its problems and difficulties , if we don't, then we will be like the disciples ,continually in panic  mode, running around like a headless chicken. The reaction to what they had witnessed as to what  Jesus did, terrified them ,and they asked each other, 'Who is this ? even the wind and the waves obey him?. No man can control the wind and the waves, only God can do that, and  that is why Christ could do it.

The storm ( Matthew 28 v 20)

 Let us continue to look at Mark 4 v  35 - 41 ,the disciples are in a boat in a storm ,and Jesus was in the boat asleep. The disciples were in this situation because Jesus had told them to cross over to the other side of the lake, and they obeyed. None of then thought for a moment that they would be in danger, after all Jesus  was with them, and there he was asleep, what could go wrong?. Donald  English writes the following.' Forms of Christianity  which encourage and promise a life of continual success, excitement and growth  will not only lead to frustration and despair; they actually point  the disciple towards the wrong goal in the Christian pilgrimage. It is enough that Christ goes with us on our journey. We do not judge his care for us, nor the state of our discipleship, by the roughness of the seas over which we sail. We  'rejoice in the Lord', not in our currant  circumstances.

                                          Wherever  He may guide me,

                                           No want shall turn me back;

                                           My Shepherd is beside me,

                                           And nothing can I lack;

                                           His wisdom ever waketh,

                                           His sight is never dim;

                                           He knows the way I taketh,

                                           And He will walk with me.  ( Words  A. L, Waring)

He cares. (1 Peter 5 v7 )

 We don't travel much by boat now, except  a trip on a ferry, but I do remember many years ago crossing the Irish sea with my  four lads, and it was a bit rough ,and I felt a little bit queasy, but did not feel in any danger. It reminded me of what is    recorded in Mark 4 v 35 - 41, when the disciples were in a small  boat, Jesus  was also in the boat. He must have been very tired ,for we read that he fell asleep ,but then we read that a fierce storm arose, and it looked as if they were all going to drown. So what  did they do?, they  went and woke Jesus, and they said to him,'' Teacher , do you not care that we are perishing ?. It seems a hard unreasonable thing to say, we must not judge them, if we felt we were in danger of  drowning, we may just react the same. Could it be that you are in a storm, and you may be saying, were is Jesus  in all this? ,it appears to me he doesn't care. Of course he cares, he always cares. A Frank .E. Graeff  wrote the following words..

                                             Does Jesus care when my way is dark,

                                             With a nameless dread  and fear?

                                              As the daylight fades ,into deep night shades,

                                               Does he care enough to be near.

                                               O yes He cares, I know He cares,

                                               His heart is touched with my grief;

                                               When the days are weary, the long nights dreary,

                                                I know my Saviour cares.