Jekyll and Hyde.( 1 ) ( 1 John 5 v 17 )

 I was touched emotional while watching TV ,about a charity which runs  a organisation where children with special needs and others  could have a session riding a horse,  they had a problem ,because of the pandemic they were going to have to close, for lack of funding.  The good news is, they are not closing, because people have sent in gifts ,I think they received about 5 million pound.  Yes there are many dear people who do a lot of good things, in giving to others, serving others, etc, but there is two sides to everything, and the other side is this ,we are sinners. That means everybody even those nice people who sent the gifts into that charity, the nice old lady ,and the  nice old man. It was Robert Louis Stevenson who wrote the novel called .'The  strange case of  Jekyll Hyde'. It highlighted the unpredictable dual nature we all have, sometimes good but also the not so good, and also shockingly evil. The little nursery rhyme about a little girl, reads,' When she was good, she was very ,very good but when she was bad , she was horrid' All of us are a mixture, there are two sides to all of us, that's a fact. From  a human point of view, what we call bad ,God calls  sin, it is vital that we see wrong as not just about being bad, but sinful. It is also important to understand that the good that we do ,does not nullify the sins we commit ,they remain with us ,and their awful consequences .We will continue this next time

Who is offended? ( John 8 v 1 - 11 )

 Matthew  Parris writing in the Times  newspaper ,wrote on evangelicals who complained about certain things shown on TV ,he stressed  that usually there is advanced warnings so that they could switch off. I understand that point of view to some extent, and in the present moral climate, it is helpful. But ,yes there is always a but, where is God in all this ?,there are people who say what goes on between two consenting adults, is alright .People say that swearing and blasphemy is just another another way of speaking, or it does not matter how one thinks. The fact is ,it does matter, it matters to God, but then most people don't think much about God. But one day they will stand before God, what then?, a good question.it says in God's word after death the judgement. Hebrews 9 v 27, God will not be protesting but judging .So should we as Christians say nothing ,of course we should, but a note of quotation, as regards taking the moral high ground. In Christs day there were those who took the high moral ground, they were called Pharisees, unfortunately many of them ,were self- righteous. Charles Bridges wrote the following, ''There is not a sin, that the highest saint of God may not commit, if trusting in  himself.'' The Pharisees did not  see it like that, so at all times they were out for the kill, not so the Christian. We must speak yes we must speak ,but it must always be in love ,pointing people to the only who  one can forgive, and who can save, even Jesus.

Don't despair . ( Romans 8 v 18 )

 In  Colossians 3 v 1- 4 ,we read ,'Since,  then , you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above , not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ  in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears , then you will appear with him in glory.' These words run contrary to those who say, that being heavenly minded, makes us of no earthly use. My mind often turns to my homeland, no I am not talking about Ireland, I am talking about heaven, were my Saviour is ,I want to leave with you the words of what once was a popular song, it is called ,'It will be worth it all when we see Jesus'.

                                     Sometimes the day seems long, our trials are hard to bear,

                                     We are tempted to complain, to murmur  and complain.

                                      But Christ will soon appear, to catch his bride away.

                                     All tears forever over ,in God's eternal day.

                                     It will be worth it all when we see Jesus!

                                     Life's trials will seem so small, when  we see Christ,

                                     One glimpse of his dear face, all sorrow will erase ,

                                     So , bravely run the race, till we see Christ.

                                     

Not just listening ( Matthew 7 v 24 - 27 )

 Often when I challenges people from the pulpit ,it comes back to challenge me, it easy be it from from the pulpit or wherever to challenge people without taking up the challenge oneself. In James 1 v 22, we read,' Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive  yourselves. Do what it says'. Our Saviour said, ' But everyone who hears these word of mine and does not put them into practice is a foolish man, who built his on sand. The rain came down, the streams arose, and the wind blew and beat  against that house, and it fell with a crash'. Matthew 7 v 26 - 27 .  I am sure you have heard of the sin of omission, were we do  nothing, like those who hear the  gospel, and don't do anything about it ,that's disastrous. If we are Christians ,it is not enough to compliment the preacher on his sermon, rather the question is what will we do with what he said, or I should say what God has said through him?. I wonder are you one of Gods obedient children, or one his disobedient Children?

                                                        A short prayer.  

                              'Render my obedience to thy will holy, natural and delightful,

                               Let me never undervalue or neglect any part of thy revealed

                               will. in Jesus name Amen.   ( Words from ,'The valley of vision) 

                       

Panic. ( Psalm 27 v 13 - 14 )

 The great prophet Isaiah lived at times of great change, the nation of Israel had split, there was a gradually decline in their relationship with God.. Eventually  things would become so bad, that both the two lots would  became known as Israel also called Ephraim, they were made up of 10 tribes. Then we have Judah and Benjamin, although the Benjamin rarely gets a mention. Isaiah  ministered in Judah, through very difficult times, Judah was a very small country and came under threat many times ,from Israel and Syria, they were uncertain times. So God spoke to the prophet and the people, and hear is what he says ,'Do not fear what they fear',     Isaiah 8 v 12.    They were not to be alarmed, many were,   but they were to have confidence in God, to have faith to believe that God was able to save them.   When the pandemic came panic took over, the shelves in the supermarket soon emptied, so easy to panic, as the disciples did in the storm Mark 4 v 40. They were really afraid, they had no faith, today let us not  live in fear of anything, let us, have confidence in our God, to undertake for us, He has promised he will Psalms 23 /121/ 

Finish . ( 2 Corinthians 12 v 9 )

I wonder how many jobs ,have remained unfinished, how many university courses have not been completed, there is no end of things that have been left   unfinished. When I attended Bible college there were some students who did not finish the course, because of financial reasons. I said to someone recently that the Christian life is one of life's greatest challenges, Jesus made it clear that there is a cost  in following him, and there is, the old term ,the perseverance of the saints says it all .Perseverance means making a continual effort to do or achieve something  despite difficulties, failures or opposition , having a steadfastness. Read the life of the apostle Paul, don't compare yourself to him, but nevertheless we like him, are called to persevere .There are many challenges in life, moral, physical, mental and spiritual ,there will always be temptations, they  do not lessen with age. Everyday brings the ongoing challenges ,to  be faithful,  holy, loving ,forgiving, to be like Jesus. Yes we will at times fail, falter, and fall, but still we must press on, go on , strive on. The question we may often ask ourselves is how? , yes how,? Hebrews 12 v 1 -3 ,encourages us to get rid of the things that will hinder us, whatever  they may be, to persevere, to keep our eyes on Jesus, and follow in his footstep, to glory.

Bow the knee. ( 2 ) ( Proverbs 3 v 5 - 6 )

 So all things will be new, but what about now?, I know for many Christians ,life is not easy ,physical limitations, mental illness, and so it goes on, I heard this Christian song recently, written by Chris and Diane Machen, here is part of this song, it is called .'Bow the knee '.

                       There are days when clouds surround us, and the rain begins to fall,

                        The cold and lonely winds won't cease to blow,

                         And there seems to be no reason  for the suffering we feel,

                         We are tempted  to believe God does not know,

                         When the storms arise, don't forget ,we live by faith, and not by sight.

                         Trust the heart of your father, when the answer goes beyond 

                          What you cannot see 'Bow the knee',

                          Lift your eyes toward heaven, and believe the One who holds eternity,

                           And when you don't understand the purpose of His plan,

                           In the presence of the King, 'Bow the knee'.