Soulless Worship. Isaiah 29 v 13 .

In  Isaiah 29 v 13 , we have the Lord saying,'' These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship  of Me is based  on merely human rules they have been taught''. They were religious but it was not worship, it is Leupold  who calls this 'Soulless Worship', going through  the motions ,yes they went to the temple, they prayed, they sacrificed animals, but their hearts were not in it. When Jesus met up with Peter ,he asked him this  question three times, 'do you love Me?. One thing I ask the Lord when I pray is ,'Lord ,let it not be vain repetition', the following words sum it up,' I often say my prayers, but do I really pray'.  When we pray, give, attend  a church, sing a hymn, read the scriptures, or listen to a sermon, they should not be as Leupold comments, 'devoid of soul and sincerity', in other words ,'Soulless Worship'.

Love prompted Him. ( John 3 v 16 )

Two quotations by Leupold ,' Israel is not meant to be a mighty worldly power dominating other nations and exercising world power. She is to be witness to what God has done for her'.  'The nation had a  destiny , but she seemed so far removed from achieving it.'  The history of Israel is a sad history, a history of failing time after time, to be faithful to God, yes there were times, when they were faithful, but on the whole instead of being a holy nation, they walked in the ways of of their heathen neighbours. Time after time God had to deal with them severely. Yet God was faithful, and preserved a remnant, at one of the lowest points of their history ,God said ,''I have loved you with an everlasting love'', Jeremiah 31 v 3.   Someone wrote ,' For reasons that man will never be able to fathom, the Lord loved Israel'. he goes on to say ,'It is this love that prompts the Lords redeeming activity'.  The Bible tells us that God loves the world John 3 v16, why? , indeed why? it is a mystery, but He does. That love prompted Him do send a redeemer, Jesus, who came to save sinners , such as you and I. whoever we are. salvation is not restricted to any  particular people, it is for the whosoever.

                                                  Come, ye sinners, poor and needy,

                                                  Weak and wounded , sick and sore;

                                                  Jesus ready stands to save you,

                                                   Full of pity, love , and power ;

                                                   He is able,

                                                   He is willing, doubt no more.

                                                         ( Words. Joseph Hart )

Whose is in control?. ( Isaiah 40 v 21 -26 )

 R. V. G. Tasker in his introduction to the book of Revelation, Writes the following ,'It is of the utmost importance for modern man that he does not lose touch with eternal realities so stressed in Revelation'. There are days when the decisions of the great powers have far reaching  effects on ordinary men and women. We may have no great interest in ideologies, yet find that our  lives are affected by decisions reached in Moscow or  in Washington , decisions in which we have no  voice, nor conceivably  could have. Are we  then no more than pawns caught up in a great ideological conflict? . Is there something demonic  about evil forces which even our  most  powerful  statesmen  seem unable to to control ?'. Who is in control?. The book of Revelation answers the question in chapter 19 v 6, 'For our Lord God Almighty  reigns'. God is sovereign, only the eye of faith  can see this, if you are child of God, remember He is working everything out for your good . ( Romans 8 v 28 ). If you are not child of God then all may appear, as if no one is in control, but you are wrong.

Alone. ( John 5 v 39 - 40 )

 One of my favourite movies is the ,' The Quite Man', about a man returning to his homeland. But of course it is a movie, directed by that wonderful director John Ford, it  is there to entertain. But  Ireland the country I love has a dark side ,historically divided, by politics and religion, which continues in the north  festering  on like an open sore, and one despairs that it will never be resolved. From the founding of the Irish Free State, the Roman Catholic Church, held great power ,and still have to this day. When I think of Catholicism, I have great problems with their teaching, on the virgin Mary ,the Mass, the Priesthood, the Papacy, and there teaching that one is not saved by faith alone in the finished work of Christ. All these things do not line up with scripture, and of course when a so called Church or individual ,adds on or takes away from the scripture, that creates great problems .leading to so many things that are wrong. You start to change the unchangeable revelation of God, and clear truths ,that are taught therein. The cry of  the reformation was, 'Faith Alone,' and ,'Scripture Alone', there is much more one could write, let me end by saying, let the word of God be your guide .The scriptures reveal to us Christ , who alone can save us ,and  the scriptures will show us how to live, as a follower of Christ.

                                                       Lord, Thy word abideth,

                                                       And our footsteps guideth;

                                                       Who its truth believeth,

                                                        Light and joy receiveth.

                                                          ( Words H.W.Baker)

 

A delightful old man. ( 1 Corinthians 15 v 10 )

 That lovely hymn by Harriet Auber about the Holy Spirit, has a verse that goes,

                                                 And every virtue we possess,

                                                 And every victory won,

                                                 And every thought of holiness,

                                                 Are His alone.

Recently I had a hospital visit, everything appeared alright, after a while I received a copy of the report that went to my GP., The opening words read ,' Thank you for referring this delightful  77 year old gentleman', yes believe it or not, she was writing about me. It was nice to read those words, I do not know what she found delightful, what I would say is this, if I wasn't  a Christian I would not be that delightful 77 year old man. I am not a self made man, I am an old sinner saved by the grace of God. I dread to think what I would have been, if Christ had not saved me. I do not see myself as a delightful old gentleman, but by the Holy Spirit I am a better person, than I once was, far from perfect and as we often say, I am a work in progress

                                                   To God be the glory great

                                                    things He has done.

Rubbish ( 1 Peter 2 v 1 )

Well I just heard that the rubbish collectors are going on strike for three weeks, what are we going to do with our rubbish ?. It goes without saying you don't want to keep your rubbish, after all it's rubbish, just fit to be dumped. But here's a thought, what about the rubbish we gather up in our lives?, rubbish we should have got rid off, yet we hold unto it, even though we know it's rubbish. The rubbish in our thought life, the habits, the wrong kind of friends, the wrong kind of language, the unforgiveness, covetousness . It is time  for a clear out, now the first thing you need to do is pray, here is a suitable prayer, 'Search me ,O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you. and lead me along the path of everlasting life'. Psalm 139 v 23 - 24 . And then, put actions to your words, and get rid of the rubbish.

The call ( Isaiah 6 v 8 )

You have heard of the call of the wild, but what about the call of God, could  it be that God has been speaking to you, to change the direction of your life. To go were others would not want to go, I wonder if God has an other plan for your life, than the one you have planned ?. How surprised those disciple were, when one day they heard our dear Saviour say ,'Follow Me', of course there will be a cost,  there is always  a cost in following Jesus. If it is God calling you,  you will never regret it, but there will be times when you may face difficulties ,misunderstandings, and discouragements .Here are some words by Daniel .L. Schutte.

                                                 I, The Lord of sea and sky,

                                                 I have heard my people cry;

                                                 All who dwell in dark and sin

                                                 My hand will save.

                                                 I, who made the stars of night,

                                                 I will make their darkness bright,

                                                  I will speak My word to them,

                                                  Whom shall I send?

                                                  Here I am, Lord  .

                                                  is it I Lord?

                                                  I have heard You calling in the night.

                                                  I will go Lord,

                                                  If you lead me;

                                                  I will hold Your people in my heart.