Who, why. ( Romans 1 v 18 - 23 )

 Recently I  listened on utube to Charles Laughton reading a letter written by a man called Carl Milles, he wrote it in response to his views on religion.  It is a very interesting  letter, he wrote much about nature, beauty,creativity, these things raised questions, like ,'who,why' ?,who has created us,it must have been someone?,he wrote, people pray ,the hardest and worst of men pray,and he comes to the same question ,'there must be someone?' It is the apostle Paul who writes as regards the evidence of creation, and that mankind is left with no excuse for not knowing God, Romans 1 v 18 -20. It appears that's as far as Carl Milles got,no farther, he was aware of Christianity, but never embraced our Saviour. He never went any further,in Acts 17 v24 ff Paul declared that God  made the world and everything in it, and he goes on to say, that should give us the desire to seek after God and feel our way towards Him,he assured us that God is not remote,but near those who seek Him. Unfortunately Carl didn't go any further he could see there was a creator ,but he never expressed his need of a Saviour. Acknowledging A creator is fine, but it will not save us,we must trust Christ as our Saviour for the time of judgement is coming upon all .All who have not sought forgiveness and repented of their sins will be Judged.

Special status. ( John 14 v 6 )

 In a number of the letters written to different church's ,Paul calls them saints, CP  Ephesians 1 v 1. 2 v19/ Philippians 1 v Colossians 1 v 4.this term is also used in many places in the OT. Psalm 16 v3 .31 v 23/ Zechariah 14 v 5.The term saints speaks of all the living Christs, not a selective few individuals selected after they  have died ,by a  so called hierarchy of the church. The term saint,means Gods holy people, separated  unto God, if you are a Christin you are a saint. There is a difference between the Christian and the non Christian,because we are separated to follow Jesus. Our values are not the worlds values, our aims are not the worlds aims. Unlike the non Christian the Christian seeks to glorify God in all things, that is our chief aim.Next let me mention that saints in heaven do not make intercession for the saints on earth, no were in holy scriptures  do we read of anyone praying to saints.In  1 Timothy 2 v5 we read ,'There is only one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus',Jesus alone ever lives to make intercession for us Hebrews  7 v 25.Likewise the position of the virgin ,Mary who is not the mother of God,,she was the mother of Christs humanity. Millions unfortunately have been led to believe things that are at variance with Holy Scriptures.

Common Grace. ( James 1 v 16 - 17 )

 Kagando Mission Hospital in Uganda have a motto which reads,' We care and God heals',I like that motto,People want to see miracles,yet everyday miracles are happening, our very existence is  a miracle, for we read Acts 17 v 28,'For in Him we live and have our being'. If God withdraws His powerful presence, we would all die. As regards healing, god has enabled mankind the ability to develop skills to perform wonderful operations, and to bring healing to people.Likewise we have medicine, which also is a gift of God.I believe all these things come from God,it is R.C.Sproul who writes of the invisible hand of God,' Because God is invisible to us, we often fail to recognize His activity in history'.God is merciful and  is a faithful , This world is God's world ,we read in Psalm24 v1,'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it ,  the world, and all who live in it'. Yes it is God's world,and in spite of  mankind's rebellion God has not forsaken this world,and His common grace is manifest in a multitude of ways.Let every child of God, rise up and say ,to God be the glory,for  His many blessings,in healings, in  His provision, in His protection, in all the blessings that we enjoy.                                                                                                                                                           

Religion or Christ. ( John 3 v 1 - 16 )

 A Professor O. Hallesby  wrote a book entitled ,'Religion or Christian', there are those who teach that Christianity is not a religion.Dick Lucas wrote,'The word 'religion ' as it is used today can hardly be said to be a biblical  word at all; it does not occur in the OT, and in the NT there is no sanction for the modern usage. The faith of Christ is not presented  as one of the religions of the world, but as the unique and final truth with  which no ' other gospel' may be declared'.He goes on to to say,'The miracle of  conversion has freed us from the religious systems of their world'. This is something to think about, recently I  spoke to a young man,he said he was thinking about going to church, and I said the main thing is,trusting Jesus as your Saviour. Religious systems demand their followers  , follow rules  and regulations, as someone has said, there is a feeling of safety  in such a religion. Of course it does not save nor does it  give one peace,and an assurance of forgiveness of sins,only faith in Christ  can do that.When we do that we are connected to a relationship with God for all eternity,now you can't beat that.

What kind of world is it ?. ( Matthew 5 v 16 )

 What would you say to that question, 'What kind of world is it ?' ,the bible teaches clearly that it is a fallen world, it will never change,as it is we can never make it a heaven and earth. That does not mean to say we cannot make a difference,I believe we are meant to ,Matthew5 v 13 - 14 tells us that we are,' the salt of the world',and that we are, 'the light of this world'. Salt stops corruption, light displaces the darkness'. Dick Lucas writes,' In short, Christians must live  and suffer in an evil world. At the same time, the new born Christian is called to be a vigorous peacemaker, whether in family matters or in the larger affairs of people and nations, and the church is to be a community of peace in a world of war. It also remains true that human tyranny will not cease until Christ returns. People will continue to oppress and exploit their fellows .In spite of this we can to some extent make a difference for the better, it is possible, it is expected by our Saviour that we should.

Yes there is a better day coming. ( John 14 v1 - 6 ) (2)

In 2 Corinthians 4 the apostle Paul writes ,'We are hard pressed on  every side,but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair,persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed' In chapter 11 , he tells of more suffering, of being flogged, being exposed to death constantly,of  being  being lashed on 5 separate, occasions,of being stoned.of being shipwrecked,of  facing dangers.Of experiencing hunger and thirst ,of being cold, without enough clothing to keep  warm. In chap 12 he writes of having a thorn in the flesh,  I wonder what the prosperity gospel people would say to that,they should bow their heads in shame.Of course Paul was sustained by the Grace of God,but also by the fact that there was a better day was coming, In Iran there is a pastor Anooshavan Avedian who has been sentenced to 10years in prison,and a further 10 years of what is called,'' deprivation of social rights',( e.g. severe restrictions on employment when he is released)For that dear brother there is a better day coming. Here is what the  apostle Paul wrote ,'So we do not lose heart. Though are outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed  day by day. For this momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond comparison'

                                                                

                                                   'Yes there is a better day coming'

Yes there is a better day coming. (2 Corinthians 11 v 30 ) ( 1 )

For millions of people life is hard ,yes that includes Christians, millions are starving,for many dear people, there appears no hope. Only God knows ,it may get worse, for all of us,we will have to wait and see,the question is how can we face the challenges of life?.In 2 Corinthians 4 the apostle Paul writes as regards the difficulties that he and  his companions were experiencing,here is what he wrote,' v7 He writes of his being like a clay pot,but the wonder of that is,Christ  dwells within that body.he may be the great apostle,accomplishing great things,but it has come from the power of God, not him..We like Paul, are weak,everyone one of us,make no mistake about it,we are all without exception ,weak beyond measure,we are all  like clay pots. So stop your boasting ,arise, give God the glory,let Him increase ,and let us decrease. Without Him we can do nothing, but through Him, we can do all things that God would have us do.We will continue this next time,exalt your weakness, don't be ashamed of your weakness ,and glorify the one who uses the weak things of this world,to accomplish great things, even through us clay jars.