Father you are faithful. (Hebrews 13 v5 )

 At one of the lowest points in Israel's history, when the nation had been devastated by the Babylonians, most of those who survived where taken into captivity( Psalm 137).Jeremiah  ministered for 40 years,it began under King Josiah, after his death the nation turned away from God.Jeremiah  in vain challenged the people as regards their sinful ways,pleading with them to repent and turn to God. Along with the challenge came a warning of coming judgement,and sadly, so it came to pass. So when it happened Jeremiah stood among the midst  of the ruins of Jerusalem,and declared ,'Because of the Lords great love  we are not consumed',there was still a remnant left,in 70 years they would return from exile,and the nation would recover.So Jeremiah tells us it was because of God's great love they where not  consumed,for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, Great is your faithfulness. ( Lamentations 3 v 22-23)I  would like to highlight God's faithfulness,He is a faithful God, He says I will never leave you nor forsake you, Hubert Dapliyan wrote a song called,'Father you are faithful'. I will leave you with some of the words from that song.

                                           'Flowers wither,leaves drop,trees trample,roots spoil.

                                           Fountains dry, rivers thirst,but your love remains faithful.

                                           The sun sets,the moon rests,the day ends,the time flies,

                                           Seasons change,blue skies fade,but your love remains the same.'

                                                                 'Father you are faithful

                                                                  Father you are faithful

                                                                  Father you are faithful

                                                                   Father you are faithful'

                                              

The story is not over yet.( 2 Thessalonians 1 v 5 - 10 )

 So Christmas day has passed it is now just a memory, and while that is true, the reality of  what we were celebrating goes on , The toddler would grow and develop into a man and would face the grim reality of an awful death on a cross,and bear the terrible punishment for our sins,so that all who trust  in Him would not be punished. That was the reality He would face,everyday he lived  was a step nearer that event,He knew what He was  going to experience, nothing would take Him by surprise,He knew the reason  why He had come. Most of Israel did not see it that way, although they had the scriptures that clearly showed that the Messiah would die ,read Psalm 22 / Isaiah 52v 11- 15 and chap 53,it is as plain as knows on ones face. But the story is not over this may have been the worlds last Christmas,for Christ is coming again,the OT mentions continually the ,'Day of the Lord', Joel 2 v28 -32, David Prior sees in this' a world heading for an apocalyptic day of reckoning'.Isaiah 65 v 17 speaks of a new heaven and a new earth,which Peter writes of  in 2 Peter 3 v 13,and John writes of in Revelation 21 v 1.Of course Jesus spoke clearly of His coming back again,likewise the apostles,yes the reality of His second coming will happen,the story is not finished yet, it will happen, as a Christian let us  live in light of  that great coming event,if  you are a not a Christian trust Jesus to be be your Saviour before it is to late.

The greatest gift. ( 2 Corinthians 9 v 15)

Abraham Lincoln said,' I can see how it might possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist,but I cannot conceive how a man can look up into heaven and say there is no God'.Unfortunately there are none so blind who do not want to see,creation is God's voice, but the voice of God is drowned out. Humanity has eyes but they do not see,they have ears but they do not hear,writing of his unsaved state John Newton wrote ,'I once was blind'.There are two aspects of revelation,one is general and the other special . ' General revelation ,'is God's clear display of His glory in creation . and it is the  apostle Paul who points that because of this the unsaved are without excuse,'(Romans 1 v 20,)The second  is Special revelation it points to the Spirit of God moving in the hearts of mankind,and opening our understanding,as to whom Jesus is, a Saviour ,suddenly the scales drop from our eyes,and we who were once blind, can now see. It is a miracle of grace,amazing grace,salvation is of the Lord, without the Lord's gracious intervention none of us would be saved.Consider what the apostle Paul  wrote,'We were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of His great love for us,God,who is rich in mercy.made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. Then he adds,'it is by grace you have been saved and this is not from yourselves,it is the gift of God.'  (Ephesians 2 v 3 - 8) When you remember all the gifts you have ever received,lovely and precious though they were, they pale into insignificance to Gods gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ His dear Son. (John 3 v16)

                                             'Stop for a moment and consider Calvary '

 

 

Be a star. ( Acts 1 v 8)

 There is a lady I know,whose name means ,'star',and it reminded me of the star of Bethlehem,that guided the wise men to Jesus.I wonder what  you would think if  I said , that we Christians should all be stars ,leading people to Christ. You may reply I'm not qualified to lead people to Christ ,better to leave it to the professionals, who knows what they are doing. Yes I know that we are not all gifted in the same way,that's the way it should be .Every Christian has the Holy Spirit ,that means He will help us in our weakness , and we have a wonderful promise,( Psalm 32 v8)  'I  will instruct you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you'. In the  last verse in Matthews gospel we have these assuring words spoken by our Saviour, ''I am with you always'.Then we have the precious word of God, that word we are told is alive and active. Sharper than any two edge sword,it penetrates even to dividing  soul and spirit,joints and marrow,it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4 v 12) Then last but not least we have prayer, when we pray we are acknowledging our dependence on God. Many people in the entertainment industry wants to be stars,well we are dealing with something more important than entertainment,far more important.So the question is, do we want to be a star,and lead people to Jesus?

                                                            'Go on, be a Star'

                                                                                                                              

Everyone has troubles ( Psalm 91 )

 Alan Whicker  was an international reporter for the BBC , and I remember him visiting a home in America ,the person who lived there  was very wealthy,she was also a  Christian.A number of people gathered in her home,and they listened to a lady singing that lovely song,' His eye is on the sparrow'. The first verse reads ,'Why should I feel discouraged,why should the shadows come,Why should my heart be lonely,And long for heaven and home'. Alan gave the impression that it was strange that song was sung ,in a home of wealth and plenty.So many people covet wealth as if that it is the answer to all their problems, but its not,far from it,no one can escape life's problems .Money  brings its own problems ,insecurity as the Bible speaks of the uncertain of riches,read the book of Ecclesiastes,written by the man who had humanly speaking  everything,and in the end he lost the plot and brought disaster upon himself and the nation he ruled.(1 kings 11 v 9ff.Yes the rich have their problems as do the poor,if you have Christ you are rich,and no one can rob you of that blessing,the apostle wrote.

                                          For I am convinced that neither death nor life, 

                                          neither angels nor demons,neither  the present

                                          nor the future , nor any powers,neither height

                                          nor depth, nor anything else in creation, will be

                                          able to separate us from the love of God that is 

                                          in Christ Jesus our Lord.

                                                                  (Romans 8 v 38 - 39 )

                                  

                           

What we do not know ( 1 John 3 v 2 )

Last time we mentioned how Paul had a wonderful experience when he had  a vision of heaven,and yet he is not willing to reveal what heaven was like.Now we know somethings about heaven,but there is much we don't know, he speaks of those unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter(2 Corinthians 12 v 4) .Those tourist who apparently visited heaven ,let it all out,well that speaks for itself,it helps the sale of their books. I will share with you  what R.V.G.Tasker has to say on this subject,'The New Testament is deliberately reticent about the details of the after- life;and it becomes Christians to refrain from idle and curious speculation on the subject.The things that are necessary for our salvation God has  made plain,what has not been made plain is not necessary.'We could say the same as regards our Saviours early life,  we do not know what He looked like,it is not necessary,but what is necessary is made known to us.The fact is there are so many things we don't know ,it is  Paul who declare,' we only know in part'. (1 Corinthians 13 v 12)  Hodge says the following ,' It is enough that we know that in that world the saints shall be made perfectly holy and perfectly blessed in the full enjoyment of God for ever'.

                                                 'The secret things belong to the Lord our God'

                                                                  Deuteronomy 29 v29

No boasting ( Matthew 23 v 11- 12)

I was visiting friends and one asked the question,'How's Peter?',I knew who Peter was, I say was ,because he had died a number of years ago so I told my friends. As an after thought I said,'Peter is fine',I said this  because I know he was a lovely Christian,and he is now in heaven,and he sure is fine,yes more than fine. It was the apostle who had a wonderful experience,we read about it in 2 Corinthians 12 ,one writer puts it like this,' Paul was seized by Christ and swept in ecstasy to the heights of heaven'. Now Paul does not tell us much about his experience of heaven,he didn't want to exploit it,he was concerned that people would think he was bragging,and he would be filled with pride, God who give him that experience knows how we can let pride take over, so He sent an affliction into his life to keep him humble,and gave him the grace to bear that affliction. I am very wary of people who tell us they have been to heaven,and unlike Paul  they exploit  it,like the so called faith healers,and none of them are very humble.If God blesses us with a wonderful gift,a wonderful experience, or a successful ministry it is not to feed our ego,

                                                 'Naught have I gotten,but what I received,

                                                 Grace hath bestowed it since I have believed

                                                  Boasting excluded, pride I abase,

                                                  I'm only a sinner saved by grace'.

                                                             Words J.M.Gray