Theology ( 2 Timothy 3 v 16- 17 )

 Theology matters,many people do no think they should get involved in Theology,which literally means, 'thinking about God,studying about Him and what the word of God teaches as regards doctrine. They would say it's not for them ,leave it to the academics,the so scholars for a great period of the churches history that's what people were told, and so they did just that. unfortunately those so called scholars betrayed the trust given to them,by adding to God's word,things that were contrary to God's word'They denied God's people the right to study God's word,and forbidding them to own a copy of God's word.William Tyndale 'God's outlaw', was put to death for translating  the scriptures into English.He is reputed to have said,of the so called Christian leaders of his day ''If God spared his life the boy at the plough , would know more of the scriptures than they did ,''If we do not get a grasp of God's word we will find ourselves in real difficulties ,as regards the truth,as it is only that, that can set us free,and we may never get to know more about Him who is the Way, the Truth,and the Life.'( John 14 v6 ).

                                         'Let us read the Bible,study the Bible ,

                                          and live it out, in our daily lives'.

                                    

The Honesty of the Bible ( John 14 v6 ) 3

 Here is a question ,what is one of the first things a  totalitarian state do when they get into power,they control the media,and tell a lot lies.It was Joseph Goebbels who told what has become known as ,'The big Lie',It reads like this,'If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it,people will eventially come to believe it'.Their history will only reveal their supposed successes,not there blemishes,their wicked deeds,and failures.When we come to the Bible we come to the most honest book ever written,yes there  are many wonderful people mentioned in it like the warrior king David,who wrote all those wonderful Psalms,a man after God's own heart,but it also tells us of his darker side,his adultery and callousness.Then there was Solomon  with all his God given wisdom,and all his riches and power,but it doesn't leave out his gross folly.It dosen't excuse or overlook them or make light of them, they are judged,for God is no respecter of their persons.The bible tells us  honestly how things are  ,peoples shortcomings and failures.Recently I spoke to a young married man who pointed out  peoples devious ways,and I asked why that was,he did not come up with a satisfactory answer,and I give him the Bibles answer, sin,yes thats is an honest answer,,Many people came to Christ and he always told them the truth,even though they didn't  like what he said. It is only the truth,that helps people,painful though it is,Read the Bible  it will not tell you what you want to hear,but what you need to hear.Here is what our Saviour said ,the truth will set you free,the truth that is revealed in Himself.

The Frailty of God's Saints .( 1 Corinthians 1 v 1 -31} 2

We aare told that God chose the weak things of this world (1 Corinthians 1 v 27),if that is true then we shound not be surprised whan they manifest frailities ,that means they are not strong,cannot endure strain ,or pressure. God did not  choose one whom you would pick to play on your team. The 12 disciples were not so great,in fact they were pretty awful at times,why did God do that?,very simple answer,'so no one could boast before Him (1 Cor 1 v 20) I  saw a photo of my old principal ,a  Mr Malone,I liked him,a friend told me he spoke to him at a class reunion,and he told him I was a minister,and he said,'I didn't think that I would ever amount to anything.' Glad he had a nice opinion about me,I understand what he meant,I didn't do very well school,in fact I didn't lkie school. But when one comes to know Jesus ,then things can change for the better for us failures and frail people.When you come to know Jesus things can change for the better, we can become winners, yet we still fail.The word of God say's do no despise the day of small things,and\ don't despise the frail people of this world if you are one of them, I am. Yes the saints of God are frail,but I like what Proverbs 24 v16 say's,'For though the righteous fall seven times(yes us failures) they rise again'.   

                                                

                                                  

Mercy. ( Ephesians 2 v 4 - 5 )1

 It is Leupold who mentions 3 very important things,(1) The Greatness of God's mercy. ( 2)The Frailty of  God's saints. ( 3 ) The Honesty of  the Bible.Everyone has a story to tell .as to how God saved them,they all have one thing in common, God's mercy. No one no  matter who they are,no matter how young or old they are,it is God's mercy that saves them,There are no exceptions to the rule, be it a child or an adult, be they the worst of sinners,or  some who appeared to be morally upright,morally upright does not change a thing,they are still sinners for all that, and if the they are going to be saved they still stand in need of the mercy of God. How do we receive mercy?by seeking forgiveness,repenting,and trusting Jesus as one's Saviour,it's as simple as that.

                                                'Oh! the love that drew salvations plan,

                                                Oh! the grace that brought it down to man,

                                                 Oh! the mighty gual that God did span

                                                                  At  Calvary.

                                                 Mercy there was great, and gace was free,

                                                 Pardon there was multiplied to me,

                                                 There my burden soul found liberty

                                                                    At Calvary.

He is coming,it is coming. (2 Thessalonians 1 v 5 -10) 5

 Here is something I have never realised, Enoch was a prophet, he hasn't left us a book like the other prophets,instead we have two verses in that little book of Jude v 14 -15.These two verses have a very important message for us, here are the opening words ,'Enoch ,the seventh from Adam'. So he was a genuine historical character, the is not about myths,or fictitious characters,it is about real living people living out real lives. Inspired by God the Holy Spirit he prophesied as regards  the end times of humanity on planet earth. Here is what he has to say,'See the Lord is  is coming ',I am sure like me you have listened to a clock ticking,with every tick ,the moment of our Lord's coming back is drawing nearer. He is not on His own,He, the Lord comes with thousands upon thousands of His  holy ones', Remember Jesus said ,'I will come back',(John 14 v 3),He keeps His word,who are those holy ones? it would appear to be the angels (2 Thessalonians 1 v7)  but it could be the saints also      ( 1  Thess 4 v 14)He is coming with a purpose, to convict and punish the ungodly.,Norman Barr describes them as being',destitute of reverential awe towards God'.If sinners have not been forgiven, sinners will be judged .It could be that preachers  that don't preach Christ coming ,are not happy with Christ as a judge.Happy does not come into it ,like it or not ,judgement is coming, one better be ready before it is to late. 

                                                          At His call the dead awake,

                                                          Rise to life from earth and sea;

                                                           All the powers of nature,shaken

                                                           By His looks,prepare to flee;

                                                                    careless sinner

                                                           What will then become of thee?'   (Words John Newton)

They didn't die. ( 1Thessalonians 4 v 13- 18 ) Enoch 4

 In  Hebrews 11 v 5 we have a fuller account of Enoch than we have in Genesis  ,we read that he never experienced death,it is interesting that there are only two people who never  experienced death.Enoch and Elijah (2 Kings 2).Yes we do read of those who died and were brought back to life.but that was only a temporary  experience.Both those two godly men were raptured ,taken right up into heaven.What joy and ecstasy must have filled their hearts,now these two men's experience points us to that day when Christ comes back,we read about it in 1 Thessalonians 4 v13 -18.What a day that will be,though we don't know when for the  secret things belong unto God,it is secret known only to Him'  Deuteronomy 29 v29,That's His secret ,so many Christians concot so many ideas as to when Christ is coming  ,and those ideas become a problem bringing division to the body of Christ.Then you have those who  don;t mention Christ's coming again,why ?we will touch on that next time.Yes it will be wonderful when our Saviour comes again, it could happen in our time , that would be wonderful,the hymn writer H.L. Turner wrote the following.

                                            0h, joy! oh, delight ! should we go without dying;

                                            No sickness, no sadness,no dread and no crying;

                                            Caught up through the clouds with our Lord into glory

                                            When Jesus receives '' His own.'

Remember Lot's wife. ( 2 Timothy 4 v 10 ) 2

 When judgement fell on Sodom and Gomorrah,Lots wife perished, consider why she perished,the answer is ,she disobeyed God.Genesis (19 v17) yes she looked back,We are not told why she looked back,possible her heart was there, that was the fault of Isreal when they were delivered  out of Egypt,it appears for some their hearts were still in Egypt (Exodus 16 v 3 /Numbers 14 v1-4). When you start following Jesus ,there has to be a  decisiveness,and must be decisiveness,there should be no turning back,and indeed no looking back,for then you may want to go back.Jesus said,'' take up your cross and follow Me',yes in spite of the difficulties,lonliness,and challenges.The very nature of those words are a sharp reminder that following Him can truly cost. Our Saviour said ,'No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.(Luke 9 v 62)When I used to visit some elderly people,they dwelt very much on the past,we can understand that, but we must  not live in the past.Someone said,'The Christian marches on,not to the sunset,but to the dawn.The watchword of the Kingdom of God is not,''Backwards'', but,'' forwards ''.