God's greatness.(Isaiah 40)

In Isaiah 40 God is speaking to his prople a people privileged,blessed by God,loved by God,and yet a people who often lost sight of His uniqueness,and who would turn to other so called god's,made of stone,or wood.So in Isaiah 40 ,He  challenges them to look beyond their so called god's,to Him ,and his greatness ,in v10 He reminds them that He is the sovereeign God he declares His greatness and transcdence,in comparsion to their impermance v 7-8.As regards the nations they are nothing in comparsion to God v15-17.In verse 21ff God declares his incomparable greatness,in comparsion to  people who are likened unto grasshoppers,and earthly rulers  who are here today and gone tomorrow.He tells them to look up to the heavens and reminds that He created them.In v27 God poses a question as to what his people are saying ,that He really dosen't care for them or what was happening to them,one commentator describes what they are saying was a hideous lie. God is so great and awesome and does not grow tired or weary,He pays attention to those who need Him,if they wait on Him ,he will renew their strength,so much so that they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,and they will walk and not faint.'

His kingdom come, ( Daniel 7 v 27)

 Is there any Christian countries?,I don't think so,I keep hearing that Hungary is a Christian country,but is it?,the statistics would say it is ,but in reality only one in five attend any Christian services. Let us consider  what a Christian is,it is someone that has trusted Jesus as their Saviour,and when they have done that their sins have been forgiven,without that you cannot be classed as a Christian.When you become a Christian you become a citizen of the kingdom of God,which is ruled by King Jesus.Jesus our dear Saviour made it absolute clear that His kingdom is not of this world (John 19v36). It is imposs - ible to destroy this kingdom,though many have tried,and are trying, there are mulitudes of Christ's who are suffering greatly,and so it will always be.Dictorial goverments want to have absolute control over their population,and will do all in their power to elimanate those who follow king Jesus.They are very serious about that ,and it is very sad and disturbing to hear of the brutality inflicted on God's children. Jesus asked his disciples,'Who do you say I am? Peter answered ,'You are the Messiah,the Son of the living God.on that declaration of the person of Christ,our Saviour replied ,'On this rock ,I will build my Church,and the gates of Hell will not overcome it'.( John 16 v 16-18) John Newton wrote the following     

                                                      Glorious things of thee are spoken,

                                                      Zion city of our God;

                                                      He whose word cannot be broken,

                                                      Formed thee for His own abode.

                                                       On the rock of  ages founded,

                                                       What can shake thy sure repose?

                                                       With salvation's walls surrounded,

                                                       Thou may'st smile at all thy foes'.

                                                       

                      

A white elephant. (Matthew 19 v16- 22 )

 What is the meaning of the saying ,'a white elephant', it speaks of something that is expensive,that causes a lot of money to look after.I think I read somewhere how a Maharaja would give someone a present of a white elephant,it wasn't a kind act,no he meant to punish the person, by making him poor because of the upkeep of the creature.Today I praise God we have got rid of a white elephant,my wifes  car,it was a lovely car for the first two years she had it, but then things started to go wrong,and it was costing us more and more money,yes it was a white elephant.But  today we got rid of the beast, and I thank God,and in its place my wife has  another nice car .I used to say to my dear wife don't fall in love with any car, for it may turn ino a white elephant.There are many things one could class as a white elephant,what is your white elephant?. There is an enemy  called Satan, remember what he said to our dear Saviour ,when he showed our Him all the kingdoms of the world  and their splendour,he said that he would give him all that if He would bow down and worship him,but of course He didn't.If we yield to Satans temptations we will  soon find there is a price to pay,that can cost one ,their very soul,remember the love of our white elephant,can have dire consequences,but Jesus can set you free,turn to Him if we forsake our white elephant.

Favourite Hymns. ( Romans 11 v 33) 2

 Last time we considered one of my favourite hymns,'Amazing Grace',the next hymn  I would like us to . consider is my next favourite,'God moves in mysterious ways. 'It was written by William Cowper, a poet  highly esteemed in his life time,a man who suffered from severe mental illness,and yet in this hymn we have so much spiritual insight.The opening line declares a very wonderful truth,that God moves in a mysterious way'. In Romans  8 v 33,we read  'How unsearchable are His judgements,and His ways past finding out'.We could link this verse up to  Isaiah 55 v 8-9,which reads .'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts'.One writer comments,God's thoughts and actions are incomprehensible and beyond are human understanding'.The fact is we cannot nor should we try to bring God down to our level,He is the God who created the universe,we finite creatures will never understand Him who is infinite.When it comes to God it is a matter of faith  even when we do not understand His ways.The closing verse sums it up .

                                                          'Blind unbelief is sure to err,

                                                           And scan His works in vain;

                                                           God is His own  interpreter,

                                                           And He will make it plain'.

Favourite hymns. ( Revelation 5 v 11-14) 1

 As a follower of my Lord Jesus for 61yrs,one the blessings I thank God for is the many hymns and gospel songs that I have song with my spiritual family,and the songs that I my song in as part of my ministry. Have I any favourites? of course,here are two,'Amazing Grace',and 'God moves in mysterious ways',Although I have heard Amazing Grace sung many times it still blesses me everytime I hear it.it reminds me as a sinner of God's grace in salvation , and if His grace had not moved in my heart,I would never had turned to God.Of course it doesn't stop there,it is the beginning of a journey,a journey,with dangers, struggles,and challenges,and I acknowledge that apart from the grace of God ,I could not have succeeded on this journey.And it reminds me that this mortal life shall cease,but that is not end for me,I will enter the eternal realms,of heaven ,where I will sing the praises of Him who loved me and died for me, for all eternity

                                                           'Amazing Grace'

That's the truth. ( Matthew 11 v 28-30)

It was Pilate who asked Jesus,'What is truth?' (John 18 v 38),but he didn't wait for an answer,many people like Pilate would say they want to know the truth,but they don't wait to hear the answer,instead they believe a lie rather than the truth of the gospel.The truth of the gospel is the only way one can be saved there are no other options opened to you,no matter how sincere you may be.Jesus spoke the following words,'I am the way and the truth and the life.No one comes to the Father except through me',(John 14v6) He does not just show the way,but He declares He is the way,likewise He does not just speak about truth ,He declares that He is the truth,likewise he does not speak about a way of life,but that He is life.Thomas a' Kempis wrote the following,'Without the way there is no going; without the truth there is no knowing; without the life there is no living'.This is the truth of the scriptures to deney this is to pass a death sentence on yourself. All religions is based on what you do,and if you fail to keep their rules and regulations,you have no hope,break one and you break them all.Religions there are in plenty,but you don't need a religion you need a Saviour,and their is only one Saviour Jesus who died for us sinners, on a cross ,that our sins can be forgiven,that's the truth.

Obey God (Mark 12 v17)

 In Acts 5 v12-16 we read how the apostles performed many  signs  and wonders among the people,the result was  many healings took place,the people laid the sick out on the ground hoping that Peter's shadow might fall upon them ,that they might be healed. In verse 16 we read,' all of them were healed'What a wonderful thing was happening,the people must have been utterly happy to see their loved ones healed, but there was those who were not happy.Things hadn't changed for we read that the religious hierarchy were not pleased in fact they were filled with jealousy of the success the apostles  were having,some  translation  have indignation,because the apostles had not obeyed them (Acts 4 v18).Next they had them thrown in Jail,but then another miracle happened,the Lord sent an angel and set them free.They were told to go the temple and tell the people about  this new life..But again they were arrested and brought before their accusers.who reminded them that they were not to teach in Christ name,Peter and the other apostles replied:We must obey God rather than human beings'.(v29)Let me just stop there,and let us take those words in, and let us apply it to all our lives,yes we are to be good citizens,obey the laws of our country,but when laws are brought in challenging our obedience to God,then we must obey God,many people are doing that ,and they are paying a heavy price.