Mutal support.( Exodus 17v 8-16)

 Although one may be a Chistian a long time ,we will  still have to battle with different things,we still find that certain things will manifest themselves,and it is a reminder  to all of us,why Jesus died for us.But it is also a challenge to us that we  need to change,and yet we may find it hard to do,even though we know we should,so what should we do.Well first of all let the wrong we are doing,see it for what it is ,sin,stop making excuses,stop saying that's the way I am,that will not help you to overcome the sin that so easily besets,honesty with yourself is vital, that's what God wants.When an alocholic goes to a meeting of  Alcoholic Anonymous,they stasnd up and say ,'I am an alcoholic',they have stopped hiding behind lies,making excuses.So it is we must be honest with ourselves and with God,if not you will not be able to overcome the sin that so easily besets you.What I am saying  is not for an unbeliever, I am focusing on Chistians. James 5 v16 reads ,'Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed'.These words stress the importance of mutal support,in helping us to overcome our sinful tendencies.Find a trusted friend who will prayerfully support you in relation to that which you have been battling with.

The good Samaritan( Matthew 5 v 43 -48)

 In Luke10 v25ff it starts with a man asking Jesus as regards eternal life,Jesus asked him ,'What is written in the Law?and how did he read it?,he quoted Deuteronomy6 v 5/Leviticus 18 v18.'To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind ,and love your neighbour as yourself'.Jesus said that he had answered correctly and then he added,'Do this and you will live'.Now of course no one can fulfill what the law says,it's impossible,for no one to do that.Well this religious teacher was more interested  in trying to  vindicate himself,it is Barnes who comments ,'Every sinner is desirous to justifying himself' .He didn't attempt to answer Deut 6 v5,no he skipped that, I wonder why?,well he asked, 'who is my neighbour?', So Jesus told him a story about a man travelling down from Jerusalem to Jericho, thieves attacked him,even stripping him of his clothes,and beat him up ,leaving him half dead .The story continues ,a priest came along,and he passed by on the other side, a Levite came he did the same . Then it comes to the interesting part,a Samaritan came along he saw the man and he had compssion on him,and he went and ministered to him,,then he took him to a local inn ,he stayed with him to the next day,he then had  to leave him ,he paid for him to be looked after until he returned,and any outstanding debt he would pay.Jesus challenged the teacher of the law to show love as the hated Samaritan did, Our Christian faith must rise above hating others no matter who they are,no matter what label they have on them.

The love of God( John 3 v16)

John 3 v 16 tells us that God loves this world,that everyone in it,that's the scope if His love,it is so high you can't get over it,so wide you can't get round it,and so deep you can't  get under it.we can't take it in, it is truly incomprehensible.This pinprick of a planet and all who exist here,why should God love any of us,the fact is we all are unworthy of His love,look at this world,we are tearing each other apart,there will never be peace in this world,why oh why,does He not wipe the slate clean,and why does He not turn His back on us?But the fact is He won't ,it was manifested in its fullness,when Chist came into this rotten place,and died a horrible death on Caalvary,it was a death with a purpose,it was love in it's fulness reaching out to a fallen humanity in all it brokenness,lostness,and guilt. F.M.Lehman wrote the following words.

                               'The love of God is greater far,than tongue or pen can ever tell:

                                It goes beyond the highest star,and reaches to the lowest hell:

                                The guilty pair, bowed down with care,God gave His Son to win;

                                His erring child He reconciled,and pardoned from his sin.

                                When hoary time shall pass away  ,and thrones and kingsdoms fall;

                                 When men who hear refuse to pray,on rocks and hills and muntains call;

                                 God's love,so sure, shall still endure,all  measureless and strong

                                 Redeeming grace to Adam's race,the saints and angels song.

                                 Could we with ink the ocean fill,and were the skies of parchment made

                                 Were every stalk on earth a quill,and every man a scribe by trade;

                                 To write the  love of God above,would drain the ocean dry;

                                  Nor could the scroll  contain the whole,tho' stretched from sky to sky.

         Oh love of God,how rich and pure !How measureless and strong! It shall for ever more endure

         The saints and angels song

Love (1 John 4 v 7-12)

 In 1John 4 v 7-12  we have the word love mentioned 9 times ,loves 1 time,and loved 3 times,no wonder john is called the apostle of love.Verse 7 starts with these words,'Dear friends, let us love one another.'It is in his epistle he puts puts a great stress on loving our fellow believers.In fact he says that,'Whoever claims to love God yet hates  a brother or sister is a liar'.( 1Jn 4 v20)How much do you love your fellow Christians?in iJn 3 v16, we read,'This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.And  we ought  to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters'.He also goes unto to say,'If anyone has material poeeession's and sees  a brother and sister in need  but has no pity on them, how can the love of God  be in that person? Dear Children,let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth' (1Jn 3 v17-18)So three things are emphasised in these verses .( 1) That loving God and hating your fellow believer,makes you a liar,it is going against what  our Saviour commanded  (John 13v 34) (2) Love must  manifest itself by loving kindness,by helping those in need  1Jn 3 v 17-18,it is James who says ,'show me your faith,so John stresses how vital it is by showing our love by helping our fellow Chistians in their times of need,and not just with  empty words.(3)Last but not least,our love is not given out on merit v7 tells us clearly tells us ,what that means,'This is love: not we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as an atoning  sacrifice  for our sins'.

A man called Sinner.( Revelation 20 v11-15)

 There is man called Sinner who is playing at the famous Wimbldon tennis tournament,it appears to me an inappropriate  name,fortunate it is not his first name.Imagine if it was ,people would be thinking what sins has he committed?.But here is something very important God has a name  for all of us,it is ,sinner,yes everyone is a sinner,there are no exceptions,there are people who would be offended if they were told that they were a sinner,but they are,all their protestations would be in vain.Let God be true and every person a liar,to deny our fallenness,is foolishness,and even dangerous,before its to late,and you die and go to a lost eternity.On that great judgement day when we all stand before God,everything will be brought out into the open,the hidden things we did wrong,that we told no one about,will be declared to us by Jesus the great judge,every wrong thought,every wrong word,every wrong deed,will be brought out into the open.You will hear of your fate spoken by Jesus ,depart from me into everlasting judgement.Everlasting means everlasting,there will be no reprive,no escape,no were to turn to,why because you failed to recognise the fact that you are a sinner,it need not end like that,seek the mercy of God ,confess your sin,and ask Jesus to be your Saviour.

His word ( 2 Timothy 3 v 16) 1

 In Jeremiah 23 v 29 we read,'Is not my word like fire,declares the Lord,and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces'. Lets consider the first part,'Is not my word like fire',one commentator writes,'It has the ability to purify,and consume what is false,exposes sin,reveals truth, and brings about spiritual transformation'. As Christians we need to have confidence in God's word.I sometimes look up what famous people have said,and some  of it is very good,but they not the word of God,and will pass into nothingness  eventually. But God's word  will last forever ,consider all those things mentioned, just some of the things the word can do.I thought how the word of God can guide us.When I attended Bible college I worked with a Belfast city missionary,he was a godly man,he was seeking guidance as to a possible move to a church.He said a certain verse kept coming up,indicating he should go,and he did,and the Lord blessed his ministry.We read in Psalm 119 v105,'Your word is a lamp to my feet,and a light to my path',.yes God will guide us by His word

The honours list.( Revelation (5 v 1-14)

Every year we have an honours list,David Beckham a famous footballer received a knighthood not just for being a footballer,but  for the charity work he is involved in.Consider a man who turned water into wine,so meeting the need at a wedding,He fed thousands of  hungry people,He healed many people,He raised the dead,delivered people from evil spirits,calmed stormy sea.Thirty seven miracles are recorded,although he did many more miracles  that were not recorded.Of course one would have thought He would have been honoured by His people,by putting a crown on his head,instead they put on His head a  crown of thorns.You would have thought they would have praised Him but they made plans to execute Him.You would have thought they would have placed Him on an houours list ,instead they placed Him on a cross. But that's not the end of the story ,for He is now in heaven crowned with glory and honour.There is coming a day ,oh yes it's coming, that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow,in heaven and on earth,and under the earth,and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus is Lord,to the glory of God the Father.( Philippians 2 v 10-11)