Hope ( Colossians 1 v 27)

 One of my favourite programs was Poirot a fictional character  created by Agatha Christie,it was on TV for 25yrs ,I'm sure I've watch every program. The actor who  played Poitot was David Suchet a wonderful actor,he made the charactor his own,no one played him better.Let me tell you about David he was a Jew,but in 1986  he  converted to Christianity , his conversion came about  after making a documentry on the apostle Paul. He was asked did he believe in an after life?he replied, '' I can't be a Christian if I don't believe  that. And that is my hope.And that is the one glorious word in the Christian faith: hope of the afterlife''.The  resurrection of Christ was an historical event,in Michael Haag's book the ,'Tragedy of the Templar's,he tells that there were those who sought to destroy the tomb  were Jesus was laid,.chipping away at it.It will not change the truth, that He died for our sins,and rose again the third day.The death and the resurrection of our Saviour brings us as David Suchet said,'hope of the afterlife'

                                           ' Jesus said....'I am the resurrection and the life

                                            The one who believes in me will live,even though 

                                            they die'(  John 11 v 25}

Give a reason ( 1 Peter 3 v 13-16)

 In 1Peter chapter 3-4 ,he writes to the Christians as regards suffering for ones faith,he reminds them and us, of Christ's suffering.It is easy with the threat of suffering hanging over your head,you will shy away from being a witness for Christ. He writes of those who threaten them,'Do not fear their threats,do not be frightened'(3 v14)Then he goes unto write,'But in your hearts revere Christ,look beyond their adversaries to Christ,W .Barclay writes quoting Isaiah 8 v13 ,which reads ,''Santify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear,and let Him be your dread''Baised on that we should,'Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you, to give the reason for the hope that you have.'What is the answer simply this,'Christ', not in earthly things,which do not fulfill the deepest longings of our hearts.There is no total security in this world,but there is in Christ. when the things we value are taken from us,we have Christ. Peter adds that our reply should be with gentleness and respect'

What think you of Christ? ( Titus 2 v 13)

In Matthew 16 v15 Jesus asked the question to his disciples,' Who do you say I am?' a very important  question.John Newton wrote 'What think you of Christ? is the test.To try both your state and your schem. You cannot be right in the rest, unless you think rightly of Him',The cults see  Him not as God,Islam see Hin as a prophet.Christians see Him as God,as did all the disciples.Matthew 16 v16/ John20 v28.In the early church the question arose as to whom Christ was, the Christian emperor felt it was going to cause divison within the church,so he summoned the First General Council of the Church at Nicaea.There was two veiws as to whom Christ was,one was the Arian point of veiw that He was only a man,and the Trinitarian point of veiw ,that  Christ was truly God and truly human, His humanity was sinless   (Hebrews 4 v15)  There was a vote taken it was decided by 218 votes to two,in favour of the  trinitarian point of veiw. The word of God clearly teaches the divinity of Christ and we must hold fast to that truth.  

                                                 'In Him,the human and divine embrace, 

                                                 A  sacred union , full of power and grace.

                                                 No mere man,yet flesh and blood He bore,

                                                 A Son of God,for ever and evermore'.          

In Matthew 16 v

 

There is a cost. ( Luke 14 v25-33)

There I was watching TV the program they were covering was about football,and I saw a poster with these words on it,'This is more than a hobby,this is our lives'.In another football ground we have words like,'This is our religion' People would say that about many things,music ,art  and so on,what I think is, 'everything in it's place'. In Luke 14 v 26 Jesus said a very challenging thing ,If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother,wife and children,brothers and sisters,yes even their own life,such a person cannot be my disciples'.Now what does He mean by those words?,One has put it like this ,'Jesus is teaching His followers,to prioratize their devotion to Him above all else,including family'.The words He spoke to Peter are applicable,'Do you love me more than these?' John 21 v 15.Many missionaries have paid dearly in serving Christ,the apostle Paul ,Peter,and most of  apostles,showed  a love for Christ that was greater than their lives.Jesus didn't beat around the bush,He let us know what it would involve if one followed Him.

                                                    'Our salvation costs us nothing

                                                    but following Christ will cost

                                                     us everything'

They are lost. ( Romans 10 v14 )

 Jesus speaking to His disciples said .'Don't you have a saying,''It's still four months until harvest''? I tell you,open your eyes and look on the fields!They are ripe for harvest'.(John 4 v 35).The need is great ,so many people without Christ, the need is urgent.So  many lost souls,they don't know where they are going,the answer is very stark,without Christ they are going to a lost eternity ,where there's no get out clause,once a soul enters hell that's it.There are so many people who are suffering in this world,awful things are happening to people , sickness abounds, the world is a very violent place and so we could go on,Awful as that may be,and what I say I don't say lightly,but it needs to be said,our earthly suffering awful though it may be,can not compare to going to hell.The fact is we cannot change the suffering of this world,but we can escape the after death  suffering  ,by seeking forgiveness and trusting Christ as ones Saviour.As Christians we must see the urgency of telling  people about Christ now, that's our responsibilty. 

                                                                    A Prayer

                                                 'Lead me to some soul today

                                                 O teach me Lord,just what to say

                                                 Friends of mine are lost in sin,

                                                 And cannot find their way.

                                                 Few there are who seem to care,

                                                 And few there are who pray;

                                                Melt my heart,and fill my life,

                                                Give me one soul today'  (Words byW,H.Houghton)

                                                               

                                                        

How long must I cry for help.( I Psalm 40 v1)

We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ,but it does not stop there,for we read in Habakkuk 2 v 4 ,' the just shall live by faith',Why do we need faith?,because it is essential for a relationship with God.As a Christian we are called to walk by faith with God 24/7. It is vital,when we start leaning on our own understanding,we will soon loose our way and become confused in our thinking and in our theology,this can result in wandering away from God's word and from Him.In a church where I was a joint leader we had a deacon,and thats what he did.Now let us consider Habakkuk the man who sought answers.Let us remember living by faith brings it's challenges,and Habukkuk had plenty. Verse 2 of chap1,reads,' How long ,O Lord, must I cry for help? But you do not listen.'but of course God was listening,we can see that by what follows.God is not indifferent to His children's prayers.,He will answer in His time,yes the answer was coming,the silence of God is a test to our faith,we are called to trust Him when he is silent,and wait patiently for His answer, 

                                                  ' The answer is already on its way'

His kingdom come( Matthew 7 v13-14)

Jesus taught us a prayer in Matthew 6 v 9-13, the beginning of verse 10  reads ,'Your kingdom come',every day I pray these words. Every day the good news is being proclaimed through out this world, on the internet,by personal witnessing,by godly wistessing,it is happening,nothing can stop the good news being proclaimed,but there are those who try .There is a wonderful verse in Habakkuk 2 v 14, which reads,'For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea'  .Our Saviour  said  'go and make disciple ,of all nations' (Matthew 28 v 19)  in  many ways this is happening,through evangelism ,and by many different means.,and through this many are coming to Christ.The knowledge of the Lord will be known,but let us remember many  will hear the Christmas carols,attend charol services,receive Christmas presents, and Christmas  cards,yet they will still not know Christ as their Saviour. The challenges that faces all of us, be we ministers or non-ministers,is to proclaim clearly the gospel,I often feel we are ashamed of the gospel we do not want to offend people.

                                                  'For I am not ashamed of the gospel 

                                                   of Christ,for it is the power of God

                                                  to salvation for everyone who believes.'

                                                                 Romans 1 v 16 .