Perfect ( 2 Timothy 3 v16)

 It is John Blanchard  in his commentary on James  writes as regards four things about God ( 1) 'His works are perfect. (2) His way is perfect.( 3) His will is perfect.( 4 )His word is perfect.Let us have  a brief look at these 4 things,'His works are perfect',in Psalm  139 v14  David declares,'I am fearfully and wonderfully made'.The word fearfully has with it  a sense of awe and respect.our whole body,look on the internet, consider what it tells us the body that has one trillion cells,think of that,and they it say it just happened, how blind they are,.( 2) 'His way is perrfect'.That is what we are told in Psalm 18 v 30, it could be as you read these words you doubt what is said,cast that doubt aside,He makes no mistakes,lean on these words and trust your God who makes no mistakes.(3 ) His will is perfect, Romans 12 v2 tells us that His will is good,pleasing ,and perfect,we can never go wrong when we walk in obedience to God's will (4) 'His word is perfect.' This wonderful bible has been miraculously preserved,in it we have the very word of God,a word  that brings hope to us,a word that never changes,a word that tells us about a wonderful Saviour . 

Memory lane ( 1 Samuel 7 v12 )

There are events  that one never forgets,after leaving Bible college we applied to missions and no door opened up,I managed a Christian book shop  until it closed, but eventually a door opened a church in England called me to be their pastor.And so the day arrived to set off on our journey ,my wife and our four children,in our little Morris Minor someone had bought for us.I read earlier that day  a reading from a devotional called 'Daily Light',it is just full of scripture,I read these words,'He lead them on safetly'(Psalm 78 v 53)  and then I read,'Behold,I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared'(Exodus 23 v20)What a wonderful word as we set of on our journey,two  things happened first we got a puncture but we got that fixed,next the fanbelt was loose ,but we got fixed also,and we drove through London and eventually we arrived safe and sound.It was the blind Hymn writer Fanny J.Crosby who wrote the following words.

                                                          'All the way my Saviour leads me;

                                                           What have I to ask beside?

                                                           Can I doubt His tender mercy,

                                                            Who through life hads been my guide?

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)