Gospel Meeting 26/01/2014

Mr. Alistair Patterson (Faith Mission) read Psalm85 and spoke about revival starting with prayer and the God of Salvation.
He then read John 15 I AM THE TRUE VINE.
Alistair brought out the different relationships;
Vine-Dresser.
Vine-Branches.
Christ-Dresser.
Christ-Us.
Father-Son.
Father-You & Me.
You-Me.

It's about bearing fruit.
1/Are we connected, do we have life. Christ in you and you in Christ as the branches share the character of the vine so should we be Christ like.
Are you saved Christ gave His life that we might have life are you connected to the vine.

2/Bear fruit.
Galatians 5 vs.22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23  Meekness, temperance:
plus we should be witnessing to others
Do we produce these fruits in our lives or the opposite?
The vine needs pruning to produce better fruit it's not always pleasant.

3/ Answered prayer.
We should abide in Him and keep His commandments and be obedient. He answers prayer.

4/ God is glorified.
fruit that stays on the tree rots, it is to be used for the benefit of others, it grows quietly and unnoticed. By glorifying God we will experience His love, joy and peace.

Gospel Meeting 19/01/2014

2 Samuel 4 vs.4,  2 Samuel 9 vs.1-13

I would like to speak about this man Mephibosheth under three headings;

1/ MERCY.2/ GRACE.3/ PROVISION.

And then apply the lessons to ourselves.

1/    David showed him mercy by withholding judgement from him he could have had him put to death but he showed him mercy when he was not in a position to expect it or deserve it he would have been the last of the family that opposed David.

 2/   David also showed him grace David gave Mephibosheth things he didn’t deserve he gave him the land back that was his father’s but was lost in the battle. He also welcomed him to his table to eat with him continually as one of the king’s son’s what a remarkable turnaround for Mephibosheth.

3/   David also provided for him, Ziba and his family and servants’ worked  Mephibosheth’s land for him and he enjoyed the fruits of it, so although he was lame on both his feet he was productive through the land that David had given him. 

 Mephibosheth accepted the position he was in and threw himself upon the kindness of David as we heard last week Mary cast herself at the feet of Jesus so Mephibosheth cast himself at the feet of David who he knew was king and could have power over him to do what he wanted, David showed Mephibosheth Mercy, Grace, and Provision beyond anything he could have expected, Mephibosheth didn’t refuse it he enjoyed it his future was blessed and secure.

I’m sure you have seen many lessons and parallels which we can relate to we have/can be shown God’s Mercy, Grace, and Provision.  

Exodus 33 vs.19  And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. 

1/WHY DO WE NEED MERCY?

Sin has come between us and God and it needs to be dealt with

Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Romans 3 vs.23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 6 vs.23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

2/WHY IS GOD GRACIOUS TO US?

Because of His Love for us, He is gracious to us through His Son. John 3 vs.16

He passed our judgement onto His Son at Calvary so that we no longer have to face it Christ died in our place – He shed His Precious Blood to pay the price for my sin and yours

Ephesians 2 vs.4-8 

1 John 3 vs.1 ¶  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God:  

3/HOW CAN WE BE IN THE GOOD OF GOD’S GREAT PROVISION?

Repent and accept Christ and what He has done on the Cross. God wants to lavish His love upon us and has made it possible, it’s an offer we can’t refuse.

Philippians  4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 

Philippians 4 vs.11-13. 

Not a prosperity Gospel but a satisfaction in what God has for us, I’m sure Ziba had bad harvests some years and had to work for it but knowing he was right with the King was more than satisfying. 

Mephibosheth was surely blessed and so are we in Christ.

 

Gospel Meeting 12/01/2014

LUKE 10 vs.38-42, JOHN11 vs.1-5, 18-44, JOHN 12 vs.1-3.

As you will have noticed on these three occasions Mary was at the feet of Jesus.

First of all Who is Jesus; Hebrews 1 vs.1-3

 Secondly what did He do; Philippians 2 vs.5-11 

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.   

Thirdly why did He do it; John 10:10, John 12:46, Galatians 2:20, John 17 vs.3-4. 

Mary Listened, LUKE 10 vs.38-42

In this passage we see two different approaches to the presence of the Lord Martha thought that the preparation and chores were the most important thing and although they are very necessary it is not good to put busyness before  sitting at the feet of Jesus. How do we come before God?  We should come and sit at the Masters feet in humility and drink in what He says to us not questioning in an aggressive way or thinking we know best. Mary was a good listener and she had respect for the one she knew was different, she must have realised the things He was saying were true and she was prepared to sit at His feet and drink it in.

1 Peter5 vs.5  and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Mary Learnt, JOHN11 vs.1-5, 18-44

Again we see two different approaches to this very sad situation and I am not saying Martha was wrong she had a very normal and natural response to her brother’s death also she showed a remarkable understanding of Jesus and His power. When Jesus said in vs.25.

John 11 vs.25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

She said: 27  She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Mary started off saying the same thing they both appreciated something of the power Jesus had and that is quite something to believe that Jesus could have prevented their brother Lazarus’s death, but Mary fell at His feet and said nothing else but she wept and she was going to learn that not only could Jesus have prevented his death but He had the power to raise him from the dead.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

It’s lovely to see the genuine compassion felt by the Lord Jesus towards His friends.

He shared in the sadness that they were feeling, and with us too.

Mary is always at His feet in humble acceptance that He knows best even though she was distraught at her brother’s death.

What a joy it must have been to them when Lazarus was raised from the dead. The experience of seeing God working in our lives teaches us to trust Him more step by step.

Mary Loved. JOHN 12 vs.1-3.

Again Mary at the feet of Jesus pouring out her appreciation of Him  showing her love and devotion and expressing her worship of Him by washing His feet with very expensive ointment as we know it was the job of the lowest servant to wash the visitors feet. Her gratitude and appreciation cost her something it wasn’t just words or empty actions it was real and genuine she had grown and developed in her understanding and affection for her Lord.

When we bring our worship has it cost us something, I’m not talking about financial cost but to live a life for God costs us our will and accepting His will, it costs us time and effort. The Lord accepted Mary’s worship “for His burial” and He longs that we will give Him our hearts our lives our all.

He died that we might live He paid the price by shedding His precious blood it cost Him His all that we might have forgiveness and abundant everlasting life.  

Lazarus died again eventually but when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus we receive everlasting life.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

He became poor that we might be rich, He came down that we might be raised up, He died that we might live.

Let us like Mary listen, learn and love, and enjoy a close relationship with the Living God both now and in Eternity.

Gospel Meeting 05/01/2014

William Horsburgh read selected verses from Psalm 147, then Hebrews 13 vs.1-25.
He concentrated his thoughts on verses 15-16.
15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
William had three headings;
1/ Praise God for Christ's sacrifice.
2/ Praise Christ as our sacrifice.
3/ Praise God because it is an acceptable sacrifice.
1/The many sacrifices in the Old testament from Cain and Able through Abraham and Isaac to the many sacrifices in the Tabernacle  and temple were all pointing forward to the sacrifice that Christ would make when He was crucified at Calvary, atonement in the Old Testament was a covering for sin that was repeated time and time again but Christ's one sacrifice took away sin. We need to come in faith and repentance. We need to keep going back to the cross and praising God for all the cross achieved.
 2/ Christ was our substitute He was an innocent victim who died in our place.
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
3/ We are priests we offer our sacrifice of praise, we magnify and glorify God by praising Him.
There is a cost and a responsibility with this but the rewards are incomparable