Gospel Meeting 26/11/2017

John’s Gospel ch4 vs3 – 26

The Lord Jesus Christ “must needs go through Samaria” (vs4) …

He was continuing to do the work on behalf of His Father –

“My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work” (vs36).

He was seeking to bring out those who would be part of His flock…

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd”. – John ch10 vs16.

Sat on the well, the conversation between Jesus Christ and the Samaritan woman flowed from a simple starting question about water…

As Christ turned it into a spiritual meaning, she saw her real needs could be met through this Man – Jesus Christ, God’s Eternal Son - the Saviour of sinners!

Amazing thought, that Christ should leave His Heavenly home of love and light to come into a dark sinful world -  and to specifically meet this woman!

People of Scarborough, He is seeking you and loving you just as much as He cared about this woman…

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. – John ch3 vs16.

The worlds most powerful telescopes, which can see breathtaking things across the magnitude of space, do not find a plan of Salvation – but God has completely revealed it to us, through His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.

Vs10 tells us it’s a gift!

Vs26 Jesus Christ reveals to the woman that He is that gift!

The woman’s failings made no difference – Jesus Christ came to her and made Himself known…

God’s offer of Salvation through His Son is available for anyone and everyone to accept.

Friend, simply come to Jesus Christ confessing you are a sinner and sorry for all the wrongs you have done. In faith believe that He is God’s Son, who was crucified at Calvary’s Cross as a sacrifice for all our sins, giving His sinless cleansing blood to pay our price and debt. Receive Him into your heart and life as your personal Lord and Saviour, turning away from sin to serve and obey Him each day.

Vs29 – “Come and see…” – she had a testimony, was delighted to have met with Jesus Christ and could not wait to tell other people!

Then many others believed too… one tells another!

Great intellect or grand words are not necessary – The Lord can use all willing hearts, and many others wanted to see Jesus because of the Samaritan woman’s words about Jesus.

So the others of that city came and found out for themselves –

“Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world”. – vs42.

A personal encounter with Jesus Christ changes everything – He changes lives!

Amazing grace – how sweet the sound –

That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.

(John Newton 1725 – 1807)

Friend, have you met the Saviour of the world? Is he speaking to you tonight?

Do you realise your own great need of The Saviour and to know Him?

Tarry no longer, come and make Him your own Saviour this very hour.

Gospel Meeting 19/11/2017

The meeting commenced with one of our congregation giving their testimony...

Had little purpose or direction in life through teenage years, before giving their heart and life to serving Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, now and forever.

“Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”. – Psalm ch16 vs11.

Wordly “pleasures” are temporary and worthless!

Life IS Christ! We are made in His image.

Tonight’s speaker then read:

John's Gospel ch12 vs1 - 26.

"Sir, we would see Jesus"...

In verse 21, certain Greeks desired to see Jesus, whilst others reacted to Him differently.

The Pharisees and chief priests did not want Him as they sought to keep their power and position.

Some were only inquisitive about Jesus Christ.

There were those who saw Him for who He was, The Son of God - and worshipped Him.

But tonight's heading and first question is:

1) Why would YOU want to see Jesus? ...

Whether your life is going well or full of problems, you need to have all your sins forgiven - and Jesus Christ is the only One who can give Salvation. If you will come in sincere repentance and have faith in Him and the sacrificing of His own sinless body at the Cross, He will forgive you.

Jesus Christ gave His own sinless blood so that we all can be cleansed from the guilt and punishment we fully deserved from all our sinfulness.

Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus - because he had a guilty conscience and wanted to put it right.

The Samarian woman at the well conversed with Jesus, and was offered living water - giving an abundant, full life. 

She said "Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did..." - Jesus knows everything about each of us too, and what is in our hearts.

John the Baptist looking upon Jesus said "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world". 

This Man was different!

In love, The Eternal Son of God came from Heaven into this world and took flesh so that He could be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Not everyone receives forgiveness - only those who repent and accept His offer of full and free salvation...

Friend, will YOU accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour tonight?

At the Cross of Christ, the hardened centurion who would not have been easily convinced, after coming into contact with Jesus exclaimed "TRULY this was the Son of God".

There are so many reasons why we would want to see Jesus, but at the end of your life if you are to spend eternity in Heaven with Him, you must have already put your faith and trust in Him.

It is only fair to tell you that the only other option - rejecting Christ and dying with your sins still unforgiven - will take you to eternity in that most awful place called Hell.

2) Why is it worth seeing Jesus? ...

He is God!!

He is sinless, pure, holy, love, gracious, merciful!

Jesus loved you so much that He died in agony on the Cross for You personally.

Even though He knows every wrong that you have done, He still loves you and wants you to come to Him and be saved.

3) What is in it for Him? ...

"...the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world".

 - 1st John ch4 vs14.

For our sake, Jesus humbled Himself, but...

"...God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name" - Philippians ch2 vs9.

Jesus glorified His Father, and wants each of us to be with Him in Heaven forever.

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us - ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance". - 2nd Peter ch3 vs9.

Jesus wanted us!

"... who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God". - Hebrews ch12 vs2.

Jesus Christ is the groom, and awaiting the Church - His bride, in Heaven. 

4) What is in it for us? ...

As previously noted - Salvation! Our sins forgiven and an eternal home in Heaven with this most wonderful Man!

When we receive Christ as Lord and Saviour, our lives change - we become more satisfied and enjoy the peace of God in our hearts.

It may be that your family or friends will disapprove of your decision to accept Jesus, or face persecution at school or in the workplace - but whatever our personal daily cost, Jesus gives us far and above any loss we may suffer.

With His Holy Spirit indwelling and changing the believer, our lives become far more pleasing to God. Much better serving Him than the world!

Three things He expects of us - 

"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?" - Micah ch6 vs8.

Not always easy - but ever aim for it!

Trusting Jesus every day is a great pleasure.

Be sure you know Him as your Saviour this night - He is coming again soon for all the men and women, boys and girls who are forgiven and saved - are you one of them?

Gospel Meeting 12/11/2017

The Acts of the Apostles ch16 vs25 – 40.

This passage has a picture of one man in total despair on the verge of taking his own life – and there was one person who could save his life.

The speaker told of an American television series in which a girl gave 13 reasons why she took her own life.

The series glamorised death, and had the attitude that life was only as valuable as you think it is.

The speaker was asked by his work colleague – not a Christian – to give reasons why not to take your own life…he replied with the reasons as one who IS living as a Christian:

Whilst acknowledging that life can still be difficult as a Christian, and certainly not always sugar – coated, we have great reasons to be happy and enjoying life –

 a)      John’s Gospel ch3 vs16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.

Take out “world” and put your own personal name in… YOU are loved! The all – powerful God who has the whole world in His hands, loves YOU, and valued YOU enough to give His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice to pay the price of your sins on Calvary’s Cross! Christ willingly laid down His life, giving His blood by which we can be saved through repentance and faith in Him and His work on the Cross. Amazing love, grace and mercy!

b)      You were created by God… this has given us a real and lasting purpose in life – to bring The Lord glory. We were made in God’s image and that brings us joy!

c)      Jeremiah ch29 vs11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.

Although at times we may feel despair - like Elijah and Jonah, The Lord’s plans are always for our benefit.

d)      The God of the Old Testament is the same as the New…

Deuteronomy ch31 vs6 – “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”.

All the way through, God is for His people, and it is the same with you –

“… that we are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint – heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together”. – Romans ch8 vs16 – 17.

We are never alone, The Lord is always with us and for us! 

e) Forgiven!...    1^st John ch1 vs9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

We may continue – like Paul – to have a battle within us concerning sin, but we have the victory… The Lord Jesus Christ has once forever paid the price of our sins in His own blood - past, present and future!

Romans ch5 vs1 – “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.

Dear reader, maybe are you not saved yet? Nothing you might have done in your past or present should stop you from coming to know The Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour tonight. The words from tonight’s passage were spoken by Paul – “the chief of sinners” – who was now proclaiming “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”!

One thief on the cross knew he had done wrong and getting what he deserved, but he asked of Jesus Christ “Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom”.

If you will come in repentance and faith, confessing your sins and asking Him into your heart and life as your Lord and Saviour, He WILL forgive!

f) God is faithful! – 1^st Corinthians ch10 vs13

g) We have a wonderful Saviour who cares! – 1^st Peter ch5 vs7 - “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”.

He is ever listening and attentive to our needs.

h) “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye”. – Psalm ch32 vs8.

He always has His loving eye on you! Almighty God is as mindful of you as He is of anyone else!

i) We are comforted!... “Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”. – 2^nd Corinthians ch1 vs4.

 j) We have the “blessed hope”!... “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope…” – Romans ch15 vs13.

 k) It’s good to be humble! -  “Judge not , that ye be not judged”. – Matthew’s Gospel ch7 vs1.

In humility, ask God for your needs – He knows what is best for you…

“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. – Matthew’s Gospel ch7 vs7.

Our Salvation is the same – we come to Jesus humbly, as a sinner – like this jailor did.

It is nothing of ourselves.

l)    God dwells with us!...

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God,? You are not your own”. – 1^st Corinthians ch6 vs19.

Every moment He is with us here, until we are either taken home to be in Heaven with The Lord following the end of our Earthly life - or if He returns before that time to gather all His own people unto Himself in that holy City above.

Life is precious - and happiest when it is lived with The Lord Jesus Christ in your heart and life!

Gospel Meeting 05/11/2017

Isaiah ch40.

This book is written in two sections – Chapters 1 – 39, and 40 – 66, having two different messages. Firstly, looking towards the Israelites being exiled in Babylon, and then looking towards returning into their land.

Tonight’s meeting concentrated on verses 1 -2.

The prophet Isaiah was instructed by The Lord to tell His people of Jerusalem the things that were to happen beyond the captivities, and to bring them words of comfort.

Isaiah was to:

a)      “Speak tenderly to their hearts”

b)      “Cry unto her” – with bold assertion to the solid things God was saying

In verse 2, there were 3 things that God wanted His people to hear, knowing that they had an internal, external and eternal need…

1)      “her warfare was accomplished” –

Their time of suffering was accomplished. God has it all planned and knows the end of this time was coming.

All God’s promises are solid and sure!

2)      “her iniquity is pardoned” –

His people’s sin had been dealt with, for a substitute had been found.

We find Him in Isaiah Chapter 53, which speaks of The Lord Jesus Christ, God’s eternal Son. He came as a man – born of a virgin – lived a perfect holy, sinless life, and became the acceptable sacrifice for Israel’s and everyone’s sins by being crucified on a cross at Calvary.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” – ch53 vs7.

In love, Jesus Christ came and died, paying the price for all our sins, before rising from His tomb – triumphant over sin, death and Hell!

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” – 1^st Timothy ch2 vs5.

3) “she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins” -

The debt was paid - and much more! Forgiveness was come!

The satisfaction Jesus Christ made by His sufferings and death to His Father, was of such an infinite value that it was more than double to the demerits of sin, for God spared not His own Son.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” – John ch3 vs16.

Personal challenge:

Are YOU one of God’s people for these eternal blessings?

The Lord Jesus Christ died for YOUR own sins too, not just “other people”.

Friend and reader, if you have not already done so, please come with a repentant heart to Jesus Christ tonight. In faith of who He is, and in His taking of all your due punishment upon Himself on the Cross, ask Him to be your own Lord and Saviour.

Be forever in the glory with Jesus!