Christmas Carol Service 24/12/2017

1)  O Little Town Of Bethlehem.

Reading – Luke’s Gospel ch1 vs26 – 38.

2)  While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night.

Reading – Luke’s Gospel ch2 vs1 – 20.

3)  Hark The Herald Angels Sing.

Reading – Matthew’s Gospel ch2 vs1 – 15.

4)  Away In A Manger.

A short Christmas message was given…

ARE YOU PREPARED?

It’s Christmas!

Having so much preparation and stress can take away some of it’s enjoyment.

Maybe meeting people you have not seen for a long time?

Intense pressure by the media and advertising companies to spend too much money!

However, behind all this, Christmas has a very important message for all of us –

The birth of Jesus Christ, God’s Eternal Son.

Although the shepherds had no time to prepare, yet they made haste to see the new born Saviour in Bethlehem.

The wise men had plenty time to prepare as they made their long journey from the east to worship Him.

“Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord”. – Luke’s Gospel ch2 vs10 – 11.

This is the reason Jesus Christ came - the Son of God that ever lives from before the foundations of the world!

We all need a Saviour to save us from the penalty and punishment of our many sins...

Jesus Christ is the ONLY Saviour!

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. – Romans ch6 vs23.

Having lived a perfect holy, sinless life, at the age of 33 He laid down His life on Calvary’s Cross to pay the price of all our sins, for all people. Anyone who comes to Him in faith and repentance, asking forgiveness and inviting Him into their heart and life as Lord and Saviour WILL be saved from judgement.

Friend, put you own personal faith in Jesus Christ tonight and receive His gift of Salvation.

There is not much real or lasting joy with people in this world, but accepting Christ as your Lord does bring a lasting real peace and happiness.

Many people do not see themselves as mattering or important, but The Lord Jesus Christ loves you as much as anyone else, and wants you to belong to Him tonight.

He will change your life for the better through His indwelling Holy Spirit.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”. – John’s Gospel ch14 vs1-3.

He is preparing an eternal home for those who trust Him…

Jesus Christ died for us in love and wants each of us to be with Him in Heaven for eternity.

Friend, once you have placed your trust in Him, no-one can take it away from you.

Jesus Christ is God’s plan to bring us great joy.

The gift of His Son is worth infinitely more than any material gift we may receive this Christmas.

Friend, you have made preparations for Christmas - but far more importantly - have you made preparations to receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and know His forgiveness?

Gospel Meeting 17/12/2017

Isaiah ch9 vs6 -7 –

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace….”

Matthew’s Gospel ch11 vs16 -30.

The health industry has made such great progress in so many areas of physical ailments over the years, yet despite the huge growth in the Counselling industry, sadly psychological problems continue to abound.

In times past, Church leaders used to be the local Counsellors, and God has been a great Counsellor to His people. So much of this has now been sidelined since the boom of psychiatrists and professional Counsellors.

However, we have in Jesus Christ such a Wonderful Counsellor, who excels above anyone or anything in this world - two words - which have such relevance to today!

1) Wonderful…

Explain wonderful…Jesus is Wonderful! Only suitable and applying to God Himself!

Jesus Christ fulfilled prophecies, most appropriately indicating His Divinity and Deity.

This is Emmanuel – God and man, and this is the greatest wonder of all – that God should be contracted to a span!

2) Counsellor…

Not only in nature, but Wonderful in Counsellor too.

Wonderfully superior to the world’s best professional Counsellors!

He has the power to see into our hearts and thoughts. He knows everything there is to know about us.

“O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted in all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me  behind and before, and laid thy hand upon me. Such knowledge  is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain unto it”. – Psalm ch139 vs1 -6.

“…in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge”.

–        Colossians ch2 vs3.

Which earthly Counsellor can compare with this!

Trusting Jesus Christ is the first application for each person tonight

Put your whole confidence in Him.

He is the very best person to turn to at any time for anything.

Prosperity or a host of other things are not success – but getting to know God..

A spiritual relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ IS success!

This personal relationship can only be achieved through accepting that Jesus Christ is the Eternal Son of God, who came into this world and took flesh in order that He, as the perfect sinless man, could lay down His holy life on The Cross – a sacrifice for the sins of everyone. 

He took the punishment and guilt of our sins – and yours too dear friend – that whosoever comes to him in repentance and will receive Him as their personal Lord and Saviour, will no longer face an eternal Hell separated from God, but being forgiven through His blood, will have a home in Heaven with this wonderful Saviour forever.  

Why would you delay from getting to know and trust such a lovely Man who died and rose again, even for you?!

 His offer of this full and free Salvation is still available tonight, simply come as you are and Jesus Christ will accept you right now!

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest…” –

This is a great invite from Jesus Christ to all who are suffering and full of problems.

There are no working or lasting solutions from any others.

Often, we are so weak, but He is ever strong – a dependable Rock.

“Casting all your care upon him: for he careth for you”. – 1^st Peter ch5 vs7.

Jesus Christ will take your strain.

Grow and learn from the best Counsellor!

He also has the best manual for everyday help and life’s problems – contained in His written word, The Holy Bible.

In conclusion, not only is Jesus Christ Wonderful, but the Wonderful Counsellor…

He beckons us to come to Him and know Him.

All praise to Him!

Gospel Meeting 10/12/2017

Philippians ch2 vs1 -13.

“Confined To A Span”.

1)  Eternal God.

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant , and was made in the likeness of men…” – vs6 -7.

This man is the Eternal God!

The creator of the universe. The upholder and sustainer of all things.

Yet God confined to a span!

The second person of the Trinity was born and took flesh that He could specifically save people from the penalty of their sins – including you and me!

“and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”…

“Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us”. –

Matthew’s Gospel ch1 vs 21 & 23.

Jesus Christ showed such humility in leaving His Father’s side and coming into this dark and sinful world, to be crucified and die on the Cross for everyone’s sins.

“…the son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” – Galatians ch2 vs20.

The very image of the invisible God, yet he laid His glory aside, coming willingly and humbly!

“…he hath no form nor comeliness ; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him”. – Isaiah ch53 vs2.

Amazing love, grace and mercy!

He came to take the penalty of all our sins upon His holy sinless self.

Only God could ever do this – we have all sinned and Jesus Christ never has!

This is the God we Christians worship, and celebrate His birth especially at Christmastime.

“Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”. – 1^st Peter ch1 vs20.

Friend, how are you going to respond to this Saviour God concerning the question of your unforgiven sins?

Will you tonight come to Jesus Christ in repentance of your sins? 

Will you in faith accept God’s Eternal Son as your Lord and Saviour, believing that He paid your price in full at Calvary’s Cross by giving His sinless body and shed blood in atonement?

Jesus Christ is God, spelling Himself out in language that man can understand.

He will transform your life from the inside out – ask Him!

2)   Compassionate Saviour.

Jesus Christ grew up into a man, with the purpose of saving sinners.

“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’s Gospel ch3 vs16.

Now that’s love!

Eternal God, now as a man, has a beginning and an end – that He might lay down His life to deliver us from sin and judgement.

Jesus Christ stooped as low as He could to lift us up with His Salvation.

He was a real human in every way, apart from sin. He slept, hungered, thirsted, wept, but always without sin.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”. –

Hebrews ch4 vs15.

The King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, humbled Himself to be the willing sacrifice for our sins by crucifixion.

All sin is an absolute offence to Holy God.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.    - Romans ch3 vs23.

Have you ever asked for, or received a gift like this, dear friend?

Have your sin burden removed tonight and be freed!

“Jesus paid it all,

All to Him I owe;

Sin had left a crimson stain,

He washed it white as snow”.

-  words from hymn by Elvina Hall.

Who else shall pay for your sin debt?

Friend, do not end up paying your own bill in the eternal Hell!

3)    Supreme Lord Of All.

Jesus Christ came to recover His Creation that Satan had hijacked.

God the Father has now highly exalted Him, and has the name above all names.

Risen from the grave and ascended, He is now seated at His Father’s right hand in Heaven

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved”. – The Acts ch4 vs12.

As we are enjoying the things of Christmas, remember this name -  the greatest name ever -  to which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created”

- The Revelation ch4 vs11.

When those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour meet Him in Heaven, we will see He bears the marks of our Redemption.

Friend, be sure tonight that you will be one of those eternally happy people gathered there, with this most wonderful Man!

Gospel Meeting 03/12/2017

Matthew’s Gospel ch13 vs44 – 52.

Two parables, side by side as a pair – “the hid treasure” and “the pearl”.

Vs44 – The kingdom of heaven – God’s rule!

We are invited to leave this scene of darkness and enter into His kingdom of light, to join His people.

Here, the seeking sinner is discovering that the treasure is Jesus!

Happy to forsake all he has with joy, to gain Christ.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot”.

 – 1^st Peter ch1 vs18 – 19.

Jesus Christ as the treasure is so precious that there is no value big enough that we can place on Him.

God’s Eternal Son is priceless!

Paul said “But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ”.

 – Philippians ch3 vs7 -8.

We were all bought with the highest price possible – our sins and the penalty of them were paid for in full by Jesus Christ, God’s sinless Son, by the sacrifice of His own body and the blood He shed from many a wound.

Such was His wonderful love for us all, that we might belong to Him and spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

Vs45 – The Lord Jesus Christ is the merchant, coming into this world and giving all that He had - His own life - that He would have His goodly pearls – those who would repent and accept Him as their Lord and Saviour.

An irritant or worthless piece of sand once inside the clam, turns into a beautiful and much valued pearl… just as Jesus Christ transforms us into a thing of beauty, fit for His Kingdom of Heaven!

“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”. –

2^nd Corinthians ch8 vs9

“What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s”. –

1^st Corinthians ch6 vs19 – 20.

Every day we see so many people with damaged, broken lives. Feeling worthless, unloved and sometimes contemplating suicide. Jesus Christ takes hold of the worthless and draws us to His heart. He encases us in His love and beauty.

When we ask Him into our hearts, He gives us a whole new meaning to our lives.

Dear friend, if you ever feel that you don’t matter – then think about Calvary’s Cross!

This tells everyone just how much we matter. We are precious and highly valued!

We are so greatly loved by The Father and The Son, in spite of all the sinful things we have done. Just come to The Lord Jesus Christ in repentance, and let Him transform you into that goodly pearl - for whom He gave His life and blood for!

“And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father”. – Philippians ch2 vs8 -11.