Gospel Meeting 17/06/2018

The Acts ch16 vs16 – 40.

The Gospel was spreading further afield, but having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, Paul and Silas travelled to Philippi in Macedonia.

The speaker broke his message into three parts:

1) The Singing Prisoners.

Although Paul and Silas had every right to complain about their treatment and the following violence against them, they chose not to complain. Imprisoned, battered and in much pain, we read that they prayed and sang praises unto God!

This is a great example of what Jesus Christ taught in Matthew’s Gospel ch6 vs11 – 12 “Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you”.

It is important for all Christians who suffer mockery or persecution to have a heart for those who ill - treat them, and to pray for them. The unsaved are heading towards the most horrendous place called Hell and they ever need our prayers.

Earlier, the apostles were beaten for preaching the Gospel (The Acts ch5), but they departed from the council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name!

We can do things joyfully like Paul and Silas knowing that God as ever has a plan for us. As we shall see here, God had a purpose for them being cast into prison.

2) The Swinging Doors.

This was no normal earthquake that hit the prison – it was supernatural!

Despite its greatness, it was most precise in that although the very foundations were shaken, the doors opened and the prisoner’s chains loosed, none were even harmed!

This was a demonstration of God’s power over both nature and the hearts of man – it is amazing that not one convicted prisoner even attempted to escape!

Earlier in this chapter, we read that The Lord opened Lydia’s heart – nothing is random with The Lord Jesus Christ, but all is done for specific reasons.

3) The Saved Jailor.

The jailor panicked thinking that the prisoners had escaped, which would have cost him his own life. He was about to kill himself by his own sword when he was given assurance not to harm himself as all prisoners were present.

Many people today feel at their wits end and don’t know which way to turn. The Lord Jesus Christ ever bids you to come to Him. He offers you a full and free Salvation. He can forgive all your sins, give you real lasting peace, and the assurance of an eternal home in Heaven. Reader, will you ignore His call, or respond tonight?

The jailor who had been on the brink of death, asked the most important question –

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

Everyone is affected by sin and needs to be saved from its eternal consequences –

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” – Romans ch3 vs23.

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

We are all in need of a Saviour. To remain in our sins and unsaved means heading for death and eternal punishment.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”.

- Matthew’s Gospel ch7 vs 13 – 14.

Sadly, the broad road is pleasing to man who refuses to repent of their sins and the awful reality of Hell awaits them.

The jailor had his question answered immediately …

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house”.

The jailor did not put away the question of his sin problem for another day – many leave it too late thinking they will always have a tomorrow – but he responded that same night, in faith accepting Jesus Christ as his Saviour.

What a great change was brought about in the jailor’s heart and life! Now he was attending to the wounds of Paul and Silas before taking them into his home and feeding them! He was rejoicing in his new life – where there had been fear and thoughts of suicide, now there was the stark contrast of real peace and joy!

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.

- John’s Gospel ch14 vs27.

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus”. – Philippians ch4 vs7.

Friend, are you still on the broad road? Accept the Saviours call this night. He loves you so much that He died on The Cross to pay the price of your sins, rising again from His grave three days later, fully justified. Ask His forgiveness, and put your faith and trust in The Lord Jesus Christ. He alone can make you fit to enter into His heavenly home. Eternity is not just about a few years, it is for ever! Please make that decision tonight, and like the jailor, know a new life with Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

Gospel Meeting 10/06/2018

John’s Gospel ch3 vs14 – 21, 35 – 36.

Jesus Christ here affirmed that just as Moses lifted up the brass serpent in the wilderness that people could live, so too must He, as the Son of man, be lifted up on a Cross that all may not perish but have eternal life.

Later, in ch12 vs32, Jesus Christ again signified what manner of death He would suffer “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me”.

Why did Moses need to lift up the brass serpent? (Numbers ch21 vs7 – 9)  It was because of the sin of the people against Holy God. They were given a very urgent and simple message – “Look at it and live”.

Life depended on obedience to the message from God, and it is exactly the same now with the message given by His Eternal Son Jesus Christ – our sins against God can only be forgiven by coming in obedience to The Cross.

Everyone’s sin has eternal consequences!

Sin is a great big problem which dogs each of us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Sin ultimately brings condemnation and eternal death.

This is why it took God’s Son to come into this world and give His life’s blood for us, being sacrificed at Calvary’s Cross. His blood is the only thing that can make atonement for all our sins and bring us full forgiveness. He alone is the only person who never sinned and needed no sacrifice Himself! As God in the flesh, He is completely holy.

Heaven or Hell is everyone’s only two options where we will spend Eternity … back in the wilderness many were obedient in looking and lived ... 

How about you?

Dear friend, what will you do with the message from The Lord Jesus Christ tonight?

Your own eternal destination depends likewise on your obedience in accepting the Son of Man lifted up on The Cross for you!

Why did Jesus Christ die in extreme agony for you personally? It was His great love for you, as we have read in vs16.

Not a single one of us deserve a shred of His love, but He still loves us – even unto the death of The Cross!

God’s love went to the utmost length for us in the giving of His beloved Son.

Wicked men were allowed to nail Him to that cruel Cross because God had long since purposed it as His plan of our Salvation.

None are excluded – please cherish this thought tonight – Jesus Christ loves you just as much as anyone else! Heavens dearest and best died and took your deserved punishment.

It is so very important to realise that God’s time of forgiveness is NOW. Countless people never get a tomorrow to accept His offer of forgiveness – life is most uncertain.

The question of your sins and where you are going to spend Eternity is the most urgent one you can ever have to decide! What matters more?

“Hell”, is used glibly by many people today to express such trivial things as going back to work on a Monday morning, but words fail to describe the full horror of this real place for those who reject the love and sacrifice of The Lord Jesus Christ for our sins.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the worlds only Saviour of sinners and He is willing and able to fully cleanse and forgive you for eternal life in Heaven, if you come to Him tonight. It takes but one moment to come to Him, acknowledging in faith who He is and in repentance confessing your sins. You will be made right in the sight of God, all your sins will be forgiven and gone!

Will you not accept this simple and urgent call tonight, dear friend?

Everyone comes to Jesus Christ one at a time – is this moment your time to open your heart’s door and let Him in?

If you are seeking a Saviour, He is the seeking Saviour!

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me”

-    The Revelation ch3 vs20.

“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.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation 

-    Hebrews ch2 vs3.

Please respond to His loving invitation tonight and know the lasting joy and peace of receiving His Salvation.

Gospel Meeting 03/06/2018

1^st Epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians ch1 vs9 – ch2 vs16.

The apostle Paul was one of the great preachers of the Gospel.

He fully valued its message, and was eye – witness to its life changing power.

Earlier, he saw the wonderful changes in Lydia and also the Philippian jailor, (Acts ch16), through accepting Jesus Christ as their Saviour.

There is a great responsibility in preaching the good news of the Gospel – including plainly telling all unforgiven sinners that they are bound for Hell – and Paul felt the weight of the ministry.

There are six points here highlighted, showing how Paul so valued the Gospel and in his sharing of it:

1)      He was “put in trust with the gospel” (ch2 vs4), and saw himself as a steward of such. Paul was to let the good news be known to all.

2)      He was an “apostle of Christ” (ch2 vs6). Sent by Jesus Christ and Paul wanted nothing back in return.

3)      He was like “a nursing mother” (ch2 vs7). Paul was helping new converts and such was his love for them that he was willing to give all for them! (ch2 vs8) He was whole – hearted and a huge encourager.

4)      He was “like a father” (ch2 vs11 & 12).  In his ministry Paul implored and encouraged them as a father would with his children, to come to maturity as Christians and walk worthy of The Lord.

5)      He was a “herald” (ch2 vs13). The message Paul gave was not the word of  mere men, but the truthful, eternal word of God. All manner of people are clammering to be heard today, especially on “social media”. Many philosophers give their own ideas on life and death, but here lies the most important distinction … it is not mortal mans words which are dependable, but the Word of God, the holy scriptures of truth! It is only the Holy Bible which has all authority!

“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven”. – Psalm ch119 vs89.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief”. – 1^st Timothy ch1 vs15.

6)      He was persecuted, an exile (ch2 vs15).  Paul knew any persecution was not going to prevent him from preaching the Gospel, such was its importance. Many others had also been persecuted through accepting The Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The basis of all this persecution can be read in Acts ch4 vs23 -31 - which was against Acts ch4 vs23 -31 - Jesus Christ Himself.  However, although these rulers and people thought they were doing their own will in plotting to do away with Jesus Christ, they were only fulfilling the great plan and purpose of God!

God’s plan of Salvation to mankind was known before the foundations of the world! It was that His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, would lay down His sinless body on The Cross and give His blood as an atoning sacrifice for everyone’s sins. We all have a great need of a Saviour, and in His infinite love, grace and mercy, He came from Heaven into this sin – ridden Earth to save us.

Down through all these years of the Gospel being preached, millions of men, women, boys and girls across the world, have in faith trusted Jesus Christ as their own personal Saviour. In being sorry for their sins against Holy God, they have repented and also known the great change brought about in their lives through knowing Jesus Christ in a daily personal relationship. It is such a different life having made peace with God, knowing all your sins are forgiven, and the joy of looking onwards to an eternal home in Heaven with this most wonderful Lord and Saviour!

Reader, if you have never yet settled your own sin problem with God and its eternal consequences, please do so tonight by accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the best news you can ever receive!