Gospel Meeting 26/08/2018

Luke’s Gospel ch7 vs36 – 50.

Simon was a Pharisee - highly religious outwardly, but just as sinful on the inside as anyone.

He sought to criticise The Lord Jesus Christ for eating with a sinner.

The woman indeed had a sinful lifestyle, but the Pharisee wanted to make out that had Jesus Christ been a prophet He “would have known this” and had a very different attitude towards her.

However, as with the Samaritan woman at the well, He already knew everything  there was to know about this woman’s life!

Furthermore, The Lord Jesus Christ prior to this event, had completely proved Himself by many deeds and wonders!

This woman had a burden of sin. Guilt was breaking her heart, her conscience deeply troubling her.

We too have a conscience, and each of our lives are accountable to Him.

She was showing remorse and repenting of her sin to Jesus Christ.

Reader, some of us may think we are better than others, but we are ALL sinners!

There is only one way to God in Heaven, one way to have your sins forgiven, one way to make and have peace with God, and one way to have an eternal home in Heaven … through His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”.

-    John’s Gospel ch14 vs6.

This most wonderful Man left Heaven’s glory, took on flesh by being born of a virgin, becoming our Emmanuel (God with us).

He grew up in perfect holiness and healed all manner of sick and diseased people.

He raised the dead back to life!

Only Jesus Christ Son of God could do these miracles … He IS God!

He is eternal, always was and always will be!

In His great love for us all, He came to save us from the eternal penalty of our sins against Holy God –  that most awful place called Hell.

“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”.

-   Isaiah ch9 vs6.

Jesus Christ came to save the lost – you and I!.

“ … I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance”.

-   Matthew’s Gospel ch9 vs13(b).

Jesus Christ was ever sinless – He is God in the flesh! – holy and pure, and was the only one who was able to become a sacrifice for all our sins.

On the Cross at Calvary, He suffered great agonies, was mocked, abused, and scoffed at. Yet, He had done nothing wrong at all. He voluntarily laid down His life, shedding His blood to make atonement for all our sins.

Darkness covered the whole Earth for three hours, when Jesus Christ was made sin for us.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”.

-     2^nd Corinthians ch5 vs21.

“It is finished”. – Jesus Christ’s final words before He bowed His head and delivered up His spirit. A cry of victory! The price of our sins had been paid in full through His own sinless body and spotless blood.

“ … for it is the blood that maketh atonement for the soul”

-    Leviticus ch17 vs 11.

Jesus Christ gave all that love could give and was victorious over death and sin!

A most wonderful Saviour – the only Saviour of sinners!

Dear friend, He is willing and able to save you this day. He gave that life and blood just for you too!

Please realise that your sin is your greatest problem –

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

-   Romans ch6 vs23.

Hell is real, and Holy God must punish all unforgiven sins.

“And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation”.

-   Hebrews ch9 vs27 -28.

God wants nothing other than for you to be in Heaven with Him, and earnestly asks that you would accept the provided Saviour, Jesus Christ. Simply come to Him in faith this day, repenting of your sinful life like the woman we have been reading about.

These are simple clear truths, not to be rejected!

“ … him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”

-    John’s Gospel ch6 vs37(b).

The woman’s sins of a lifetime were all forgiven and gone in a second – and so can yours! 

Jesus Christ alone can bring you joy, peace and assurance that you never knew!

“Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace” (vs50).

Gospel Meeting 19/08/2018

Psalm chapter 23.

John’s Gospel ch10 vs1 – 18.

This Psalm is one of the most quoted and favourite passages of scripture for many people. It is very well known as a song, and has prompted many works of art.

Why? … Because it promises what so many people long for but cannot find in today's world.

 It contains:

vs1)  At peace, and lacking nothing

vs2/3) Divine guidance, leading you onwards

vs4) Total protection, fearing no evil

vs4) His abiding presence – thou art with me

vs4) Comfort, through The Good Shepherd’s rod and staff protecting and guiding

vs6) Eternal joy – dwelling in the house of The Lord for ever!

Who would not want to have these rich promises in their life?!

So many people do indeed long for these, but search in all the wrong places of this world for them.

It is a Psalm that brings comfort to those when in times of distress, but all too often fail to see the key phrase.

It is not in just the singing or hearing of it that brings lasting comfort – but in the knowing of the one and true God that this Psalm speaks of …

“The Lord is my shepherd”.

David, the writer, knew The Lord as his shepherd and so could go on to write the following verses - a hymn of praise!. A good shepherd never leaves or mistreats his flock, and will always do what is right.

Reader, can I ask who is your Shepherd?

Who do you trust above all else?

Who is bringing you absolute assurance in this life here, and for your next life in Eternity?

If your faith and trust is in yourself, or a friend, perhaps a family member, or a business colleague, then none of these can ever deliver the promises and blessings of this Psalm.

People can never find complete fulfilment in or through others - and on a bigger and more serious picture – many are still hoping that their “good deeds” will bring them into Heaven.

 The Word of God clearly tells us that this is futile.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away”

-    Isaiah ch64 vs6.

Therefore, the real issue is not in knowing this Psalm off by heart, but rather do you personally know The Lord as YOUR Shepherd?

David had total confidence in writing this Psalm – because He did know his Lord.

He, like all of us, was incapable of finding these rich promises without divine help.

vs6 is a most wonderful promise! We are nothing but Hell deserving sinners, but God in His great love, grace and mercy does not treat us as we deserve, instead offering anyone a home in Heaven through accepting His Son, Jesus Christ as your Saviour!

Onto the passage in John’s Gospel many years later, and the people of this day knowing this Psalm now heard its message delivered like never before.

The Lord Jesus Christ explained that people were like vulnerable sheep facing great dangers and needed a shepherd.

Then Christ really shook them up when he clearly and simply told them (vs11) ... 

“I am the the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep”!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the true shepherd of Psalm ch23!

He came from Heaven, born of a virgin, in order to live a perfect, holy, sinless life, so that he could then lay that life down as a sinless sacrifice for all of our sins.

Each one of us are the sheep that He came to seek and to save!

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”.

-    Isaiah ch53 vs6.

God took all our sins and placed them on His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in His crucifixion on Calvary’s Cross.

In the person of The Lord Jesus Christ, we are offered all the promises of Psalm ch23.

We are each invited to receive life in all its fullness through knowing Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour.

(vs14) “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine”.

By accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour, repenting of your sinful way of life, you will be completely forgiven of all your sins, cleansed by His blood that He shed on The Cross for you.

No longer facing condemnation and an eternal Hell, but made fit to enter into Heaven through faith in His atoning work at Calvary!

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”.

-     John’s Gospel ch17 vs3.

Life need not be fearful even though you may be “walking through the valley of the shadow of death” … God is in the valley with you and has defeated death!

Dear reader, God loves YOU ever so much that His beloved Son died for you and He wants you to be with Him in Heaven for ever!

Are you still clinging onto a false shepherd who cannot deliver?

Will you be found wanting in a soon coming day - when it will be too late for ever to call upon The Good Shepherd and be saved for eternity?

Tonight, accept the real Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and put your faith and trust in Him as your real Saviour

“Get right with God for life is sad and dreary,

Without the sunshine of His face divine.

Turn now to Him who offers untold blessing,

to satisfy the needs of souls like thine”.

Gospel Meeting 05/082018

Mark’s Gospel ch10 vs46 – 52.

The Lord Jesus Christ met the great need that Bartimeaus had.

He can meet yours too. Bartimeaus had a physical need, but ours is a spiritual need.

We all need to have our sins forgiven, and we need Jesus Christ just as much as blind Bartimeaus.

Friend, you may think you are ok as you are, you may think you are happy and enjoying your life, but it is an absolute reality that you need to address the question of your sins – it has eternal consequences!

It is of such enormity that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, came from Heaven and took on humanity in order to pay the price of our sins. The only one who never once sinned had all our sins placed on Him on Calvary’s Cross. The Holy One suffered, bled and died so we can all be saved from the eternal consequences of our sins. He rose from the grave, being fully justified, and is now seated at His Father’s right hand in Heaven.

Bartimeaus had a plight – he was blind, destitute, and without any Government benefits in those days. He was dependant on the kindness of people of whom he begged    . However, The Lord Jesus Christ transformed his life!

His problem was his eyes, but our problem is inside – SIN!

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

- Jeremiah ch17 vs9.

A sinful heart leads to sinful acts!

“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” – Romans ch5 vs12.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. – James ch1 vs14 -15.

Friend, you see how serious the problem is!

All sin utterly offends Holy God, but He loves us despite this.

He showed us exactly how much, by sending His only beloved Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. Amazing love!

Bartimeaus’ condition was ruining his life, and sin totally ruins ours.

We can see this daily all around us.

We each have a great sin problem that needs to be urgently dealt with.

Only The Lord Jesus Christ can save you!

Tonight, He is still ready, able and willing to save you – just as He intervened with Bartimeaus.

Be assured of this, Holy God WILL judge all sin - whether you have already died, or if you are still alive at the return of The Lord Jesus Christ.

“And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation”. – Hebrews ch9 vs27 – 28.

Death is simply not the end!

 Every person is going onto a never – ending eternity.

Every person has the choice of two real places – Heaven or Hell.

Heaven is the place of complete joy and blessing for those who accepted and know Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The unsaved, who rejected Jesus Christ’s offer of forgiveness, will suffer the awful reality of Hell.

The Lord Jesus Christ gave clear warnings which we should all heed!

Friend, where are you heading?

Is this wonderful loving Man your Saviour, or is He still outside of your life?

We are all Hell deserving sinners, but in His great love for us He paid the price so that no – one need end up in that most awful place.

You can be 100% sure of Heaven tonight, but only through this Man Jesus Christ!

Bartimeaus knew that Jesus Christ was his only hope.

He needed more than the money he begged for to solve his problem, and here came the Man that could get to the root of his problem.

The crowd tried to put him off meeting Jesus Christ – and it is the same today – many are pressured away from Him by family, friends and work associates.

I earnestly ask, do not let the crowd stop you from being saved!

The crowd can take you down to Hell with them, but they can never bring you back.

Bartimeaus shouted all the louder! …  If you know tonight that you are heading to the wrong destination and need saving, let no – one and nothing stop you!

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his own soul?”

- Matthew’s Gospel ch16 vs26.

Bartimeaus realised he had nothing to offer, he was completely dependent on the grace, mercy and love of The Lord Jesus Christ. His simple plea was “Have mercy on me”.

So it is with us dear friend, we cannot save ourselves by any means, but we too must simply cry out to Him “Lord, save me!”.

He will meet your need, because Jesus Christ did something no – one else could ever do. On Calvary’s Cross He laid down His life, and the sinless blood he shed cleanses you from your sins. In His rising from the grave, His Father was fully satisfied.

A living Saviour, to meet your need!

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near”.

- Isaiah ch55 vs6.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”.

- Romans ch10 vs13.

Complete assurance!

The Lord Jesus Christ did not ignore this mans plea amidst the crowd, and He has His eye on you too tonight.

Will you come to Him?

Will you tonight be delivered from a certain Hell to a certain blessing in Heaven?

Blind Bartimeaus had faith – do you?

Friend, turn from sin in repentance tonight and accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

Jesus Christ never passed through Jericho again – Bartimeaus had but one opportunity and took it. Likewise, not one of us is ever promised a tomorrow, but you have an opportunity tonight – please take it!

Bartimeaus left his past behind, starting a new life (vs52) “and followed Jesus”!

Gospel Meeting 29/07/2018

John’s Gospel ch3 vs1 -3.

Luke’s Gospel ch13 vs1 – 5.

Matthew’s Gospel ch18 vs1 -3.

In these passages of scripture, we have three “excepts” which are imperatives of the Gospel:

1)      “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

2)      “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”.

3)      “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”.

For anyone to enter into Heaven these three points are a must!

Yet still today, many people think they are fit to enter into God’s Kingdom through attending church, doing good works, simply by having a Christian name or having been Christened as a baby.

The Lord Jesus Christ made it absolutely clear and simple when He said –

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”.

(John’s Gospel ch14 vs6).

 All sin is abhorrent to Holy God, and He will not let it enter into Heaven through any one sinful person. Every single one of us is a sinner, deserving of Hell, but God in His amazing love towards us sent His sinless Son Jesus Christ to pay the price of our sins for us. For each one of us to enter Heaven, our huge sin question had to be dealt with, and on Calvary’s Cross Jesus Christ, who took on humanity, laid down His sinless life as a sacrifice for all our sins. Only by having personal faith in His work of Salvation, and His spotless blood that came from many wounds, can cleanse and forgive us from our sinful condition and its eternal consequences.

1)      “Except a man be born again” –

Nicodemus was a very religious man, but these were new words to him!

Through Salvation, a new nature is received – a spiritual nature, the nature of God …

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires”. – 2^nd Peter ch1 vs3 -4.

A sinner - that dear friend - is you and I, and we MUST be “born again”! …

“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.

2)      “Except ye repent” –

Everyone MUST repent of their sinful lives!

It is sin that separates you from God, and from being able to enter into Heaven.

It may not be pleasant to our ears, but we are all sinners by nature and practice, and we must change our ways. A change of heart!

Jesus said “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel”, - Mark’s Gospel ch1 vs15.

It is imperative to understand that sin is so deadly serious that it has to be punished!

But God has provided a way - the only way - of complete forgiveness …

“And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world”. – 1^st John ch4 vs14.

"There's a way back to God

from the dark paths of sin;

there's a door that is open

and you may go in:

at Calvary's cross is where you begin,

when you come as a sinner to Jesus".

- chorus by E.Swinstead.

Friend, a true sorrow, a true confession of your sins is required – do you have a realisation in your heart that you are in need of a Saviour for your sins?

3)      “Except ye be converted” –

Converted means to be a changed person, leading a new life through knowing Jesus Christ in a daily personal relationship.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. – 2^nd Corinthians ch5 vs17.

A new person made fit for Heaven through this wonderful Saviour Jesus Christ …

Why would anyone not want to be saved and know His great love and forgiveness?!

Have no doubts that these things will happen in a soon coming day– Heaven or Hell are the two places YOU have to choose from … where will YOU choose to spend eternity in?

I implore you to accept The Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour before it is forever too late!