Gospel Meeting 25/11/2018

Mark’s Gospel ch1 vs40 – 45

In this passage of scripture The Lord Jesus Christ performs another marvellous miracle, but there is a note of sadness afterwards.

Here, a man is suffering from leprosy – a most vile, horrible condition to bear.

He pleaded to be healed, absolutely knowing that Jesus Christ was able to do so immediately. Jesus Christ could have just spoken the word and healed him, but moved with compassion, He did what no other would have dared to do – touch him!

Leprosy is very contagious, and sufferers made people aware not to come anywhere near them.

However, Jesus Christ is no ordinary Man! He is the greatest physician ever, being God in the flesh!

No-one is beyond His healing, of any nature.

All manner of these horrible diseases were brought about by human rebellion against God, disobeying His truth and bringing sin into the world. God’s loving Creation was never intended to be like this.

Having instantly healed the man, Jesus Christ gave him a strong warning that he was not to tell anyone, but go to the priest and carry out the procedures laid down in the Law for those who had become free from leprosy (Leviticus ch14).

Having then been certified as being clean, he would be free to rejoin the community.

But the man did not follow The Lord’s charge, instead he began to tell everyone what had happened, to the extent that The Lord could no longer publicly enter a city because of the crowds. Very likely he was proclaiming Jesus Christ, but it was misplaced zeal and a very important lesson that we should all obey His word in every way. He knows everything – we do not!

The man preferred to do things his own way.

It is really sad that the song most chosen to be played at one’s funeral in these times is “I Did It My Way”. 

How tragic to enter into a lost eternity without God by doing things your own way!

Jesus Christ made it very clear there was only ONE way –

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

- John’s Gospel ch14 vs6.

Many people came to Jesus Christ and all were healed.

Friend, He invites you to come to Him tonight for the greatest gift ever – forgiveness of your sins through His personal sacrifice for them on Calvary’s Cross. He gave His life’s blood for them - this is how much He loves you and wants you to be in Heaven with Him forever!

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

- John’s Gospel ch6 vs37.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the ONLY way to gain forgiveness for your sins, have peace with God, and an eternal home in Heaven.

Please do not be like the leper - he took the healing and the blessing, yet decided to go his own way.

Friend, come in repentance and faith tonight, receive Him as your Lord and Saviour, if you have never yet done so.

1) I have decided to follow Jesus;

I have decided to follow Jesus;
I have decided to follow Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

2) The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;
The world behind me, the cross before me;

No turning back, no turning back.

3) Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;
Though none go with me, still I will follow;

No turning back, no turning back.

4) My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;
My cross I’ll carry, till I see Jesus;

No turning back, no turning back.

5) Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
Will you decide now to follow Jesus?
No turning back, no turning back.

Gospel Meeting 11/11/2018

John’s Gospel ch17 vs1 – 26.

7 things concerning the believing people, those given from the Father to His Eternal Son – Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is God’s love – gift to the world (John’s Gospel ch3 vs16), and believers are The Father’s love – gift to Jesus Christ.

1)  Purpose

Jesus Christ has all authority to give eternal life to those believing people whom The Father has given Him. (vs2 – 3).

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish …”

- John’s Gospel ch10 vs27, 28.

2)  Possession

We are Jesus Christ’s possession, we belong to Him! (vs6)

Friend, it is a stark choice – each of us either serve Christ or Satan – who are you belonging to for time and eternity?

“Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters”

- Luke’s Gospel ch11 vs23.

3)  Process

Each believer is taken out of the world and separated from the world (vs6)

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him”. – 1^st John ch2 vs15.

4)  Positives 

Christ wants His own abundant joy and peace to be inside each of us! (vs13)

Assured of our Salvation and eternal destination through His atoning work on The Cross… a joyful people for Himself!

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

5)  Preservation

We are all safe under Divine guardianship!

Not one of us is lost or will be (vs11 – 12)

“… neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one”

- John’s Gospel ch10 vs28 -30.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” – Philippians ch1 vs6.

6)  Presence

We will be together with The Lord Jesus Christ! He wants us in His presence! (vs24)

Friend, never listen or be deceived by the lies of the world – the only way into Heaven is through The Lord Jesus Christ.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” – John’s Gospel ch14 vs6.

7)  Permanence

This is not just a visit – we shall see and share His glory for a never – ending eternity! (vs22, 24)

“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ shall arise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever” – 1^st Thessalonians ch4 vs16, 17.

In this we see the full cycle and fulfilment - from Purpose to Permanence!

Absolutely secure in and through God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Friend, if you are still outside of these richest blessings of The Lord Jesus Christ, then with all my heart I encourage you this night to bow the knee to Him, who is the only Saviour of sinners.

Please do not leave it too late like so many others ( Luke’s Gospel ch16 vs19 – 31), but make a decision to accept Him as your personal Lord and Saviour. Turning away from your sinful life, in faith ask Jesus Christ to forgive you and with His sinless blood given at Calvary’s Cross He will cleanse you.

“Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near”

- Isaiah ch55 vs6.

Gospel Meeting 04/11/2018

Exodus ch3 vs1 – 22, ch4 vs1 – 17.

God’s Commission of Moses.

God had heard the groaning of the children of Israel, by reason of their bondage to Pharaoh in Egypt.

God was to take them out of this bondage and into a promised land, flowing with milk and honey.

Moses was the man that God wanted to go to Pharaoh, saying let my people leave.

Moses was a man in hiding, at the backside of the desert, due to his past life in Egypt. He was a runaway and most certainly did not want to go back into Egypt.

As in this case, God can speak to us at a least expected time – Moses was tending his father in laws sheep!

What is this man going to hear from God?!

He was therefore called to a task he feels is way to big for him.

To go to mighty Pharaoh and deliver God’s people from their oppressor!

Moses was no doubt thinking how can I possibly go back into Egypt and do this.

“Brothers and sisters, think of what you were before you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no-one can boast before him”.

- 1^st Corinthians ch1 vs26 – 29.

God has a plan for every believer’s life.

Here we pause for a moment, and ask you dear reader, a question – are you maybe not there yet?

Have you still to bow the knee to The Lord Jesus Christ? Have you not repented of your sins and sinful way of life yet?  Have you not put your faith and trust in Him, asking forgiveness yet? Is He not your Lord and Saviour yet? Are you not cleansed of the consequences of your sins through His shed blood on The Cross yet?

Are you merely making your life up as you go along, or are you obediently following God’s purpose for your daily life?

Dear reader, tarry no longer – call upon The Lord Jesus Christ tonight and be saved for eternity. Make your peace with God, through His beloved Son, before it is forever too late for you to accept.

Every one of us has a gift that God can use.

We can do all manner of things – but in His strength, not our own!

There is a whole world of tasks waiting to be done for His Name’s sake

Are we all following His plan – or are we like Moses, trying to find excuses?

 “they won’t believe me”, “I am not eloquent”, “please send someone else”!

Or maybe we are saying “I have a past, how can I possibly do that”?

God answered all Moses’ fears and excuses, giving assurance that He would be with him.

Eventually, Moses is obedient and begins his journey.

Are you now prepared to start your personal journey for Jesus Christ?

It will require faith and trust in your Lord and Saviour.

It may not be easy, and it will very likely ask a sacrifice of something in your life.

Moses’ task was seemingly way beyond his abilities, but God helped him to achieve it.

Ask The Lord to lead you on the journey he has planned for you – tonight!