Gospel Meeting 17/02/2019

1^st Timothy ch3 vs16 says –

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory”.

A “mystery” is something that was previously hidden but now made known through the Holy Spirit.

In this verse we have 6 ways in which God was manifest:

a)      INCARNATION – “in the flesh”…

God became a human being!

“… a body hast thou prepared me…”

- Hebrews ch10 vs5.

“… I come to do thy will, O God”

- Hebrews ch10 vs9.

“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 vs23.

A truly unique conception, and like no other, ever!

Though a Man, yet Jesus Christ never ceased to be ever God, ever holy!

He is the only One to have never sinned in His whole life – it was absolutely impossible for Jesus Christ to sin being holy God in the flesh!

“Our God contracted to a span,

Incomprehensibly made man”

- from hymn by Mr. C. Wesley.

a)      VINDICATION – “justified in the Spirit” …

The Holy Spirit was always present.

 Jesus Christ’s Divinity was again shown to be completely true at His death and resurrection –

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life that I might take it again. . No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again…”

- John’s Gospel ch10 vs17 -18.

“… He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit”

-1^st Peter ch3 vs18.

c)      AUTHENTICATION – “seen of angels”…

“And the angel said unto them, 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.

“And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him”

- Mark’s Gospel ch1 vs13.

“And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him”

- Luke’s Gospel ch22 vs43.

“And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen…”

- Matthew’s Gospel ch28 vs6.

d)      DECLARATION “preached unto the Gentiles”…

This was difficult for the Jews to accept – Salvation was also for everyone else that was not Jewish!

The Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ is for all people in all nations!

“He told them, This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem”

- Luke’s Gospel ch24 vs46 – 47.

“That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenant of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us”

- Ephesians ch2 vs12 – 14.

We are now equally blessed in the promises of God. What blessings indeed!

e)     SALVATION “believed on in the world”…

The glorious Gospel message requires a personal response from each person.

Dear reader, your response of either accepting or rejecting Jesus Christ who is the only Saviour of sinners, will determine where you will spend your never – ending eternity.

If you come in genuine repentance and in faith that Christ is the sinless, eternal Son of God, who was crucified as a sacrifice to take the punishment of your sins, then ask His forgiveness and to be your personal Saviour.

Acceptance means you will be completely forgiven, have peace with God, and the assurance of a home in Heaven with Him forever!

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved”

- Romans ch10 vs9 – 10.

However, in love, I must tell you of the consequences of rejecting The Saviour’s love, grace and mercy – love warns people of great danger!

To die with your sins unforgiven means an eternity of punishment in that most awful placed called Hell. 

God is holy and must punish sin.

The Lord Jesus Christ warned most clearly what it would mean to be separated from God forever, in a lost eternity.

Reader please be warned - sin is the most serious thing!

“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord…”

- 2^nd Thessalonians ch1 vs8 -9.

“How shall we escape, if we ignore such a great salvation…”

- Hebrews ch2 vs3.

Therefore, what a wise and good thing rather, to heed the very words of The Lord Jesus Christ! - 

“…repent ye, and believe the gospel”

- Mark’s Gospel ch1 vs15.

f)      GLORIFICATION “received up into glory”…

“And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven”

- The Acts ch1 vs9 – 11.

God’s promise that He will return to take home all of those who have trusted in Him!

One day there will be no more “blog” on this site!

Friend, will you be taken or left behind? What is your decision on Jesus Christ?

“And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God”

- Hebrews ch10 vs11 -12.

This most wonderful Man, our Lord and Saviour is now in the glory!

Will you be there to see Him in all His majesty and glory?

Gospel Meeting 10/02/2019

Romans ch1 vs16 – 32

The speaker’s message tonight was the first of a series:

“The A,B,C,D,E Route to Becoming a Christian and Beyond”.

A = Acknowledge God Exists…

Why say "acknowledge" and not "believe" that God exists?

Because no–one has ever NOT believed that God exists!

The Word of God explains in verses 19 – 20 that it is absolutely clear by what we can see in all of God’s creation that He does exist, and that all are without excuse for not believing so.

All mankind know that God is, but many simply deny this great truth!

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where there voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world…”

- Psalm ch19 vs 1 -4

God’s incredible glory is everywhere for everyone to see!

Also, the creation within our own bodies tells us of our most awesome Creator God –

We have a staggering complexity which could only have been made by The Great Designer – Almighty God!

“I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well”

- Psalm ch139 vs14

When Paul - the writer of tonight’s scripture - was in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see the city full of idols. One altar was even headed “to the unknown God”! Paul explained to them that this was the true and living God that they were worshipping in total ignorance (The Acts ch17).

Yet still today, so many people are idolising the most ridiculous things, including animals! They reject and deny the true God that they know exists!

Denial of this one true and living God is moral suicide…

Degeneration will form, as in tonight's passage of scripture.

Here and now in our own society, we see all the results of this denial in the extent of moral decay. Lives that do not acknowledge God bring a horrible situation.

Tonight’s passage lists a catalogue of horrendous lifestyles and attitudes.

At one time these things would not have been happening in Britain – but look how this nation is now! Our newspapers, televisions, internet and conversations are littered with atheism… and atheism has borne its true fruit.

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (vs22).

This has a direct connection to the verse below -

“The fool has said in his heart, there is no God…”

- Psalm ch14 vs1

Notice the fool says it in his heart – he does not believe it but tries to convince himself of what he so much wishes!

So… why does one continually refuse to acknowledge God?

To accept God exists instantly brings accountability and responsibilities into ones life!

Each of us is absolutely accountable for our actions and thoughts… once God is acknowledged we accept we have duties before our Creator God!

We are obliged to then seek Him and to live for Him!

When the eternal Son of God, Jesus Christ, came into the world to become the Saviour of sinners, despite all of His healings and blessings poured out on mankind, He was still hated. Hated because of His very holiness and purity!

“This is the Verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God”

- John’s Gospel ch3 vs19 -21

Still today there is severe hostility across the world to those who follow God through faith in His beloved Son, The Lord Jesus Christ.

People resent seeing Godly lives as it makes them feel unclean.

They refuse to acknowledge God as it means having to change their ways and coming out of the darkness they are enjoying!

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”

- 2^nd Timothy ch3 vs12

Acknowledging God is the first step towards Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners.

We are all sinners and every one of us needs to get right with God personally - on His terms:

“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

Gospel Meeting 03/02/2019

PSALM CHAPTER 32.

This is another of King David’s psalms.

He came from being a shepherd boy, to slaying Goliath the giant Philistine, then having to hide from King Saul who sought to kill him, before eventually becoming King.

Verses one and two bring us fantastic news! 

Blessed are we whose sins are all forgiven and The Lord will not count against us!

“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us”

 – Psalm ch103 vs12

“I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins”

 – Isaiah ch43 vs25.

Forgiveness is a human need…

Relationships require forgiveness when the intimacy has been broken.

This is also true on a divine level…

The relationship between God and man was broken because of our sins.

“Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”

- Isaiah ch59 vs1 – 2.

 God is absolutely holy and must deal with all sin accordingly.

 He charges it to our account, but in His great love towards us, He has provided an answer so that we can be completely forgiven for them all and no longer facing eternal condemnation.

Just like King David, you, I and everyone else have committed countless sins against Holy God.

David tried to cover his up (2^nd Samuel ch11), but failed.

“…be sure your sin will find you out”

- Numbers ch32 vs23.

In verses 3- 4, King David contemplated how his conscience suffered from the guilt and burden of knowing his wrongdoings against God, but remaining silent about them.

Dear friend, are you maybe in this same position tonight concerning the question of your own sins?

Do you not have real peace with God?

Ah, friend, then here in verse 5 is the wonderful solution! ...

David having acknowledged to God that he was a sinner, readily confessed his sins…

Then he knew God’s forgiveness and was at peace concerning his guilt!

What peace and joy fill the heart and mind when our relationship with God is restored!

The Messiah, Jesus Christ,  had not yet come, who would be the one perfect sacrifice for everyone’s sins forever and taking the punishment which should have been ours -  but those who had faith in God preceding His Son coming into the world, it was accounted to them for righteousness.

(See Genesis ch15 vs6,

Galatians ch3 vs6 – 9,

Hebrews ch11)

Like King David, we all must too repent of our sins, feeling genuine remorse, and having faith in God.

Jesus Christ willingly laid down His sinless life for everyone on The Cross at Calvary. Only by faith in His sinless blood provided, can anyone be forgiven for sins.

“For God so loved the world 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.

“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.

Friend, no matter what may be the depth of your personal sins, you can be completely forgiven tonight by coming to The Lord Jesus Christ in repentance and faith.

“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved”

- Romans ch10 vs9 – 10.

The Lord Jesus Christ is most ready to hear you call upon Him!

However, verse 6 in tonight’s Psalm reminds us that for each of us there is a timescale,,, “while he may be found”!

One day, and then for eternity, it will be too late!

What an awful thought – too late to be saved from the eternal consequences of your sins! Too late by a moment!

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteousness man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon”

- Isaiah ch55 vs6 -7.

Verse 9 tells us not to be stubborn, proud or resisting –

Friend, why should we be so, when we read the words of Jesus –

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light”

- Matthew’s Gospel ch11 vs28 – 30.

Tarry no longer! Receive him as your personal Saviour tonight and spend forever and forever with this wonderful Man, Jesus Christ, who loves you like no other!

 “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore”

- Psalm ch16 vs11.