Gospel Meeting 28/07/2019

John’s Gospel ch14 vs1 – 6

1^st Corinthians ch15 vs51 – 53

1^st Thessalonians ch4 vs16 -17

THE RAPTURE…

What happens to the saved and the unsaved?

1)      The Saved

The disciples in John’s Gospel had sorrowing hearts and were troubled at the Lord Jesus Christ telling them that He must shortly leave them. However, he told them not to be so, as He was going to prepare a place in Heaven for them and would return for them. The same promise applies to each and every one of us.

 Why? He loves us and wants us to be with Him in that holy place forever.

“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

He is coming back to receive His own!

In order to do this, it cost The Lord His life. We can only enter Heaven if we have been forgiven for our sins and cleansed. Not one person is able to erase a single sin by their own means. But in His great love for us, The Lord Jesus Christ paid the price for the whole world’s sin. He alone was able to do this because as God’s Eternal Son, He was completely sinless and without fault. He became the only acceptable sacrifice and laid down His life on The Cross. Three days later, He was resurrected, fully justified!

1. “Alas! And did my Saviour bleed?

And did my Saviour die?

Would he devote that sacred head,

For such a worm as I?

2. Was it for crimes that I have done

He groaned upon the tree?

Amazing pity! Grace unknown!

And love beyond degree!

3. Well might the sun in darkness hide,

And shut his glories in,

When the Incarnate Maker died

For man His creature’s sin.

(Hymn by Isaac Watts)

The Lord Jesus Christ is coming Himself to take us home, and this will happen in the blink of an eye! Our bodies will be changed – and praise be - don’t we need it!

What utter joy it will be for the believer to see His face and to have fellowship with Him forever!

But when? We are not told, but always to be ready – it could be tonight, or before this article has been typed. All the signs foretold concerning this wonderful event are with us… be sure you are ready for eternity!

Dear friend, are you ready for eternity?

Many people today say “I hope so”, or “I think so”, but you must be sure, there are no second chances! Make your decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour without further delay.

Acknowledge you are a sinner. Then in faith of who He is, ask His forgiveness and trust in His work of Salvation on The Cross, repenting of your old sinful way of life.

2)      The Unsaved

Here, the speaker tells us he feels burdened and could weep thinking about those who will be left behind and facing eternal condemnation for sins that have not been forgiven.

Unbelievers are increasingly offended these days to hear of this real place called Hell, and many think they are decent people who do not need or want the Saviour of sinners.

The speaker was hurting to think that many precious lives could be dying and heading into eternal damnation before this night is over. It is his responsibility to warn you of this awful place of eternal torment for those who have rejected the love, grace and mercy of The Lord Jesus Christ, and His offer of a full and free forgiveness.

Sin cannot enter Heaven in any way, shape or form. Only Jesus Christ can make you clean and fit to enter in.

You need not have any doubts about where you will spend eternity – accept Christ and have 100% certainty! Can you ask for anything more?

Some people say “God isn’t like that, He wouldn’t send people to Hell”, but God never sends anyone to Hell – a person sends himself by his own choice!

God has made every provision and made the way that no-one need find themselves going there for a lost eternity, to be forever separated from Him.

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance"

-  2^nd Peter ch3 vs9

           

“…This is good, and pleases God our Saviour, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus”

-  1^st Timothy ch2 vs3 – 5

Be saved! Be sure! Cross from certain death to certain life by accepting Jesus Christ tonight!

“O Lord Jesus, how long?

How long ere we shout the glad song?

Christ returneth,

hallelujah, hallelujah, amen,

hallelujah, amen!

(chorus from hymn by H. L. Turner)

Gospel Meeting 21/07/2019

The speaker’s message tonight continued in the series:

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

D = DISCIPLESHIP

The Acts ch2

1^st Peter ch2 vs1 – 10

1^st John ch1 vs1 – 10

Having been converted, then a Christian’s behaviour deepens into discipleship.

The Christian faith is not a standing still faith, it is a “going – on” faith!

In The Acts vs41 – 42, the converts committed themselves. The apostle’s teaching was exciting, glorifying God as he taught the people.

It was a Christ – centred message, interpreting the promises of the Old Testament. Telling of the life, death and resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ and bringing it right up to date. The apostle shared with them the practical outworking of faith – putting words into practice.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves”

-  James ch1 vs22

These converts felt a need to become established in the truth, eager for ministry.

They had a spiritual hunger for the Word of God

Here is a personal challenge for each of us dear reader! – are we still hungering? Or do we get by on one spiritual meal per week? A hungering for God’s Word is not only for new converts but for all His people!

God has provided great teachers through the ages to fully benefit our daily lives.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen"

-  2^nd Peter ch3 vs18

Christian people should be constantly maturing – an undernourished baby will not grow as it should. If we treasure God’s Word we will gain constant healthy growth.

Three essential aspects of discipleship for a spiritually healthy Christian are:

a)   Fellowship

b)   Breaking of Bread

c)    Prayers

a)  Fellowship…

1^st John ch1 vs1 – 10

The 3000 that were saved in The Acts had lives that were united in their love of The Lord Jesus Christ. They devoted themselves, and we must respond in the same way. They became as one company, joying in speaking of The Lord and His business. There is a beautiful partnership of love and commitment between brothers and sisters in Christ.

How each lives proves the reality of their faith. A person cannot have fellowship with The Lord Jesus Christ if that life is being lived not according to His Word (vs5 – 7). Are we really wanting to walk daily with The Lord? Then it is well known that we cannot have fellowship with the world and with Christ! We cannot have one foot in each camp, as it is often said.

Far better to be in daily fellowship with the blessed Man of Calvary than with this world and all its dross! How much we should be longing to be more and more like Him and walking in His ways!

“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”

- Psalm ch139 vs23 - 24

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God”

-    Romans ch12 vs1 – 2

The apostle John questioned people -  were their lives matching up?

One must have personal fellowship with God first, before one is then able to have fellowship with others who belong to Christ.

vs5 tells us to seek after God – He is the light! We too must walk daily in that same light. Then two rich blessings follow…

1= We have beautiful fellowship one with another

2= The blood of The Lord Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.

Dear friend, choose very carefully whom you decide to have fellowship with. Stay with those who are walking in the light, and not those with the fruits of darkness.

“… know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”

-   James ch4 vs4

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”

- Colossians ch3 vs1 - 2

We have a great privilege to enjoy fellowship with other believers - and to tell others outside of these rich blessings just how much they are missing.

Dear friend, if you are still outside of these promises and blessings, please make your peace with God tonight concerning the question of your sins. Simply come to The Lord Jesus Christ in faith and sincere repentance, ask His forgiveness, and invite Him to be your Lord and Saviour.

On Calvary’s Cross, He showed His boundless love by taking the punishment for all our sins and laying down His life so that we can be forgiven.

He will never let you down, and He is an all – the – way – home Saviour!