Gospel Meeting 25/08/2019

Galatians ch4 vs1 – 11

Here, the Galatian church was wandering from the true Gospel message of how one receives Salvation through faith in The Lord Jesus Christ alone.

It had come to the Apostle Paul’s knowledge the Galatians were teaching that obedience to the law is mingled with faith as the ground of the sinners justification. Also, that the justified believer is made perfect by keeping the law.

Paul made it absolutely clear to them that Salvation comes from faith alone in Christ alone!

Paul reminded them how it was before Jesus Christ’s redeeming work on The Cross. No – one is able to keep the law and all were in bondage to it, but Calvary frees us from that bondage!

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that is was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit”

-  Romans ch8 vs1 – 4

vs5 tells us we have been redeemed from being under the law and into the family of God!

The law demanded a price for those who broke it – death – but God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ, paid the full price of our sins once for all.

 On The Cross, He became the sacrifice for our sins. His Father punished the only person never to have sinned.

Dear reader, this is how much Jesus Christ loves you – He gave His life and blood that you personally can be forgiven and free from condemnation!

No – one can become a son of God outside of The Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul questioned why they should want to go back to their old ways, now they were not slaves to the law they could never keep.

vs6 tells us we now have the Holy Spirit resident within our hearts and will never leave us. A personal relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ, able to call God “Father”! It emphasises that we are now a close member of His family!

What absolute blessings are ours who have repented of our sinful ways, and in faith accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour - even an heir of God through Christ!

Despite the world and its opinions, we Christians know by the assurance of the Word of God where we are going to spend Eternity. Would anyone want to go back to how life was before we knew Christ as our Saviour? Not a chance!

We enjoy the most wonderful peace and certainties through our loving Saviour, and by walking daily with Him.

Paul, in vs9, reminded the Galatians of the great dangers and loss by returning into slavery and bondage. Trying to contribute something towards your own Salvation is totally futile, nothing we could ever do would achieve or change a single thing. We should all be most thankful that Salvations work is already complete!

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”

-  Ephesians ch2 vs8 -9

Well intentioned deeds may be very good, but they are meaningless concerning one’s personal Salvation.

“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

“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

Dear friend, the grace of God to each of us is a wonderful thing. The work of our forgiveness and Salvation was all done and accomplished for us On Calvary’s Cross through Jesus Christ.

All that is required on our part is genuine repentance, faith in Jesus Christ and His sin – cleansing blood that He gave for you personally.

If you have never yet done so, please come to Him this day and ask His forgiveness.

Gospel Meeting 18/08/2019

The Lamentations of Jeremiah ch3 vs21 – 26...

21. "This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope.

22. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

23. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.

24. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

25. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

26. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

The writer deliberately turns from the utter turmoil and devastation of his situation to God. Despite his own circumstances and that of his people, he speaks of God’s love, compassion, sufficiency and goodness, summed up in vs23.

When things turn out well for us, it is easy to praise The Lord, but it most certainly was not like that in these times for Jeremiah. However, we cannot measure God’s faithful grace by personal circumstances. Through most difficult times, King David’s personal trust also remained in The Lord.

So, what does it mean for God to be "faithful”?

The speaker brought out two points:

1)    God is always true to His person. His acts are always consistent with who He is.

Many people still question God’s existence because of the terrible state of the world. Bad news and evil behaviour abounds, but we know inside that this is not the way things should be. We all know God is, and that things are not the way He ordered.

Many like the idea of “a god”, but invent and shape their own views and ideas about what he should be like (often just to suit their own lifestyle).  This immediately reduces him to one’s own thoughts, and full of limitations.

The Word of God clearly explains much about the only true and living God - and most wonderfully He desires to have a relationship with each one of us! This can only be achieved through accepting and knowing His Son, Jesus Christ, as one's personal Saviour.

There are so many excellent characteristics in God!

“And He passed in front of Moses proclaiming, The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness”

-     Exodus ch34 vs6

“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he”

-     Deuteronomy ch32 vs4

“For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations”

-      Psalm ch100 vs5

The true God is holy, good, loving, just and faithful!

No matter how things may look to us, God is assuredly acting through His purposes out of love.  People are unpredictable each day in many ways, but He changes never!

He is always certain.

 2)     God is true to His promises. He does what He says.

“Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever”

-      Hebrews ch13 vs8

Who else could you trust 100% on every single thing through the span of your life?

We sadly live in a world of broken promises every day, whether it be governments, contracts, families or relationships. Through this, we can feel much lasting heartache and pain.

 “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself”

-       2^nd Timothy ch2 vs13

In our weakness and failings, The Lord may act in a way that we don’t wholly understand or fully appreciate, but He is always loving and faithful.

Our lives may already have many difficulties, and when we have personally trusted in The Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we are warned to expect persecution – such is the world’s hatred of Him and His followers.

God’s promises…

a)     He will one day judge all evil and wrongdoings. God will step in and bring justice.

We are all sinners, totally deserving of God’s punishment, but He promises complete forgiveness for all who will repent and put their personal trust in His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ. He alone is sinless, and took upon Himself the sins of the whole world. He laid down His life on The Cross and was punished by His Father, that we can be forgiven and have everlasting life, instead of facing an eternal condemnation for rejecting His most costly offer of full and free Salvation.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”

-     1^st John ch1 vs9

b)      He is a holy and just God, and cannot ignore our many sins against Him. Yet, He has made the most perfect provision for our eternal happiness through His beloved Son. He is ever consistent with His Word. Sin must rightly be punished, and what supreme love was shown in the giving of His sinless Son as the sacrifice for my sin and yours!

“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

c)  He will be with His people!

For those who have accepted The Lord Jesus Christ in true repentance and faith, then the relationship broken between us by our sin, is restored, Whatever trials of life may come upon you He has promised to be with you through them always, by His indwelling Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

“… I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So, that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”

-       Hebrews ch13 vs5 – 6

c)     Eternal life with The Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven!

There are times we all hope that something nice we planned or wished for ahead will maybe actually happen, but this is our "blessed hope"and another of God’s promises and certainties!

“… but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as 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 vs26 -28

“… I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also”

-      John’s Gospel ch14 vs2 -3

His own people shall be forever free from sin and struggles, pain, death and Hell!

The Lord Jesus Christ’s victorious work at Calvary’s Cross forever defeated them!

Dear reader, this eternal victory is freely available for you too tonight – what an incredible gift from God, through His Son! Please accept and embrace this most lovely and faithful Man tonight as your own Lord and Saviour.

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift”!

-      2^nd Corinthians ch9 vs15

1.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father,

There is no shadow of turning with Thee;

Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,

As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness,

great is Thy faithfulness;

morning by morning new mercies I see;

all I have needed Thy hand hath provided –

great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2.

Summer and winter, and spring -  time and harvest,

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

3.

Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth,

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;

strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,

blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

(Hymn by T. O. Chisholm)

Gospel Meeting 11/08/2019

Matthew’s Gospel ch22 vs1 – 7

Here, The Lord Jesus Christ tells a parable about a marriage feast.

Weddings are happy occasions, and as with this one many were invited to the banquet. The king sent his servants to personally say to those invited “come”.

However, they refused the invite, and worse still some of the servants were killed.

The king was understandably wrath and great calamity came upon those who were responsible for their actions.

Friend, God is personally inviting you also to “come” unto Him this evening.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”

-  Isaiah ch1 vs18

“now” is emphasized, because no – one is ever assured of having a tomorrow…

It is a most sad fact that sin is so often openly laughed at by people today.

Most of the world has largely forgotten about the holiness of God and turned against Him. Hearts have become so hardened towards Him and rebellion against His holy ways is rife.

However, sin is deadly – and our full graveyards testify to this.

“And the LORD God commanded the man saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die”

-  Genesis ch2 vs16 – 17

Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate of the tree - sin and death had entered in.

“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

We are all affected in the same way and God makes it very clear –

“And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgement”

-  Hebrew’s ch9 vs27

After our earthly life ends, we have an eternal state. Each person that ever lived will be found in either Heaven or Hell forever. No sin can ever enter into His presence, but Heaven is where you are graciously invited to come - God has made a way for us sinners to be forgiven and reconciled unto Him. God abhors sin, but loves the sinner.

God’s plan was formed before the beginning of time – the Lamb of God that would be sacrificed for our sins was foreordained.

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”

-  1^st Peter ch1 vs18 – 20

In His great love, God sent His Son Jesus Christ into the world, and He laid down His sinless life on The Cross at Calvary. He gave His blood that we can all be forgiven through having personal faith in Jesus Christ and repenting of our sinful way of life.

Many people put things off until a later time, but God always bids you to come now!

In His Word, God tells you about yourself and Himself.  When The Lord Jesus Christ met the Samaritan woman at the well, (John’s Gospel ch4) He knew her innermost secrets.

The Lord knows our hearts, and they are all marked by sin.

“… for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart”

-  1^st Samuel ch16 vs7

The Lord Jesus Christ is unique! He is absolutely sinless and born of a virgin. He came here with one view – to be the Saviour of sinners.

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins”

-  Matthew’s Gospel ch1 vs21

God still want you to come and reason with Him tonight, dear friend.

“Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did…”

-  John’s Gospel ch4 vs29

“… we have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. And Nathaniel said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see”

-  John’s Gospel ch1 vs45 – 46

Will you tonight come and see this most wonderful Saviour?

At Calvary’s Cross, God’s supreme love was shown for all people. The Creator of the universe and more, laid down His life to pay for all our sins. Without the sacrifice of The Lord Jesus Christ we would all be heading for a lost eternity in that most awful place.

For those who reject Him and are separated from God, they will be conscious forever that they missed the opportunity of accepting His offer of forgiveness through The Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ knew He was going to suffer greatly at the hands of wicked men and in being made sin for us, but never swayed from going to that cruel Cross.

1.

How matchless is God’s wondrous love!

He gave His Son from Heav’n above,

That none should perish who believe,

But everlasting life receive.

It was for me; it was for me,

The Saviour died on Calvary;

Salvation full, at highest cost,

God’s “Whosoever” saves the lost.

2.

Herein is love, ‘tis love indeed;

A love that meets our deepest need,

A love that passes human thought,

He loved us when we loved Him not.

3.

To sinners lost, our God commends

His perfect love, which never ends;

The death of Christ that love has shown;

Was love so wondrous ever known?

4.

His love dismisses all our fear,

And to Himself He brings us near;

The Father’s house we soon shall see,

To dwell in love eternally.

(Hymn by I. Fleming)

Parents pass on their genes, i.e. – blue eyes, long legs, maybe a crooked nose! Adam passed down his sin.

“Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me”

-  Psalm ch51 vs5

There is Salvation in none other.

Friend, what will you do with God’s Son who paid your great debt of sin?

Please accept this blessed Man of Calvary tonight, if you have not already done so.

The two thieves who were crucified either side of The Lord, chose different eternal destinations. One repented, trusting Jesus Christ as His Lord and Saviour, and went to Heaven. The other was unrepentant, disbelieving, and went to a terrible lost eternity.

1.

Face to face with Christ my Saviour,

Face to face, what will it be,

When with rapture I behold Him,

Jesus Christ who died for me?

Face to face, shall I behold Him,

Far beyond the starry sky;

Face to face in all His glory

I shall see Him bye and bye!

2.

Only faintly now I see Him,

With the darkening veil between,

But a blessed day is coming,

When His glory shall be seen

3.

What rejoicing in His presence,

When are banished grief and pain;

When the crooked ways are straightened,

And the dark things shall be plain.

4.

Face to face! oh, blissful moment!

Face to face, to see and know;

Face to face with my Redeemer,

Jesus Christ, who loves me so.

(Hymn by C. E. Breck)

Gospel Meeting 04/08/2019

Romans ch7 vs18 – 20

Galatians ch2 vs20, ch1 vs21 – 24

Many of us are prone to speaking about ourselves!

It is fine, as long as we are not constantly boasting or self – absorbed.

In these scriptures, the apostle Paul speaks about himself – and its good news concerning God! This world is full of bad news every day, but the Gospel is ever the best news that mankind can hear.

You too can experience the same life – change as Paul, by having the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour.

Dear reader, do you know Jesus Christ as your own Saviour? Can you say all your sins have been forgiven?

Paul appreciated both his own sinful state within himself, and the care he received from his Saviour.

“… the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”

Paul knew The Lord Jesus Christ loved him personally, and it is exactly the same for you and I tonight.

Paul was one of the worst persecutors of Christians until being saved by the grace of God and then became one of the great preachers of the Gospel.

Dear reader, he can transform your life too if you would only let him in!

Paul went from saying there “was no good thing dwelling in him”, to “Christ liveth in me”! Jesus Christ changes lives!

Oh, that you too may know a changed life through accepting Jesus Christ as you Lord and Saviour.

We all like to see ourselves in a positive light, but Paul is completely honest to the condition of his heart and before God. He is so very conscious of his sin, calling himself the worst –

“… Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief”

-   1^st Timothy ch1 vs15

We each need to look into our hearts like Paul.

By God’s holy standards we have all miserably failed and our sins are most offensive to Him. We are all utterly guilty before God.

Dear reader, whatever you may feel guilty about in your life, Jesus Christ will forgive you and fully save you. There is no – one too bad to be saved, and no – one too good that doesn’t need to be saved.

“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

To stay in sin means a terrible lost eternity.

There are many solemn warnings concerning the reality of Hell for the unsaved, who will face judgement.

Turn to the only answer for sinners -  the Saviour of sinners, Jesus Christ.

“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

He is not only a worldwide Saviour, but also a most personal Saviour, and Paul basked in the personal love and care of The Lord Jesus Christ.

If you are feeling unloved, come to Jesus Christ in repentance and faith tonight, and know the greatest love of all. It is easy for someone to say they love you, but actions have to prove this.

 On Calvary’s Cross, God’s eternal Son, Jesus Christ, proved His immeasurable love for us all. There, He suffered intensely for us and died to pay the price of our sins through the sacrifice of His sinless body. He was punished for our sins – such wonderful love!

You too can say tonight “the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me”!

Do you appreciate this love beyond measure?

Do you have a response in your heart?

May you too know this night, like Paul, the reality of the love of The Lord Jesus Christ in your heart and life.

1.      What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought
Since Jesus came into my heart!
I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

Since Jesus came into my heart!
Since Jesus came into my heart!
Floods of joy o’er my soul like the sea billows roll,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

2.      I have ceased from my wand’ring and going astray,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And my sins which were many are all washed away,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

3.      I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

4.      There’s a light in the valley of death now for me,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And the gates of the City beyond I can see,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

5.      I shall go there to dwell in that City I know,
Since Jesus came into my heart!
And I’m happy, so happy as onward I go,
Since Jesus came into my heart!

(Hymn by Rufus Henry McDaniel)