With deep sadness, the decision has been taken to close this Assembly from today, 19/03/2020, until the coronavirus Covid-19 has been conquered. The health of every one of our dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, both here in our own Assembl, and for the many who visit us, is of the utmost importance. Lord bless and keep you all safe and well, and we pray we will be able to gather again soon to further glorify His Name.
Friday 10 April 2020
Easter Message 10/04/20
A Man of Sorrows, and Aquainted with Grief”
It is truly heartbraking to see and hear of so many people across the world suffering from this awful disease, Covid-19. But it is ever good to consider and reflect upon The One who suffered more than any man ever has. His name is The Lord Jesus Christ, and His sufferings were for me, you, and all the people in the World.
He left His Father’s side and took flesh, being born of a virgin, and became the Saviour of sinners to all who would repent of their sins and believe His Gospel message of Salvation.
Jesus Christ - fully God, yet fully man - had great compassion on the people, healing everyone that came to Him carrying many diseases and ailments. We read in John’s Gospel account (chapter 11) that “Jesus wept” over a family bereaving the death of their brother.
Jesus Christ also wept over Jerusalem, (Luke’s Gospel account chapter 19) knowing of it’s forthcoming ruination.
“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15)
Yet, this most lovely Man still had to go to Calvary’s Cross and lay down His sinless life, being crucified, that each of us can be forgiven for our own sins, know real peace with God and have eternal life in Heaven with Him.
The prophet Isaiah foretold (chapters 52 & 53) that Jesus Christ would be so scourged and brutalised at the hands of wicked men, to the extent that His form would literally be unrecognisable as that of a human being. These verses also tell us He would be known as “A Man of Sorrows, and aquainted with grief”. Further to these appalling physical atrocities, He suffered intensely, (Luke’s Gospel account chapter 22, and Matthew, Mark, John), anguished at fully knowing the horrors shortly to be when He would take all our sins upon Himself and all that entailed. “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death”... “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him”...”And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground”.
Yet even more suffering was still to come. The greatest suffering of all.
Hanging on The Cross, at the height of the day there became a darkness over all the land for three hours. The Father there punished His Son, who had taken upon Himself my sin, your sin, and the sin of every person in the world. Alone, rejected by men, Jesus Christ cried out with a loud voice “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?”. We cannot even begin to enter into the depth of these sufferings.
Isaiah, again speaking of Jesus Christ says “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted”... “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin”.
What wonderful love beyond expression The Lord Jesus Christ has for you and I! “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2nd Corinthians 5:21).
His sinless sacrifice - once for all - was completely accepted by The Father and Jesus Christ arose from the grave fully justified. A living, loving Saviour!
“I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore” (The Revelation 1:18)
Yes, He indeed knows more about sufferings than anyone, ever, and I repeat - it was all for our sakes. If you still do not know this most wonderful Man personally as your own Lord and Saviour, I urge you with all my heart to accept Him today. He will never let you down!
- Thy suffering love, Lord Jesus,
Our hearts delight to trace;
The love that sought and claimed us,
In strong yet tender grace. - We think of Thy devotion,
Thy blest obedience rare;
Thy holy, deep emotion,
Thy grief that none could share. - Thus to our hearts Thou speakest;
Blest Lord, we hear Thy voice;
We know its charm, its sweetness,
And in Thy love rejoice. - We wait the consummation
Of love’s own work divine,
And now in adoration
We joy that we are Thine
(G.A.Lucas)
Wednesday 26 February 2020
Gospel Meeting 23/02/20
Ephesians ch1 vs3 – 14
Hebrews ch12 vs1 – 2
When we were naughty as children and inevitably found out,
we promised we would not do it again. We have all been there!
It is the same in other fields – professional sports people promise
not to overstep the rules and be banned, but it rarely lasts because they
revert to type.
Sadly, many people who have destructive addictions also slip
back.
Deep down, we are all like this.
The most wonderful news though, is that anyone can be made a
whole new creation!
This is not just turning over a new leaf or some temporary
make-over, but a whole new person.
The Lord Jesus Christ told Nicodemus “Most assuredly, I say
to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
How can this happen? How does one enter into a new spiritual
birth and become a partaker of this new divine nature, and of the life of
Christ Himself?
The only way is through reconciliation… we have all sinned
and this has caused us to be separated from God, facing eternal condemnation.
But the Apostle Paul,
here, repeats the great news of the Gospel, that through the redeeming work of
The Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary ’s Cross, each
person can have forgiveness of sins and be reconciled to God.
Reconciled, means to re-establish a close relationship, to
settle or resolve a difference, and to make compatible.
When God’s Son, Jesus Christ, the only One who never once
sinned, became the holy sacrifice for our sins in laying down His life, He paid
our penalty in full that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
Dear friend, There at Calvary ,
Jesus Christ, in love, took your personal sin and mine and His Father punished
Him. God must and will judge all sin!
“And it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the
judgement”
- Hebrews ch9 vs27
Absolutely nothing else will do. There is no other means of
reconciliation, than the finished work of The Lord Jesus Christ. He lived, died
and arose again – once for all people!
Again, dear
friend, you can have your sin problem dealt with tonight – forever!
Many people across this world continue to seek or invent
different ways of obtaining a “new birth” and eternal life in Heaven, but this
is rebellion against The Lord Jesus Christ, and all efforts are utterly futile.
“… This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"
- Matthew’s Gospel ch3 vs17
“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto
the Father, but by me”
- John’s Gospel ch14 vs6
In tonight’s reading from Hebrews, Paul encourages
believer’s that although we will still be hindered in running our race well for
Christ by the many sins which still seek to ensnare us, we can overcome them by
keeping entirely focused on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.
Satan will still be present to tempt and annoy, but as Paul
earlier stated in his epistle to the Romans – sin shall no longer have dominion
over us! When the believer is having a struggle or trial, the blood of Jesus
Christ cleanseth us from all sin! (1st John ch1)
We have a wonderful provision from God – a daily cleansing
through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due
time”
- 1st Timothy ch2 vs5/6
Dear reader, this includes you too. Jesus Christ loves YOU!
Will you turn away from your sins and put your faith and trust in this one
Mediator?
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but
Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”
- Galatians ch2 vs20
It is personal… make it personal and call upon your Saviour
tonight!
1. Redemption! oh, wonderful story—
Glad message for you and for me;
That Jesus has purchased our pardon,
And paid all the debt on the tree.
Glad message for you and for me;
That Jesus has purchased our pardon,
And paid all the debt on the tree.
Refrain
Believe it, O sinner, believe it;
Receive the glad message—’tis true;
Trust now in the crucified Saviour,
Salvation He offers to you.
Believe it, O sinner, believe it;
Receive the glad message—’tis true;
Trust now in the crucified Saviour,
Salvation He offers to you.
2. From death unto life He has brought us,
And made us by grace sons of God;
A fountain is opened for sinners;
Oh, wash and be cleansed in the blood! [Refrain]
And made us by grace sons of God;
A fountain is opened for sinners;
Oh, wash and be cleansed in the blood! [Refrain]
3. No longer shall sin have dominion,
Though present to tempt and annoy;
For Christ, in His blessèd redemption,
The power of sin shall destroy. [Refrain]
Though present to tempt and annoy;
For Christ, in His blessèd redemption,
The power of sin shall destroy. [Refrain]
4. Accept now God’s offer of mercy;
To Jesus, oh hasten today;
For He will receive him that cometh,
And never will turn him away. [Refrain]
To Jesus, oh hasten today;
For He will receive him that cometh,
And never will turn him away. [Refrain]
(Hymn by Mr.S.Sayford)
Friday 14 February 2020
Gospel Meeting 09/02/20
2nd Corinthians ch5 vs1 – 10
The Revelation ch20 vs11 – 15
The speaker shared with us that he is required to attend two work appraisals
each year.
His boss would review his recent performance, integrity and
ingenuity, etc. Was their customer’s satisfied?
The boss would then judge his employee on the facts… would
he get a bonus? Would he be worthy of keeping his position?
The speaker knew that it was of the utmost importance to
prepare diligently and fully for his appraisal. Failing to do so meant he would
very quickly be found out and have a price to pay.
However, in a fast approaching day, every single one of us without
exception will have an appraisal for something far more crucial – the outcome
will decide where we spend our whole Eternity.
The One who will be judging our personal appraisal is God.
The Lord Jesus Christ will give His verdict.
Whether anyone is famous, rich, poor, royalty or servant,
every person will give an account of their life to God.
What a most sobering thought.
As with the speaker, it is imperative that our preparation has to be done before
the meeting. Leave it until your meeting with God and it will be tragically too
late, with great consequences.
“…PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD…”
- Amos ch4 vs12
In tonight’s scriptures we read about two groups of people
who will have very different appraisals by God at their personal meetings.
The apostle Paul told Christians in Corinth Calvary ’s
Cross. But here, the believer’s works are judged, whether good or bad.
How immensely pleasing would it be to hear God say to us
personally –
“…Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” – (Matthew’s
Gospel ch25 vs21).
How many of us shall wish not having had different actions,
or speaking in a more gracious tone?
Yet this personal meeting and appraisal will be completely
honest, just and irreversible. The Judge is holy and perfect in every way!
But whatever our many regrets shall be at this appraisal,
not one person is lost – all are ushered into The Father’s House for Eternity!
This group of Christian people were well prepared.
Not by reading their Bible, regular Church attendance, or
simply through good works – as much as these things are to be greatly
encouraged – but solely because they all had trusted The Lord Jesus Christ as
their personal Saviour. Preparation for forgiveness of sins and to enter Heaven
is based solely on God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
The prior work on your appraisal is
down to you – and it begins with your response to The Lord Jesus Christ and His
sinless sacrifice on Calvary ’s Cross for your many
sins.
Dear friend, do you believe Jesus Christ loves you so much that He
willingly laid down His life and shed His precious blood to pay the penalty of
your own sins?
In agony, he paid the price that we could never pay, in
order that you and I can be completely forgiven and no longer face
condemnation.
I urge you tonight,
simply call upon The Lord Jesus Christ in faith, and in repentance of your old
sinful way of life. Ask His forgiveness and accept Him as your personal
Saviour.
The apostle John spoke of another time and a different group
of people having their personal appraisals. They have the same Judge – God.
But what a horrendously different outcome for each of these
people’s appraisals.
Forgiveness was offered to all these people too, but all had
rejected God’s plan of Salvation, and their names were not found written in the
book of life.
What an eternal tragedy!
The consequences of personal sins having not been forgiven
by God, means a lost Eternity in torment and darkness.
Such is the absolute seriousness of our sins against the
Holy God.
“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
Dear friend, in love and concern I must inquire, are you with the first group of
people spoken of in Corinth
I pray that tonight you have fully prepared for your
appraisal with God, having accepted The Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. Then
you will know His great peace and joy personally!
“…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day
of salvation…”
- 2nd Corinthians ch6 vs2
Like the falling of a leaf,
Like the binding of a sheaf,
Be in time.
Fleeting days are telling fast
That the die will soon be cast,
And the fatal line be passed,
Be in time.
Refrain
Be in time, be in time,
While the voice of Jesus calls you, be in time.
If in sin you longer wait,
You may find no open gate,
And your cry be just too late, be in time.
2. Fairest flowers soon decay,
Youth and beauty pass away,
Oh, you have not long to stay,
Be in time.
While God’s Spirit bids you come,
Sinner, do no longer roam,
Lest you seal your helpless doom,
Be in time. [Refrain]
3. Time is gliding swiftly by,
Death and judgment draweth nigh,
To the arms of Jesus fly,
Be in time.
Oh, I pray you count the cost,
Ere the fatal line be crossed,
And your soul in hell be lost,
Be in time. [Refrain]
4. Sinner, heed the warning voice,
Make the Lord your final choice,
Then all Heaven will rejoice,
Be in time.
Come from darkness into light,
Come, let Jesus make you right,
Come, and start for Heav’n tonight,
Be in time. [Refrain]
(Hymn by Charles Harrison Mason)
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