Gospel Meeting 27/11/2016

Dr. Gareth Crossley read Mark 4 vs.1-9, 13-20.
"The Parable of the Sower."
It is both a challenge and a comfort.
Only a few will believe.
The Lord Jesus is the perfect teacher, and His teaching is perfect.
God so loved the world that He sent His Son born of a woman miraculous conception. Jesus is Holy He is the Son of God and Son of Man.
He bore our sins in His body at Calvary, how it must have grieved His Father to see that.
The death of the Lord Jesus is sufficient for us, it satisfied God.
We must be genuinely sorry for our sin repent, and trust Him with all of our heart, with everything.
He is the Son of the living God, never man spoke like Him.
The teacher is perfect, the teaching is perfect it is the response of the hearers that is not perfect.
1/ Path, hard heart, unresponsive.
2/ Shallow soil, impetuous, impulsive.
3/ Thorns and thistles, half hearted, preoccupied.
4/ Whole hearted, love Him, serve Him, trust Him for now and for the future. Be faithful to Him.

1 Timothy 6 vs.6  But godliness with contentment is great gain.

Gospel Meeting 20/11/2016

Mr. Craig Maffey read: Luke 10 vs.25 - 37.

The Lord's parables gives us spiritual lessons.

The Lord uses precise words to convey truth.

The expert lawyer approached Christ with a vital question "what shall I do to inherit eternal life"? - but his problem was "do". He wanted to do something to merit God's salvation. The work of salvation has been done and finished. The Lord Jesus Christ suffered, bled and died on the Cross for our salvation - it is God's gift, through His Son.

Ephesians 2 vs.8-9 tells us "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". 

The Lord dealt graciously with the lawyer, saying he had answered right to his own question, but challenged him to do it and he would live.

The lawyer realized he had not lived up to what was required and tried to wriggle out of it.

The parable of the Good Samaritan, is a picture of a man turning his back on God, by going down from Jerusalem, the city of God, unto Jericho,the city of curse.

There is a Heaven to be gained and a Hell to be shunned.

The man was in need of salvation.

If we are not right with God, we are in need of salvation. All have sinned and come up short of God's standards. Some people see some sins as worse than others, but sin is sin. We are not fit for Heaven, until all our sins are forgiven. 

The priest, a religious man, was there by chance - he was also "going down", but passed by though he saw the man's need.

The Levite, another religious man, also passed by - both of them had no resources to save this man as religion and law - keeping cannot save. Only Christ's work at Calvary can save.

The Rescuer, was the Good Samaritan - a picture of The Lord himself....He came to where he was and his was a journey of love. 1st. Timothy 1 vs.15 tells us "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners".

The Jewish man was half dead, and although they and the Samaritans had no dealings with each other, he looked on him with compassion and love....so true of Christ who was also moved with compassion many times.

The Good Samaritan attended to ALL his needs, giving perfect provision. God's salvation is the perfect answer to ALL our needs and sins. 

The Good Samaritan took him from a place of danger to a place of safety. Christ more than risked His life - He gave His life on the Cross for our salvation, paid our debt, that He did not owe.

No greater price could have been paid, than Christ's sufferings. 

If you put your personal faith and trust in Christ, whatever problems we face, we know we are saved and can rest in His finished work.

Christ has promised to come again soon and receive us unto Himself. This is our blessed prospect - to be eternally with Him. 

The final promise of God's Word is Revelation 22 vs.20 "He which testifieth these things saith, "Surely I come quickly". 

Gospel Meeting 13/11/2016

Mr Keith Clayton read Luke ch18 vs9 - 14, Matthew ch27 vs34 - 53

"To everything there is a season and a time"

Time, is a word we all use every day.

Moses brought in a set time for people to worship - a morning and evening sacrifice.

When Christ was on the Cross, from the sixth hour to the ninth hour there was darkness over all the Earth. it was a thick darkness that could be felt..This was when Jesus Christ bore God, His Father's wrath - God in His absolute hatred of sin made Christ sin, as a sacrifice for our sins to be forgiven.

The ninth hour was around the time of the Old Testament evening sacrifice, when a lamb was slain.

When Jesus Christ gave up the ghost, the veil of the temple was torn in two. No mere curtain, around 18 - 20 feet high, 36 feet wide, and the thickness of a man's hand - man could not tear this.

This was the true sacrifice for sins, through Jesus Christ, God's lovely Son - unlike the emptiness of the Old Testament ones.

Not one more sacrifice is ever necessary - "It is finished", the work is complete.

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God", where He is now.

Salvation is open to all - Prince or pauper. Accept it by faith 

NOW is the time of salvation

Gospel Meeting 06/11/2016

Mr.Thomas Truman began with an update on the Leeds City Mission work: 

It’s hard to gain financial support for evangelical causes.

Persecution is happening now in the UK - people are losing their jobs for repeating Bible truths.

Are we going to hold fast and be the salt, and to keep the light shining?

Time is short - Jesus is coming - are we doing our part and doing the work He has asked us to do?

Thomas finds "people don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care".

2nd Corinthians ch.13 vs. 5 "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves".

Step out and take a risk.

Had contact with around 40 homeless - "Tent City" people, over a 6 week period. He helped with food and clothing, whilst sharing the Gospel and playing songs on his guitar.

There is a need to show practical love before sharing the Gospel.

The work in Armley Prison is having some success. However, security and budget cutbacks make it increasingly difficult.

Street evangelism continues, but team members are few at the moment - please pray for an increase in numbers. 

Work in the Care Homes - 4 people were saved in one Home and the team was then not allowed to go back in again! They were also told to leave another Home, but work continues in a third Home.

Their shop in Armley is a good outreach and still welcoming donations to sell.

They are sharing the scriptures with 2  women who serve in the shop - please pray for them too.

This concluded his update and Thomas continued with a short message, reading Psalm 67:

Chapter covers history of salvation. 

The blessing was promised since the Garden of Eden. The blessings are past and future.

The promises are fulfilled in Christ, and we are now exhorted to take this message to every corner of the Earth.

Worship is ascribing worth to God - do it now voluntarily and not forced later. "Every knee shall bow...every tongue confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord".

Are we using our gifts to reach others?

Britain has a great spiritual heritage, having had more revivals over the past 400 years than any other country. Keep working until the mission field is no longer needed.

Gospel Meeting 30/10/2016

Mr. David Richardson read Daniel 5.

Pride comes before a fall.

Belshazzar had a great party and worshipped idols.
His mood changed very quickly and became greatly troubled, not knowing what the writing on the wall was about.

Daniel had a reputation for being a wise man, and was called in.

Daniel is a good study for all Christians living in today's world. We all in a minority too.

Belshazzar knew if Daniel spoke it was from God.

The same God Belshazzar blasphemed, made his kingdom. God took him out of his kingdom and into the field to eat grass until he knew that Babylon was not his, but God's.

Belshazzar was weighed in the balance and was fallen short of God's standards.

All these things are related to today's world - partying, alcohol, adultery/fornication, blasphemy.
Hearts are still the same after 4,000 years since Belshazzar, regardless of the consequences.
This is because we are sinful by nature.

Galations 6vs7 tells us "Be not deceived,  God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap".

Key thing is God will not be mocked - you will be judged if you continue to be defiant against Him. Belshazzar would not humble himself, and was fed grass until he acknowledge the most high  God ruled. God's plan through His Son,Jesus Christ, paid the penalty of our sins on the cross.
"I am the way, the truth and the life" John 14v6.
The only way to have your name written in the Lamb's book of life.

God dealt with Belshazzar then, and will do so with us all in a coming day.

Personal faith is required.

Gospel Meeting 23/10/2016

Mr. Brian Dunning read Ephesians 1 vs 1-14
vs,7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8  Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

Salvation is past/present/future
We have been saved/being saved/will be saved.

Difference between redemption and forgiveness.
Redemption is being purchased, forgiveness is being cleansed from our sins through His blood.

Mercy is not getting what we do deserve, and Grace is getting what we do not deserve.

God will give us according to the riches of His grace

We are not building up our store of treasure for earth. but in heaven. He can do exceedingly above all things that we ask or think.
The fact that God the Father sent His Son Jesus. tells us that there was no other way of obtaining forgiveness.
 If there had been any other way of saving us, He would not have sent his Son.

Jesus Christ gave up His glory in Heaven to go to the cross, to buy His - US

He wants to lavish His grace on us.
God wants to give us grace every morning -
"His compassions fail not, they are new every morning, Great is Thy faithfulness".

God's wisdom, intelligence and understanding requires Justice against sin. A loving God punishes sin, but He wants to save the sinner.

Our wisdom, intelligence and understanding responds to the Gospel positively.

Come to Jesus. and like the prodigal son saying " I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, I am no longer worthy to be called your son ....bring forth the best robe and put it on him".

Gospel Meeting 16/10/2016

Mr.Stuart Gordon read John 6 vs.1-14.
With God all things are possible.
John 20 vs.30  And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31  But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The people came to Jesus for various reasons, some only to see a miracle and Jesus had compassion on them.
He is the Good Shepherd.
We can't save anyone ourselves it is only God who can save.
We should give to God what we have and then see what He can do with it.
They all had sufficient, only He can satisfy.
Your life should show that you are a christian.

believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Judas took part and saw this miracle but he then went on to betray the Lord.

We can have our sin forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ and His death on our behalf.

Peter failed but went on to say "you have crucified your King.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, He went to Calvary and bore the punishment for our sin on the cross, He shed His blood that we could be forgiven.