Gospel Meeting 12/01/2014

LUKE 10 vs.38-42, JOHN11 vs.1-5, 18-44, JOHN 12 vs.1-3.

As you will have noticed on these three occasions Mary was at the feet of Jesus.

First of all Who is Jesus; Hebrews 1 vs.1-3

 Secondly what did He do; Philippians 2 vs.5-11 

2Co 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.   

Thirdly why did He do it; John 10:10, John 12:46, Galatians 2:20, John 17 vs.3-4. 

Mary Listened, LUKE 10 vs.38-42

In this passage we see two different approaches to the presence of the Lord Martha thought that the preparation and chores were the most important thing and although they are very necessary it is not good to put busyness before  sitting at the feet of Jesus. How do we come before God?  We should come and sit at the Masters feet in humility and drink in what He says to us not questioning in an aggressive way or thinking we know best. Mary was a good listener and she had respect for the one she knew was different, she must have realised the things He was saying were true and she was prepared to sit at His feet and drink it in.

1 Peter5 vs.5  and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Mary Learnt, JOHN11 vs.1-5, 18-44

Again we see two different approaches to this very sad situation and I am not saying Martha was wrong she had a very normal and natural response to her brother’s death also she showed a remarkable understanding of Jesus and His power. When Jesus said in vs.25.

John 11 vs.25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

She said: 27  She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Mary started off saying the same thing they both appreciated something of the power Jesus had and that is quite something to believe that Jesus could have prevented their brother Lazarus’s death, but Mary fell at His feet and said nothing else but she wept and she was going to learn that not only could Jesus have prevented his death but He had the power to raise him from the dead.

Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

It’s lovely to see the genuine compassion felt by the Lord Jesus towards His friends.

He shared in the sadness that they were feeling, and with us too.

Mary is always at His feet in humble acceptance that He knows best even though she was distraught at her brother’s death.

What a joy it must have been to them when Lazarus was raised from the dead. The experience of seeing God working in our lives teaches us to trust Him more step by step.

Mary Loved. JOHN 12 vs.1-3.

Again Mary at the feet of Jesus pouring out her appreciation of Him  showing her love and devotion and expressing her worship of Him by washing His feet with very expensive ointment as we know it was the job of the lowest servant to wash the visitors feet. Her gratitude and appreciation cost her something it wasn’t just words or empty actions it was real and genuine she had grown and developed in her understanding and affection for her Lord.

When we bring our worship has it cost us something, I’m not talking about financial cost but to live a life for God costs us our will and accepting His will, it costs us time and effort. The Lord accepted Mary’s worship “for His burial” and He longs that we will give Him our hearts our lives our all.

He died that we might live He paid the price by shedding His precious blood it cost Him His all that we might have forgiveness and abundant everlasting life.  

Lazarus died again eventually but when we put our faith in the Lord Jesus we receive everlasting life.

John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

He became poor that we might be rich, He came down that we might be raised up, He died that we might live.

Let us like Mary listen, learn and love, and enjoy a close relationship with the Living God both now and in Eternity.

Gospel Meeting 05/01/2014

William Horsburgh read selected verses from Psalm 147, then Hebrews 13 vs.1-25.
He concentrated his thoughts on verses 15-16.
15  By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16  But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
William had three headings;
1/ Praise God for Christ's sacrifice.
2/ Praise Christ as our sacrifice.
3/ Praise God because it is an acceptable sacrifice.
1/The many sacrifices in the Old testament from Cain and Able through Abraham and Isaac to the many sacrifices in the Tabernacle  and temple were all pointing forward to the sacrifice that Christ would make when He was crucified at Calvary, atonement in the Old Testament was a covering for sin that was repeated time and time again but Christ's one sacrifice took away sin. We need to come in faith and repentance. We need to keep going back to the cross and praising God for all the cross achieved.
 2/ Christ was our substitute He was an innocent victim who died in our place.
Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
3/ We are priests we offer our sacrifice of praise, we magnify and glorify God by praising Him.
There is a cost and a responsibility with this but the rewards are incomparable

Gospel Meeting 29/12/2013

Gareth Crossley read Isaiah 55 vs.1-13
He concentrated on vs.6-7
6 ¶  Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
7  Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
God's invitation is urgent and it is from Jehovah and it will not always be available.
There are those who love God who benefitting from all His blessings
There are those who don't love God and who have no time for Him how can they expect to receive blessings from Him now or in the future there is only judgement.
Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
Everyone will stand before God in that day.
Change is necessary, all fall between wicked to unrighteous it is all inclusive.
God works from the inside out, come to Christ first and He will change you from the inside it is no good just trying to give up bad things.
He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. Through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus on the cross we can be "washed in His blood" He was despised and rejected God knew and gave His Son for us. "He will save His people from their sins."
Every sin was laid upon Him and He paid the price. He will remember our sins no more.
Just like the Prodigal Son we can be welcomed back by the Father.

Gospel/Carol Service 22/12/2013

Paul Jackson Isaiah 9 vs.6-7,Micah 5vs.2, Luke 2 vs.6-7 &11-13 and Isaiah 7 vs.14 in between the Carols. He read from Matthew 1 vs.1, and vs.18-25.
Paul centred his thoughts around Joseph.
1/ His Family.
2/ His Fidelity.
3/ His Fear.
4/ What was Foretold.
5/ His Faith.

First of all we heard about the accuracy of Prophecy right down to the tiny details, and also about the greatness of the Lord Jesus but how that He came in a humble way.
1/ Family was even more important then than it is now and we are given both the genealogies of Mary and Joseph but they were both sinners but Jesus was born of God and He did no sin, He knew no sin, in Him was no sin.
2/ He knew the baby wasn't his and he could have publicly disgraced Mary but he was going to do the decent thing and put her away discretely.
3/ He was afraid but was told to fear not and to take Mary to be his wife. Are we afraid to put our trust in God what is it that prevents us? whatever it is fear not because Salvation is greater than your fear.
4/ He was told to call His name Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins. He bore our sins in His body on the tree. He came that we one day could be with Him.
5/ He obeyed and called His name Jesus straight away. Will you obey and trust Him now.
Romans 10 vs.9  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Gospel Meeting 15/12/2013

Phillip Gibson read 2 Corinthians 8 vs. 1-12
His subject was the ABC of Christmas, he challenged us about our giving.
Phillip centred his thoughts around-
 2 Corinthians 8 vs.9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Material wealth fades away but we can be rich in the things that really matter, Grace, Love, Peace, Joy, and Kindness, these are the riches we can display to others in our lives because Jesus became poor and He died for us on the cross.

Colossians 1 vs.5  For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6  Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

Ephesians1 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;
It will not always be plain sailing and when we fail God's love is extended to us even more to get through it.

These riches can only be enjoyed by those who have turned from their sin and put their complete faith and trust in the Lord Jesus who died for us.

Gospel Meeting 08/12/2013

Laurence Jones read Psalm 115, Luke 23 vs.26-49.
He highlighted vs.43  " And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise."
Are you, Will you be going to Paradise? If so on what basis?
some say "I hope to," others "yes" but with no foundation, yet others say "no - there is no such place."
The Foundation of Assurance;
1/Who assures- Jesus said assuredly.
Thief recognised Jesus had a future Kingdom.
Thief understood that Christ alone could let him in.
Thief knew Christ was sinless, and called Him Lord.

2/Nature of Assurance.
Grace and kindness of God all undeserved by us, and not by works of our own.
By grace you have been saved.
Hope for the hopeless and worst of sinners.

3/Promise of Assurance.
Upon death the believers soul goes  straight to be with the Lord. Today you will be with me in Paradise. There is no purgatory The cross is all sufficient. Today no soul sleep it will be "TODAY."

Conclusion
So what about you are you going to heaven on these foundations, we must come by faith like the thief.
All have sinned and fallen short.
Do you know this promise of assurance personally. 

Gospel Meeting 01/12/2013

Mr David Richardson read 1 Thessalonians 4 vs.13,16 and 17.
He reminded us about all the terrible news at the moment and he spoke about the good and cheerful news.
David first of all explained why we needed Salvation and how that sin had come in through Adam and Eve, and that sin had driven a wedge between us and God.
Isaiah 59 vs.2  But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.
The wages of sin is death so God sent a Messiah to save us from sin and an Eternity in Hell and make us fit for Heaven.
Matthew 3 vs.17  And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Jesus is God's beloved Son He was the perfect sacrifice who dealt with all our sin, He defeated death and He is in Heaven now.
There were young believers asking questions and in 1 Thessalonians 4 vs.16-17
 we have the answers,
He is coming to take those who love Him to be with Him Eternally.
 For those who believe we have a certain hope, we have Eternal security and we have comfort because God's purposes will be worked out.
If you are not saved you can have this too if you put your trust in Jesus and repent of your sin.
David then reminded us about the A,B,C.
Accept you are a sinner.
Believe in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and Salvation.
Change your life and commit it to Him.