Gospel Meeting 19/08/2018

Psalm chapter 23.

John’s Gospel ch10 vs1 – 18.

This Psalm is one of the most quoted and favourite passages of scripture for many people. It is very well known as a song, and has prompted many works of art.

Why? … Because it promises what so many people long for but cannot find in today's world.

 It contains:

vs1)  At peace, and lacking nothing

vs2/3) Divine guidance, leading you onwards

vs4) Total protection, fearing no evil

vs4) His abiding presence – thou art with me

vs4) Comfort, through The Good Shepherd’s rod and staff protecting and guiding

vs6) Eternal joy – dwelling in the house of The Lord for ever!

Who would not want to have these rich promises in their life?!

So many people do indeed long for these, but search in all the wrong places of this world for them.

It is a Psalm that brings comfort to those when in times of distress, but all too often fail to see the key phrase.

It is not in just the singing or hearing of it that brings lasting comfort – but in the knowing of the one and true God that this Psalm speaks of …

“The Lord is my shepherd”.

David, the writer, knew The Lord as his shepherd and so could go on to write the following verses - a hymn of praise!. A good shepherd never leaves or mistreats his flock, and will always do what is right.

Reader, can I ask who is your Shepherd?

Who do you trust above all else?

Who is bringing you absolute assurance in this life here, and for your next life in Eternity?

If your faith and trust is in yourself, or a friend, perhaps a family member, or a business colleague, then none of these can ever deliver the promises and blessings of this Psalm.

People can never find complete fulfilment in or through others - and on a bigger and more serious picture – many are still hoping that their “good deeds” will bring them into Heaven.

 The Word of God clearly tells us that this is futile.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away”

-    Isaiah ch64 vs6.

Therefore, the real issue is not in knowing this Psalm off by heart, but rather do you personally know The Lord as YOUR Shepherd?

David had total confidence in writing this Psalm – because He did know his Lord.

He, like all of us, was incapable of finding these rich promises without divine help.

vs6 is a most wonderful promise! We are nothing but Hell deserving sinners, but God in His great love, grace and mercy does not treat us as we deserve, instead offering anyone a home in Heaven through accepting His Son, Jesus Christ as your Saviour!

Onto the passage in John’s Gospel many years later, and the people of this day knowing this Psalm now heard its message delivered like never before.

The Lord Jesus Christ explained that people were like vulnerable sheep facing great dangers and needed a shepherd.

Then Christ really shook them up when he clearly and simply told them (vs11) ... 

“I am the the good shepherd, the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep”!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the true shepherd of Psalm ch23!

He came from Heaven, born of a virgin, in order to live a perfect, holy, sinless life, so that he could then lay that life down as a sinless sacrifice for all of our sins.

Each one of us are the sheep that He came to seek and to save!

“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”.

-    Isaiah ch53 vs6.

God took all our sins and placed them on His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, in His crucifixion on Calvary’s Cross.

In the person of The Lord Jesus Christ, we are offered all the promises of Psalm ch23.

We are each invited to receive life in all its fullness through knowing Jesus Christ as our personal Saviour.

(vs14) “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine”.

By accepting Jesus Christ as your Saviour, repenting of your sinful way of life, you will be completely forgiven of all your sins, cleansed by His blood that He shed on The Cross for you.

No longer facing condemnation and an eternal Hell, but made fit to enter into Heaven through faith in His atoning work at Calvary!

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent”.

-     John’s Gospel ch17 vs3.

Life need not be fearful even though you may be “walking through the valley of the shadow of death” … God is in the valley with you and has defeated death!

Dear reader, God loves YOU ever so much that His beloved Son died for you and He wants you to be with Him in Heaven for ever!

Are you still clinging onto a false shepherd who cannot deliver?

Will you be found wanting in a soon coming day - when it will be too late for ever to call upon The Good Shepherd and be saved for eternity?

Tonight, accept the real Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, and put your faith and trust in Him as your real Saviour

“Get right with God for life is sad and dreary,

Without the sunshine of His face divine.

Turn now to Him who offers untold blessing,

to satisfy the needs of souls like thine”.

Gospel Meeting 05/082018

Mark’s Gospel ch10 vs46 – 52.

The Lord Jesus Christ met the great need that Bartimeaus had.

He can meet yours too. Bartimeaus had a physical need, but ours is a spiritual need.

We all need to have our sins forgiven, and we need Jesus Christ just as much as blind Bartimeaus.

Friend, you may think you are ok as you are, you may think you are happy and enjoying your life, but it is an absolute reality that you need to address the question of your sins – it has eternal consequences!

It is of such enormity that the Son of God, Jesus Christ, came from Heaven and took on humanity in order to pay the price of our sins. The only one who never once sinned had all our sins placed on Him on Calvary’s Cross. The Holy One suffered, bled and died so we can all be saved from the eternal consequences of our sins. He rose from the grave, being fully justified, and is now seated at His Father’s right hand in Heaven.

Bartimeaus had a plight – he was blind, destitute, and without any Government benefits in those days. He was dependant on the kindness of people of whom he begged    . However, The Lord Jesus Christ transformed his life!

His problem was his eyes, but our problem is inside – SIN!

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

- Jeremiah ch17 vs9.

A sinful heart leads to sinful acts!

“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.

“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”. – James ch1 vs14 -15.

Friend, you see how serious the problem is!

All sin utterly offends Holy God, but He loves us despite this.

He showed us exactly how much, by sending His only beloved Son to be the sacrifice for our sins. Amazing love!

Bartimeaus’ condition was ruining his life, and sin totally ruins ours.

We can see this daily all around us.

We each have a great sin problem that needs to be urgently dealt with.

Only The Lord Jesus Christ can save you!

Tonight, He is still ready, able and willing to save you – just as He intervened with Bartimeaus.

Be assured of this, Holy God WILL judge all sin - whether you have already died, or if you are still alive at the return of The Lord Jesus Christ.

“And 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 vs27 – 28.

Death is simply not the end!

 Every person is going onto a never – ending eternity.

Every person has the choice of two real places – Heaven or Hell.

Heaven is the place of complete joy and blessing for those who accepted and know Jesus Christ as their Saviour. The unsaved, who rejected Jesus Christ’s offer of forgiveness, will suffer the awful reality of Hell.

The Lord Jesus Christ gave clear warnings which we should all heed!

Friend, where are you heading?

Is this wonderful loving Man your Saviour, or is He still outside of your life?

We are all Hell deserving sinners, but in His great love for us He paid the price so that no – one need end up in that most awful place.

You can be 100% sure of Heaven tonight, but only through this Man Jesus Christ!

Bartimeaus knew that Jesus Christ was his only hope.

He needed more than the money he begged for to solve his problem, and here came the Man that could get to the root of his problem.

The crowd tried to put him off meeting Jesus Christ – and it is the same today – many are pressured away from Him by family, friends and work associates.

I earnestly ask, do not let the crowd stop you from being saved!

The crowd can take you down to Hell with them, but they can never bring you back.

Bartimeaus shouted all the louder! …  If you know tonight that you are heading to the wrong destination and need saving, let no – one and nothing stop you!

“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his own soul?”

- Matthew’s Gospel ch16 vs26.

Bartimeaus realised he had nothing to offer, he was completely dependent on the grace, mercy and love of The Lord Jesus Christ. His simple plea was “Have mercy on me”.

So it is with us dear friend, we cannot save ourselves by any means, but we too must simply cry out to Him “Lord, save me!”.

He will meet your need, because Jesus Christ did something no – one else could ever do. On Calvary’s Cross He laid down His life, and the sinless blood he shed cleanses you from your sins. In His rising from the grave, His Father was fully satisfied.

A living Saviour, to meet your need!

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near”.

- Isaiah ch55 vs6.

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

- Romans ch10 vs13.

Complete assurance!

The Lord Jesus Christ did not ignore this mans plea amidst the crowd, and He has His eye on you too tonight.

Will you come to Him?

Will you tonight be delivered from a certain Hell to a certain blessing in Heaven?

Blind Bartimeaus had faith – do you?

Friend, turn from sin in repentance tonight and accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour.

Jesus Christ never passed through Jericho again – Bartimeaus had but one opportunity and took it. Likewise, not one of us is ever promised a tomorrow, but you have an opportunity tonight – please take it!

Bartimeaus left his past behind, starting a new life (vs52) “and followed Jesus”!

Gospel Meeting 29/07/2018

John’s Gospel ch3 vs1 -3.

Luke’s Gospel ch13 vs1 – 5.

Matthew’s Gospel ch18 vs1 -3.

In these passages of scripture, we have three “excepts” which are imperatives of the Gospel:

1)      “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God”.

2)      “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish”.

3)      “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven”.

For anyone to enter into Heaven these three points are a must!

Yet still today, many people think they are fit to enter into God’s Kingdom through attending church, doing good works, simply by having a Christian name or having been Christened as a baby.

The Lord Jesus Christ made it absolutely clear and simple when He said –

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”.

(John’s Gospel ch14 vs6).

 All sin is abhorrent to Holy God, and He will not let it enter into Heaven through any one sinful person. Every single one of us is a sinner, deserving of Hell, but God in His amazing love towards us sent His sinless Son Jesus Christ to pay the price of our sins for us. For each one of us to enter Heaven, our huge sin question had to be dealt with, and on Calvary’s Cross Jesus Christ, who took on humanity, laid down His sinless life as a sacrifice for all our sins. Only by having personal faith in His work of Salvation, and His spotless blood that came from many wounds, can cleanse and forgive us from our sinful condition and its eternal consequences.

1)      “Except a man be born again” –

Nicodemus was a very religious man, but these were new words to him!

Through Salvation, a new nature is received – a spiritual nature, the nature of God …

“His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires”. – 2^nd Peter ch1 vs3 -4.

A sinner - that dear friend - is you and I, and we MUST be “born again”! …

“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.

2)      “Except ye repent” –

Everyone MUST repent of their sinful lives!

It is sin that separates you from God, and from being able to enter into Heaven.

It may not be pleasant to our ears, but we are all sinners by nature and practice, and we must change our ways. A change of heart!

Jesus said “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel”, - Mark’s Gospel ch1 vs15.

It is imperative to understand that sin is so deadly serious that it has to be punished!

But God has provided a way - the only way - of complete forgiveness …

“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.

"There's a way back to God

from the dark paths of sin;

there's a door that is open

and you may go in:

at Calvary's cross is where you begin,

when you come as a sinner to Jesus".

- chorus by E.Swinstead.

Friend, a true sorrow, a true confession of your sins is required – do you have a realisation in your heart that you are in need of a Saviour for your sins?

3)      “Except ye be converted” –

Converted means to be a changed person, leading a new life through knowing Jesus Christ in a daily personal relationship.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new”. – 2^nd Corinthians ch5 vs17.

A new person made fit for Heaven through this wonderful Saviour Jesus Christ …

Why would anyone not want to be saved and know His great love and forgiveness?!

Have no doubts that these things will happen in a soon coming day– Heaven or Hell are the two places YOU have to choose from … where will YOU choose to spend eternity in?

I implore you to accept The Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour before it is forever too late!

Gospel Meeting 22/07/2018

Luke’s Gospel ch23 vs33 – 45.

 Rudyard Kipling’s famous poem entitled “If” from circa 1895, has the “ifs” of possibilities, options and choices in life.

Here, in this passage of scripture, we find three instances of people using “if” as to doubting the person of The Lord Jesus Christ. Today, little has changed – we still hear people say that He was “just a good man”, “a rebel”, or “he never existed”.

He may divide opinions, families and homes, but Jesus Christ is never devisive – He was very clear on where He came from, what He did in His earthly life, where he is now, and what He will be doing in the future.

Friend, your own eternal destination entirely depends on your response to this Man, The Lord Jesus Christ. Are you wanting to go to Heaven and be with this most wonderful Saviour? Then there is but one road you must take...

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”. John’s Gospel ch14 vs 6.

“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.

The first “if” we read about at the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, came from the rulers (vs35). 

The religious leaders had made trumped up charges against Him, breaking their own law, to have Him crucified. These people only saw a broken, bloodied, defeated man. They scoffed and derided Jesus Christ, doubting He was the Son of God.

They completely missed it – despite seeing and hearing for three years of Jesus Christ healing the sick and raising the very dead! They were blinded to it.

Friend, are you blinded to the truth of the Gospel of The Lord Jesus Christ?

Earnestly think on these things!

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God”.

-   2^nd Corinthians ch4 vs4.

Read with an open mind the truth and facts concerning Jesus Christ.

The Man Jesus Christ, crucified on the centre cross at Calvary IS God!

The second “if” came from the Roman soldiers (vs36).

 They also mocked Him, doubting the Sovereign of God. Their thinking was what kind of King allows himself to become like this, hanging on a cross. The soldiers knew all about power and recognised leaders authority to give orders, and saw Jesus Christ as nothing but a broken dying failure.

“Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father”. – John’s Gospel ch10 vs17 -18.

Friend, who is in control of your life? If you are not serving God, then you are serving Satan. Without Christ, one is a slave to sin.

The Word of God tells us the future, and in a soon coming day this same living Man everyone shall see.

“Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen”. – The Revelation ch1 vs7.

“It is written,: “As surely as I live”, says the Lord, “every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God”. – Romans ch14 vs11.

The Lord Jesus Christ will return and judge sin! He has all authority to judge all unconfessed and undealt with sin in our lives.

“I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and death”. – The Revelation ch1 vs18.

Friend, I urge you -give these eternal matters your greatest attention immediately!

The third “if” in this passage came from a thief crucified alongside Christ (vs39). 

He too doubted this was the Saviour of God, and His ability to save. How can someone hanging on a cross be able to save?...  It was this very fact that gave Him the power to save!

The Saviour of the world had to go to the Cross at Calvary. His whole life was ultimately to be there.

“I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting. For the Lord God will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know I shall not be ashamed”. – Isaiah ch50 vs6 -7.

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God". - 1st Corinthians ch1 vs18.

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief”. – 1^st Timothy ch1 vs15.

Despite knowing all that was going to happen to Him at Calvary, being made sin and punished for our sins, He was steadfast. We would all have run the opposite way, but in His most wonderful love towards us He endured it all.

The other thief also crucified with Christ, had a change of heart, repenting of his sins and believed, trusting Jesus Christ to be who He said.  The mocking had ended and in complete contrast he addressed Him as “Jesus, Lord” (vs42). He acknowledged that Jesus Christ had done nothing wrong, but that he and the other thief received the reward of their deeds.

He was forgiven for his sins, and Christ gave this dying man that wonderful assurance “…Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise”. (vs43).

There was no “if” or doubts!

Friend, will you trust Jesus Christ as your Saviour without any “ifs” or doubts?

Will you rejoice to know the peace of having your sins forgiven by the blood of Christ? Will you know the absolute joy of spending eternity with this most lovely Man who died in agony for you?

This world is ripe for judgement and you must urgently read God’s future plans for those who have rejected His Son’s sacrifice for their sins.

No – one can be neutral over The Lord Jesus Christ … what is your own decision?

I pray dear friend, that before you lay down tonight, you will come to Jesus Christ in faith, and repenting of your sinful life ask Him to be your own personal Saviour.

Gospel Meeting 15/07/2018

Ephesians ch3 vs14 – ch4 vs3.

This passage contains a prayer for inner fullness and knowledge.

As Christians, we are here exhorted to be doing huge things!

To be putting off the old man and old nature, and walking worthy of bearing the name of Christ. 

Our responsibility and calling is great – how are we able to do this? …

We have an Almighty God to pray to, who will help us to live and walk worthy through knowing His Son Jesus Christ, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Our God created billions of stars and knows every single one by its name – He most assuredly knows your name too and loves you dearly! We have an infinite Creator God whom we can address as Father! What an amazing relationship has been offered to all!

vs16 tells us that we need to be strengthened. Sometimes we can struggle inside, feeling anxious or fearful, but God can strengthen and build us up through His Holy Spirit.

Paul said “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”

-    Philippians ch4 vs13.

vs17 - The Lord Jesus Christ is always present. He is in our hearts by faith and he should always come first. We are exhorted to walk by faith and not by sight – again, how are we able to do this? …

vs20 tells us that The Lord Jesus Christ is wholly dependable and the Holy Spirit is a great power working within us – enabling us to achieve far more than we could even ask or imagine!

You can trust Him with your whole heart - don’t be a “doubting Thomas”!

“Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed”. – John’s Gospel ch20 vs29.

Dear reader, are YOU blessed? Have YOU believed that Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son and asked Him to be your Saviour?

vs18/19 tells us of the greatness of His love – it surpasses our knowledge. Jesus Christ loves you like no other, and He is the best foundation to be rooted and grounded in.

“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock …” – Matthew’s Gospel ch7 vs24

On who is your life grounded? Who is your sure foundation?

Only The Lord Jesus Christ can present us righteous to God.

If love was to be measured by cost, then Jesus Christ gave His own sinless life to pay the price of our sinful lives on The Cross – this is absolute love!

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him”. – Romans ch5 vs6 -9.

We can only be forgiven for our sins and be made fit for Heaven through faith in Jesus Christ and the blood that He gave to make atonement for them all. Will you not come to Him in repentance of your sinful ways tonight and receive His full and free Salvation?

Jesus Christ is a living Saviour for evermore!

"... Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen ... The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again".

- Luke's Gospel ch24 vs5 -7.

Outside of Jesus Christ, we have no hope and a certain eternity in Hell awaits each soul who rejects Him.

“”How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…?” – Hebrews ch2 vs3.

Dear reader, are you just living for today, a life without any real purpose, or are your sights firmly set on the never – ending eternity? I earnestly encourage you to set your sights at the very highest level, and accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour without delay!

Where better to spend forever, than with The One who loved you and gave Himself for you?

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal”. – 2^nd Corinthians ch4 vs18.

Heaven is real and you too can have a home there!

Having any amount of head knowledge of Jesus Christ is not sufficient – it is in having personal heart knowledge of this most wonderful Man that makes all the difference. A daily personal relationship with the One who right now beckons for you to come to Him and be saved for eternity!

Dear reader, may you begin that amazing relationship and journey tonight!

Gospel Meeting 08/07/2018

Proverbs ch14 vs12.

Psalms ch8.

The Acts ch4 vs12.

When we consider the immensity of all that Almighty God has created around us and stretching out into the universe, it is amazing that He is still completely caring and concerned about little you and me!

Even sat in this Hall tonight, His presence is among us. Our God is truly awesome – He knows every single thing about you -  and knows you are a sinner. Just one sin will absolutely keep you from going to Heaven when your life here has ended. God is entirely holy and detests all and any sin.

No – one on this beautiful Earth can say they have never sinned… yet God still loves us!

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”. – Romans ch3 vs23.

There is no point comparing ourselves to anyone else and saying “Well, he is worse than me”, or “I do lots of nice things to help people” …

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away”.

-    Isaiah ch64 vs6.

We are simply not good enough – and our sins are a real big problem.

God in His great love towards mankind has provided a way for each of us to be forgiven for all our sins and be made fit to enter Heaven.

That one way, the only way, is by The Cross …

God sent His well beloved Son Jesus Christ into this world. The One by whom all things were made (John’s Gospel ch1 vs1 – 5), came and was born of a virgin. The child grew into a Man, never ceasing to be God, and lived a completely sinless life.

Jesus Christ did not only come to visit us, but to save us from the guilt and penalty of all our sins.

“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 vs25.

“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.

In His love, grace and mercy, Jesus Christ came to save all who will accept Him, from the reality of an eternal Hell - the place all go to who’s sins have not been forgiven.

Jesus Christ laid down His sinless life on Calvary’s Cross, to pay the price and take the punishment of our sins for us. He alone was able to make atonement for all our sins – past, present and future.

Wholly accepted, God raised Him from the dead after three days.

Words were not enough!

 The Lord Jesus Christ had to give His precious blood that we could be forgiven …

“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver and gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect”.

-   1^st Peter ch1 vs18 – 19.

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin”.

-    1^st John ch1 vs7.

Friend, will you take that personal step tonight and in faith accept Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Will you simply confess that you have sinned, and in repentance ask Him to forgive you? The work has been done, the price has been paid – but you must make your own individual decision to accept it! He is mighty to save and welcomes you with open arms!

The Lord Jesus Christ has conquered sin, death and Hell!

“I am he that liveth, and was dead, and, behold, I am alive for evermore…”

-   The Revelation ch1 vs18.

“O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!”

-  Psalms ch8 vs 9.

AMEN!!

        

Gospel Meeting 01/07/2018

1 Kings ch17 vs8 – 16.

Luke’s Gospel ch4 vs16 -26.

The Lord Jesus Christ made reference to this widow in Nazareth.

It was His first visit to His home town since being anointed by the Holy Spirit, and He was in the synagogue reading from the book of Isaiah and speaking.

He went to the heart of the matter and told them He was Messiah.

Many were taken aback, having grown up alongside Jesus Christ.

However, all were amazed at the gracious words which He spoke, until there was an abrupt turning point. It quickly turned to contempt, saying “this is the carpenter’s son”, and having heard Jesus Christ speak of Elijah and the widow, all in the synagogue were furious with Him.

Jesus Christ used Elijah and the widow as an illustration of Himself as also being one to be rejected by His own people, and sent away from His own country - immediately they in the synagogue led Him out of the city and attempted to throw Him headlong over the brow edge!

The Lord Jesus Christ was telling them to consider their history, that no prophet was accepted in his own country.

What can we learn about the widow? …

She was a Gentile. She had a son to look after, and was really struggling to fend for them through the drought that was present in the land.

The Lord knows all our cares, and later in His Word (James ch1 vs27) says we should visit orphans and widows in their distress to provide comfort and support.

The widow had so very little and yet was being asked to give it up for Elijah. He told her God had promised that the little she had would not run out until the drought had ended.

The widow believed and obeyed … why? She was a spiritual woman who believed and knew God (vs12). Whilst there was unbelief in Jesus Christ’s home town, here was a Gentile believing in the true God of Israel.

Having been sent many miles to be there, Elijah then spent over two years with the widow and her son. They were saved from starvation, through her obedience to Elijah’s message from God.

God sent His beloved Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, many miles to save all the people of the world from the penalty of their sins. Jesus Christ came from Heaven, to be born of a virgin. He stepped into time, took flesh to live a completely sinless and blameless life so that He could give His pure undefiled body as a sacrifice for all our sins. In His most wonderful love for all mankind, He paid the price and debt for us that we could never pay.

“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.

“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. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”

-   John’s Gospel ch3 vs16 – 18.

“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.

Friend, if you are going to be saved from the eternal consequences of your sins against Holy God and escape Hell, there is no other name for you to call upon or trust in!

The blood that The Lord Jesus Christ gave on The Cross from much sufferings is all – sufficient to cleanse and forgive you for all your sins!

This amazing, unique and special love is provided to you from the heart of God.

Will you not tonight call upon the name of Jesus Christ, and in repentance of your sins ask His forgiveness?

What an eternal blessing awaits those who accept His most gracious love, grace and mercy!