Category: Services

April 27th 2025: Rhodri Brady

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April 27th 2025: Rhodri Brady

Matthew 28:1-10.
The focus for our thoughts today comes in verse 8:

“So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.”

The women hurried from the tomb with fear, but also with great joy! The Bible does not present us with false or two-dimensional characters. The Lord shows forth people in all their complexities of character. We have in verse 8 two features which all humans express and which are sometimes set in opposition. The women were afraid, but they also displayed great joy too. The fear they had was only part of what they expressed, for the joy formed the greater part of their emotional experience.

            It is a truism to say that everyone fears. Fear is part of the fallen nature, and part of this fallen world. But what do we do with our fear? Fear is a reality. The Bible does not skate over this aspect of human experience. But it does address this and demonstrates how we should act when afraid. The key point in this event is, of course, the resurrection. How did the resurrection affect and energise these women? Surely the news from the angel caused their joy! How then does the resurrection affect us? These women were left scarred by the arrest, the crucifixion, and the death of the Saviour, but now they were joyful and yet with fear. Our text therefore has these two themes: fear and joy, so let us consider each characteristic in turn.

Fear.

            The resurrection left these women fearful and yet joyful, so let us start by considering their fear. Jesus truly died. He was wrapped in a linen cloth and placed into a newly hewn out tomb. A huge stone was rolled over the entrance to block the way. Nothing happened on the Saturday following Christ being placed in the tomb, but then on the first day of the week there was an earthquake which was not natural, but supernatural. An angel came and rolled back the stone and sat on top of it. The angel’s appearance was “like lightning” and his raiment was “as white as snow” and as a result of this “the guards shook for for fear of him, and became like dead men” (Matthew 28:3,4). The angel then spoke to the women telling them not to be afraid, declaring that Jesus was now risen from the dead, and instructing them to inform the other disciples of this glorious truth (Matthew 28:5-7). From these details recorded in Matthew 28:1-10 we can see a great contrast. Whilst the guards: “shook for fear of him, and became like dead men,” the women, by contrast, “went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word” (Matthew 28:4,8). The guards only had fear, but the women had fear and yet “great joy” too.

            We must acknowledge the presence of fear. Both the guards and the women had fear. We are not talking about ‘holy fear’ here but the type of fear which all humans experience as a result of sin and the fall of this world. Matthew uses the same Greek word for fear in speaking of the guards and the women here. We see this type of fear expressed by the Israelites when the Lord came down on the mountain of Sinai in Exodus 20. God is awesome. No doubt His angels are fearful too. We learn this from a number of appearances of angels in the Old Testament. Now when the Lord descended on mount Sinai the people were afraid and distanced themselves from the Lord. But Moses went up into the mountain and into the cloud. What do we do when we are afraid? Do we run away from God and seek to dispel the fear by distractions? Or do we embrace the Lord even though we are fearful?

            In the New Testament, the priest Zacharias was sceptical when he met with Gabriel who announced that Elizabeth would have a son, but Mary accepted the word brought to her by the same angel. Both were, no doubt, afraid, but Zacharias withdrew and Mary embraced that which was spoken to her. In another event we read that Jesus drove out many demons from the man who dwelt among tombs in the region of the Gadarenes, but those who witnessed this amazing event were afraid and asked the Lord to depart from their place (Mark 5:15,17). Fear causes many to withdraw and retreat or to push the Lord away. Some are anxious about coming into a place of Christian worship. Their fear keeps them away. Often, in their fear, people look to sources of comfort other than the Lord, but this is a grave mistake. Some look to drink to quash their fears. But turning to drink leads us ultimately away from the Lord. Others turn to food as a comfort or to exercise, or to work, or to cleaning the house, or even to entertainments. All of these things are distractions to blot out or push away the fear we have. All of these things are fine in and of themselves, but are terrible as means to deal with fear.

            Note that the guards were so afraid that they “became like dead men.” This statement does not just mean that they became immobile and fell to the ground, it suggests their spiritual state too. In our estrangement from God, the apostle Paul describes unbelievers as “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1,5), and the posture of these guards intimate the state of their hearts. What do we do with our fear and in our fear? We ought to run as fast as we can to the Lord!

Great joy.

            The resurrection left these women fearful and yet joyful, so let us now consider their great joy. The word in Greek is ‘mega’ and the idea is that their joy exceeded their fear. They had ‘mega’ joy! These women would have heard the Lord Jesus preach on many occasions and their hearts would have been greatly warmed. For instance, in the sermon on the mount the Lord said that the ‘poor in spirit’ would be blessed and such would be possessors of the kingdom (Matthew 5:3). These women were probably very ‘poor in spirit’ and so would have been encouraged by such words. Perhaps, also, they would have heard from Peter the events surrounding the great storm on the sea of Galilee. The Lord was asleep in the boat and the storm that arose was fearful and not a natural one. They may have heard Peter tell about his fears in such a perilous situation, and yet Jesus was asleep! And then Peter would have related that this ‘Man’ Jesus spoke to the ‘weather’ and the ‘weather’ obeyed His command. Such, surely, would have elicited much joy among these women? And yet this incredible Man, their Saviour, died!

            The disciples all accepted that Jesus was the fulfilment of the prophecy of Moses concerning the coming prophet, but they had ignored or neglected the prophecies of the Messiah’s death (Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53). They wanted a victorious warrior king, and what kind of king wins by dying? And yet these women now had “great joy” because they had heard that Jesus was now alive.

            Joy is one of the fruits of the Spirit and so is something all Christians must experience. We ought to be possessors of this “great joy,” but we must also recognise that we cannot manufacture this out of thin air. We are utterly dependent upon God who is our joy and our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). If we are lacking in joy the only answer is to seek the Lord in His word. The truths of God invading the heart lead to great joy! He is alive! He who did miracles, taught wonders, and who died, is alive forever more and reigns in heaven! He has reserved a place for us if we believe and He is coming again! Let your joy be full in the Lord.

April 20th 2025: Easter Sunday – Gaius Douglas

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1 Corinthians 15: 1-4.

The gospel in a nutshell: “Christ died for our sins” must be the declaration of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Anyone who does not believe this and the facts recorded in our text cannot be called a ‘Christian.’

[1] He died.
At the cross there were four people standing there. These were: Jesus’ mother Mary, Mary’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene (John 19:25). As they stood there and watched what was going on, Mary the mother of Jesus might have cast her mind back to what Simeon said in the temple when Jesus was presented at eight days old for circumcision: “a sword will pierce through your own soul” (Luke 2:35). Imagine her feelings at this time. Later on the risen Christ would join two disciples on the road home to Emmaus as recorded in Luke 24. One of these was named “Cleopas” and this was probably the husband of the Mary who is referred to as “the wife of Clopas” in John 19:25.

So we have these two disciples trudging the seven miles home from Jerusalem. They were discussing all that had happened and were trying to ‘work it all out,’ with their reason. At this point the risen Christ (unbeknown to them) came alongside them. In the course of their conversation with the Lord He “expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27). Then after He went to their house for a meal and He revealed Himself in the breaking of bread, we read that “their eyes were opened and they knew Him” (Luke 24:30,31). Jesus then vanished from sight but even though they had travelled the seven miles home, nevertheless we read that “they rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem” (Luke 24:33).

It seems clear that being with the risen Christ empowered them to rise up and head straight back to Jerusalem! They had an energy from having their eyes opened and have recognised that Jesus was risen. Christ died for sins. They felt forlorn at His death but now they are excited with strength renewed like the eagles. Paul was led by the Spirit of God to write these words in 1Corinthians 15:1-4. Christ is central to Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. He is the author and finisher of our faith, the altogether lovely one, the alpha and omega, the resurrection and the life. Is He your Saviour? Is He your beloved One?

Christ died for our sins. He willingly sacrificed Himself. He laid down His life for us. No one took the Lord’s life from Him, for He laid it down of His own will (John 10:18). The Lord Jesus came to do the Father’s will. He came not to do His own will but the will of the Father. He willingly went to Calvary and He willingly paid for sins. John 3:16 teaches us that the Father sent the Son so that whosoever believes will never perish.

Christ was buried. He had literally died and He was placed in a tomb as a corpse. All our sins were taken by Him and paid for, and so our sins have been buried too. But death had no power of the Lord Jesus! So on the third day He rose again having fully satisfied all that the Father gave Him to do. In Romans 6:23 we learn that the wages of sin is death and that the free gift of God is eternal life. The Lord Jesus bore our guilt and the penalty of our sins. He paid the debt He did not owe, and He bore my sins on the tree. Now, since He paid in full, sin and death no longer has any grip over Him. So He lives! I am alive eternally because of Him (if I believe truly). The Lord Jesus shared our likeness for the purpose of destroying him who had the power of death (the devil) (Hebrews 2:14). The devil is the enemy of souls. He hates us. He was determined to bring us down to hell. But the Lord Jesus paid the penalty for sins and in the process destroyed the one who had power over death. Death is therefore no more to be feared. The Lord defeated sin, He conquered the devil, and He has overcome the world.

Paul writes a bit later in 1 Corinthians 15 that if Christ is not risen, then faith is of no account and we are still in our sins. But the facts of the matter are clear. Christ did die for sins. He was buried. He did rise. So our faith is true. We believe in Christ for salvation. We believe His death was sufficient to pay for sins. We believe that He was raised from the dead for our justification. These are sure and certain truths. Christ ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and one day He will return to receive His people into glory.

[2] The vital importance of Scripture.
The Spirit of God stresses here the importance of Scripture. We are told that Christ died for our sins “according to the Scriptures” (1Crinthians 15:3). And we are also told that His burial and resurrection on the third day was “according to the Scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:4). The Scriptures are vital. What Scriptures is Paul speaking of here? It was the Old Testament for much of the New Testament was still to be written. Psalm 22 which records much prophecy of Christ’s work on Calvary was written about a thousand years before His death. In Psalm 16:10 we read a prophecy of Christ’s resurrection. Seven hundred years before the first advent of Christ Isaiah records another detailed prophecy of the Lord’s work on Calvary in Isaiah 53.

We cannot do anything except through Scripture. We must do all “according to the Scriptures.” The word of God is truth. The Scriptures tell us all about Christ. The Scriptures are the very word of God to us. Peter’s first sermon makes use of important Scriptures. Paul quotes the Scriptures in his letters. When Jesus met the two disciples on the road to Emmaus He pointed to the Scriptures. It is not ideology, nor opinion, nor what man has made up. The Scriptures are that which we have “received.” They are not man-made but detail the very words of God.

[3] The importance of the resurrection.
Why is the resurrection so central? Well we have noted already that if Christ is not risen then faith is of no value and we are still in our sins. Without the resurrection we have no good news, no gospel. Christ Jesus is alive! But all other gods, and all other ‘pretenders to truth’ are dead. But what of all those who have died? If Christ is not risen then these have died in vain. If we have a hope only in this life we are of all people to be pitied.

The night before He died, the Lord Jesus told His disciples not to be afraid. He said they were not to be troubled for the Father’s house has many mansions or rooms (John 14:3). He then said that he was going to prepare a place for His disciples and that he would return or come again so that His disciples could be with Him. Because He paid for sins in full, and because He is faithful, the resurrection guarantees the fulfilment of His promises. What about all those who have ‘fallen asleep’? I once knew a pastor who purchased an area in a cemetery for all his congregation so that when the Lord returned they could rise all together!

In 1 Corinthians 15:42 we read that the “body is sown in corruption” and that “it is raised in incorruption.” The Lord said the night before He died: “because I live, you will live also” (John 14:19). In 1Thessalonians 4:13-18 we learn that the dead in Christ will rise first when the Lord returns and that living believers will be caught up in the air to be with the Lord forever. The resurrection proves who Christ is and that he has power to save. The resurrection is a guarantee that the bodies of believers will be raised anew. We will have new resurrected bodies when Christ returns. Christ described Himself as “the resurrection and the life” to Martha Lazarus’ sister (John 11:25). Was He late in coming to Lazarus? Never! He is the resurrection and He is the life.

April 18th 2025 – Good Friday: John Scanlon

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Mark 15:20-37.

There are seven distinct sayings of the Lord Jesus upon the cross of Calvary.

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34)
“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43).
“Woman, behold your son!” … “Behold your mother!” (John 19:26,27).
“
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”  (Matthew 27:46).
“I thirst!” (John 19:28).
“It is finished!” (John 19:30).
“Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” (Luke 23:46).

These sayings are the heart-wrenching words of our Saviour as He was dying upon the cross and bearing our sins. The four gospels record extensive details and proofs of what the Lord went through both in His ministry and in His death and resurrection. The resurrection was proof of the success of what Christ achieved on Calvary. These various sayings also give us more detail about the type of character we have in Jesus Christ. He demonstrated incredible compassion when He asked the Father to forgive His persecutors. He showed immense patience and love for the thief who repented at the last moment of his life. He was keen to show love for His mother and made provision for her by giving her to John’s care. His cry of dereliction leads to our understanding of what was truly going on in His death. When He cried “it is finished” we learn that He had done all that the Father sent Him to do. And then just before He breathed His last breath we learn that He was always in command, even over His very death.

            From around 9 AM in the morning until 12 PM the first three sayings of our Lord were uttered. Then from 12 PM to 3 PM in the afternoon there was great darkness, and at the end of this time we hear the Lord cry out: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” The darkness was no eclipse nor any natural event. It was supernatural. The time of Passover was at the time of a full moon so there was no way that the darkness was caused by an eclipse. One minute the crowds and the authorities were mocking the dying Saviour, and the next it was deep darkness. There was also surely a quietness as a result of this darkness, so that the only sound to be heard was the cry of those on the cross. We are reminded of the ninth plague in Egypt when all of Egypt was in such a darkness that people could not see their hands in front of their face, a darkness that was restricted to Egypt and was not experienced by the Israelites. This was a supernatural darkness too, and it signalled judgment. Here too as Jesus Christ was dying, the darkness surely signals judgement. At the time, nobody knew how long this darkness would last. The darkness experienced then was also greatly symbolic, given to impress upon us this truth that Christ Jesus was under the judgment of God.

            God is light and in Him there is no darkness (1John 1:5). God is utterly pure! Sin is often referred to in Scripture as ‘darkness.’ People (fallen sinful people) prefer darkness to light because they prefer sin. We know that generally speaking thieves operate at night under the cover of darkness. The revelry of people is a night-time affair. Vice and wickedness are done during the dark hours when light is rare. So darkness signifies the time and occasions of sin. Now on the cross Jesus no longer enjoyed the light of God the Father. In Scripture hell is pictured as a place of eternal fire, but it is also described as a place of “outer darkness,” or extreme darkness (Matthew 8:12; 22:13; 25:30). Now it is in this deep darkness that we hear the Saviour cry out: “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” This was a terrible darkness. In Gethsemane the Lord Jesus was troubled greatly and sweat drops of blood. But here on the cross He cries out in deepest agony as the divine judgement fell fully upon Him.

            Some people ask this question: was Jesus Christ really forsaken by God? How could a Father forsake His Son? Now Psalm 22 clearly prophesies the very details of Christ’s crucifixion. There is no doubt at all that Jesus uses the words of Psalm 22:1 as He cried out in agony. Some thought that He was calling for the help of Elijah but these words of Psalm 22:1 show clearly that Jesus Christ was truly forsaken by God. Still some question this. How can such a thing be? We know that Jesus was forsaken by men. He was forsaken by the Jews who called for His death. He was forsaken by Judas Iscariot the traitor. He was even forsaken by His own disciples when they ran away at His arrest. He even predicted this during the teaching He gave before He died (John 16:32). All through these experiences of being forsaken the Lord Jesus knew the presence of His Father. Twice we hear the Lord Jesus say “I am not alone” and that He was “with” the Father (John 8:16; 16:32). But forsaken of God on Calvary? Surely not! Some say. Well, He was forsaken of God. That is what these words “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” really mean! But if you are unsure then consider this. In the first saying the Lord prays “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” and in the last He prays “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” In the second, third, fifth and sixth sayings He addresses others or makes statements. But in the central saying (the fourth) He does not speak of His Father but cries out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Does this fact not demonstrate that He was forsaken by the Father? Christ Jesus was always with His Father and His Father was always with Him, but during these hours of darkness on the cross He was forsaken by the Father. In the holy Trinity Father, Son and Holy Spirit are bound in a perfect harmony, but amazingly on the cross we have the great mystery that God is forsaken of God!

            Why was our Lord forsaken by His Father? The only answer can be found (for example) in Psalm 22:3. The Lord is holy and cannot look upon sin. Habakkuk 1:13 tells us this: “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness.” But Christ who was spotless and pure and “knew no sin” was made “sin for us” (2Corinthians 5:21). He “bore our sins in His own body” (1Peter 2:24), and He “became a curse for us” by being nailed to the tree (Galatians 3:13). All our sin was laid on the spotless Saviour and He bore it all away. That is why he cried out “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

            Christ Jesus did not die as a martyr for a cause. Neither did He die as an example for others to follow. He died as our substitute. He died in our place. And all of this was prophesied 700 years before this time:

4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:4,5).

At that moment when there was no light and all was dark because God could not look upon the sin, Christ was bearing our sin and enduring the wrath of God. But then there came a point at which our Saviour could cry out: “it is finished!” This signifies the point at which our Lord had paid the price for sin in full. He bore the wrath of God fully and no more need be done. Christ Jesus did what no one else could do or could have done.

There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin,
He only could unlock the gate
Of heav’n and let us in.

Never speak of what you have done. Only speak of what the Saviour has done for you!

April 14th 2025: Andrew Bowden

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Luke 19: 29-44

“And when he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.” Luke 19:28.

There is an account of Palm Sunday in each of the gospels. The setting is the approach of the greatest festival in Jerusalem, Passover. It remembers the time when God delivered His people from slavery in Egypt, when a lamb was slain, when firstborn were sheltered and the blood and were spared. It prefigures the great Paschal Lamb, Jesus. Before the foundation of the world God had a plan. We see here the working out in the fallen world, ravaged with sin, where God is about to establish His greatest masterpiece from eternity past – a mighty awesome event.

Our Lord is coming to His hour, His time. Our Lord here is coming to Jerusalem. It is a moving scene. The crowds, having witnessed Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, are euphoric. They extol Jesus as the king. It is out of keeping with the Lord’s ministry. Our Lord always suppressed any hint of euphoria. Alongside Psalm 24 there is an intimation of a coming glory, like on the mount of transfiguration. It is an awesome event.

  1. The fulfilment of scripture.

Earlier, in chapter 18 verse 31, going up to Jerusalem is all the outworking of what was recorded in holy scripture centuries before. There are predictions concerning His birth, His manner of life, the nature of His ministry, His suffering, death, Resurrection, and His ascension into glory. It is a book of marvels, come down from heaven. Think of the various typography, of Joseph and others, looking forward to Christ to come. It sets forth the wonder of the coming Jesus. God’s covenant love and mercy.

Jesus, when He refers to prophecies, say they testify to Him. For Jesus is the central figure of holy scripture, of the Trinity, the cross, the gospel message. They are all wrapped up in Jesus. 

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you;
    righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey,
    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
            (Zechariah 9:9).

See all the incredible details, detail fulfilled in this event. God verifies His word.

Scripture has always been under attack. In Genesis we have the word of God under attack by Satan. When we come to holy scripture, we ought to revere it. All the truths and glories of the visible Christ need to be fleshed out, in and through us, as it was with Jesus. We cannot appreciate Him, we cannot love Him unless we are steeped in God’s word. We need to be enraptured in Christ. We need to see afresh Jesus. We need to absorb God’s word. The Bereans searched the scriptures daily, to see for themselves the wonder of these things.

  • The excitement of the crowd.

Our Lord arrived at Bethany and the crowds converged and extol our Lord, His kingship. There is great excitement yet they cannot realise fully that He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Christ has come as King. That is what is celebrated in Revelation, above all else. He came to vanquish Satan, to abolish death and bring life. He has come to establish the basis of a royal pardon. It is a finished work, a glorious work. The cross is God’s masterpiece. Christ cried on the cross, “It is finished!” Our pardon, our forgiveness. We can never bring anything of ourselves. Jesus came to vanquish the devil, but more than that, to set up a realm of grace. The Kingdom is within you; it is eternal and spiritual. It banishes all guilt, all shame. It is all of God’s grace.

We see here His majesty. He knows where the colt is tethered and what the objections will be. He knows all. He Has rebuked the forces of darkness. Here, He is calm and composed. We see some of His humanity, riding on a donkey, in peace. How many, many, many lives of subjects have been laid down for a monarch? But here, the King lays down His life for His subjects.

There is euphoria, a celebration as Jesus enters Jerusalem. There was euphoria with the angels at His birth. The first carol service was celebrated by angels. In Psalm 24 we see our Lord ascended and sits at the Father’s right hand. As He is received into our hearts we are welcomed as children of God. There is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.

  • The Pharisees and their resentment.

The Pharisees could not stand so much being made of Christ. They had a cold, formal religion. There will always be opposition to the gospel. We see moves to make the gospel more palatable. But the gospel begins with the reality of who we are – sinners. It is uncomfortable. That is the bad news. But the good news is that forgiveness and pardon can be found through Jesus Christ. He is precious, Lord of all. Everything should be laid at His feet, joyfully – our talent, our time and gifts.

March 30th 2025: Dave Norbury

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Philippians 1:1-11

            Philippi was a strategic place in the advance of the gospel. It was the first church formed in Europe. It is impossible to say what might have happened, but imagine if Paul did not manage to establish a church in Europe? Would Europe have been captured for Christ? Obviously, the Lord knew what He was doing. Paul wanted to go to Asia but the Spirit moved then towards Europe (Acts 16:6-10).

            So it was some twenty years after Christ was crucified, risen, and then ascended into heaven when a small band of travellers crossed over to Europe and trekked for about ten miles towards Philippi. What would other travellers have made of this small band who were bringing the gospel to a lost continent? Many would not give them a second look. They would only be in Philippi for a few months.

            Many years after this visit to Philippi, Paul wrote his letter to the Philippians whilst he was in prion (probably in Rome). In this letter he shows how much he loved them. He had only been with them for a short time and yet he could write: “I have you in my heart” (Philippians 1:7), and “I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:8). I was in constant prayer for them all (Philippians 1:2,4,9). Paul was thinking not of his struggles in prison – the difficult conditions, the poor food, his jailers and so on, but was moved with compassion for those in Philippi. How is it that Paul could have no thought of his troubles and only expressed his concern and care for the Philippians? It was because he knew that these folk had been born again of the Spirit. He was confident of their faith in Christ. Paul was concerned to give the Philippian Christians a message of confidence in Christ. So our text for this morning is found in verse 6 which states: “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” We shall consider this using some questions. Philippi was a strategic location for further advance into Europe, and Roch is also strategic for the advance of the gospel in Pembrokeshire and further north. This is a work of God. So the Lord will build His church (Matthew 16:18), for that which He has started, He will definitely complete.

[1] Who began this work?

            It is God, and God alone who began the work. We are all like lost and helpless sheep. Only the good Shepherd will gather His lost sheep and take care of them. A true believer is one who has been “delivered” from “the power of darkness,” and has been “conveyed into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13). None could do this for themselves. God did it. If we truly believe, we have been transferred from one realm to another and there is no going back. The price of transfer (Christ’s death) has been paid in full. In Ephesians we read about our being “dead in trespasses and sins” and about the rich mercy of God who “made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:1,5). We were lost sheep, we were under the power of darkness, and we were dead in sins, and yet God gathered us, transferred us into His kingdom, and made us newborn creatures!    In Acts 16 we read of two significant conversions in Philippi. First there was a woman called “Lydia” whose mind the Lord opened when she heard Paul speaking (Acts 16:14,15). Then there was the Philippian Jailer who, after the dramatic events of the night when Paul and Silas were imprisoned, called out: “sirs, what must I do to be saved?” to which the reply was: “believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30,31). A person must believe on the Lord Jesus, this is essential, but if a person wants true life then also a person must have their minds opened by the Lord.

[2] How will God continue this work?

            We may feel very vulnerable. How can I carry on? We may feel terribly weak. What will happen and how will I keep walking in faith? But take confidence! If God began the work in you He will most certainly carry it on. But how? Well here are four things to consider;

[a] Because we know He said it!

            A bit later on in Philippians we read an exhortation to “work out” our salvation “with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12), but then Paul adds these wonderful words: “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). It is God who is doing this work and He will carry on doing it! God works in those who are humble and contrite. A presumptuous and proud person who claims to have done everything through their own power ought not to expect the Lord’s approval. He gives grace to the humble and resists the proud (James 4:6; 1Peter 5:5). The Lord works though and in our weaknesses. To Paul the Lord spoke these words: “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2Corinthians 12:9), and so when we are weak, we are strong with the strength God supplies.

[b] Through His word.

            The word of God is effective. Newborn babes are exhorted by Peter to “desire the pure milk of the word” in order that they “may grow thereby” (1Peter 2:2). The night before He died the Lord Jesus prayed to the Father and during His prayer He showed how important the word of God is. He said: “sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth” (John 17:17). We are made new by the word (James 1:18; 1Peter 1:23), and our growth and being made holy (sanctification) is effected by means of the word too. How important it is to study and read the Lord’s word!

[c] Through the church.

            The fellowship of godly believers is vital. Each believer has a different gift, and each of these are necessary for the growth of the whole body. C. S. Lewis once said that when you lose someone, something of you dies too, because that friend you have lost brought something out of you that no other could. We need one another for encouragement. But we also need one another to know off the sharp edges too!

[d] Through suffering.

            The life of Joseph is a prime example of how suffering brings about growth and life. But this is simply a preview of the suffering that Christ underwent to bring us life.

We must lean wholly upon God. He is our strength. We must rely completely upon His word, for His counsel is true. We must be a part of the fellowship for the Lord is growing His kingdom. We must bear under the trials and tribulations of life, for these are sent to refine us, and God is sovereign over all.

[3] Will this work ever fail?

            Since it is God’s work the only answer to this question is: NO! Humans may fail and give up. The Lord has promised that He will “not break” the “bruised reed,” and “He will not quench” the “smoking flax” (Isaiah 42:3). The Lord makes it abundantly clear that he will never leave nor forsake His people. We may give up on ourselves but God will never give up.

[4] How will God finish this work?

            Ultimately we do not know in detail. But one thing is clear, He will make us fit for heaven and “we shall be like Him” on that last day (1John 3:2). Could we ever say to the Lord: “I did … and I did …” when He returns? By no means! What we will say (if we are truly His) is something like this: “I am your workmanship which You have created to walk in those things which You prepared beforehand for me to walk in” (Ephesians 2:10).

Let mend with words from 1Thessalonians 5:23,24:

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Amen!

March 23rd 2025: Graham John

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Acts 9:10-29.

            The ministry of encouragement is one of the most important ministries in the Christian Church. Everyone finds themselves at one time or another in need of encouragement. It is not just pastors, preachers, or Church officers who can exercise this work, for all Christians ought to be encouragers. Some may have a natural ability of enthusing others. For many this is not part of their natural makeup, but every Christian can develop this gift of encouragement. Perhaps you can look back over your Christian experience and point to others who have encouraged you along the way?

            God is described as “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” by Paul (2Corinthians 1:3). The Holy Spirit is the One who ministers encouragement for He is described as the “Comforter” (John 14:216,26; 15:26; 16:7 – KJV), and He exercises this ministry of comfort or encouragement to believers (Acts 9:31). The gospel or good news is, of course, a comfort to needy sinners, If we want to be like the Lord then we ought to be encouragers. If we want to be godly people and Christlike, then it is imperative that we engage in a life of encouraging others, especially when there are great difficulties to be faced.

            We shall look at this ministry of encouragement under three headings.

[1] God’s high value on those whom He has redeemed.

            The Lord highly values His own people and their welfare. This is evident throughout Scripture, but perhaps supremely in the coming of Christ Jesus to save sinners. If God so values those whom He has saved, we too ought to set the same high value on believers.

            By nature the sinful man is proud, boastful, arrogant, idolatrous, selfish, greedy and so on, but with all of these characteristics we discover that God still sent His Son to die for us (Romans 5:8). In Romans 14 the apostle Paul speaks of how we ought to treat those who are “weak in the faith” (Romans 14:1). Towards the end of the chapter Paul wrote:

Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. (Romans 14:15).

If Christ gave up His life for the Church, even when each individual was still a sinner, we ought to hold our brethren “for whom Christ died” in high esteem. The basis for our ministry of encouragement, then, is the high value God placed on believers in sending His Son to die in their place.

            Let us seek to reproduce the love of God towards the brethren, not as a duty but on account of the love we have for God who first loved us. Are we willing to overlook past offences and forgive one another as Christ forgave us? Christ never asked: ‘are these for whom I am dying worthy of me’? Is Christ’s love for me transforming me to be a useful, loving, and kind believer? God has highly valued His people.

[2] The importance of Scripture in the ministry of encouragement.

            Paul wrote these words to the Romans:

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. (Romans 15:4).

Of course Paul was referring to the Old Testament here but we are justified in applying them to the New Testament too. The Scriptures are given to us as a gift, but it does require us to put some effort into grasping them. Amongst many other themes and subjects, the Scriptures give as lessons about:

  • Christ, His person and work.
  • The unspeakable love of God.
  • The Kingdom of God and how we enter this and live within it.
  • The life of a disciple of Christ Jesus.

These eternal truths are the same for all ages and all cultures the world over. There are two points we need to make here concerning the importance of the Bible.

[a] The entire Bible is important.

            The text we quoted from Romans 15 tells us that “whatever things were written,” and this leads us to the idea that all of Scripture is important for us. There are ‘less well know’ parts of Scripture that are often neglected. But all of the Bible is the inspired word, and every word that comes from God’s mouth is needed. In some of these ‘less well know’ parts are to be found great gems and pearls. A study of the temple and the tabernacle in its imagery is well worth making even if it takes time, for these speak supremely of Christ and His work. The history of Israel and her failures are worth the effort of study too, for in these we see our failure and rejoice in the One true Israelite who succeeded in keeping the Old Covenant on our behalf, (i.e. Christ Jesus). Some parts of the Bible are less clear than others. Undoubtedly some parts may be ‘weightier’ than others. The Lord Jesus reprimanded the Pharisees because in the zeal for detail, they had “neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23). Whilst some parts need more time to study and digest, we dare not neglect these!

            I remember a communist man who was converted in his 90s. He was in a care home and often had visitors, but he was in the habit of asking them to leave him because they were taking up his valuable time in reading and studying Scripture! He was desperate to ensure he missed nothing and wanted to go through the whole Bible before he ran out of time! I also remember a Buddhist who was converted and began to read the Bible from Genesis, but we convinced Him to start at John’s gospel so he could discover the love of God in Christ first. These examples teach us that we need to be wise in our approach to Scripture, but we do need to consider it in its entirety. We need to change our attitude from ‘duty,’ to ‘delight’ for the Scriptures are God’s very word to us. Do we love Him? Then why would we not want to read all that He has said and written down?

[b] There is a practical purpose.

            We ought to have some pattern and policy to our reading and study. Make a plan to read and study all of Scripture. We need to be able to receive encouragement from others and we need to grow in dispensing encouragement too. The Scriptures will show us how. For example there are many places where we are taught to look beyond the current difficulties we face towards the glory to be revealed. We are exhorted by Paul to “comfort one another” with the words concerning Christ’s return (1Thessalonians 4:18).

[3] Barnabas – the ‘son of encouragement.’

            In Acts chapter 4 we come across a man named “Joseph” (he is called “Joses” in the NKJV but is the same name), who was a native of Cyprus and a Levite. This man sold some land he owned and gave the proceeds to the apostles so that those in need could be looked after (Acts 4:36,37). He was “named Barnabas by the apostles (which is translated Son of Encouragement)” (Acts 4:36). It is perhaps speculation, but it would seem that Barnabas’ action was not something done out of duty or simply through necessity, but was rather done from a heart full of love towards God. Barnabas gave freely not because he had to, but because of his love for the Lord. And this action motivated the apostles to give the name “Son of Encouragement.” Everything Barnabas owned was the Lord’s. Perhaps his Levitical upbringing helped here?

            Now the ministry of encouragement is much more than the passing on of words. It includes sharing our wealth, our time, our homes, and even our very lives. We next find reference to Barnabas in Acts 9 which we read earlier. He was the one who introduced Paul to the apostles in Jerusalem. Everyone else was suspicious of him because of his former reputation as a persecutor. The disciples at Jerusalem were afraid to welcome him because they thought he was going to revert to his persecuting ways. Many were not convinced of his genuineness. But Barnabas took him to the apostles and explained to them all about his conversion and the fact that he was now preaching Christ as the Son of God (Acts 9:27). Barnabas was bold enough to risk his own life and reputation by taking Paul, about whom many thought of still as a persecutor, and he recommended him to the apostles.

            Was anyone praying for Paul during those years of persecution I wonder? Were they guilty of thinking that Paul was such a person beyond redemption? He was a fierce enemy of the gospel and hounded Christians mercilessly. But were any moved to pray for him to be converted? Now Barnabas had such a high view of Christ’s saving power that Paul’s conversion was something that he accepted readily. Others may have had their suspicions but Barnabas knew that Christ could save even Paul. Barnabas also had such a high view of the Church and Christian Fellowship that he couldn’t allow the newly converted Paul to be ignored or feared and so he brought Paul to the apostles so that he could be accepted into the fellowship of believers. I wonder how much weaker would the Church have been if Barnabas did not do this? Barnabas could not know that Paul would be so important to the Church, nor that Paul would be responsible for a large part of the New Testament. We do not know where our ministry of encouragement to another believer will ultimately lead. Are we encouraging others as we seek to bring men, women, boys, and girls to Christ and His word?

March 16th 2025: Gareth Edwards

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Romans 5:12-21 – Death in Adam, Life in Christ

In just 10 verses a lot of theological truth is condensed. Consequently, there is no time to fully explore the depth of all Paul says here. We’re not going to fully exhaust these verses. I trust, by God’s grace, we will be deeply encouraged and challenged. Central to an understanding of this passage is that God has appointed two individuals to represent men. These are our federal heads: Adam and Jesus Christ. All that we ever will be revolves around our relationship with these two men. There is a repeated contrast. Paul mentions the one man, then the many, or all. The action of the one has a profound effect for the all, the many.

By nature, we are in Adam but our future destiny depends if we are also in Christ. Adam was a type of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:45). Paul emphasises the human nature of Jesus. Paul focuses on Jesus being our representative. Just as Adam had been appointed as a federal head, so Jesus is a federal head. Adam and Jesus are similar in that they could be appointed by God to be our representative. However, there is a difference. Adam’s failure brought disaster. Christ brought hope.

Sin and death in Adam.
When Adam fell into sin (v12), we all sinned in him. Sin began with Satan (Revelation 12:7-8), with Adam succumbing to Satan’s temptation. Adam had been created by God perfect, with an ability to resist Satan’s temptation. But he did not. He becomes a slave to sin. What is more, because Adam is our representative, when he fell, we fell with him. So, like him, we are sinful creatures under the dominion of sin. As we all sinned in Adam, we are all condemned in Adam (v16, 18). We are justly condemned before the righteousness of God (Ephesians 4:2). This means we are under sentence of death. God warned Adam if he disobeyed Him, he would surely die (Genesis 2:17).

After Adams fall, after his disobedience, God in His mercy did not enforce the sentence of death on Adam immediately in a physical way. But he was cut off from the fellowship with God. This seed of death would consume him to death. The same sin condemns us (1 Corinthians 15:20). Even at this moment, you and I are the walking dead. We are spiritually dead, cut off from God, from the moment we drew our first breath (Romans 6:23). Sin and death in Adam.

‘How can I be held responsible for what Adam did?’ This is what many people say in the West. Yet, other people understand this (reference to village chiefs – where the chief or elder represent their tribe). When God appointed Adam as our federal head He chose the best candidate. Adam was given the ability to resist temptation. None of us would have done any better.

If we object to Adam being our federal head, our representative, we must also object to Jesus Christ be in our federal head, our representative – therefore, removing all possibility of salvation. In that case, we reject men being sons of God. Adam, even before the fall, was but a creature who had a relationship with God. But Adam was not a child of God – for it was only when the Son of God came into this world and became the Son of Man, one with us and through grace being one with Him, then becoming a child of God.

With Adam we are in a desperate situation, justly condemned. Nothing we can do can change this. We are hopelessly lost. That is why we need to look to God for salvation. He alone can save us. Therefore, Paul speaks of grace and life in grace. In His loving kindness, in His mercy, God appoints a second federal head – Jesus Christ Himself. He becomes our Saviour. In His grace (v15) God offers us the free gift of salvation.

This grace is abundant (v15, 17, 20). This grace is not universal; not all men are saved. But neither is this grace rationed, it is for many. Paul emphasises this by drawing a contrast between the judgement that came because of one man’s disobedience, with salvation that comes to a great many people (v16).

How is this salvation secured? By Christ’s obedience (v18-19). Our second head gloriously succeeded. He perfectly obeyed. In His humility, Christ laid aside glory and honour and humbled Himself to come into this sin-sick world, in obedience to the will of God the father. He lived a sinless life. He lived the life of a perfect man which Adam and all of us failed to do. Even more, He offered Himself up to death in our place on the cross. He bought the wages of our sin on the cross. He offered Himself as a sacrifice, as our substitute, dying under the penalty of the law.

Through this obedience Jesus brings us:

i. Justification (v16). We are declared not guilty of our sin because our sin was imputed, credited to Christ. God pronounced the judgement of death on Jesus in our place. As He pays in full our debt before the law, we are justified. It is just as if I have never sinned.

ii. Righteousness (v17, 21). In salvation through His obedience, the Lord Jesus Christ provides for us justification and also righteousness. Our sinfulness is credited to Him. At the same time, His sinlessness is credited to us, as if we lived the perfect life of obedience. Therefore, we are accepted by God. Consequently, those who repent of their sin, having Him as their Saviour, knowing that He is the federal head, are saved. They have received new life, eternal life (v17, 21).

This means restored spiritual life in the soul. A new life floods our souls as fellowship with God is restored. Because there is new life in the soul, there will be restoration of physical life (1 Corinthians 15:22). Here then is hope for the hopeless, in Jesus Christ with all its glorious blessings.

Are you alive in Christ, or still dead in Adam? It is one or the other, there is no in-between. If you are in Adam, the second death is eternal punishment for your sin in hell (Revelation). If you come to Christ in repentance and trust in Christ as your saviour, you will experience spiritual restoration and resurrection joy. Which one will it be for you – alive in Christ or dead in Adam?

Come to Jesus now. It is a free gift, you do not earn it. We are not worthy to receive it, but it is freely given in God’s abundant grace to all who turn from sin and trust in Jesus for forgiveness. Come. Don’t hesitate.

If you are in Christ, remember your salvation is not of your own making. It is by God’s grace, so endlessly praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. You can rejoice with thankfulness if you are a child of God in Christ. This is the greatest privilege. It is the source of all blessing. You have great cause to rejoice, to be glad and glorify your Saviour’s name.

March 9th 2025: Jonathan Scott

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March 9th 2025: Jonathan Scott
Jesus Calms a Storm: Mark 4: 35-41

Last time I was here we looked at Mark Chapter 1 where we found out what it means to be a true follower of Jesus. We found out 3 things we should do as a follower of Jesus:

  1. We are called to be with Jesus. We should follow Him, listen to His teachings, and watch His miracles to learn from them and also and pray with Him.
  2. We are called to imitate Jesus. When we see Jesus’ walking in step with His Father, it means we are meant to be a people in constant relationship with our Father in heaven. When we witness His compassion and mercy, it means our inner attitudes are to give way to His. We are to weep for the world as He wept. We too should pursue a consistency between our beliefs and our lifestyle.
  3. We are called to do what Jesus did. We are called to this life; we are called to reach out to those in need and those who are lost. For a few people, their full-time work will be gospel work, but for most of us, we are to live the disciple life in our families, friendships and communities. We are meant to go out and help hurting children, serve the sick, minister to the forgotten, and proclaim the good news of Jesus to all. We are made to be fishers of men today.

Having looked at what it means to follow Jesus, today we will go on to look at how to trust in Jesus in all circumstances.

News had been spreading. Everyone was talking about Jesus. People said that He could do things they had never seen before. Amazing things! Astonishing things! Jesus was able to make sick  people well and blind people see. Why was Jesus able to do these things?

Jesus is able to do things which are impossible for us, because despite being 100% human, He is also 100% God. Jesus has the power and authority over all things. We see right at the start of creation – He was there with God and the Holy Spirit –  Genesis 1: 1-2  ‘In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.’

As the news travelled about Jesus and His miracles, many people would want to meet Jesus and follow Him wherever He went. After a busy day, Jesus and His disciples got into a boat to cross the sea of Galilee. Many of Jesus’s disciples were fishermen, so traveling in a small boat across the lake was something they were well used to.  Jesus was tired after teaching and meeting lots of people. Don’t we often feel the same way after a long day?  He went to the back of the boat and lay down to sleep. But if Jesus is God, why did He need to rest? In Psalm 121 it tells us that ‘God does not slumber nor sleep’. Even though He was fully God, He was also fully human like us and had feelings too. That’s why we read of Him sleeping and eating. He is not faking it with one eye open. He actually needed to sleep. There are also accounts when Jesus felt happy, sad, tired and experienced pain. He was fully human.

The Sea of Galilee is a real place that many people still visit today. It is 696 feet (212 meters) below sea level. The frequent cold air blowing down from the mountains resulted in sudden storms being whipped up from time to time.  Mark 4:37, “A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat.”

Now these were experienced fishermen and were used to such storms. However, this storm was so large, it should not be underestimated. This was translated as a great whirlwind or a large hurricane. The winds blew, the rain splashed, the thunder roared and the waves crashed against the boat. As fishermen, Jesus’ disciples would have been in storms before, but this one was different – this one was huge; this was a really bad storm. The wind was so strong and whipped the sea up so much it nearly swamped the boat and the disciples were terrified. The storm was so terrible that the disciples thought they were going to die.

Do things which happen to you sometimes make you worried or overwhelmed?  Many times we face problems which are out of our control.

  • Bereavement  – Family or Friend
  • Loss of Job
  • Break up of Relationships
  • Illness

Do you sometimes feel like there is a storm around you?

When problems come our way, who do we turn to? Maybe a close friend or family member? Remember you have a friend who sticks closer to you than a brother. If you belong to Jesus, know that He is in control of all things. This means that you can trust Him to do what is best for you, even when things are difficult. He knows about your problems and how difficult they can be. He wants you to remember that He is always in control and you can trust Him.

The disciples were very afraid! They were in a small boat in the middle of a big storm and they thought they were going to die. But what was Jesus doing? He was fast asleep. He wasn’t afraid at all. He was in control of all things and wanted His disciples to trust Him. And trust is such an important word. Trust means to be 100% sure that whatever Jesus says He will and can do it. Because He is the One in control of all things and holding all things together.

When you came into church today, did you pick where you were going to sit and then assess the safety of the pew? (Just like me asking a Health and safety Question!) Did you check that it was safe to sit on? I doubt it. You probably came in, chatted to a few folk on the way to your chosen seat and sat down, trusting completely that the seat was safe and would not collapse. 

You can trust Jesus completely. He is bigger and stronger than we are and even when things don’t seem to go the way we had hoped. He is working all things together for good and to the glory of God. So, whenever things happen and you don’t understand why, you need to trust that He is still 100% completely in control. 

During this account in Mark we read that the disciples finally woke Jesus up in a Panic, “But He was in the stern, asleep on a cushion.” (Mark 4:38) And they awoke Him and said to Him. “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4: 38) Would you have reacted any differently to what the disciples did here?

Jesus stood up, felt the wind blowing and looked at the crashing waves. Then He said, “Peace, Be Still.” (Mark 4: 39) Immediately everything was still and calm. Wow! Isn’t that amazing. Jesus was able to speak directly to the wind and the rain and they listened, responded and obeyed.  If you or I went outside on a stormy night and told the wind and rain to stop, nothing would happen, but when the Creator of all things spoke, there was an immediate response. He has the power over the wind and the rain because He is the Son of God. He is the only one who could calm the storm and rescue the disciples.

In Colossians 1:15 – 17 we read, “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”

Not only did He make all that we see in the world. He also made you and He knows you inside out. If you have put your trust in Jesus, you can trust Him for everything that happened in your life because He is in control of all things. God doesn’t promise that life will be easy. You will face many problems and difficulties just like the disciples. However, it is important to remember who walks alongside you. Jesus cares about every detail of your life. He has promised that He will never leave you. (Hebrews 13:5) “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” He will always be there to help you. Trust Him to take care of you. Talk to Him about your fears, problems and struggles.

I just want to take us back a little step, and look at the phrase that the disciples say to Jesus, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38), this question sounds really negative at first, as if the disciples were telling Jesus off. But in reality, if we look at the original translation it is slightly different to that. It translates as, ‘You do care that we are perishing, don’t you?’ The disciples trust Jesus, but here in this situation the suffering they are encountering introduces doubt into this Trust. They believe Jesus cares, but this storm looks deadly, Jesus appears unfazed by the storm surrounding them. The disciples are confused by this. They do not understand His reaction. To them it appears that Jesus does not care or show concern for their wellbeing, but in fact, it is the complete opposite. He is ready and able to calm the storm immediately in order to protect them, and demonstrate His power.

Suffering can disrupt our trust too. We think God cares, but when suffering comes, it stretches our ability to see His care, even if it is right in front of us. It can seem as if God is sleeping and doing nothing. In the boat, it did not merely seem like Jesus was sleeping, He Was! Sometimes when we don’t notice Jesus, He doesn’t look like He is doing anything. Because actually He is carrying us through the most difficult situations in our lives.

The Poem Footprints depicts the journey of a person with the Lord. It says these words:

One night I dreamed a dream.
As I was walking along the beach with my Lord.
Across the dark sky flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene, I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand,
One belonging to me and one to my Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed before me,
I looked back at the footprints in the sand.
I noticed that at many times along the path of my life,
especially at the very lowest and saddest times,
There was only one set of footprints.

This really troubled me, so I asked the Lord about it.
“Lord, you said once I decided to follow you,
You’d walk with me all the way.
But I noticed that during the saddest and most troublesome times of my life,
There was only one set of footprints.
I don’t understand why, when I needed You the most, You would leave me.”
He whispered, “My precious child, I love you and will never leave you
Never, ever, during your trials and testings.
When you saw only one set of footprints,
It was then that I carried you.”

This is encouraging that no matter what we go through the Lord carries us through all our troubles. Imagine the disciple’s faces when they saw this miracle. The waves that had been crashing against the boast were now perfectly still. ‘A great Calm’

The Fishermen of the time (Disciples) would have known the psalms. In Psalm 89:s9 it says, ‘You rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them.’

Also in Psalm 107: 25 – 30:

25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
    which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
    their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
    and were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
    and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
    and he brought them to their desired haven.

This Psalm describes men who go to sea and they witness a great storm which is God’s doing. The sailors are at their ‘wits end’ they are in the same boat, so to speak, as the disciples and they are terrified. But they know there is only one who can help. The Lord. They cry out in Verse 28 to the Lord ‘in their troubles’. God is the one who can calm storms. In Mark 4:41, the question, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” shows that the disciples had forgotten who was in the boat with them. The One who had created the storm is the exact one who is there with them and can and will calm it again.

Many Jews were taught the scriptures from an early age, and were encouraged to memorize it. A scripture that would have been committed to memory was Deuteronomy 31:6, which says, ‘‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

If the disciples knew this, why are they questioning? I could ask the very same question to ourselves. Are we any different? We know the scriptures and yet do we follow them. They are only human at the end of the day. But must we strive for this? Yes of course we should aim to live our lives in a way which is pleasing to God and following Jesus’ example. We can only do this with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Be encouraged! The Lord, our God, who created the universe is interested in you. Not just that, He loves, cares and wants to guide you through every circumstance. God is so amazing that He inspired David to write many Psalms, which not only foreshadowed New Testament events (including the storm in Mark’s gospel), but are also relevant and encouraging for us today. What an amazing God we have.

God’s Word is full of encouragement and wisdom for us to hold onto. It is a guiding light to our souls and the more we read the Bible, the more it speaks into our lives. When we are afraid or worried we can turn to passages such as Philippians 4:6-7, ‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ He says we don’t have to worry about anything, as He’s got it! He will ’guard your hearts and your minds’ (Philippians 4:7). He will protect and keep us against evil with the peace that only God can give.

He was like us in every way – except one. Jesus is perfect and has never sinned. Hebrews 4:15, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” So when we come against the storms in our lives, we can be assured that Jesus is able to sympathise and have compassion towards us. He can do immeasurably more than we can ever ask. We can do everything through Him.

After He calmed the storm, Jesus questioned the disciples. “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” This is a challenging question for them to hear. They had just witnessed a wonderful life saving miracle, yet were still afraid. Maybe you have seen God work in a miraculous way, but still struggle to come to Him for help. Lean into Him, trust Him more each day and give Jesus full control of every situation. It isn’t easy, but prepare to witness amazing things!

The greatest gift and miracle from God is salvation through His Son. If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Saviour, please be encouraged that His word is true. It is written that ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ Romans 10:13.  Maybe you are going through a tough season, and unsure which way to turn, Jesus said, ’ I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me’ (John 14:6) If you would like to know more after the service please ask me or one of the Deacons here and we would love to help you.

We all experience times of difficulties and suffering, it is what we do at those times that is most important. Jesus tells us to, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11 :28) Will you turn to Jesus and put your full trust in Him that He will get you through? Or will you try and solve the problem yourself, eventually realising its no good, the situation is beyond your control.

As we read the words of the final Hymn this morning:

My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

The Chorus says:

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;

Those who have trusted in Jesus as their Saviour, have the assurance in Christ alone. In Him, we can place our trust and we can never fail if we are on the Rock that is Christ Jesus.

What is our response to this? Hallelujah!

We read Psalm 135:1-7 at the start of this service as a wonderful reminder to lift high the name of the Lord and I would like us all to read it together from the screen if we can.

Your Name, O Lord, Endures Forever

135 Praise the Lord!

Praise the name of the Lord,

    give praise, O servants of the Lord,

2 who stand in the house of the Lord,

    in the courts of the house of our God!

3 Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;

    sing to his name, for it is pleasant!

4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,

    Israel as his own possession.

5 For I know that the Lord is great,

    and that our Lord is above all gods.

6 Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
in heaven and on earth,
in the seas and all deeps.

7 He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
who makes lightnings for the rain
and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

What an amazing God we serve. The everlasting Father, who delights in our praise to Him.

This is a response to what we have looked at this morning in Mark 4. As we can trust wholly in our wonderful Saviour, as it says in the Psalm, Our Lord is Great, our Lord is above all gods. Therefore we should respond in praise, as the Psalm states: Praise the Lord! That should be our Worship to Him. We really have a lot to praise Him for. And as Verse 13 of Psalm 135 says:

13 Your name, O Lord, endures forever,

    your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.

For those who have trusted in Jesus, we need to remind ourselves that He is our brother and friend. Talk to Him and cut out the embarrassment of calling for help. Take all your heartache and troubles to the Lord our God. He will be there to comfort, listen, guide and help you. Nothing is too big or small to bring before Him. Put our trust in Him and He will be with us forevermore. For now and in this generation, He will support and guide you in the days ahead and when we follow His will.

Allow Him to go before you as you face the challenges of the coming week. Do everything in His strength and not your own and He will provide for all your needs in abundance.

Let’s finish by singing the hymn we mentioned earlier. My hope is Built on nothing less.

March 2nd 2025: John Scanlon

Published on by Penuel Baptist RochLeave a comment

Luke 18:1-14

This parable touched me. As Jesus walked through the countryside, He often spoke to people in parables, word pictures.

In verse 9 Jesus warns us. This parable is aimed at people who trust in themselves. The Pharisees were very self-righteous people who distinguishing tassels on their robes, had thousands of rules and were very self-righteous in their ways. Self-righteousness was not just found in the Pharisees but also in many Christians who trust in themselves.

What is self-righteousness? It is something we all know well, a tendency to have too high an opinion of ourselves. The more we think about it, the more we realise that that thought is sin. Sin runs through the whole human race. We all have a desire to flatter ourselves, to look at ourselves in a good light. We see ourselves in a wonderful light, we think God sees us in the same way. Self-righteousness is another word for pride, for selfishness. It is a sin the Lord Jesus Christ warns us about in this parable. We cannot hide this sin from God, although we may hide it from one another. The Lord Jesus Christ came among us and took on the form of a servant. He had no form of flattery. His whole nature was flawless and pure, completely without self-centeredness. He warned us about this sin of self-importance.

In verses 10-12 Jesus condemns the Pharisee’s prayer. Here, two men are praying in a holy place. One is great at praying, very respectable, a model man. He is every man’s idea of what it means to be religious, a man of God. He is standing in a temple where everyone can see him. The prayer is not heard by God. Jews, when they pray, would look at the sky, often raising their hands. They may look to where they think God is. But this Pharisee’s prayer is nothing more than a recitation. You can almost hear the pomp. Five times he refers to ‘I.’ Other people are listening but God is not hearing his prayer. Why not? He has one glaring fault – he has no sense of sin (v11). Never make the mistake of comparing yourself to other people. The Pharisee has no sense of need, no profession of guilt, no sense of shame, no confession of sin. There is no cry for mercy, asking for grace or salvation. He is not standing there knowing that atonement has been made.

If this is the only kind of prayer you can offer, God will have no time for you. Jesus is contradicting every idea of religion. You cannot come to God with a long list of your own merits. This Pharisee is proud of his achievements and has a very low opinion of the tax collector. If you are pleased with yourself you are comparing yourself with others.

Jesus is saying, ‘Can you see what is missing in your life – a sense of God?’ We all fall short of the glory of God in every way. What Jesus does is condemn the Pharisee’s prayer and warns us, but he approves the prayer of the tax collector.

The tax collector would not even raise his eyes to heaven. Here is a man who is not good enough yet he goes home justified, declared righteous, just as if he had never sinned. This man prays, walks out of the temple and Jesus declares him righteous. He commends him to God. The prayer in verse 13 shows how to get right with God.

The prayer of the tax collector is quite short. He asked for himself, praying in a personal way. Then he asks formerly, afar off, when no one can see. He is so ashamed of himself. He asks for mercy. God is perfectly righteousness in punishing the sinner. God stands over him with a sword of righteous anger and this man asks for mercy. He asks for forgiveness because of a sacrifice. That is precisely how sinners come to God. He is beating his breast as he speaks. He is moved in the Spirit and he’s crushed. He sees God, he sees his sin and his only hope is God’s atoning grace and sacrifice. If only the world could learn from this lesson. There is no hope for anyone until they feel the weight of their sins, to know they are lost. Fall on the mercy of God. This is a person who was eternally justified. Salvation is of God alone. It is not of ourselves. Jesus warns us. He condemns the Pharisee’s prayer and approves the tax collector’s prayer. But He doesn’t end there.

In verse 14 we see Jesus underlines a vital living principle. This is the way of God, of the gospel. God deals with us on the principle of verse 14. On thar final day we will see that principle vindicated. Jesus came to earth, took on the form of a lowly servant. He was a sacrifice for the sins of man. If you want the mercy of God for yourself you must humble yourselves, pray and call out for mercy and forgiveness. Jesus has paid the price.

February 23rd 2025: Gaius Douglas

Published on by Penuel Baptist RochLeave a comment

Exodus 27:20-21.

Introduction

            We have been singing about the presence of God being among us. The Lord Jesus promised the disciples that He would be with them always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). The Lord is wherever His people are, and He will never leave nor forsake them. Do we appreciate this fact that the Lord is here now and present among us? Do we give Him the reverence due His name?

            In the Old Testament there are many ‘types’ and ‘shadows’ which show forth truths about the Lord Jesus (Romans 5:14; Colossians 2;17; Hebrews 8:5;10:1). All of these point towards the Lord Jesus Christ. They each tell us something about His person and/or His work. In this message we shall focus upon the lampstand, but all of the elements of the tabernacle point towards Christ Jesus in some way. We should remember that the entire Bible is a testimony to the Lord Jesus. He said as much to the disciples when He rose from the dead (Luke 24:25-27,44-46). In Revelation 19:10 we read these words: “for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” Such a statement shows us that the essence of all prophecy is actually a testimony of (or about) Christ. No prophecy has come by the will of man but through the action of the Holy Spirit (2Peter 1:20,21), and no man can come to the Father except through Christ Jesus who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). Thus to know God we must come and approach through the Lord Jesus Christ.

But in the Old Testament during the time after the Exodus, approach was made through the tabernacle. In the book of Hebrews we read that: “Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation” (Hebrews 9:5). The tabernacle that Moses had built was, in fact, designed by God and He (alone) enabled certain gifted men and women with their God-given abilities and talents to construct the various parts of the tabernacle structure. The Lord gave these select people the wisdom and knowledge in skill to follow the pattern that God revealed to Moses (Hebrews 8:5). The Lord could have given the tabernacle to the congregation ready-made. After all He provided them with the manna in the wilderness. But instead the Lord raised up certain men and women, giving them wisdom by His Spirit, so that they could craft and build the tabernacle. But they had to do it precisely as it was revealed (Exodus 25:40; Hebrews 8:5).

The Lord used people in the construction of the meeting place that He had revealed whereby people could meet with Him. It was His design and His work, but He used people in its formation. In the same way the church, the body of Christ, is His work, but still He uses people in its formation. The church is grounded in Christ who is the foundation stone, and it is overseen and surrounded by God’s care and watchful eye. In 1 Peter 2:9 we read these amazing words:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. (1Peter 2:9).

Even if we think we cannot be of use, that we cannot preach or lead a fellowship, we can be His people and “proclaim the praises of Him who called” us from this world of sin and darkness into His wonderful kingdom of light. No building upon this earth, however incredible its structure and design, can ever surpass nor be as good and as beautiful as the building of the Lord’s church!

            In this message, our focus will be upon the lampstand in the tabernacle. But to show what this was like and where it was sited, consider the illustrations below:

The lampstand is also called the “Menorah.” Details of its construction can be found in Exodus 25:31-40. The lampstand was found in the Holy Place where the priests did their work. The Holy of Holies was separated from the Holy Place by a thick veil and could only be entered once a year on the Day of Atonement by the High Priest alone.

We shall consider this part of the tabernacle furniture using the following details of its structure and function:

[1] Pure gold.
[2] Of one piece.
[3] The only light.

[1] Pure gold.

            The ‘Menorah’ or the golden lampstand had seven branches in all. It was made of pure gold. In Scripture gold is put to illustrate divinity. The ark of the covenant was made of acacia wood overlain in gold and it housed the two tablets upon which were written the ten commandments. The wood aspect points to the human nature of the Lord Jesus and the gold to His divine nature. Gold was used in many other parts of the temple built later by Solomon. You may recall that the wise men who visited Christ in the manger brought gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Gold is a bright precious metal that is generally inert and so used mainly to represent the divine nature. Other precious substances such as pearls or other gems and precious stones are made from a combination of things that have undergone some form of transformation, but gold is elemental. Gold is considered a pure substance of great worth and largely uncorrupted. It is found as the native metal in the earth. So in the Old Testament economy (which is much more visual and earth-based), gold is put to point us towards the divine.

            But gold can in fact react if it is mixed with a mixture of nitric acid and hydrochloric acid. It serves well as a temporal picture to illustrate divinity in the tabernacle and temple because by-and-large it is pure, unreactive, very shiny, and highly prized. But in the New Testament we find that there are some precious things which are greater than gold. For example, true faith in Christ (that is, a faith which is genuine) is “much more precious than gold that perishes,” and it is even so “though it is tested by fire,” that it “may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1Peter 1:7).  Then further, our very redemption was purchased with something of much greater value than mere gold. Peter goes on to state in his first letter that we “were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold” but rather “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1Peter 1:18,19). Gold will perish, for it is simply a part of this creation. Even though it is a precious metal and high in value, Christ’s blood is of infinitely greater worth.

            The gold of the Menorah points us towards this thought that God in His incredible wisdom and grace has provided us with “precious faith,” towards Christ, and “precious blood” of Christ for our redemption which are of infinitely more value and worth than earthly gold.

[2] Of one piece.

            In Exodus 25:31 we are told expressly that the lampstand of gold was made from one piece. It was hammered into shape but from a single lump of the precious metal. We are also told that it was made from “one talent” in weight of pure gold (Exodus 25:39). There is some debate about the exact measure but it is somewhere around 32 to 35 kg. Apparently the average new-born baby weighs around 3.2 kg, so this lampstand is equivalent in mass to ten newborn babies! Quite a substantial size. It was no mere ornamental lamp on a sideboard!

            Why this emphasis on it being made from one piece and not being welded or joined in any way? This surely shows us the unique nature of the Lord Jesus. He is described in such unique ways in the New Testament as the following few examples show:

The Holy One and the Just. (Acts 3:14).
The Head of the church. (Colossians 1:18).
The Apostle and High Priest. (Hebrews 3:1).
The Mediator of the new covenant. (Hebrews 9:15; 12:24).
The Man, Christ Jesus. (1Timothy 2:5).
The Bright and Morning Star. (Revelation 22:16).

But then also He is One with the Father: “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30). When we think of the Lord Jesus Christ we are also to think of the Father too, for as our Lord Himself said: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). And we dare not exclude the Holy Spirit who Himself is God too. These three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are united in the trinity. One God but three distinct Persons. All work in concert and harmony. Where One is there are the others in perfect union.

            Now our union with Christ is also apparent too. You will notice that there are six branches to the lampstand, three on either side. In the middle is the main or central branch. The number six is the number which represents man. Our Lord Jesus was the God-man. Fully human (although sinless) and fully God. Here in this menorah (lampstand) we see mankind reflected in perfection for the number seven stands for perfection, or that which is complete. Paul in Colossians tells us that in Christ “dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9), and because of our faith in Him we are united with Him and so Paul continues “and you are complete in Him” (Colossians 2:10). Wonder of wonders, the believer gets to share and partake of this incredible unity within the Godhead. As our Lord said in His prayer the night before He died:

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. (John 17:20-23).

So we are “complete in Him,” and this is illustrated by the six branches of the lampstand and the central branch indicating perfection. The union of Christ and the believer is a theme which is spread throughout the New Testament. We have the illustration of the “true vine” and the branches in John 15. There is the illustration of believers as the one body of Christ (1Corinthians 12:13). We are “all one in Christ Jesus,” so that national and ethnic distinctions are all now gone (Galatians 3:28). For those truly saved this unity is eternal! And believers will reign forever with Christ (Revelation 5:10). The last part of Stuart Townend and Keith Getty’s song “See What A Morning” celebrating the resurrection has these words:

And we are raised with Him
Death is dead, love has won, Christ has conquered
And we shall reign with Him
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead

Christ is risen from the dead

Or what of the hymn “All That Thrills My Soul Is Jesus”? Does the Lord thrill us so? Do we recognise that we shall indeed reign with Him in glory?

[3] The only light.

            If you look at the tabernacle again you will notice that the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies are enclosed spaces. These are separated from the outer court by means of curtains. The veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place was much thicker than the curtains shielding the entrance into the enclosed space itself. So inside would have been very dark (the materials used to cover the tabernacle were many and quite thick). Thus the only light available within was provided by the lampstand. The priests could enter the Holy Place to carry out various functions, and the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year for atonement. But work in such enclosed spaces would have been very difficult without the light of the lampstand. Now if we have not the Lord Jesus Christ within (who is the “light of the world” John 8:12; 9:5) you cannot do anything that will bring God pleasure. You will be in darkness. Light brings the ability to function. Without this light in the tabernacle the priests would be fumbling about and unable to perform. Light, therefore, is essential. But man in sin is in darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ is our light. The tabernacle shows us how we can approach God to worship. Without the light we would be stumbled.

            Christ ought to be the centre of our very lives. He ought to be the One who guides and illuminates us. After all only in Christ can be found “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). We are therefore encouraged to “set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2), and we are to be “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Hebrews 12:2). We are to look to Christ our light, for He is the light of the world.

            The world spends billions upon billions of pounds, dollars, and other currencies to figure out what has gone wrong with man. The Bible offers the analysis and the solution for free. The heart of man is deceitful and is full of darkness (Jeremiah 17:9,10), and man is lost in sin, but Christ is the light of the world and “in Him was life, and the life was the light of men,” and this light of Christ which has come “shines in the darkness, and the darkness” cannot overpower it (John 1:4,5). Christ Jesus has come to save us from our sin, and a key part of this is that we may see the truth, and that we see things clearly, as they are, so the light of Christ illumines us. The light of Christ is still shining through those who truly believe, for the Lord said to His disciples who truly believed “you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). The light of Christ shows up our sin, and it also shows up Christ’s true and glorious life. This light is in the believer forever. The Lord has called believers to be the lights of this world. Through the apostle Paul He says that we should “shine as lights in the world” (Philippians 2:15), which we do by “holding fast the word of life” (Philippians 2:16). We were “once darkness” but on account of what the light of the world has done we are now “light in the Lord,” and so we are to “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). May the Lord shine through us the glory of His Son!